Sunshine Coast Council

A recovering bush land on a slope in the back of Caloundra West and a grazing ground for grey kangaroos.

SUITABILITY
Suitable for walkers of some experience and mountain bikers.

HIGHLIGHTS
This important refuge was purchased by Caloundra Council in 2004 to safeguard an important habitat and food source for black cockatoos, the swordgrass brown butterfly, koalas and grey kangaroos. Dogs must be on leash at all time for the protection of native animals.

The park was named in honour of Jill Chamberlain, a local environmental activist who has campaigned for nature cause for over 30 years.

This walk will take you along the western perimeter before entering the bushland (mostly she-oaks) and slowly ascending the hill. You will come out to an open grassy section with powerlines running across it. Here you are likely to see kangaroos grazing. You can continue straight ahead and up to reach Old Caloundra Road. To do the marked route, turn right and head down hill, over some rocky fill and past a palm gully before swinging around to your right and following a path alongside the eastern boundary. You could well see more kangaroos on the fields to your east. The well-worn path leads straight to the metal fence where it’s an easy climb through and short return to your starting point.

AFTERWARDS
From Jill Chamberlain Nature Reserve is you head west along the grasslands you will come to a green parkland corridor that leads south to Canavan Gracie Recreation Park and Little Mountain Common. Caloundra eateries and beaches are only a few kilometres away – a great spot for a dip and bite to eat. Mountain biikers, Sugar Bag Road Mountain Bike Trails are just minutes away with plenty of trails to choose from.

HOW TO GET THERE
To the starting point: The Jill Chamberlain Nature Refuge (31.45ha) borders Caloundra Road, approximately 3 km west of Caloundra and 6km east of the M1 Caloundra Road turn-off.

While there are multiple entry points the best place to start is at the end of Winchester Rd. Heading along Caloundra Road turn south into Ridgewood Rd and follow it around the corner and head to the end of the road parking on the side of the road near the gate.

You can also access the reserve from: the top via Old Caloundra Road (runs parallel to Caloundra Road); from west off of Bellvista Road.

To the end point. In this instance the end point is your starting point, however you could choose to walk through the Refuge as part of a longer circuit from another start point.