Mount Coolum
Mount Coolum is situated about 117 kms north of Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast. It lies between the Sunshine Coast Motorway to the west and the coastline to the east. The township of Coolum Beach is to the north and Marcoola is to the south.
The Geology
Volcanic activity created this distinctively dome shaped mountain approximately 25-26 million years ago. Beneath the earth’s surface a laccolith, a large dome-shaped chamber of molten magma, intruded into sandstone and then cooled slowly forming rhyolite rock. It arose around the same time as the Glasshouse Mountains but unlike Mount Coolum they breached the surface and became towering volcanic plugs.
Millenniums of erosion have removed the softer sandstone and left the hard, erosion resistant rhyolite exposed as Mount Coolum’s prominent dome-shaped peak.
Mount Coolum
At a height of 208mtrs Mt Coolum has a remarkable botanical diversity with more than 700 different species of plants identified there. Vegetation types include eucalyptus forest, coastal wallum, paperbark wetland, rare coastal montane heath.
The walk to the summit is along an Australian Standards class 4 rated track with a 1.6K return journey which recommends that you allow 2 hours return. The pathway has recently been reconstructed and is well maintained with plenty of areas for a rest on the way up and down. I completed the return journey in less than 1 hour and I am of average fitness.
It is estimated that up to 140 people a day climb Mount Coolum.
It is recommended that you;
1) Walk in daylight hours and never alone
2) Wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen
3) Carry drinking water and a mobile phone
4) Pace yourself – take rest breaks and enjoy the surroundings (walking in cooler parts of the day to avoid heat exhaustion – especially during summer)
5) Do not attempt the walk in wet weather – the track becomes dangerously slippery.
Aboriginal Legend
The Legend of Mt Coolum and Maroochy River
Many years ago, in the Dreamtime, a beautiful Aboriginal girl named Maroochy was loved by another of her tribe, Coolum, a young warrior whose union to Maroochy has the approval of the Elders. One day a mighty warrior named Ninderry, who belonged to a fierce and warlike tribe, stole Maroochy while Coolum was out hunting.
When Coolum returned and found that Maroochy had been abducted, he set off in pursuit following their tracks. He caught up with Ninderry and the captive Maroochy before sundown. However, fearing to demand Maroochy’s return from such a fierce warrior as custom decreed, Coolum decided to use a trick. During the night he crept up to the camp where Ninderry lay sleeping, and quietly freeing Maroochy from her bonds, they fled back to their own Tribe’s territory on the coast.
When the sun rose the next morning, Ninderry woke to discover that Maroochy had escaped. Ninderry flew into a mighty rage, incensed all the more when he found tracks that Coolum had left as he aided Maroochy’s escape. Ninderry immediately set out after the fleeing young lovers, Coolum and Maroochy. When Ninderry caught sight of them he threw a huge nulla (club) at Coolum. The nulla knocked off Coolum’s head which rolled into the sea and became Mudjimba Island. Coolum’s headless body turned into stone and became Mt Coolum.
Beeral, the Spirit God, had been watching these events from his crystal throne in the sky and was deeply incensed by Ninderry’s foul deed, and struck down Ninderry and turned him into stone and he became Ninderry Crest. After all, Coolum and Maroochy’s union had the sanction of their Elders and should have been respected.
Filled with sorrow at the loss of her beloved Coolum, Maroochy fled to the Blackall Ranges where she wept so much that her tears flowed down the mountain range and became the Maroochy River. Eventually Maroochy decided she wanted to find Coolum’s spirit that had gone out of his body, and so that she could search for it, she changed herself into a swan. She still goes up and down the river and flies to swamps and lakes in her search, and so do her children and their children.
To Log this Earthcache you have to climb to the top of Mount Coolum and complete the following questions and tasks and email me the answers. The listed co-ords will take you to the information board;
1) What type of rock has been eroded away to reveal what is now Mount Coolum?
2) On your walk go to S 26 33.646 E 153 05.255. What distinctive type of column form natural steps here and what is it made from?
3) Go to S 26 33.699 E 153 05.056 (summit) At that location what colour are the exposed rocks and what type of rock do you think it is?
OPTIONAL task - Take a photo of you with your GPS (or one showing your GPS) from the summit. Post this photo with your log.
PLEASE EMAIL THE ANSWERS TO ME BUT DO NOT POST ANY ANSWERS WITH YOUR LOG.
You do not need to wait for a confirmation email to log your find. I read all emails to verify the correct information has been obtained and I will contact you if there are any problems with your answers.