Gardners Falls

If there is one thing you know about a Queensland summer, it is that it gets hot! This means that everyone is looking for the quickest way to cool off.

Enter the natural swimming holes you can find right in the heart of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

Just a stone’s throw from downtown Maleny, you can find Gardners Falls.

You won’t have to work up a sweat getting to this natural beauty, as a short, level walk of about 400 metres is all it takes.

On our visit, it hadn’t rained in a while so the falls themselves were just trickling down but the pool at the base is deep and wide – perfect for swimming anytime.

For the brave an adventurous, there are a couple of rope swings on either side of the large pool to swing and flip and jump to your heart’s content – just make sure you check the depth beforehand and exercise common sense!

The shallow rock pools at the top are perfect for small kids to splash about in, and the grassy banks, rock formations and picnic tables make a great spot to while away a summer’s day.

We also explored a little further downstream just to see what we could find and the peaceful sounds of trickling water and the serenity of the surrounding bush just make me happy. You will need to be careful if you want to head down that way as the rocks are small and slippery – in my mind it is definitely worth a bit of scrambling.

There is something magical about swimming amongst the trees. The cool water is refreshing, the surroundings are peaceful and somehow the whole experience is more special than a dip in the ocean.

That is not to say there aren’t other people here. On a hot summer day, the pools and grassed area around Gardners Falls can get pretty busy so plan your visit accordingly.

We combined our trip to the falls with a visit to some of the local cheese, wine and beer makers in the area – all in all a perfect way to spend a day in the hinterland.