The Kinbombi Falls is a free rest area maintained by the Gympie Regional Council. Whether you stay overnight or drop in to visit, it is a short detour being 5km from the highway.
Kinbombi Falls is a cascade of falls through a rocky gorge along the Kinbombi Creek. Water doesn’t run too often so it is best to go after rain to get the creek flowing.
The falls are not immediately viewable from the rest area. Stairs lead down to the waterhole at the bottom of Kinbombi Falls but stop short of reaching the waterhole. The last part is a climb down a steep rock slope and over some rocks over to the waterhole. The steps stopping short of getting to the bottom may be because the water level is much higher when it is flowing well.
The stairs are at times near the edge of the gorge. A rickety old wooden fence with cyclone fencing is near the top, but I’d not dare lean against it. Care is needed and may not be suitable for younger children, including the stairs and the final climb down the rocks to the waterhole.
Kinbombi Falls were flowing at a trickle when I was there, and the water had a green colour from the moss growing in it, but fresh enough to hop in to cool down on a hot day. I had to share the waterhole with a few turtles swimming around.
After cooling down, the inevitable calf-burning climb is needed to return back up the 225 steps I counted.
Another trail takes you along a ridge, with a lookout down into the cascade falls and giving a different viewpoint of Kinbombi Falls. The walk is narrow in places with steep drops either side and of course, more steps. A handrail offers some stability walking along the ridges for those not keen on heights.
The camping area has basic facilities, with a couple of tables with bench seats, BBQ fireplaces, and a water tank to operate the flushing toilets. Water can be accessed from a tap at the toilet blocks, but shouldn’t be used for drinking.
The campsite is very quiet, a couple of hundred metres from the nearest road, and kilometres from the highway. I’ll be sure to visit here again when travelling along this way.
