The best waterfalls on the Sunshine Coast for epic exploration

Swap the sand for breathtaking inland exploration to chase down the most picturesque waterfalls on the Sunshine Coast.

As a Gold Coast resident, I’m drawn to sun-soaked beach hangs. But travelling the 2.5 hours up to the Sunshine Coast inspires me to step out of my comfort zone. Ditching the waves of Caloundra, Noosa and Maroochydore for hinterland havens like Maleny, Mapleton and Montville, I’m free to chase waterfalls for days, scoring equally cooling dips along the way. Officially head over heels with the inland serenity of this Queensland hot spot, I’m here to shine a light on the most beautiful waterfalls on the Sunshine Coast. Strap up your joggers and pack your togs — my favourite cascades, and the roads you’ll take to find them, offer go-to-woah adventure.

In short

If you only visit one of the waterfalls on the Sunshine Coast, make it Kondalilla Falls in Montville. Offering unobstructed waterfall visibility, a beautiful bushwalking trail and a swimming hole, it ticks all the boxes.

1. Gardners Falls

the Gardners Falls, Sunshine Coast — Find shallow rock pools surrounding the scenic Gardners Falls. (Image: Sunshine Coast Council)

Where: Obi Obi Creek, North Maleny

I drive 25 minutes from the centre of Maleny (Maple St) to a small car park next to Obi Obi Creek. It’s a storybook setting filled with mossy rocks, birdsong and towering gums as the creek’s quiet trickle intensifies over 300 metres before giving way to Gardners Falls . I’m with my two small children who navigate the trail without complaint (rare, very rare), so it’s a great family-friendly option if long bushwalks and your tribe don’t mix. Additionally, my kids (and husband) love the shallow rock pools along the way, which grow larger the closer you get.

Once we hit the Falls itself, we (carefully) lead our little ones out over the rocks for photos right atop the cliff’s drop. It’s definitely not a designated trail, please note, but it’s an incredible selfie opportunity if you’ve got grippy shoes on. Plus, you can feel the waterfalls’ glorious spritz. Spend your visit spotting ropes to swing off and into the Falls’ waterhole or roll a lunch spread over flat rocks and lose track of time.

2. Kondalilla Falls

the Kondalilla Falls, Sunshine Coast — The Kondalilla Falls Circuit walk takes you to the base of the falls. (Image: Reuben Nutt/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Where: Kondalilla National Park, Montville

I’m staying in Montville, home to an impressive batch of cute boutiques and cafes, so getting to Kondalilla Falls, within Montville’s Kondalilla National Park, is my all-too-convenient next move. The name means ‘rushing water’ to the land’s traditional Gubbi Gubbi custodians, which reflects exactly what I find during summer’s wet season. Before I get to the staggering 90-metre plunge, I scale a lush rainforest (clearly signposted) circuit trail that, again, my kids shockingly don’t hate. Once the Falls get close, I can turn left for a freshwater rock pool at the top, or right for another rock pool at the bottom of the drop. I highly advise making time for both because they’re completely sublime, unique experiences (though, obviously, the latter is going to give you that cascading money shot). The circuit is 4.7 kilometres in total and there are loads of steps coming out of the bottom so leave the kids up top with dad, like I did, to soak up the serenity in solitude.

3. Gheerulla Falls

Where: Mapleton National Park, Mapleton

A little less dramatic than Gardeners and Kondalilla (unless it’s been downpouring in the lead-up to your visit), Gheerulla Falls in Mapleton National Park is super easy to reach and very kid-friendly. The Falls flow down a large cliff face as opposed to dropping through the air so you won’t find that monstrous splash. I’m told by people I get to chatting with that rain provides one helluva sight. My kids are mesmerised as tiny clocks in their heads map out ways to slide down the cliff face and there’s a small rock pool at the foot of the Falls to frolic in, too.

4. Buderim ‘Serenity’ Falls

the Buderim ‘Serenity’ Falls, Sunshine Coast — Buderim Falls has been affectionately nicknamed Serenity Falls. (Image: Nathan White Images/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Where: Buderim Forest Park, Buderim

I’m calling it: waterfalls on the Sunshine Coast are all, practically, young-family friendly. Yet another beautiful spot I discover with my children in tow, Buderim Falls, known locally as Serenity Falls, is easy to reach and within a few minutes’ drive from the centre of town. We go in via the Lindsay Rd entry at Harry’s Lane where a sturdy timber boardwalk paves stress-free navigation to the waterfall’s base. I’m told by fellow waterfall-chasers (and there’s significantly more here than at the previous spots I’ve visited) that the Quorn Close entry off Lindsay Rd is tougher for kids due to its steepness. A shallow waterhole beneath the falls is arguably as idyllic as the drop itself, and we soon discover it’s deep enough for diving. The cascade itself trickles softly when I arrive, but again, I’m told by fellow visitors that rain dials up the drama. Regardless, it’s gorgeous down here and quick and easy access means we’ve got the rest of the day to keep exploring.

5. Booloumba Falls

the Booloumba Falls, Sunshine Coast — Booloumba Falls are tucked away in Conondale National Park. (Image: Radley White/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Where: Conondale National Park, Conondale

After banging on about the young kid energy at waterfalls on the Sunshine Coast, I ditch the kids one morning to tackle one of the more adult-driven experiences. Driving as far inland as I’ve gone so far, I uncover Booloumba Falls in the beautiful Conondale National Park. Extra time behind the wheel is worth it – think lush rainforest, tall eucalypt trees and enchanting creeks, particularly when you’re soaking it up on your own. A collection of rock pools, filled with crystal-clear water, offer some of my favourite swimming options in the area. I spent serious time in the deepest pool, located at the top section of the Falls, before slothing it out in the plunge-style pool right near it, and another rock pool at the bottom of the waterfall.

To access the Falls, there’s an easy three-kilometre two-hour return walk, but make sure you stop at the junction of Peters and Booloumba creeks to admire the abrupt and totally enthralling Breadknife rock, which is exactly what it sounds like.

6. Wappa Falls

a woman sitting on the edge of Wappa Falls, Sunshine Coast — Discover the rock-bordered pool at Wappa Falls. (Image: Reuben Nutt/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Where: Next to the Wappa Dam, Yandina

Up near Coolum, one of the best Sunshine Coast beaches, lies Wappa Falls — arguably the most adored swimming hole of all. I visited as a child but it’s great to be back on the Maroochy River with the rock-bordered waters beckoning my family this time. To reach it, we drive along Pump Station Rd to find the Falls’ carpark before taking a short stroll to Mother Nature’s playground. My kids dip in and out of the pools as hubby and I soak up more serene birdsong and lashings of Vitamin D. What of the actual waterfall? Wappa Falls itself isn’t staggering from a height perspective, so it’s more about the divine dips, but visitors should note that it can turn turbulent after heavy rainfall. As always, lean into common sense and don’t swim if it’s poured in the lead-up.

7. Robinson Falls

Where: Cilento Bushland Conservation Reserve, Nambour

I’m told about Robinson Falls by the front desk team at my accommodation. A waterfall on the Sunshine Coast that not many tourists uncover, the slice of paradise is tucked amid lush bushlands. Named after brothers Edmund and Arthur Robinson, two early colonisers of the area, Robinson Falls sits within the Cilento Bushland Conservation Reserve : 10.5 hectares that welcome you with a children’s playground, toilets and barbecue facilities. I follow a short loop trail to the left of the park through the bush to reach the top of the waterfall (which isn’t massive but is very pretty) before following it down to the waterhole at the base. What I love about this spot is how secluded it feels and you’ll likely have the place entirely to yourself. Amid the burgeoning Sunshine Coast, that’s one serious drawcard.

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.

The most breathtaking waterfalls to chase on the Sunshine Coast