Piccabeen Circuit: Imbil State Forest walk guide
Imbil State Forest, South East Queensland, Australia
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The Piccabeen Circuit is a Grade 3 walk in Imbil State Forest on the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service lists the combined outing as 3.3 km when you start on the Little Yabba Circuit, continue onto the 1.5 km Piccabeen Circuit, and return to the Charlie Moreland day-use area via the camping area. Allow about 2 hours. It suits walkers who want plantation forest, creek-side rainforest, and a piccabeen palm grove without a long day on the Conondale Range Great Walk.
Quick route overview
- Distance: 3.3 km circuit combined (includes the Little Yabba start and 1.5 km Piccabeen section)
- Time: allow about 2 hours for both circuits
- Grade: Grade 3
- Route type: circuit
- Terrain: formed forest track with natural creek crossings; rocks can be slippery when wet
- Start: Charlie Moreland day-use area, Imbil State Forest
- Access: Sunday Creek Road from the Maleny-Kenilworth Road near Kenilworth
What to expect
From Charlie Moreland, you begin on the Little Yabba Circuit and then continue onto the Piccabeen Circuit. The walk moves through exotic pine plantation, tall open eucalypt forest, and cooler riparian rainforest. The named feature is the piccabeen palm grove, where the palms rise into the canopy and the forest feels shaded and close.
The route includes natural creek crossings. After rain the rock underfoot can be slick, so take each crossing carefully and keep to the formed track. This is not a long walk on the QPWS figures, but the mix of surfaces and the return via the camping area make it feel like a proper hinterland outing rather than a paved nature stroll.
Safety and conditions
Check current conditions before you leave:
QPWS safety notes for this walk:
- Cross natural creek sections with care. Rocks can be slippery.
- Do not dive or jump into creek rockpools. Depth varies and submerged rocks and logs are common.
- Do not cross or enter creeks in flood conditions.
- Complete the walk in daylight. The forest is open 24 hours, but this circuit is a daylight outing.
Access matters as much as the track. From Kenilworth, follow Maleny-Kenilworth Road for about 6.2 km, turn onto Sunday Creek Road, and continue about 5 km to Charlie Moreland. From the east, QPWS describes that gravel road as suitable for conventional two-wheel-drive vehicles, with a concrete causeway over a creek. From the west, Sunday Creek Road is dry-weather only and suited to high-clearance four-wheel-drive. Heavy rain can flood road creek crossings, so check alerts and turn around if the road is unsafe.
Practical tips
Charlie Moreland has day-use and camping facilities near Little Yabba Creek. Start from the signed track access at the day-use area, and allow extra time if the forest is busy on weekends or school holidays.
For a nearby waterfall day with different access demands, see the Booloumba Falls walk. For another Sunshine Coast hinterland rainforest circuit with more stairs, the Kondalilla Falls circuit is a useful comparison. The Sunshine Coast Bushwalking Club is a practical local contact for hinterland walking ideas.
Carry drinking water, footwear with grip, and a rain layer. Treat creek water before drinking if you are camping. Take rubbish out with you. Check the current QPWS dogs and pets guidance for Imbil and Charlie Moreland before bringing a dog, as camping and day-use rules can differ from the general state-forest position.
