# Kenilworth and the Noosa hinterland: a longer drive from Montville
> A full-day drive into the Mary Valley and Noosa hinterland: cheese factory, a 1 kg donut challenge, a 1921 silent-movie cinema, and Conondale National Park (4WD only).
- Tag: Drives
- Published: 2026-05-28
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A longer drive than the Maleny-Mapleton loop, and one-way rather than a loop. This is a day trip into the Mary Valley and the Noosa hinterland villages, with the return on the Bruce Highway south. About 22 km from the cabins to Kenilworth (40 minutes), with another 30 minutes or so to the Noosa hinterland from there. Allow a full day for the worthwhile parts.
## To Kenilworth
The drive from Montville to Kenilworth runs via Obi Obi Road and Maleny-Kenilworth Road, dropping down the western side of the Blackall Range into the Mary Valley. Rolling dairy country, two lanes, the kind of road that takes its time.
**Kenilworth Dairies** at 45 Charles Street is the cheese factory most people come for. Open daily from 7:30 am to 3 pm (to 4 pm in public and school holidays). There's a window into the production area, tasting plates in the shop, and Poppa's Cafe on-site for coffee and lunch. The cheddars, fettas and yoghurt win awards regularly.
**Kenilworth Country Bakery** is the other reason. Home of the **1 kg donut challenge**: a Long John donut filled with cream and your choice of custard, Nutella or jam. Finish it and the bakery refunds your money and adds your name to the wall of fame. They also bill themselves as the makers of Australia's first coffee donut, which is exactly what it sounds like.
## Conondale National Park
**Important: most of Conondale is 4WD-access only.** The Booloumba Creek Road into the park has three creek crossings; a standard sedan will not make it through, especially after rain. If you've come up in a hire car or a low car, plan a different day-trip and come back to Conondale another time.
For those with the right vehicle, the walks from the Booloumba Creek day-use area:
- **Booloumba Falls**: 3 km return, moderate (Grade 3).
- **Strangler Cairn**: 6.5 km return, 2.5 hours, moderate.
- **Artists Cascades**: 10.6 km return, 4 hours, harder.
- **Mount Allan Fire Tower**: 11 km return, 3.5 hours; 360-degree views from the top.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife publishes the latest road and creek-crossing conditions; check before you set off.
## Into the Noosa hinterland
From Kenilworth, the road north-east leads to the Noosa hinterland villages.
**Cooroy** has the Butter Factory Arts Centre in the old butter factory building, and antique stores along the main street. The road through Cooroy continues to Noosa Botanic Gardens and Lake MacDonald, both signposted.
**Pomona** is the village beneath Mt Cooroora. The **Majestic Theatre**, built in 1921, claims to be the only cinema in the world still continuously screening silent films, with live organ accompaniment on its 1937 Compton Organ. Check the theatre's site for current screenings before going.
**Cooran** is a small village with bushwalking and a few swimming holes nearby: worth a slow drive-through, not a destination stop.
## Heading back
Two return options.
The **Eumundi route** drops you onto the Bruce Highway near Eumundi. If it's a Wednesday or Saturday, the Eumundi Markets are on Memorial Drive (Wednesday and Saturday, 7:30 am to 2 pm). Hundreds of stalls; allow at least an hour.
The **direct route back** retraces the Mary Valley road from Kenilworth, climbing back up the range to Maleny then to Montville. Quieter, faster, and you can pick up groceries at Maleny on the way home.
## Practical
Carry water and snacks; the Mary Valley villages are small and most cafés close in the afternoon. Fuel up at Maleny on the way out; the next reliable fuel stop is Kenilworth itself.
This is a longer drive than the Maleny-Mapleton loop, with more time in the car. Suits a day with a clear forecast and an early start.
