Cilento Park in Nambour is a park with a playground and a bushland conservation reserve.
The park has lots of open grassy space and a playground with swings, things to climb, and a slippery dip.
There are picnic tables, one of them covered, a free BBQ available for use and a nearby water tap at hand.
A toilet block is located near the playground. It has barred doors that were open when we were there but may be closed during the night.
There is a short walking track circuit, about 500m, accessed from either side of the park that leads to a waterfall and swimming hole at the bottom. Unfortunately, we didn’t know this walking track was here when we visited, but this is a good reason to call in again.
A sign near the entrance says the area was occupied by the 7th Battery 2/4th field artillery during the years of conflict, erected for the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The Cilento Bushland Conservatoin Reserve was donated by Sir Ralph and Dame Phyllis Cilento in 1952, both medical practitioners in the area. Their daughter, Diane Cilento, was an Australian theatre and film actress in the 1950s and 1960s. The Cilentos were both prominent Sunshine Coast medical practitioners from old Mooloolaba families. They were also parents to Diane Cilento, an Australian theatre and film actress in the 1950’s and 1960’s and Sean Connery’s first wife.
To get there:
From the Bruce Hwy, take the exit for Mapleton (Exit 208) and follow the signs towards Nambour and Mapleton on the Nambour-Bli Bli Rd. Continue for 1km and cross straight ahead at the lights into National Park Rd. Follow for 2.0km becoming Netherton St then Nambour-Mapleton Rd. Turn right into Waterfall Rd. Continue on Waterfall Rd for 600m to the end and the entrance to Cilento Park.
From Mapleton Falls, head back out to the township of Mapleton, and turn left on Nambour-Mapleton Rd. Follow for 10.2km and turn left into Waterfall Rd. Continue on Waterfall Rd for 600m to the end and the entrance to Cilento Park.
Cost: Free
Hours: Anytime
Toilets: Yes
Bins: Yes
Tables: Yes
Seating: Yes
Water: Yes
Food: No
Wheelchair accessible: Yes, grassy grounds
Pets: No
BBQ: Yes
Playground: Yes
