Mount Coolum is on Kabi Kabi Country. I acknowledge the Kabi Kabi as the Traditional Custodians of this area and their connection to land, sea and community. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.
Climbing Mount Coolum one of the most popular free activities on the Sunshine Coast. It’s also easily accessible so expect crowds. Lots of them, especially on weekends and during school holidays.
Doing this summit hike is basically Queensland’s answer to Melbourne’s 1,000 Steps, the Kokoda Memorial Walk at the foot of the Dandenongs in Melbourne.
HIKING TO THE TOP OF MOUNT COOLUM
Mount Coolum Walk At a Glance
Whilst most people seem to be busy with just getting to the top as quickly as possible, I’m one of the people who need to stop frequently to huff and puff for a few minutes. You can treat this hike as exercise, or try and enjoy it and stop for the views.
If you are looking for a Sunshine Coast summit walk but want to avoid the dangerous, near-vertical rock scrambling required on Mount Beerwah, Mount Coolum is a much safer, highly manageable alternative.
Note: There are now public toilets available at the (now much larger) trailhead carpark.
BEST TIME TO HIKE MOUNT COOLUM
Depending on the time of day (or year) you go, you may find yourself hemmed in by hordes of fitness-crazy people, the odd barefooted guy, random ill-equipped looking tourists, but thank goodness, also ordinary people like me.
The best time to head up Mount Coolum is usually early in the morning when it won’t be as hot and the views tend to much less hazy.
Winter offers clear coastal panoramas while summer brings too much moisture in the air and far less impressive vistas. Be aware that there’s little shade on this track so come prepared : Wear a hat, bring water and absolutely avoid the middle of the day in summer.
THE TRACK TO THE SUMMIT
Mt. Coolum is 208m above sea level and sticks out like a sore thumb in the landscape. It’s oddly attractive as the man-made steps to slow down erosion and the tons of cars at its base can attest.
The walk is supposed to take you two hours return, but it usually takes Miss Dawdle-and-Look-Around around 1 hour or less to get up and down. Maybe you’re meant to throw in a few push-ups at the top?!
The trail itself is quite manageable—you definitely don’t need hiking boots but maybe wear more than just thongs. It’s been upgraded in recent years and is now complete rock-paved from the start. The rocks are uneven so you still need to watch your step.
If you’re not good with stairs, then this trail is probably not be for you as you’ll be climbing a lot of steps.
MOUNT COOLUM SUMMIT
Once you get to the summit, the view is simply spectacular. On a clear day—especially in winter—you can see all the way to Mooloolaba in the south and Sunshine Beach in the north.
There are a couple of view points so make sure you keep following the trail all the way to the western side. You could get stuck watching planes as they come in and take off from Sunshine Coast Airport, perfect for plane enthusiasts.
The other place of interest you can see is the Palmer Coolum Resort with its fancy golf course and dinosaur park. There used to be a giant T-Rex on the golf course lawn, see if you can spot it below. [Note: Jeff is no longer there, he found as sad, explosive end by catching fire some time in 2015.]
ALTERNATIVE HIKES AROUND THE COAST
If you haven’t quite got the stamina or don’t feel like an uphill walk, the Noosa National Park Coastal Track makes for a great alternative. The coastal walk is stunning and you only have to walk as far as you want, or you could do the entire 11km loop.
Another option is to walk up Emu Mountain in Coolum Beach, it’s a much gentler walk and won’t take longer than 45 min. You won’t get the sprawling views south but you can still see all the way to Noosa Heads.
If you don’t really want to walk, try any of these lookouts on the Sunshine Coast, including Point Perry in Coolum Beach for whale-watching in winter.
For longer hikes, here are my favourite day hikes on the Sunshine Coast.
Happy climbing,
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