Things to Do at Cedar Creek

Rising on the Western slopes of Mount Tamborine, and dropping down in a series of waterfalls, Cedar Creek is well worth the trek to see it in person!

The Gold Coast is haven of picturesque walks, mesmerising waterfalls, and must-see attractions. Cedar Creek is one of these hotspots. Set between Airlie Beach and Proserpine, it forms a natural rock amphitheatre that is surrounded by waterfalls, vibrant plant life, and colourful birds.

The History of Cedar Creek

The first Europeans to move to the region were the timber families in the 1960s. Moving here to cut down red cedar, beech, and hoop pine found across the mountain tops. It later the settler community became a lot larger, building schools and establishing grazing properties. The region has a proud community, with many locals friendly to show visitors their region’s natural beauty and town centre.

Cedar Creek is easy to reach with a designated car park. From there, you can take one of the bush walks up around the falls and take in the crystal clear waters of the rock pool from a different perspective. Keep your eyes peeled for unique fish, turtles, and lizards while you’re there.

Activities at Cedar Creek

• Cedar Creek Falls Lookout

  A short walk from the car park takes you up to the Cedar Creek Lookout, an excellent vantage point that lets you gaze out over the surrounding scenery. From there, you can marvel at the pretty waterfalls as they cascade down into a series of picturesque rock pools ideal for swimming in.

• Cedar Creek Falls Rock Pools

  Perhaps the biggest draw of Cedar Creek is its glistening rock pools. A 900m route from the lookout takes you down a track past the waterfalls and to the rock pools below, where you can take a dip to cool off.

  Start the walk from the lookout, which starts to slope downwards until it splits into a fork. Stay left, and you’ll reach another viewing platform for a different perspective, before soaking up the breath-taking sight of the three higher waterfalls up a flight of stairs.

  Continue onwards until the walking trails join together again and go down through the canyon, which takes you over open forest land and past pretty rainforest scenery. After that, you’ll arrive at the swimming holes, which can be reached via slope rock shelves. Be careful, as these shelves can be slippery when wet, and jumping from the cliffs is strictly prohibited.

  The pools are ideal for cooling off in, but the water can be quite cold, even in the peak parts of the summer months.

The Gold Coast’s Hinterland is a beautiful show of Australia’s natural scenery. In this part of the country, you can explore a mixture of landscapes, from lush rainforest, to open grassland, and sheer cliffs with cascading waterfalls. At Cedar Creek, you can discover all this and more, whether you’re looking to take a walk around stunning bush land, spot some of the region’s famous native wildlife, or simply cool off in the heat of the Australian sun.

Related article: Why you should visit Surfers Paradise?

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.