The Most Incredible Queensland Waterfalls & Swimming Holes

April 25, 2021

The Most Incredible Queensland Waterfalls & Swimming Holes

Australia is a country so beautifully rich in nature and national parks, whichever Australian State you visit, you will find some incredible waterfalls. However, below are some of the most Incredible Queensland waterfalls and swimming holes you will find in Australia.

Free Things To Do In Queensland

Luckily for you, one of the best and most frequent free things to do in Queensland & Australia is to explore National Parks. Taking day trips to get back with nature, slide down rock slides & swim in lakes is a past time of little cost.

Of course, if you wish to camp overnight and be one with nature, then the Queensland Government will hit you with a National Park Camping price, if camping is allowed at all!

Tropical Northern Queensland

You have probably realised after looking into an Australian road trip or planning your adventures down under, that Straya is HUGE!

Each Australian State is bigger than most European Countries. Queensland is no exception either.

Fun Fact: Queensland is seven times the size of Great Britain
– Trust me, I have driven up and down the Bruce Highway multiple times and it’s some serious mileage.
Go With gABBS

This means when chasing waterfalls across Queensland, you have to be prepared for some long-distance driving, off-roading, and hiking to find these beautiful waterfalls.

The majority of waterfalls on this blog can be found in the Tropical Northern Queensland area with a few further down the middle of the coast towards Sunshine Coast.

Best Waterfalls & Swimming Holes in Northern Queensland

Waterfalls Near Cairns

I only got to spend a week in Cairns trying to fit in exploring the city, adventuring out to The Daintree National Forrest, Cape Tribulation and surrounding areas. You could spend a month easily exploring all of the stunning National parks around Cairns.

These are some of the most famous & my personal Go With Gabbs favourite waterfalls near Cairns:

Josephine Falls

It’s hard to get excited about Waterfalls once you’ve been in the Philippines. However, Josephine Falls is an exception – a three-tiered waterfall with lots of swimming holes, rock pools, rock slides and rope swings – its an outdoor nature playground.

By a miracle, I managed to swim across a lagoon, slide up slippery rocks, rock jump across rock pools and shimmy the top of a rock slide with my iPhone 11 to get it all on camera – risky but worth it!

I spent five hours here, swimming, sliding down the rock slides and sunbathing. Usually busy on the weekends but we had it to ourselves in the week.

As Josephine Falls is located in Wooroonooran National Park, sadly there’s no camping or overnight parking, unless you want some hefty $ fines.

Babinda Boulders

Babinda Boulders is a great spot for a calm creek. However, in all honesty, I was disappointed. A classic case of Instagram vs Reality on this one.

We maybe spent about 10 minutes in the water, got bored and cold and decided to head onto our next waterfall on the list.

After all, in the words of Donkey from Shrek “That is a nice boulder” and that’s about it!

Mossman Gorge – Daintree Waterfalls

A waterfall in Daintree National Forrest – Could you want anything more? Mossman Gorge has such clear green water its a sight to see. Spend at least half a day here exploring and swimming.

Once you are done pop into Port Douglas for some coastal town scenery and beaches.

Other Waterfalls near Cairns

Cardwell Spa pools – Beautifull blue waters as opposed to your usual green/brown QLD water.
Stoney creek falls

Waterfalls Near Mission Beach Queensland

Windin Falls Queensland

Jesus, it’s a hike but it’s so worth it. If you are anything like me a 2k hike doesn’t seem like much. But when that entire hike is uphill it starts to feel like 200k!

Windin Falls is well worth the hike for the incredible views at the top. It really is a once in a lifetime kind of view – think natures version of the best infinity pool at the top of a mountain.

Millaa Millaa Falls

Wooaaaahhhhh, Mysterious Girl… Millaa Millaa Falls is firmly on the Aussie bucket list and a must-visit Queensland Waterfall thanks to Peter Andre.

Also, showing my age here – Milla Milla featured on the ‘Yess, Yess” Herbal Essence advert that used to be on T4 before Desperate Housewives each week!

In terms of accessibility, Millaa Millaa is a quick tourist visitor dream. With a mere 100m stroll from the car park to the waterfall itself you can park up, grab your swimmers and be in the water in under 3 minutes.

However, usually, all you see is beautiful photos of people bathing or hair flicking in the pool. Nobody tells you how hard it is to get in or out of the water, or how bloody cold it is! Shock breathing required.

Millaa Millaa Falls is a beautiful spot and one of my favourites along the top end of Northern Tropical Queensland. It is also in a loop of three other waterfalls which you can visit in one day.

Waterfalls near Townsville

Big Crystal Creek

Although no waterfalls can be found at Big Crystal Creek (BCC), it is one of the best freshwater swimming locations in Queensland. Full of rockslides, great jumping points and rope swings.

BCC is only an hour north drive from Townsville and found just before you reach the Paluma National Park Ranges.

A crystal clear large swimming lake that is the perfect setting for a big day out with your mates. Grab your inflatables, a couple of tinnies (remember to take them with you when you leave!) and relax for the day.

Head up in the car, or walk 3k past the picnic ground campsite and you will find the Big Crystal Creek rock slides! A short walk from the car park, head down the road and you will come up from above the main swimming hole.

Big Crystal Creek Rock Slides

Warning: these rocks are very very slippery! I ended up on my arse in front of a fair few people. The only safe way to get in and out is to sealion roll in and propel yourself out. No elegant behaviour around these rock slides.

Queensland Local Secrets

Hidden Spot: – I am going to let you in on a secret – my favourite part to BCC. The Lazy river and rope swings!

When you pull off the main Bruce Highway and head down the road for around 3 minutes – on your right, there is a subtle gravel V fork off the side of the road, pay attention otherwise you will miss it.

If you hit the gravel road of BCC you have gone too far.

It’s inconspicuous – but if you can find it, head down the few small steps and you will find a bank with a huge rope swing that swings you directly into the best lazy river!

In winter – March-August its FREEZING! Some major Wimhof breathing technique is needed. Summertime, prepare for the largest bath you’ve ever had.

Just go prepared with bug spray outside of the water – mozzies are rife!

Magnetic Island

Whilst you’re near Townsville – make sure to stop by and visit Magnetic Island!

A beautiful island off the coast of Townsville, where wild koalas can be spotted and you can drive around the island in your 4X4 pink and blue Barbie cars.

Magnetic Island is a magical place that needs to be added to your Queensland road trip bucket list.

Little Crystal Creek Townsville

It’s in the name, the little version of Big Crystal Creek!

Although Little Crystal Creek has no large swimming creeks, its smaller series of waterfalls and rock pools make it a beautiful place for a dip and swim.

The scenic bridge across the top takes you up to Paluma Ranges and makes for a great observation point for the creeks below.

Little Crystal Creek bridge is definitely not a bridge for jumping!

Townsville Alligator Creek WaterFall

Alligator Creek can be found just off the Bruce Highway before Townsville. It has great camping facilities and bbq areas. Alligator Creek itself has two parts!

The initial swimming holes and lakes staggered as the mountain ranges grow and then the 6k walk through bush, fields, rivers and mountain rocks to get the incredible waterfall at the top.

Alligator Creek near Townsville (there are a few Alligator creeks across Australia) is a great day out depending on whether you want a lazy lake day or a full-on hike through the Australian wilderness to experience the top of Alligator Falls.

Bug Spray and Queensland Waterfalls – The Perfect Pair

I’ve done both lower and upper Alligator Creek and loved both!

However, with the slight exception of the 122 mosquito bites I received after the waterfall hike, without any bug spray – that part and the aftermath I didn’t love.

Bug spray is a lifeline – its not worth doing the hike without it, so pack some!

Top Tip: if you are doing the hike it takes around 2.5/3 hours each way so make sure to be up the top by 11 am and heading down by 2 pm to avoid hiking in the dark!

We did see eels & turtles in this creek – but a warning comes in the name… Alligators may be present.

Purling Brook Falls – Springbrook National Park

Usually, with most waterfalls in Queensland you start at the bottom of the waterfall. Purling Brook Falls starts at the very top!

Just outside of Brisbane this walking track will take around 45 minutes to follow the trail down to reach this amazing spot!

I wasn’t brave enough to get into this water as it was freezing on the toe dip temperature scale, but some brave Australians were taking a dip.

Another 40 minute walk takes you down further to the bottom of the pools where you can find some streams. It’s beautiful, but not as amazing as this section in the photograph.

Queensland Waterfalls

That’s it so far! The above are some of my favourites Go With Gabbs Queensland waterfalls and swimming holes.

These stunning Australian National Parks are some that I have been lucky enough to explore whilst living and road-tripping in QLD & Tropical Northern Queensland.

Go With Gabbs Queensland Waterfalls & Swimming Holes

If you want to continue discovering more of the incredible natural wonders Queensland has to offer, head on up to Tropical Northern Queensland with me, Go With Gabbs and explore The ancient, breathtaking Daintree Rainforest.