Waterfalls Sunshine Coast: Kondalilla, Mapleton, Buderim and Booloumba

Published 26 October 2026

Photo: Andrii Slonchak from Brisbane, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Sunshine Coast's best waterfalls are in the hinterland. Here the Blackall Range escarpment drops into rainforest valleys: Skene Creek falls 90 m at Kondalilla and Pencil Creek plunges 120 m at Mapleton Falls, according to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS). Closer to the beaches, Buderim has an easy rainforest falls loop. For a bigger adventure, Conondale's Booloumba Falls has cascades and rock pools. Here's how to see each one, with track details from QPWS and Sunshine Coast Council, checked on 25 October 2026.

Sunshine Coast waterfalls at a glance

1. Kondalilla Falls

Where: Kondalilla National Park, near Montville in the Blackall Range.

Kondalilla Falls is the Sunshine Coast's signature waterfall. QPWS says that during the summer wet season the park "features one of Blackall Range's most spectacular waterfalls", with Skene Creek dropping 90 m into the rainforest valley.

The walk: The Kondalilla Falls circuit is 4.7 km, Grade 3, and takes 2–3 hours. It follows the Picnic Creek circuit down the escarpment, past rock pools and a lookout with views of the falls. It then goes through rainforest to the base of the waterfall and back up the ridge. Look for bunya pines, piccabeen palms and pink ash. QPWS warns: "What goes down must come back up!" There are over 300 stairs, so you need to be reasonably fit. See QPWS's Kondalilla things to do page.

Easier option: The Picnic Creek circuit is 1.7 km, Grade 2, and takes 45 minutes to 1 hour. It crosses Picnic Creek and passes tall eucalypt and wet sclerophyll forest to a valley lookout.

Facilities: A 50 m downhill walk with steps leads from the car park to a large grassed picnic area with toilets, tables, barbecues and shelter sheds. All the tracks start from there.

2. Mapleton Falls

Where: Mapleton Falls National Park, near Mapleton.

QPWS says Pencil Creek forms Mapleton Falls, "plunging 120m into the valley below". It's one of the easiest big waterfall views in south-east Queensland.

• Mapleton Falls lookout: Grade 2, 50 m return, about 5 minutes. It's next to the car park and wheelchair accessible, with views over the Obi Obi valley.
• Wompoo circuit: Grade 2, 1.3 km return, about 45 minutes. It winds through rainforest and eucalypt forest to Peregrine lookout, with good views of the falls and the Obi Obi Valley.

Look for Australian peregrine falcons, which QPWS says often soar and roost near the cliff edges during August and September. There are toilets, including a wheelchair-accessible toilet, beside the car park. Camping isn't permitted in the park. See QPWS's Mapleton Falls page.

3. Buderim Forest Park (Serenity Falls)

Where: Buderim, close to the coast.

Sunshine Coast Council describes the 45 ha Buderim Forest reserve as "towering trees, cool streams, meandering tracks and waterfalls". The council's Falls Loop guide lists a 0.8 km circuit that's suitable for all fitness levels and takes about 45 minutes with stops.

• Lower entry (Harry's Lane, off Lindsay Road): an elevated boardwalk suitable for wheelchairs and prams, then a short trail to the falls and Serenity Bridge.
• Upper entry (Quorn Close): picnic tables, barbecues and parking. It's reasonably steep down to the falls.
• Take care on the rocky section near the falls, as it can be slippery. Council notes the waterhole is "particularly spectacular after significant rainfall".
• No dogs. The Buderim Forest Bushland Conservation Reserve is a dog-free zone.

4. Booloumba Falls (Conondale National Park)

Where: Booloumba Creek, Conondale National Park.

The Booloumba Falls walk is 3 km return, Grade 3, and takes about 2 hours. It goes through tall open forest to cascades, waterfalls and rock pools. At the junction of Peters Creek and Booloumba Creek, look for The Breadknife rock formation. See QPWS's Conondale things to do page.

Access warning: QPWS says Booloumba Creek Road includes creek crossings that are accessible to high-clearance 4WD vehicles only. When we checked, QPWS also listed wet weather access alerts for Conondale (20–28 October 2026).

Plan a hinterland waterfall day

Kondalilla and Mapleton Falls are both in the Blackall Range, so you can see both in one day. Start early with the longer Kondalilla Falls circuit while it's cool, then finish with the short Mapleton Falls lookout and Wompoo circuit. QPWS notes a wide range of accommodation in and around Montville, Mapleton and Maleny if you want to stay overnight. Keen walkers can tackle sections of the 58 km Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk, which passes through Kondalilla and Mapleton national parks. Check the Great Walk alerts first. Buderim is an easy add-on on the way back to the coast.

Waterfall walks: when to go

QPWS describes Kondalilla's falls as most spectacular in the summer wet season. Council notes Buderim's waterhole is best after significant rain. The sweet spot is a day or two after good rain, once tracks have reopened. In long dry spells, expect less water.

Current alerts (checked 25 October 2026): QPWS listed heavy rainfall conditions for Blackall Range national parks (22–26 October 2026) and a temporary closure of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk (23–30 October 2026). Always check QPWS park alerts.

Safety at Sunshine Coast waterfalls

• Stay behind fences. QPWS warns that "a number of people have died or been permanently paralysed after slipping over waterfalls at Kondalilla and nearby parks".
• Flash flooding is real. QPWS says that in 1998, 50 mm of rain fell in 15 minutes at Kondalilla and turned the creek into a turbulent torrent. If creek crossings flood, wait until water no longer covers the track.
• Finish in daylight, and check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast.
• No dogs in national parks or the Buderim reserve.

Want to pair a waterfall with a summit? Browse all Active Quests trails, including the Mount Coolum summit walk and the Glass House Mountains Tibrogargan circuit.

Related guides

• Lamington National Park Trails: 12 Best Walks by Section
• Dog Friendly Hikes Brisbane: 6 Leashed-Dog Bush Walks
• Hiking for Beginners: A Practical Guide for South-East QLD
• Gold Coast Waterfall Walks

For a step-by-step guide to the most popular hinterland falls walk, read our Kondalilla Falls guide, and browse every trail on the Sunshine Coast hikes and walking trails hub.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best waterfall on the Sunshine Coast?

Kondalilla Falls, where Skene Creek drops 90 m, is the best known. Mapleton Falls (120 m) is the easiest big waterfall view, just a 50 m walk from the car park.

How long is the Kondalilla Falls walk?

The Kondalilla Falls circuit is 4.7 km and takes 2–3 hours. It has over 300 stairs, so you need to be reasonably fit.

Can you swim at Kondalilla Falls?

Follow on-site signs and QPWS advice before entering any water, and stay behind fences near the falls. QPWS warns people have been killed or paralysed after slipping over waterfalls here.

Is Mapleton Falls wheelchair accessible?

Yes. QPWS says the Mapleton Falls lookout, next to the car park, is wheelchair accessible, and there's an accessible toilet.

Do Sunshine Coast waterfalls flow all year?

Flow depends on rain. QPWS highlights Kondalilla in the summer wet season, and Sunshine Coast Council says Buderim's waterhole is most spectacular after significant rainfall.

Can you bring dogs to Sunshine Coast waterfalls?

No. Dogs aren't allowed in Queensland national parks, and Buderim Forest reserve is a dog-free zone.

Collect the falls

Each waterfall in the table is a GPS check-in quest. Walk the track, check in on site and earn ACTIVE Coins. Download Active Quests on the App Store.