The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Kondalilla National Park

Narrows Lookout is a beautiful spot overlooking Obi Obi Creek, with a lovely waterfall cascading into the narrow gorge. It’s a worthwhile detour to take a long break, enjoy the scenery and listen to the sounds of the forest before continuing your journey.

Lake Baroon is a beautiful freshwater reservoir in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, surrounded by subtropical rainforest and the Blackall Range. Created by the construction of the Baroon Pocket Dam on Obi Obi Creek, the lake is a water supply for the Sunshine Coast and a popular recreation spot for kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and birdwatching. There is a lovely shaded picnic table here, perfect for a nice lunch while you enjoy the scenery.

Kondalilla Falls is an impressive waterfall in Kondalilla National Park where Skene Creek plunges roughly 90 metres into a steep rainforest gorge. The cascade flows over dark rock ledges before continuing through the forested valley below, and is worth capturing a few memorable photos any time of the year. Surrounded by dense subtropical rainforest, the beautiful falls are one of the most well-known natural features of the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

The Kondalilla Falls Circuit Track is a well-signposted loop track that features more than 300 stairs, lush subtropical vegetation, lookouts, rock pools, and an 80-metre waterfall viewpoint, making it a rewarding but moderately strenuous walk of roughly 2–3 hours. The route is well known for its varied scenery, from eucalypt slopes to dense forest and cool creekside sections, and is a highlight of the park’s day walks.

The Rock Pools are natural swimming holes formed on Skene Creek near the falls, where cool water collects in smooth rock basins. These picturesque pools, often referred to locally as the “swimming hole”, are a favourite resting spot in warmer weather and provide a refreshing break along the walk. Accessible just off the main track, the rock pools are surrounded by lush rainforest vegetation.

Picnic Creek Circuit is a popular walking trail of about 4 kilometres that loops through rainforest, open forest and along Picnic Creek, with a mix of shaded creekside sections and elevated ridge views. The track generally takes 1.5–2.5 hours to complete, with several footbridges, rock steps and occasional scenic outlooks, making it suitable for moderately experienced bushwalkers. Along the way, you can enjoy diverse subtropical vegetation and a peaceful creek environment, both great examples of the beautiful natural character of Kondalilla National Park’s lower slopes.

The Obi Valley Lookout is a scenic vantage point offering expansive views over the forested Obi Obi Valley and its subtropical rainforest canopy. Located partway along the loop walk, it’s a popular spot for walkers to pause and take in the valley’s lush landscape framed by the Blackall Range escarpment.

Gheerulla Creek flows through its namesake, Gheerulla Valley, and is typically shrouded in subtropical rainforest and eucalypt forests. This creek is more off the beaten path than the more visited part of Mapleton Falls National Park.