Kondalilla Falls National Park

Kondalilla National Park is up in the cool mountains of the scenic Blackall Range in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, in the traditional lands of the Gubbi Gubbi people. Kondalilla is an Aboriginal word which means ‘rushing waters’, and describes the main feature of the park.

Kondalilla in full flow.

The entrance to the park is a beautiful rainforest walking trail that leads to the top of Kondalilla Falls.

The falls is about a kilometre from the carpark.

During early settlement of the range, widespread clearing of the tableland forests ensued and the forests around Kondalilla were heavily logged. The ring-barked trees can still be seen today along the trails.

However, some small areas were set aside for recreation and Kondalilla was the first area to be protected. It became a recreational area in 1906 and then a national park in 1945.

There are several walking tracks in Kondalilla National Park including a section of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk. The shortest walk is the 1.7km circuit which crosses Picnic Creek with its little cascades and passes through tall open eucalypt forest. The Kondalilla Falls circuit goes another 3km further, taking in both sides and the bottom of the falls for a total 4.7 km.

Looking down on Obi Obi Creek from Baroon lookout.

This is farther along the Baroon section of the Sunshine Coast Great Walk.

Lake Baroon viewed from the south on the Maleny-Montville Road (top of above picture),

and from Baroon lookout on the north (bottom of picture).

Blue-green algal bloom at the junction of Obi Obi and Skene creeks.  

Skene Creek gathers in a rock pool with its own 4m waterfall, before falling 90m into the rainforest valley below where tall open eucalypt trees mingle with rainforest tree species in the wetter soils.

Below the escarpment where soil and aspect is suitable, the subtropical rainforest thrives and riparian trees and plants line the creek.

At the bottom of Kondalilla Falls.

Down the escarpment past rock pools and viewing spots, the base of the falls is in a lush rainforest with bunya pines, piccabeen palms etc.

And downstream from Lake Baroon - Narrows lookout. Gorge (above) and falls (below).

The park is an important refuge for many diverse animals and plants (and lost plodders) but habitat clearing and loss of vegetation has threatened a number of species, some vulnerable to extinction.

Some of the locals.

On the edge of the escarpment, waterfalls cascade all year round—thundering and spectacular during the summer rainfall season, then dropping to a gentle trickle in drier winter months.

Views from Baroon Lookout.

Obi Obi Creek and Flat Rock.

Waterways are a vital part of the environment. Take your rubbish home.

Obi Obi Creek

Lake Baroon is fed by streams from private properties.

Obi Obi Creek and Lake Baroon are in the catchment of the Mary River.

There are more than 107 species of birds in Kondalilla.

And a good variety of forests and trees.

On the 20th October 2017, Kondalilla was a fully rushing falling flowing spectacle.

At the park entrance.

The pool was full and deep.

The water was wide and this guy can't cross o'er. So he jumped, or tried to.

In the rain, a eucalypt revels and reveals its bright green and smooth inner bark;

whilst a bunya pine laps up what graces the park.

At the exit, on my way back to Bli-Bli via Woombye,

I wave bye bye.

A Peek at the Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains, New South Wales.

The iconic Three Sisters formation – best seen on a chilly Winter’s night from Echo Point.

Echo Point is a popular lookout and access point to many walking trails along the clifftops and down to the valley below.

The Three Sisters are weathered sandstone peaks overlooking the Jamison Valley.

The Jamison Valley is the valley on the south of the major Blue Mountains towns of Katoomba, Leura and Wentworth Falls.

Under the Echo Point view deck on the very edge of the cliff

Looking up Dogface Wall sandstone cliff from Federal Pass. A landslide brought it down.

Built along the base of the cliffs Federal Pass is a magnificent walk through Jamison Valley. It passes dense forests, waterfalls, picnic spots and scenic views of the dramatic cliff lines, and the iconic Three Sisters. It can be accessed from at least four places, with each access point including a challenging climb down and back up the valley.

Standing in ‘The Landslide’, a large rockfall into the valley.

The actual landslides occurred over a few months back in 1931.

No visit to the Blue Mountains is complete without setting foot at one of the most famous lookouts in Australia: Govett's Leap lookout. Many of the finest views and photos in the Blue Mountains are from here. There are tracks descending into the valley or following the Cliff Tops to Pulpit Rock or Evans Lookout. 

Govett’s Leap to Pulpit Rock

Govett’s Leap was named after William Govett who was surveying the old road to Bathurst. The lookout is a great vantage for surveying the northerly views to Pulpit Rock, Mount Banks and the upper reaches of the Grose Valley.

In 1903 Rodriguez Pass (named after Thomas Rodriguez who was instrumental for its construction) was constructed underneath the Govett’s Leap Falls, to connect to Evans Lookout and Govetts Leap.

Two waterfalls on the north side of Blackheath are perhaps the highest waterfalls in the Blue Mountains. These are Horseshoe Falls (above) and Govetts Leap (below, also known as Bridal Veil Falls).

Unlike the waterfalls of Wentworth Falls, Leura and Katoomba these two waterfalls do not hit the half-way ledge.

Rodriguez pass

The Grose Valley lies at the heart of the Blue Mountains National Park. 

Pulpit Rock jutting out at middle left, the remote isolated pinnacle of a lookout is far from the popular tourist spots. This tourist can only admire from a distance. Someday I might get there...

Horseshoe falls

In the centre of the Grose Valley lies the magnificent Blue Gum Forest.

Blue mountains to Mount Hay

Rodriguez Pass

Govett’s Leap lookout.

The magnificent Govetts Leap (Bridal Veil Falls) is a 180m drop to the base of the cliff. The water sprays dancing in the breeze is quite mesmeric.

Sandstone Cliffs from Govetts Leap Lookout.

Grand Canyon Track.

Gum trees on the Grand Canyon Track.

By early in the twentieth century there were numerous tracks down from the clifftops to the valley. To link them, a track down Grand Canyon was constructed. 

Sandstone walls, waterfalls and abundant native plants line this awesome Grand Canyon track, a hidden gem deep in the Blue Mountains.

The historic loop track is intimate and adventure-filled with always something amazing around the next bend. It is well-shaded and meanders through luscious native vegetation of ferns and golden wattles, and escorted by Greaves Creek.

A girl once said to me: 'It's my way or the highway.'

I took the high way.

Gct

Grand Canyon Track falls

I found my way out of the Grand Canyon tunnel back to the landslide area.

Lyrebirds are regular sightings in the forest floors along Federal Pass.

Climbing grubs

What can you tell me little birdie?

In the Blue Mountains, the trail lead to somewhere.

Pulpit rock

Banks Wall is the western escarpment of Mount Banks.

Banks Wall has the highest cliffs on mainland Australia (up to 510 metres high).

Blue Mountains and Grose Valley.

The peak at left on the near escarpment is Mount Banks. Named after the famed botanist Sir Joseph Banks, Mount Banks (1,034m) is a landmark along The Botanists Way in the Explorers Range.

Blue Mountains

Banks Wall stretches for 2 kilometres