Brisbane Waterfalls That Will Take Your Breath Away

Cool down amid natural splendour with our pick of the most wonderous waterfalls in Brisbane.

Much like a scavenger hunt, chasing down waterfalls in Brisbane and its surroundings is endlessly rewarding. While the beaches attract their fair share of headlines, it’s the harder-to-find bush-immersed streams that can equally soothe.

From delicate trickles afoot, hidden swimming holes to cascading downpours to utterly hypnotise, waterfalls in and around Brisbane are showstoppers in every shape and form.

1. Cedar Creek

Distance from Brisbane: 50 minutes
Where: Samford
Parking: Yes, there’s a car park, but it’s small
Swimming: Yes

two people swimming in Cedar Creek, Brisbane — The natural rock pool at Cedar Creek is enveloped in leafy trees. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Not to be mistaken for Cedar Creek Falls (more on that one soon), Cedar Creek in Samford, north of Brisbane, is a cluster of baby falls that team up to orchestrate pure magic. Creating a natural rock pool, the itty-bitty gems are enveloped in leafy trees, creating a blanket of lush greenery to help take the sting out of the clingy climate. It runs all the way into Moreton Bay, and you’ll find native critters and incredible plant life in the surrounding bushland.

2. J.C. Slaughter Falls

Distance from Brisbane: 20 minutes
Where: Mount Coot-Tha
Parking: Yes, there’s a car park, but you’ll need to walk a bit to get there
Swimming: Yes

If it’s been soggy for multiple days, grab your wheels and get moving to J.C. Slaughter Falls , the closest waterfall to the centre of Brisbane. Located within Mount Coot-Tha Reserve, the hot spot is a hit with picnic goers, so get there early to secure a prime spot. If there’s been enough rain, you’ll fall in love with this spot’s dramatic rocky backdrops and multiple streams, plus several swimming holes naturally pop up if the weather plays nice.

3. Curtis Falls

Distance from Brisbane: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Where: Tamborine National Park
Parking: Yes, there’s a car park on Dapsang Drive
Swimming: No

As glow worms and platypus call this spectacular corner of the world home, you’re unable to swim at Curtis Falls in Tamborine National Park – but don’t let that deter you from taking a peek.

a woman admiring Curtis Falls in Brisbane — Don’t miss the spectacular Curtis Falls in Tamborine National Park. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Wet season will bring the crowds and slightly more of a downpour, but no matter when you visit, this spot gushes with the good stuff. As a bonus, you might spot those tiny residents slipping through the water and chilling in the nearby caves.

4. Simpson Falls

Distance from Brisbane: 20 minutes
Where: Mount Coot-Tha
Parking: Yes, there’s a car park, but you’ll need to walk a bit to get there
Swimming: Yes

Another waterfall in Brisbane within Mount Coot-Tha Reserve, Simpson Falls is best visited between January and March when the rain is on higher rotation and the swimming holes swell. Again, plan to go after a good few days of rain to spy the many gentle cascades. The scene is a little quieter than J.C. Slaughter Falls, making it even more sacred in our book.

5. Cedar Creek Falls

Distance from Brisbane: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Where: Tamborine Mountain
Parking: Yes, but it’s tiny so parking is limited
Swimming: Yes

a top view of the Cedar Creek Falls, Brisbane — Trot down 80-odd stairs to reach the glistening rock pool at the bottom. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Another hot spot when the heavens open during the days prior, Cedar Creek Falls is a tranquil space with impressive waterworks.

You’ll need to trot down 80-odd stairs to reach the glistening rock pool at the bottom and catch the falls in all their glory but make the effort because the water is clear and delicious.

If the fall’s flowing, sit down and drench your hair beneath it like you’re filming a shampoo commercial (just us?).

6. Kondalilla Falls

Distance from Brisbane: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Where: Kondalilla National Park
Parking: Yes, there’s a car park
Swimming: Yes

the swimming hole at Kondalilla Falls, Brisbane — Kondalilla Falls attracts many Brisbanites for its natural swimming holes. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Nestled within the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Kondalilla Falls attracts many a Brisbanite for its natural swimming holes and frothy waterfalls.

Visit during the wet season (the heat of summer) to spy, especially vibrant sprays, but it really is a masterpiece all year round. Choose a large overhanging rock to perch upon and simply gaze into the hypnotic flow.

7. Gardners Falls

Distance from Brisbane: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Where: Maleny
Parking: Yes, there’s a car park just off Obi Obi Creek
Swimming: Yes

two people exploring Gardners Falls — Stroll down a 300-metre path to reach Gardners Falls. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

You’ll need to stroll down a 300-metre path to reach it, but Gardners Falls is worth every (well-paved) effort. The Sunshine Coast gem is immersed in a leafy forest, creating a cooling canopy as you catch the falls doing their otherworldly thing.

If the rain’s been, little free-flowing falls create an ethereal setting, spilling over to enhance the swimmable freshwater even further.

8. Wappa Falls

Distance from Brisbane: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Where: Yandina
Parking: Yes, there’s a carpark
Swimming: Yes, but be careful as the rocks are very slippery

friends swimming in Wappa Falls, Brisbane — Wappa Falls is set against the backdrop of twin cascades. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Beloved by locals, Wappa Falls, located right near Wappa Dam, is a picture-perfect collection of natural rock pools set against the backdrop of a twin pair of waterfalls. Given its proximity to the dam, you can expect to see the duo in action any time you visit, a factoid not lost on locals who flock to this under-the-radar hot spot for instant cool.

9. Currumbin Rock Pools

Distance from Brisbane: 1 hour and 25 minutes
Where: Currumbin Valley
Parking: There’s plenty of designated street parking off Currumbin Creek Road
Swimming: Yes

people soaking in Currumbin Rock Pools — Currumbin Creek provides year-round good flow to the rock pools. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Technically a jewel in the Gold Coast’s crown, the Currumbin Rock Pools are well worth the day trip from Brisbane. Even if it hasn’t rained tremendously, the pools’ linkage to the Currumbin Creek provides year-round good flow.

You’ll spy a shallow waterfall in the middle of the pools, and while it is quite small, its low-hanging stream means you can sit right under it to create your own natural jacuzzi-style jets. A ton of fun that never grows old.

10. Natural Bridge

Distance from Brisbane: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Where: Springbrook National Park
Parking: Yes, there’s a nearby car park
Swimming: No

visitors admiring the waterfall at the Natural Bridge in the Springbrook National Park, Brisbane — The Natural Bridge in the Springbrook National Park is best viewed from within the cave. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Again, a piece of the Gold Coast Hinterland to make a day out of. The Natural Bridge in the Springbrook National Park is simply spectacular, so get your camera fully charged. Plan to stay through sunset and you’ll spot glow worms making their mark right next to the cascading shower, best viewed from within the cave where the waterfall breaks the surface. Magnificent.

11. Purling Brook Falls

Distance from Brisbane: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Where: Springbrook National Park
Parking: Yes, there are multiple car parks to choose from
Swimming: No

the Purling Brook Falls in Brisbane — Purling Brook Falls is potentially Brisbane’s finest. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Another Springbrook National Park must-visit spot, Purling Brook Falls, is the type of waterfall you’ll struggle to fit into your camera frame (arguably the best type of waterfall in Brisbane, really).

Fair warning: You’ll need to trek about four kilometres to reach it, but the spectacle is dramatic, colossal and potentially the state’s finest.

12. Morans Falls

Distance from Brisbane: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Where: Lamington National Park
Parking: Yes, there is a car park
Swimming: No

the Morans Falls in Lamington National Park — Morans Falls drops water 80 metres off a sharp cliff face. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Shooting water 80 metres off a sharp cliff face, Morans Falls is visible from the top of the drop, so you won’t catch a panoramic cascade snap, we’re afraid. You will, however, score incredible views out over the edge.

Located within the Green Mountains section of stunning Lamington National Park, you’ll need to bushwalk about 4.4 kilometres to get there and back.

13. Cougal Cascades

Distance from Brisbane: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Where: Currumbin Valley
Parking: Yes, there is a car park, but it’s tiny
Swimming: Yes

Drop the car and tackle the short walk up past a string of natural rock pools to hit Cougal Cascades’ downpour. The excellent day trip is easy to access if you just plan on gazing adoringly at it, but if swims are on the agenda, you’ll need to climb down rocky terrain to get in. Our advice? Head back down the road to the Currumbin Rock Pools once you’re done locking eyes with this beauty.

Now read our guide to Brisbane’s best swimming spots.

Adventure and refined Luxury combine at the stunning Rangelands Outback Camp.

Iconic Australian red dirt, ancient rocky landscapes and bursts of greenery and wildflowers all make the small town of Winton, and its surrounds, a sight to behold. Escape the ordinary and unwind in the Queensland outback, where ancient landscapes and off-grid luxury await at Rangelands Outback Camp.

cosy seats in Rangelands Outback Camp — Unwind in the ancient outback.

About Rangelands Outback Camp

Unforgettable 360-degree views of this 95-million-year-old land await at Rangelands; bathed in style and positioned on top of a jump-up (or mesa), your tented camp seamlessly blends into its outback setting.

Set on the 53,935-square-kilometre Rangelands Station – a working cattle property – the abundant wildlife are your only neighbours; kangaroos, echidnas, eagles and other birdlife all call Rangelands home.

Bathed in style, your tented camp seamlessly blends into its outback setting. Indulge with carefully curated menus, personalised service and supersized luxury tents that guarantee a private experience. This exclusive camp only has a maximum of 12 guests at a time.

Here, the aim is pampering. From tasty menus to supersized tents with all the creature comforts, to a range of guided tours around the property and beyond.

Guests are transferred from Winton or Longreach by a dedicated Rangelands driver.

aerial shot of Rangelands Outback Camp tent — Soak in 360-degree views.

Rangelands Outback Camp tours

Join small-group tours and enjoy exclusive access to the ancient Rangelands Rifts with your Rangelands hosts. These incredible rock formations were formed by millions of years of erosion, leaving dramatic channels through the rock. Or explore the surrounds with Rangeland’s touring partner, Red Dirt Tours .

Get sunset birds-eye views over dramatic mesa country in a helicopter, from Queensland’s own Three Sisters to Corey’s Range, stopping at the best lookouts along the way.

Get up close and personal with this rugged land on four wheels, with expert drivers and guides leading guests through famous Bladensburg National Park, visiting Gondwana Stars Observatory and more.

The Winton area is famous for its boulder opals (the second-rarest opal in the world, after black opals), and a stop at the mining community of Opalton sheds a fascinating light on the unique fossicking method used to find them.

A trip to dinosaur country is a must, as this is the place that ramped up Australia’s dino contribution after a fossilised footprint was found in 1962; after more exploration, the discovery of 3300 footprints made it clear this was the world’s only evidence of a dinosaur stampede. Those same footprints are still on display today at Lark Quarry Conservation Park , a 90-minute drive from Winton. Also check out Australia’s largest collection of Australian Dinosaur fossils Australian Age of Dinosaurs, just 30 minutes from Winton. Here, join a tour through a working laboratory, dinosaur canyon and more.

A twice-daily transfer into downtown Winton is offered to guests, where they can explore the Royal Outdoor Theatre, opal shops, Waltzing Matilda Centre and more.

tour being led through Rangeland rifts — Have an exclusive adventure through the Rangeland Rifts. (Image: TEQ)

Sleeping in luxury

After a day of exploring, return to your tranquil tent for a blissful open shower and uninterrupted views from your private deck.

Designed to integrate guests into the surrounding nature, each tent feels like its own private haven. While being off-grid in the outback (in fact, each tent is powered by its own solar panels, with the added support of a backup generator), guests can also luxuriate in comfortable amenities like air conditioning, a supremely comfortable king-size bed and stylish designer touches.

Guests can stroll to the open-air Sunset Deck for breathtaking panoramic views, or to the main lounge and dining tent, where books, on-demand coffee and drinks make it the perfect place to relax after a day in the outback.

inside Rangelands Outback Camp bedroom — Enjoy plenty of space inside, and stunning views outside.

Rangelands Outback Camp dining

As the sun starts to dip below the horizon, gather for drinks and canapés on the expansive Sunset Deck, watching the sun drench the landscape in pinks and oranges as it sinks below the horizon.

Later, head to The Mahal lounge area and dining tent where mealtime magic happens. Savour a gourmet meal made fresh by Rangeland’s onsite chef. The meals use local produce to elevate classic outback dishes, and don’t worry, dietary requirements are happily accommodated.

Enjoy an open bar filled with an expansive hand-selected list of wines and premium beers, with wine pairings offered by Rangelands hosts come dinner time.

Discover more and book your luxurious stay at rangelandscamp.com.

13 of the best waterfalls in and around Brisbane