Exploring the Obi Obi

The creek passes through town, under the main access road from Landsborough, right next to a Woolworths shopping centre that was bitterly resisted by some locals who saw its construction as detrimental to the environmental wellbeing of Obi Obi Creek, and the laidback rural small town atmosphere of Maleny. Downstream from Maleny, the creek starts to take on the character thats makes this major tributary of the Mary River, one of the prettiest watercourses in Australia.

A few kilometres downstream from Maleny, the creek runs through rainforest. Public access is on Obi Lane South, which runs a kilometre down to a parking lot. The road is well signposted Gardners Falls, the road is narrow with tight corners, don't hurry. Forget about visiting on weekends, or summer as the place is packed. A walk of 300 metres along the pretty creek bank (photographs above) takes you down to the Falls (photo next page.) If its warm, have a swim.

The Obi Obi creek has its origins not far from south west of Maleny, in the small ridges of cleared land that supports dairying, avocado and macadamia nut plantations. The land appears gentle and undulating and has a pleasant warm ambience. (photo right and below)

A small weir below Kings Lane (closed to public access) provides town water for Maleny, as does the next weir (no swimming) closer in town in Coral Street opposite the showgrounds. (photo 2nd right from top).

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Gardners Falls

The photograph above is from below Gardners falls. The object to the right is a rope swing.

Obi Obi Creek runs 12 kilometres from Gardners Falls down to Baroon Pocket Dam. The photo below, left, is the dam from Western Avenue turning downhill into The Narrows Road. Photo right is the view from The Narrows, looking upstream.

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left: the Great Walks track from Baroon to Kondallila below left: walking track below right: the track crosses a few side creeks

The walking track from Baroon Pocket Dam along and above the Obi Obi Creek down to the junction of the Obi Obi and Skene Creek, and then upstream to Kondalilla Falls, is part of a section of a Great Walk of Queensland's National Parks.

The track goes on from Kondilla Falls to Flaxton Mill camp, further north. This walk truly deserves its title as a Great Walk. The rainforest in the first part north from Baroon Pocket Dam is dense forest, with a few enormous trees that escaped the timber milling many years ago.

The Obi Obi Creek, steaming and rolling after its release from the dam, soon disappears into a steep sided section called The Narrows. The track has to leave its brief visitation to the creek, and climbs to a lookout next to, but high above the creek.

From the lookout the track zigzags down steep slopes to the water, and briefly meets it again. The sound of running water follows the walker as they traverse without climbing, along the hillsides. Below, the creek drops in rapid after rapid, and the walkers eventual long descent is to the last rapid at Flat Rock, the water now still in a long pool.

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above: the Obi Obi below the Baroon Dam spillway

below: The Narrows below: view from Baroon Lookout cliffs

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below: still waters downstream from Flat Rock below: small rapid just upstream from Flat Rock.

The photograph above is from the Great Walk track, just before it leaves the Obi Obi and follows Skene Creek up to Kondalilla Falls. Skene Creek junction is on private land. The junction is the other side of the sand bar on the right, this side of the rocks. A running jump could put you across without getting your feet wet. Distances are: Baroon Dam spillway to Skenes Creek junction 4 km, Skenes Creek junction to No. 4 Obi Obi Bridge, 6km, then 20 km down to Kenilworth.

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view above Kondililla Falls looking to Obi Obi junction the rockpool just above Kondalilla Falls

Kondalilla Falls are a kilometre from the carpark. The Falls Circuit track, down one side and up the other, is a further 2 kilometres return. This March 6, 2009 photograph shows the Falls at a low water level.

The rockpool shown above, and in the photograph below, is just above the falls.

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Gardners Falls

Six kilometres downstream from the junction of Obi Obi Creek and Skene Creek is the No. 4 Bridge Obi Obi Creek, on the Mapleton to Kenilworth Road. Armchair navigators should note that Baxter Creek Road, shown on maps to be upstream of the main road bridge, offers no creek access.

The photographs above show the Obi upstream of the bridge (left) and downstream (right). There is launch access upstream on the western side, right by the road. From No. 4 bridge it is 20 kilometres downstream to the junction of the Obi and the Mary River.. The junction is almost exactly opposite the Charles Street road that runs from the main street of Kenilworth down to the river. Look for the high sand cliff across the river. The photograph below is from upstream of that junction, with the sand cliifs on the right.

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Gardners Falls

Walkers intending to walk from Baroon Dam to Kondalilla, (10k), or reverse, may appreciate some notes on preparation. Access on both ends is well signposted. In the authors opinion the walk is best started at the Baroon end. There will the same elevation to be gained, but if you are finishing at the Kondalilla end, there is a great swimming pool one kilometre from the carpark. Good news in summer.

The track has a high number of leeches at the Baroon end.. To minimise bites, carry a plastic minitarp (6x4) to sit on or even put your pack on while you rest. Think about making your own leech repellant oil to rub on your socks and shoes (10% citronella oil, 10% teatree or eucalyptus oil, 80% canola oil). Even if you never carry a first aid kit for day walks, put in some bandaids, and elastoplast for leech bites.

The Obi Obi below the Baroon Pocket Dam is said to be a grade 3 to 4 kayak run at medium water kevels, and a 4 to 5 run at higher water. The author has heard of kayakers paddling the section from Gardners Falls down to the Dam. Should the magazine receive information on those sections being paddled, it will be published. At this time, kayakers are advised that only those persons with the appropriate paddling skills should attempt the sections above and below the dam. Water levels are a key factor in difficulty levels. As there is no available water release figures for the dam, and the levels for the Water Flow monitoring station at Gardner Falls are not available to the public, it is difficult to gauge optimal paddling times.

Photo below: water still too low to go. Photograph taken looking downstream 100 metres below Baroon Pocket Dam spillway.

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