The Gudda Gumoo hike is our second bushwalk in the Blackdown Tableland NP, after the easy Goon Goon Dina Circuit which visits the only signposted Aboriginal rock art sites. The Gudda Gummoo – or Rainbow Waters – bushwalk also visits sites of significance to the traditional owners of this area, the Ghungalu people. The signposted trail starts from the end of the main Tableland Road which runs through the park, and descends gradually through the tall forest.
The trail soon reaches an informal and unfenced lookout over the Gudda Gumoo Gorge. Although it’s not a particularly spectacular views, when you peer over the edge to the rainforest below, it feels like you’re looking at a completely different world.
In the distance, the later afternoon sun illuminates one of the cliffs above the gorge.
The trail reaches a junction after 1.7km; to the left is Rainbow Falls, a tall waterfall and deep swimming hole.
The track descends steeply down a series of steps and stairs, passing underneath a large rock overhang.
At the bottom of the gorge, there’s some easy scrambling to reach the swimming hole.
Rainbow Falls (Gudda Gumoo) is is the largest and most impressive waterfall in Blackdown Tableland, dropping about 40m into a a deep pool at the base. There’s not a lot of water in the falls (the creek can stop flowing completely in the Dry season), and a few people are swimming in the waterhole.
We don’t stay here long, before heading back up the steps. At the top we continue further along the main track, to the Gudda Gumoo Rockpools. Located above the Rainbow Falls on the same creek, these small rockpools are incredibly picturesque. There’s only two other people here as we arrive, and they are about to leave…. they suggest it’s worth continuing downstream from Rainbow Falls, but we don’t have time today.
We spend an hour or so at the Rockpools, swimming and diving into the two pools.
Just upstream of the pools, the river (Moonda Gudda) has a large, shallow pool filled with reeds.
The hike is about 4.5km, with most of it pretty easy walking – but you’ll want to allow at least a couple of hours to enjoy a swim in one or both of the spectacular swimming holes.
Getting to the Gudda Gumoo hike
The start of the Gudda Gumoo bushwalk is signposted, and is located at the end of the main Tableland Road (Charlevue Road), where there is large parking area and toilets. Beyond the Yaddamen Dhina (Horseshoe lookout) the road is unsealed, and is generally suitable for all vehicles – although the last 500m is bit steep and may be a but challenging without a 4WD. The national park is in central Queensland, about 180km (2 hour drive) west of Rockhampton.
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