Tucked away in the hills of Montville, Kondalilla Falls is a beautiful oasis. This rainforest track encourages you to forget your worries and instead be filled with the surrounding serenity. So much loveliness here.
Location: Kondalilla Falls Rd, Montville, 4560 QLD
Walking Distance: 4.7km Return
Elevation: 240m
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Costs/Permit: No cost, no permit required
Opening Times: only closed occasionally for maintenance or natural disaster.
Facilities: Parking area for 40+ cars, toilets 100m down path from the carpark, picnic grounds, swimming holes.
What to take: Water, camera, insect repellant, swimmers, sunscreen, picnic
Map:
100m from the carpark is the stunning picnic grounds. There are numerous picnic tables and ample space to spread a picnic rug. This is a great area to make use of before or after your bushwalk. The toilet block is also here.
A short distance into the bushwalk there is a lookout with views to the picturesque Obi Valley.
The first section of the track is very easy travelling. The bitumen path leads to a wooden bridge that crosses Picnic Creek. The path then forms a figure of eight. The top circle of the eight is the Picnic Creek Circuit; which is a very easy, gently sloped approximately 1.5km track. The bottom circle of the eight encompases the top and bottom of Kondalilla Falls, the swimming holes and most of the elevation.
Picnic Creek Circuit can be traversed in either direction. The top of the stairs, just after the bridge that takes you over Picnic Creek, is your decision junction.
The path is very well maintained, adding to the ease of the surroundings.
At the top of Kondalilla Falls is a very popular swimming hole. While the water is brown (probably from natural tannins) and chilly, it is a most exhillarating experience.
The 80m Kondalilla Falls would be impressive after heavy rain. During dry weather they are still worth a look. Kondalilla is an Aboriginal word for running water, I don’t know if this means they don’t run dry.
Kondalilla Falls is a bushwalk of great beauty. This is a place to experience to have your soul restored.