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.

Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

Exploring K’gari

ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island — Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

Unwind at sunset

two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort — Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

Indulge and disconnect

woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa — Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

Getting there

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.

13 of the best waterfalls in and around Brisbane