Mount Coolum National Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Coolum National Park Queensland
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Mount Coolum seen from the southeast
Mount Coolum National Park Location in Queensland
Established	1990
Area	0.69 km2 (0.27 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Website	Mount Coolum National Park
See also	Protected areas of Queensland

Mount Coolum is a special mountain in Queensland, Australia. It's part of a national park and is located on the beautiful Sunshine Coast. This mountain stands tall near the ocean. You can find it between the towns of Coolum Beach to the north and Marcoola to the south. It's about 101 kilometers north of Brisbane.

How Mount Coolum Was Formed

Mount Coolum was created about 26 million years ago. It formed when hot, melted rock, called magma, pushed up from deep inside the Earth. This magma cooled down before it reached the surface. It created a big, dome-shaped bulge under the ground. This type of formation is called a laccolith.

The mountain rises sharply from the flat coastal land. It reaches a peak of 208 meters. It looks a bit like the Glass House Mountains found further south. Mount Coolum is mostly made of a type of rock called rhyolite. This rock is also about 26 million years old. After heavy rain, you can sometimes see beautiful waterfalls flowing down the cliffs.

Climbing Mount Coolum

You can climb Mount Coolum on a 1.6-kilometer track. The path starts from a carpark on Tanah Street West. This is off David Low Way in the suburb of Mount Coolum.

Safety Tips for Climbing

The first part of the track is easy to walk. But it quickly becomes very steep and rough. The path can be dangerously slippery if it's wet. It's best not to start the climb if it has rained. Also, avoid climbing if rain, storms, or dusk are expected.

The walk up and back usually takes about 30 to 40 minutes. At the top, there is a cage with a special light. This light warns aircraft because the mountain is close to the Sunshine Coast Airport. Around 140 people climb to the summit each day.

Amazing Plants and Animals

Mount Coolum National Park is famous for its many different plants. More than 700 types of plants have been found here!

Types of Plants

You can see many kinds of plant life in the park. These include tall eucalypt forests. There are also coastal wallum areas and wet areas with paperbark trees. You can also find rare coastal montane heath and some small areas of rainforest.

Animals You Might See

A pair of peregrine falcons are known to live here. They build their nests on the cliffs of Mount Coolum.