The Queensland Government’s Sunshine Coast brochure places the dome of Mount Coolum National Park close to Coolum Beach. A steep track climbs the volcanic peak to the summit. This guide covers the summit walk: how to reach the car park, how long it takes, the views, the conditions the park pages warn about, and the park’s history. It draws on the 2020 brochure, on the park’s things-to-do page as archived on 27 November 2025, and on a 2012 ministerial media statement published on 26 October 2012. The brochure is the 2020 edition.
Getting there
The brochure gives the access as David Low Way, about 3km north of Marcoola and 6km south of Coolum Beach. The brochure says visitors turn into Tanah Street to reach the car park. Because the brochure dates from 2020, confirm the route and any closures on the park alerts page before you travel.
The summit walk
Both the 2020 brochure and the archived park page give the summit walk as 1.6km return. The archived page grades the track Grade 4, suitable for fit walkers only, with steep, rocky sections, and it places the summit 208m above sea level. It allows about two hours for the return trip. The brochure adds that the walk has many steps and asks visitors to be fit enough for the challenge.
The track begins in open forest. As the elevation rises, the forest becomes woodlands, shrublands and then low montane heath on the summit. The brochure calls that heath a threatened plant community surviving on the exposed summit. The archived page also notes that large hexagonal cooling columns lie almost horizontally in the track’s path.
Views and things to do
The brochure describes spectacular 360 degree views of the coast and hinterland from the top. The archived page lists the views south to Point Cartwright and the Glass House Mountains, west to the Blackall Range and north to Noosa Heads. The brochure suggests sitting quietly to sketch or photograph the wildflowers.
Wet weather and heat
The brochure says the summit walk should never be attempted in wet weather, because rock surfaces become dangerously slippery. The archived page says the track becomes extremely slippery when wet and advises walking it in fine weather only. In the summer months it advises walking in the cooler parts of the day to avoid heat exhaustion.
Loose gravel and exposed lookouts mean children need close supervision, according to the archived page. The same page asks visitors to keep to the track and the defined viewing areas to avoid trampling plants.
The volcanic peak and its plants
The archived page says Mount Coolum was created about 26 million years ago and is a laccolith, formed when magma cooled below the surface. Many rare and threatened species grow in the park, including the endangered Mount Coolum she-oak. Golden candlesticks flower in the montane heath mainly between May and August, according to the archived page. The archived page also says that this park is excellent for birdwatching, with many honeyeaters to be seen in the heath.
The 2020 brochure says migrating whales can be spied from the summit in winter and spring, breaching offshore. It also notes that the mountain lies in the traditional lands of the Kabi Kabi people and has very high spiritual and cultural significance.
Camping and facilities
The archived page says camping is not allowed in the national park. It points visitors to private camping areas at the nearby coastal resorts of Mudjimba and Coolum Beach.
Park alerts and page dates
As at the 27 November 2025 capture, the park page said there were no park alerts for the park. That 27 November 2025 snapshot is dated, so check current alerts before you go. The archived page was last updated on 2 December 2024.
The 2012 track upgrade
A ministerial media statement published on 26 October 2012 reports that the minister re-opened the summit walk after an upgrade. The statement says the work was needed because the access route to the summit had become seriously eroded. It also reports that more than 500 new rock steps had been built.
Sources and limits
This guide has not walked the track. It does not cover opening hours or fees. The 2012 statement describes the track at the time it was published.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Mount Coolum summit walk?
The 2020 brochure and the park page archived on 27 November 2025 both give the summit walk as 1.6km return. The archived page allows about two hours for the return trip.
Is the Mount Coolum summit walk suitable for everyone?
No. The archived park page says the Grade 4 track is suitable for fit walkers only, with steep, rocky sections. The brochure notes that the walk has many steps.
Can you camp in Mount Coolum National Park?
The archived park page says camping is not allowed in the national park. It points to private camping areas at the nearby coastal resorts of Mudjimba and Coolum Beach.
Should you walk the summit track in wet weather?
No. The brochure says the summit walk should never be attempted in wet weather because rock surfaces become dangerously slippery.
