Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
Located in Kondalilla National Park, Kondalilla Falls is a stunning waterfall to hike too just outside of Montville in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. A lovely 5 kilometre circuit walk gives you the chance to see this waterfall both from afar and up close, as well as providing some stunning views of the hinterland as you venture through the rainforest. The walk is one of the best things to do in Montville, as well as being one of the top things to do in Maleny. This guide covers everything you need to know about the Kondalilla Falls Circuit hike near Montville!
Looking for accommodation near Kondalilla Falls? Check out our guide to the best places to stay in Montville and the best accommodation options in Maleny!
Kondalilla Waterfall Information
Kondalilla Falls Height – Approximately 90 metres.
Kondalilla Falls Opening Times – 24 hours.
Kondalilla Falls Entrance Fee – Free.
How to get to Kondalilla Falls, Montville
Kondalilla Falls is located in south Queensland, just outside the small town of Montville in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. It’s around a 40 minute drive from Mooloolaba, and around a 2 hour drive from Brisbane.
There are no real options to get to the falls via public transport, so you will need to have a car to get to Kondalilla National Park. If you don’t already have a car then we recommend renting one to visit this lovely spot, and you can find some great deals for doing so via the Discover Cars website. Click here to find the latest car rental deals on the Discover Cars website!
Free parking is available in a car park at the start of the walk to Kondalilla Falls, which is well marked on Google Maps. Click here to see the exact location of the car park on Google Maps.
The car park is around a 5-minute drive from Montville, or around a 50-minute walk. As you will be doing lots more walking we recommend getting there by car if possible!
It’s fairly common for the car park to be busy on nice days, especially at the weekend – so arrive early to start your hike to Kondalilla Falls.
The circuit hike at Kondalilla Falls
There are a number of walking and hiking trails in Kondalilla National Park, with the main one being the Kondalilla Falls Circuit. It’s a lovely walk through lush rainforest to see the impressive Kondalilla Falls, and is one of the best things to do in Kondalilla National Park. This hike was also one of our favourites along our 3 week East Coast Australia itinerary!
The walk takes around 1½-2 hours from the car park, and involves descending and ascending a number of stairs along the way. It’s not too strenuous of a walk, but you will need to have a reasonable level of fitness – and be mindful that it can be tough work in the Queensland heat!
From the car park you will head down some stairs which lead down to a grassy picnic area, where you will find benches and public toilets. Follow the path through the picnic area and past the small waterfall, and then the path will split in two directions.
It’s a circular route so it’s up to you which direction you pick to go first, but we recommend going to the right first to visit the Obi Valley Lookout. This spot has beautiful views of the Obi Valley with hills and rainforest stretching out before your eyes.
After the lookout continue along the path and make your way down the stairs towards Kondalilla Falls. You will come to another split in the path, and again it’s up to you which direction you take.
If you follow the path to your left you will reach the rock pools first, whereas if you continue down the stairs you will reach the Kondalilla Falls lookout first. We recommend continuing down the stairs so that you can cool off in the rock pools nearer to the end of your walk.
Once you reach the lookout you will get a view of Kondalilla Falls in all its glory. Standing at approximately 90 metres tall, it’s a pretty remarkable sight.
The next stop along your walk is the base of Kondalilla Falls, where you’re up close to a small section of the waterfall.
From this point onwards the walk will begin to lead you back upwards, towards the rock pools at the top of the waterfall. Once you get there it’s a great chance to go for a swim to cool off from the Kondalilla Falls hike. Along with the Fairy Pools in Noosa, we think this is one of the most lovely spots for a swim in the Sunshine Coast.
After you’ve gone for a swim it’s time to start the walk back up to the car park, which involves continuing along the path for a short while and then turning right to head back up the way you came down earlier.
In total the Kondalilla Falls Circuit is around 5 kilometres, and there are around 300 steps to ascend/descend over the course of the walk.
To follow this route amongst others in Kondalilla then click here to see them on AllTrails!
Tips for visiting Kondalilla Falls, Montville
Visit during the summer wet season – Doing the Kondalilla Falls circuit hike is at its best during the summer wet season, which makes this the best time to visit. The falls are more forceful after recent rainfall, so plan your trip around then if possible.
Walking shoes – Wear a good pair of walking shoes if possible to provide good support as you hike in Kondalilla National Park. The path is well paved for the majority of the way, but it can still be a little slippery after it has rained.
Dogs not allowed – Dogs aren’t allowed in Kondalilla National Park, so the Kondalilla Falls Circuit walk isn’t suitable for dogs.
Bring water and snacks – Make sure you have lots of water to stay well hydrated throughout your hike, as there is nowhere to buy water once you arrive to the national park. It’s also worth having some snacks too in case you get hungry.
Pack sunscreen – The Australian sun can be unforgiving, so make sure to put on plenty of sunscreen for your hike. Make sure you have enough with you for regular top ups throughout your walk too!
Bring swimwear – Wear swimwear if you want to go for a swim in the rock pools at the top of the Kondalilla Falls. There isn’t really a great place to change so it’s probably easiest to already be wearing it, but if you’d rather change then just pack your swimwear and change under your towel.
Keep an eye out for wildlife – There are over 1,500 animal species in Kondalilla National Park, so keep an eye out during your walk. The park is home to koalas, dingos, bandicoots, snakes, and much more – although you’ll need a bit of luck to spot of them.
Your best bet is probably spotting some of Kondalilla National Park’s birdlife, which includes cuckoos, kites, owls, eagles, and more. We managed to spot a laughing kookaburra at the start of our walk, so fingers crossed you’ll have some luck with wildlife too!
Camping – Camping in Kondalilla National Park is only possible if you’re doing the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk. This 58 kilometre walk takes at least four days to complete, and overlaps partly with the Kondalilla Falls Circuit walk.
Looking to visit other places in Australia? Check out our 4 day Sydney itinerary and our 4 day Melbourne itinerary!
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