An isolated volcanic dome located near the popular Coolum Beach, Qld.
An isolated volcanic dome located near the popular Coolum Beach, Qld.

Mount Coolum's name appears to have come from the Aboriginal word "gulum" or "kulum" meaning "blunt" or "headless".

It has a well formed path to climb it, so there’s no getting lost or going the wrong way.
It has a well formed path to climb it, so there's no getting lost or going the wrong way.

We had been planning to revisit the northern end of the Sunshine Coast for a while but had been waiting for a few things to fall into place. Luckily last weekend it all came together so we could catch up with friends and even got some great weather.

On the steep path up there are plenty of places for a rest and to enjoy the view.
On the steep path up there are plenty of places for a rest and to enjoy the view.
We saw many locals running up and down for the mountain for fitness training.
We saw many locals running up and down for the mountain for fitness training.
Xanthorrhoea (Grass Tree)
Xanthorrhoea (Grass Tree)
We took it one step at a time. It was hard work!
We took it one step at a time. It was hard work!
Steep stairs make up the majority of the path from the bottom to the top.
Steep stairs make up the majority of the path from the bottom to the top.

Vegetation at the top is windswept, hammered by the salty breeze off the ocean and very different to the Aussie bush around the base.

Some people love all the man-made work done on the paths and others don’t.
Some people love all the man-made work done on the paths and others don't.

The track needed something done to it because it was a case of being loved to death; overused and eroded. National Parks decided against an ugly steel staircase and went with 600 stone steps and retaining walls obtained from the local area which blends in very nicely. 

View from the top towards Marcoola and Maroochydore.
View from the top towards Marcoola and Maroochydore.

The Coolum Area started with farming and sugar cane but its main industry now is tourism.

View of Mudjumba IsIand
View of Mudjumba IsIand

Aboriginal legend suggests that Ninderry (another mountain in the Glasshouse Mountains group) removed the head off Coolum and it fell in the ocean, and that is what we are seeing now when we look at Mudjumba Island.

Communications tower at the top of Mt Coolum.
Communications tower at the top of Mt Coolum.

Behind the communications tower is a 2nd unmarked track. I used to live in this area 30 years ago and I used that track to make it to the top before the front path was developed. I had a quick look and its still there but looked pretty overgrown.

Looking through a very large tree on our way back down.
Looking through a very large tree on our way back down.
Is this really the second largest rock in the whole world??
Is this really the second largest rock in the whole world??

Uluru in the middle of Australia is the largest single rock monolith in the world and, as it turns out, Mount Coolum the second. There are bigger monoliths that contain multiple rock types elsewhere, but as far as single rock monoliths go, Coolum is a giant.

You can see the old track as a dotted line off the left side of this Strava map.
You can see the old track as a dotted line off the left side of this Strava map.

Our 50 minute return trip was pretty comfortable, as we had lots of other things we wanted to do on the weekend as well. Strava has the ascent as a segment with the fastest time ever recorded as 6 minutes 48 seconds.