Wappa Falls near Yandina, Sunshine Coast: Is it safe for swimming?

You swim in Wappa Falls on the Sunshine Coast at your own risk, but it’s crocodile-free and generally safe. Avoid getting in the pool after heavy rain, though.

Wappa Falls is a small but often spectacular waterfall on the Maroochy River, Queensland. The waterfall is just downstream of the Wappa Dam on the Sunshine Coast. Wappa Falls can go from a trickle to a thundering cascade when water from the dam is released.

Is swimming at Wappa Falls safe?

Unfortunately, the best time to take photos of Wappa Falls is the worst time to use the pool as a swimming hole. When the water is flowing fast, either due to dam release or heavy rain, swimming in the Wappa Falls pool can become dangerous.

The rest of the time, however, swimming is fine as long as you don’t do anything silly. Falling under the category of “silly” would include jumping from the rocks above the falls. The rocks are very slippery, and you never quite know where you’re going to land.

Wappa Falls is a twin falls. The Maroochy River splits around the rock before plunging in two channels. The mixing of the streams can create something of a whirlpool effect.

12 fantastic Sunshine Coast experiences to book now

Taste coffee and ginger, do rainforest walks, and visit the best lookouts on a highlight-packed hinterland tour.
Take a serene Noosa Everglades cruise along the mirror-like waterways – or canoe through the Everglades.
Learn to surf at a Sunshine Coast surf school – or try paddleboarding instead.
Combine sight-seeing and thrills on a fast boat tour.
Go e-mountain biking on the downhill trails of Tewantin National Park.
Kayak with dolphins as part of a beach 4WD tour.
Explore the Sunshine Coast from above on a seaplane flight.
Take an indigenous cultural tour – with bush tucker tasting.
Visit the region’s best craft breweries and distilleries on a drinks tasting tour.
Go jetskiing through the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage.
Taste wines, cheeses and chocolates on a hinterland food tour.
Watch migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.

Crocodiles at Wappa Falls?

There are, however, no crocodiles at Wappa Falls – it is too far south.

One of the great advantages of Wappa Falls as a swimming hole is that the surrounding rock shelves make excellent sunbathing territory. You can go for repeated dips, then dry off reading a book in the sun for half an hour.

Wappa Falls near Yandina, Queensland. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Where is Wappa Falls, Queensland?

Wappa Falls is a short walk from Wappa Dam, but if coming by car, the parking area is on Pump Station Road, just off the Wappa Falls Road. It’s a short diversion from the Bruce Highway if driving north from Brisbane to Hervey Bay or Bundaberg.

The nearest town to Wappa Falls is Yandina, about 4km to the north-east. Yandina is best known for hosting the Yandina Markets, the scrappier cousin to the more famous Eumundi Markets.

Other Sunshine Coast waterfalls include Kondalilla Falls in the Kondalilla National Park near Montville and Gardners Falls in Maleny. Buderim Falls in Buderim is another option close to the Bruce Highway.