Mon, 19th Jan, 2026 Picnic & Camping Area, Musket Flat to Bush camp off Thomas Road, Woolooga, Qld (Utopia Falls & family history)

Min 23 degrees, cloudy with a cool breeze. Lots of birds singing but otherwise very quiet here.

Misty shower of rain as we packed up and headed back to the main road and back to Brooweena. Will come back and do the museum another time when it is open.

Continued on then turned onto the road to Biggenden through cattle grazing farms. I think this is Mount Walsh.

Turned off onto a road - no signs but we had the info from Facebook about Utopia Falls. Passed a few homes then entered the Mount Walsh National Park and onto a narrow track full of water-filled pot holes and overhanging trees.

Roomy carpark though so must be popular. Parked and made a cuppa and put out togs on. A lady pulled in with her sons from Bundaberg. She said it is usually packed so we are lucky.

3.1km return walk on a Grade 4 track. The signs says it is Rock Pools so maybe someone has now named it Utopia since it is so nice.

It was a nice walk, uphill then down to Waterfall Creek.

The lady and her sons were in the bottom pool having fun jumping off the rocks.

Selfie time above the big pool.

We continued up, looking back over the pool then across to the next pool.

Up a bit further and we found the pool that was posted on FB - Utopia Pool.

We continued up to the end of the falls section - Steve says it is all cascades really rather than waterfalls.

Back to Utopia Pool. The lady and her boys were in it and said it was very slimy to get out so we will have a dip in the big pool instead. Steve got in first so I could get a photo. Very cool and refreshing. More clouds came across then the sun would come out again making it quite hot.

We floated for a while then Steve got out to get my photo. Need to prove we got in, haha.

Dried off then headed back - at least it is mostly downhill. I stopped when I saw this little snake - he took his time getting off the track. I looked it up and we think it is a Burton’s Legless Lizard as it has a very pointed face compared to normal snakes.

Back to the camper for lunch. More people arriving so we timed it well.

Headed back out and back to the turn off to continue southward towards Kilkivan. The wind has picked up. Through cattle grazing land - lovely and green with tall straight gum trees.

Stopped at Memorial Bridge over Bridge Creek on Woolooga Road. Steve parked on the old road. Info off Wikicamps.

I walked across it - closed to traffic in 1972.

Nice park and picnic area with information too.

I recognised some surnames that are from Steve’s family. I looked them up and David Boldery and Edward Nichol are Robert Grout’s great grandsons. I have all the family history on a program on the laptop so I can find our relations on it. Will have to add these photos to the family tree.

While I was looking up the files I found more photos, from one of the relations (taken in 1986), of Robert Grout’s house (3 photos), the Post Office Hotel and blacksmith shop at Musket Flat.

Continued on the narrow bitumen road and entered the Gympie Regional Council and onto a narrow gravel road! As we neared Woolooga we turned off onto a little road to check out a free camp. Another traveller was parked up in the big grassy area so we did too.

Nice breeze blowing. I worked on my blog and uploaded that by drinks time so we got out the cards for a couple of games of Skipbo.

Much cooler afternoon. I had posted some photos on FB and heard from Sue & Ian - they are hiring a camper and touring NZ for a month (mid March to mid April) with Graham & Sharon so you never know we might see them there.

Rang Ray and Carol to catch up on their news and to say we will see them in a couple of weeks.

Margaret and Bob rang to say they had bought a car for Margaret - a bright yellow Mini Cooper. She is very happy to have her own run-around car now.

Cooler evening which is very nice.