Gheerulla Falls
One of the best things about the Sunshine Coast Hinterland is that it is seemingly endless.
One sunny Sunday, we managed to find a nice easy walk where we didn’t see another soul – it was magical.
We picked a journey to Gheerulla Falls completely on a whim and had a great short adventure.
Getting there is easy – just drive out towards Mapleton and continue along Delicia Road. The last couple of kms are on a dirt surface but any car can make it.
The walk itself is part of the Sunshine Coast Great Walk in the Mapleton National Park so it is a good sample of what you might experience if you wanted to attempt the entire 58km trek.
Don’t let that big number scare you though – this is just a 1.5km stroll down to the falls. You will have to note that you will have to walk UPHILL to get back to the car though.
You can do the full 22km circuit that includes Mapleton Falls as well but unless you are an avid hiker, this would be tough to do in a day.
The entry to this track clearly isn’t visited much as there was a lot of long grass as we made our way down.
On the walk down you will be surrounded by large trees and hear so much bird life.
I was wondering how far we were walking because, even over half way down I couldn’t hear any water. I had assumed the falls would be flowing after recent heavy rains, but they are just hidden off to the right of the track when you reach Gheerulla Creek at the bottom.
As we walked, we could see the area was rich in minerals with green coated rocks everywhere!
The falls themselves are tranquil and make for a great photo…
You could possibly take a dip if you were so inclined as the pool at the bottom looks deep enough (maybe if you had walked the 22kms…) but we just took it all in and cooled our feet off in the nearby creek.
I recommend crossing the creek just for the view downstream from the middle. Plus, the ankle-deep water is very refreshing.
I can’t wait to discover more of the walks and falls in this National Park.
