Located just a short 20-minute drive from Gympie are the Mothar Mountain Rock Pools, where there are a range of activities to see and do. Getting there is a cinch, although the last few hundred metres of road is rough dirt and quite slippery. Situated in the Woondum State Forest, there are two hiking tracks.
The Trails
The longer of the two is the Boulder Mountain trail, which is around two kilometres long and a reasonable level of fitness required. This trail goes straight up Boulder Mountain, where sections can get quite steep. The Boulder Mountain trail is best suited to more experienced hikers. Then there is the shorter trail, which is a five hundred metre loop trail that starts and finishes in the car park. While this trail is short, it does include a wide variety of flora and is a little challenging. This trail is best suited to beginners and families.
The Rock pools
Along with these two hiking trails are the rock pools themselves, which are fed a constant stream of fresh water. These rock pools are heavily shaded by an abundance of trees. There are even more walking tracks along the creek here, but the going does get difficult quickly. Furthermore, to add to an exciting day getting back to nature, there is a day use area. This day use area consists of a BBQ and tables/seating, and toilet facilities.
Four Wheel Driving
If these activities aren’t your thing, you could give off-roading a try. There are kilometres of 4wd access only roads that meander through the Woondum State Forest. Public holidays and weekends are particularly busy times for the rock pools, so an early arrival is recommended. The area is also busy during winter too.
Overall, the Mothar Mountain Rock Pools are an excellent summer activity destination. Lastly, additional information can be found on the Dept of Environment and Science website.