Kenilworth Tourist Drive 22 is a 70-kilometre drive, starting from Maleny. The tourist drive heads through small towns, including Kenilworth, ending at the Bruce Highway near Eumundi.
The tourist drive is 70 kilometres, however, you will likely travel further visiting various destinations along the way.
The Blackall Range Tourist Drive 23 travels through Maleny. You can connect the Maleny end of the Kenilworth Tourist Drive to the Bruce Highway by joining with the Blackall Range Tourist Drive with either Landsborough or Nambour.
From Maleny to Kenilworth
The Kenilworth Tourist Drive 22 starts just out of town of Maleny, west along Macadamia Drive heading towards along Steve Irwin Way on Glasshouse Mountains Tourist Drive 24.
Start of Tourist Drive
Following westward along the main street of Maleny, Maple St, continue out of town which becomes Beech Street, then Macadamia Drive. After about 1 kilometre, you pass the Maleny Fire and Emergency Services Complex, where the start of the drive begins.
Howells Knob Lookout
Continue on Macadamia Drive for 1.3 kilometers to reach the first detour from the tourist drive. Turn left into Reesville Road, however, note that there is no brown sign at this intersection. Follow Reesville Road for 1.6 kilometres, then turn left into a bitumen track with a brown sign for Lookout. Continue to the end of the track to reach the Howells Knob Lookout.
Exit using the same track out of Howells Knob Lookout and turn right on Reesville Road to head back to Macadamia Drive. Turn left, which is then Maleny Kenilworth Road.
Continue on Tourist Drive
With Macadamia Drive now called Maleny Kenilworth Road, continue for 14.9 kilometres to Aherns Road.
Crystal Waters
Detour on Aherns Road to see Crystal Waters. Follow Aherns Road for 1.5km, then at the intersection turn right to continue for another 5.4km on Aherns Road. Turn right into Kilcoy Lane with a blue sign to Crystal Waters. Follow Kilcoy Lane for 500 metres and Crystal Waters will be on your left with a brown sign shortly before it.
Crystal Waters is a permaculture village, demonstrating ways of sustainable, low-impact living. While there are permanent village residents, you can camp at the eco-park or visit for the day, including the Crystal Waters Market held on the first Saturday of each month, from 8am to 1pm.
Head back to Aherns Road, turning left from Kilcoy Lane. Follow all the way back to Maleny Kenilworth Road, turning left.
Continue on Tourist Drive
From Aherns Road, continue along Maleny Kenilworth Road for 1.9km to reach Conondale township.
Conondale Township
Conondale is a small township will little more than a general store and a park. The general store is opposite Boyle Park, which has a BBQ, sheltered picnic table, and small playground. The town’s swimming pool is next door.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Continue along Maleny Kenilworth Road for 1.9km to reach Conondale township.
Grigor Bridge
Grigor Bridge isn’t particularly significant to stop at in itself, however, it is a spot to enjoy the banks of the Mary River. You can stop either end of the bridge on the left (coming from Conondale township), with the other end being more convenient to park off the main road.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Continue along Maleny Kenilworth Road from the bridge for 13.4km to reach the turnoff for Booloumba Creek, on Booloumba Creek Road. Note that Booloumba Creek is 4WD access only. If you do not have a 4WD, continue on the Tourist Drive.
Booloumba Creek
If you have a 4WD, you will be able to head into Booloumba Creek in Conondale National Park. Note that it takes a while to visit the most interesting parts. Our visit was a little over 4 hours, including a walk and swim.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Continue along Maleny Kenilworth Road from Booloumba Creek Road for 550 metres, with the parking area for the Fig Tree Walk on the right, before crossing the bridge over Little Yabba Creek.
Fig Tree Walk
The Fig Tree Walk is actually on the other side of the bridge, however, there is no parking where the walk starts. Parking on the right-hand side, the walk can be started crossing on a dedicated pedestrian part of the bridge. The Fig Tree Walk is a short walk through the rainforest, showcasing figs and stinging trees.
The parking area sits at the junction of Mary River and Little Yabba Creek, which the bridge crosses over.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Continue along Maleny Kenilworth Road over the bridge to reach the turnoff to Charlie Moreland.
Charlie Moreland
After the bridge, detour by turning left into Sunday Creek Road. Follow Sunday Creek Road for 4.7 kilometres to reach Charlie Moreland.
Charlie Moreland is a camping area in the Imbil State Forrest, which is adjoined to Conondale National Park where Booloumba Creek is located. I major difference is it is accessible with a normal vehicle, you don’t need 4WD to access it.
The campground is located beside Little Yabba Creek with an amazing swimming hole. There are toilets and picnic tables to utilise while you are there, particularly if visiting just for the day. Camping is not required.
When leaving, head back out along Sunday Creek Road to return to Maleny Kenilworth Road.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Continue along Maleny Kenilworth Road for 6 kilometres to reach Kenilworth.
Kenilworth
The Kenilworth township is a destination town. Two of the biggest calling cards to Kenilworth are the Kenilworth Country Bakery and the Kenilworth Dairies (often referred to as Kenilworth Cheese Factory).
Kenworth Dairies is known mostly for its cheese and yoghurts which are found in supermarkets. It’s hard to pass up on their ice-cream in the warmer Queensland months.
Kenilworth Country Bakery is known for its donuts. It isn’t that their other goods are not… um, good, it is the 1kg donut eating challenge with countless success plates adorning the walls. If attempting to eat a 1kg donut seems too much, their coffee-in-a-donut attracts the crowds. Both are a morning thing, mainly because by afternoon they are often sold out.
Kenilworth Museum
On Sundays, the Kenilworth Historical Museum is open for a few hours, although it is usually closed during the middle of summer.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Continue north along the main street of Kenilworth. A bend to the right takes you onto Eumundi Kenilworth Road and over the bridge to cross the Mary River. Follow Eumundi Kenilworth Road for 28 kilometres to reach the end of the tourist drive. Turnoff to the left onto Memorial Drive to access Bruce Highway heading north or to Eumundi, otherwise continue for another 2.6 kilometres to access Bruce Highway heading south towards Brisbane.
