Kondalilla Falls is a 90-metre waterfall located within Kondalilla National Park, a 327-hectare national park in the Blackall Range of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, approximately 103 kilometres north of Brisbane and 4 kilometres north of Montville. This guide covers entry costs, opening hours, walking tracks, parking, how to get there, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.
Updated April 2026. Many guides incorrectly describe the pool at the base of the 90-metre falls as a swimming hole: the bottom pool is not suitable for swimming. The designated swimming area is the rock pool at the top of the falls, on the Kondalilla Falls circuit.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Entry fee | Free (Queensland national park) |
| Opening hours | Open during daylight hours, year-round; tracks close during severe wet weather |
| Address | Kondalilla Falls Road, Montville, Queensland 4560 (use “Kondalilla Falls Road, Montville” for navigation) |
| Parking | Free car park at Kondalilla Falls Road entrance |
| Nearest public transport | Queensland Rail to Nambour, then Hinterland Connect bus toward Montville; 700m walk from bus stop to park entrance |
| Typical visit time | 45 minutes (Picnic Creek circuit); 2–3 hours (Kondalilla Falls circuit) |
Kondalilla Falls opening hours
Kondalilla National Park is open during daylight hours year-round. There are no gates and no set open or close times, but visitors should always allow enough time to finish their walk in daylight hours. The park has no on-site staff.
Walking tracks are closed during severe wet weather due to flooding of creek crossings. Do not enter the park when closure signs are displayed. The summer wet season (November to March) brings the highest rainfall and most dramatic water flows, but also the greatest risk of sudden track flooding. Always check park alerts on the Queensland Parks website before visiting.
Kondalilla Falls entry fee and ticket prices
Entry to Kondalilla National Park and all its walking tracks is free. There are no tickets, passes, or booking systems required for day visitors. The park is managed by the Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
Entry information was checked on the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service website and last updated in April 2026.
Five great things to do in the Sunshine Coast
- 🌅 Enjoy drinks as the sun goes down – on a sunset cruise along Mooloolaba’s waterways.
- 🌿 Spot wildlife in the Noosa Everglades – on the Everglades Explorer cruise.
- 🐋 On a whale-watching cruise – see migrating humpbacks from Noosa.
- 🍷 Combine food tastings with Hinterland highlights – on a scenic culinary tour.
- 🦐 On a bushtucker cruise – taste native food and learn about Aboriginal culture.
How to get to Kondalilla Falls
Use “Kondalilla Falls Road, Montville” as your navigation destination. The park entrance is approximately 2.6 kilometres north of Montville township along the Montville–Mapleton Road (Flaxton Drive), then 700 metres down Kondalilla Falls Road to the car park.
From Brisbane (south): Travel approximately 54km north on the Bruce Highway (M1), take the Steve Irwin Way Exit 163 toward Beerwah. Follow Steve Irwin Way approximately 22km north to Landsborough, then follow signs to Montville on the Blackall Range Tourist Drive 23. Near the top of the range turn right onto the Maleny–Montville Road and travel through Montville to find the Kondalilla Falls Road turnoff on the left.
From the north: Travel to Nambour on the Bruce Highway and take State Route 10 (Blackall Range Tourist Drive 23) following signs toward Mapleton via Bli Bli Road. Continue approximately 11.5km to Mapleton on top of the Blackall Range, then travel approximately 6.3km south along Flaxton Drive to find Kondalilla Falls Road on your right.
By public transport: Queensland Rail runs services to Nambour Station. From there, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council Hinterland Connect bus runs toward Montville. The Kondalilla Falls Road turnoff is on the bus route, and the park entrance is approximately a 700-metre walk down Kondalilla Falls Road from the nearest stop. Contact Translink for current timetables. A local taxi service is also available from Nambour.
Parking at Kondalilla Falls
Free parking is available at the Kondalilla Falls Road car park at the park entrance. From the car park, visitors access the picnic area and walking track entrance via a 150-metre downhill walk with steps. The car park can fill quickly on weekends and during Queensland school holidays, particularly in the summer wet season when the falls are most active. Arriving early on busy days is strongly recommended.
There is no parking at the Narrows Road or Flaxton Mill Road access points for the Great Walk sections unless specifically noted; most day visitors use the main Kondalilla Falls Road car park.
How long to spend at Kondalilla Falls
The time needed depends on which walking track you choose. The Picnic Creek circuit (1.7km, 45 minutes to 1 hour) is a shorter option suitable for those wanting a brief visit. The Kondalilla Falls circuit (4.7km, 2–3 hours) takes you all the way to the rock pool above the falls and to the base of the waterfall and back; this is the most complete experience.
Allow additional time for picnicking at the grassed day-use area, which is a short downhill walk from the car park. A half-day is comfortable for the Kondalilla Falls circuit including travel from the Sunshine Coast coastal strip.
Accessibility at Kondalilla Falls
Kondalilla National Park does not cater for people with access needs. There are no wheelchair-accessible tracks or facilities within the park due to steep terrain throughout. The 150-metre path from the car park to the picnic area involves steps and is not accessible for wheelchairs or prams.
Visitors seeking wheelchair-accessible views of a similar waterfall in the same area should visit Mapleton Falls National Park, approximately 5 kilometres away, which has a wheelchair-accessible lookout with views of its waterfall and the rainforest valley below. Dogs are not permitted anywhere in Kondalilla National Park.
Inside Kondalilla Falls: what to see and do
The Picnic Creek circuit (1.7km, easy, 45 minutes to 1 hour) departs from the picnic area. This easy walk crosses Picnic Creek at the 400-metre mark and passes through tall eucalypt forest with patches of wet sclerophyll forest. It includes a valley lookout point and is the best option for visitors with limited time or fitness.
The Kondalilla Falls circuit (4.7km, moderate, 2–3 hours) follows the Picnic Creek circuit down the escarpment, past rock pools and a lookout with views of the falls, then descends through subtropical rainforest to the base of the waterfall and back up the ridge. The circuit includes more than 300 stairs and visitors need to be reasonably fit. What goes down must come back up — allow time for the uphill return. The track passes close to cliff edges in some places and is not fenced.
The rock pool above the falls is the designated swimming area, reached on the Kondalilla Falls circuit before the descent. This is a freshwater pool fed by Skene Creek. Note that the pool at the base of the falls is not suitable for swimming — swimming is at the upper rock pool only. Water temperature and volume vary by season; the pool is most popular in the summer wet season.
The waterfall itself drops 90 metres from the top of Kondalilla Falls into a lush rainforest valley below. The falls flow year-round but are most dramatic during the summer wet season (November to March), when they can be thundering and spectacular. In drier winter months (June to August) the falls reduce to a gentle trickle.
Wildlife and birdlife: the park supports more than 107 bird species, as well as possums, pademelons, wallabies, goannas, platypus, and echidnas. The park is also habitat for the rare pouched frog (Assa darlingtoni) and the vulnerable bopple nut (Macadamia ternifolia). Goannas and water dragons are commonly seen on the walking tracks.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arrive early on weekends | The car park fills rapidly on weekends and in the summer wet season. Arriving before 8am significantly improves the chance of finding a space. Weekday visits are quieter throughout the year. |
| Wear appropriate footwear | The circuit track involves over 300 stairs, steep descents, and creek crossings that become very slippery after rain. Closed-toe shoes with grip are essential; thongs and sandals are not suitable and are a common cause of injury. |
| Bring drinking water | No drinking water is available in the park. Creek and pool water is not safe to drink as it may contain organisms that can cause illness. Bring all water and food from outside the park. |
| Check park alerts before you go | Tracks close quickly after heavy rain when creek crossings flood. Always check parks.qld.gov.au for current alerts before driving to the park, particularly during summer. Mobile phone reception is unreliable inside the park, though calls are usually possible from the car park. |
| Sunscreen and insect repellent near water | Queensland Parks advises that sunscreen lotions and insect repellents pollute the creek water and harm aquatic life, including rare frogs. Apply these before entering the park and avoid applying them near the water or swimming areas. |
Frequently asked questions about Kondalilla Falls
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Kondalilla Falls suitable for children? | The Picnic Creek circuit (1.7km) is suitable for older children who are steady on their feet. The Kondalilla Falls circuit involves more than 300 stairs and steep terrain and is better suited to children who are confident walkers. Neither track is suitable for prams or young children who need to be carried. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Kondalilla Falls? | No. Entry is free and no booking is required. The park is an open national park with no ticketing system. Note that the car park can fill on busy days — arriving early is advisable, but no reservation is possible. |
| Is Kondalilla Falls open on Sundays? | Yes, the park is open during daylight hours every day of the year, subject to weather-related track closures. Sundays are among the busiest days; the car park frequently fills by mid-morning on sunny Sundays in the wet season. |
| Are dogs allowed at Kondalilla Falls? | No. Dogs and other domestic animals are not permitted anywhere within Kondalilla National Park. This applies at all times, including on leads. |
| Can you swim at Kondalilla Falls? | Swimming is permitted in the rock pool at the top of the falls, accessible on the Kondalilla Falls circuit. The pool at the base of the 90-metre falls is not suitable for swimming. A number of people have died or been permanently paralysed after slipping over waterfalls in this area — stay behind fences and follow all warning signs. |
Things to do near Kondalilla Falls
Montville village is approximately 4 kilometres south of the park entrance. The hinterland village has cafes, galleries, chocolate shops, antiques, and views across the Sunshine Coast from the escarpment. It is the nearest place for fuel, food, and supplies before or after your visit.
Mapleton Falls National Park is approximately 5 kilometres north of Kondalilla along Flaxton Drive. A short track leads to a lookout over a 120-metre drop into the Obi Obi Gorge, and the park includes a wheelchair-accessible viewing platform — the closest accessible waterfall experience in the area.
Baroon Pocket Dam is approximately 10 kilometres from the park via Montville, offering a large freshwater lake in a rainforest setting with picnic facilities, a boat ramp, and walking tracks along the dam wall and foreshore.
Gardners Falls, Maleny is a council-managed waterfall and swimming hole approximately 20 kilometres from Kondalilla via Montville and Maleny, with a grassed reserve, picnic tables, and a pool suitable for swimming.
Flame Hill Vineyard is a boutique vineyard on the Blackall Range near Montville, approximately 5 kilometres from the park, offering tastings of wines made from hinterland-grown fruit.
What to visit tomorrow: waterfall and natural attractions within two hours of Kondalilla Falls
Buderim Falls (Serenity Falls), Buderim is a free, easily accessible urban waterfall within the Buderim Forest Bushland Conservation Reserve, approximately 35 kilometres east of Kondalilla. It includes an accessible boardwalk from Harry’s Lane and is a shorter, less strenuous alternative to Kondalilla.
Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park is a unique rock arch waterfall formation in the Gold Coast Hinterland, approximately 120 kilometres south of Kondalilla. It sits within a World Heritage-listed national park and is one of the few waterfalls in the region you can walk behind.
Purling Brook Falls, Springbrook National Park is a 109-metre waterfall in Springbrook National Park, approximately 125 kilometres south. The 4-kilometre loop descends into the gorge and passes behind the falls through World Heritage-listed subtropical rainforest.
Elabana Falls, Lamington National Park is a picturesque rainforest waterfall in Lamington National Park (Green Mountains section), approximately 150 kilometres south of Kondalilla. Access is via the Elabana Falls track, an 8-kilometre return walk through ancient Antarctic beech forest.
Booloumba Falls, Conondale National Park is a series of cascades and waterfalls along Booloumba Creek, approximately 70 kilometres west of Kondalilla, within the Conondale Range. The area includes swimming holes, camping, and multiple creek crossings on a half-day walk.
More Sunshine Coast travel
Other Sunshine Coast travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Combining the most scenic spots in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland – Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Gerrards Lookout and McCarthy’s Lookout.
- Guides to Sunshine Coast waterfalls: Wappa Falls
- Should you visit Eumundi Markets on Wednesday or Saturday?
- Take a walk in Noosa to Little Cove, the Boiling Point Lookout, Granite Bay and Sunshine Beach.
- How to get to the Carlo Sand Blow in Rainbow Beach.
