Mount Coolum

Mount Coolum is a prominent 208-metre volcanic dome and laccolith within Mount Coolum National Park on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, between Coolum Beach and Yaroomba. Formed about 25-26 million years ago, it rises abruptly from the coastal plain and is visible for kilometres. Notable for its steep 800-metre summit track, 360-degree coastal views, geological significance and cultural importance to the Kabi Kabi people, it is one of the region's most popular short hikes.

Visitors can expect a short but steep 1.6 km return hike on a well-defined track with steps, paved sections and exposed rock to the summit. The lower slopes are lined with eucalypt woodland and heath, opening to bare rock near the top. At the summit there is a large flat rock platform with 360-degree views over Coolum Beach, the coastline, hinterland and nearby mountains. There are no buildings or shops on the mountain; the experience is focused on bushwalking, nature viewing and photography.

Mount Coolum is a laccolith formed by magma intrusion about 25-26 million years ago during volcanic activity in southeast Queensland, later exposed by erosion. It was sighted and named by Lieutenant James Cook during his voyage along the east coast in 1770. The mountain and surrounding area have long been part of the cultural landscape of the Kabi Kabi people and is now protected as Mount Coolum National Park, gazetted in 1990.

Mount Coolum holds cultural significance for the Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) Traditional Owners. It features in Dreaming stories associated with the region's volcanic peaks and is a prominent landmark in local Aboriginal cultural heritage. The mountain remains a place of cultural connection and is interpreted through park signage focusing on natural and cultural values.