Cedar Creek Falls, Gold Coast: Rock pool swimming, walk & picnic areas

The rock pools at Cedar Creek Falls in Tamborine National Park offer the perfect opportunity for wild swimming in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Cedar Creek Falls in the Gold Coast hinterland is one of the most popular places for wild swimming in Australia. It’s part of the Tamborine National Park, part of an area around Beaudesert known as the Scenic Rim. The Tamborine National Park makes an easy escape from both Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Wild swimming at Cedar Creek Falls, Gold Coast

It’s not so much the waterfall that makes Cedar Creek Falls so popular, but the series of rock pools around it.

Cedar Creek Falls in the Gold Coast hinterland. — Cedar Creek Falls in the Tamborine National Park is one of the best places to swim in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Below Cedar Creek Falls is a series of small pools, barricaded in by smooth, flat rocks. These rocks are ideal for sunbathing on. Not all the pools are open for swimming, but the three most accessible ones from the walking track are.

Getting to Cedar Creek Falls in the Tamborine National Park is pretty easy. From the Cedar Creek Falls Road car park, a walking track heads to the rock pools. The 1.1km return Cedar Creek Falls track kicks off with the Cedar Creek Falls lookout, then heads downhill through the eucalypt forest to the pools. It should take around half an hour for the return walk, but be warned that there are plenty of steps and it’s all uphill on the way back.

Best day trips from the Gold Coast – 7 ways to improve your stay

The Gold Coast is a destination in its own right, but there are several excellent day trips you can do while using it as a base.

Deluxe Tamborine Mountain winery tour – with gourmet lunch.
Full day Springbrook National Park tour – with waterfalls and bush tucker tasting.
Snorkelling with turtles at Cook Island.
Evening glowworm-viewing experience – with guided stargazing.
Lady Elliot Island day trip – with glass bottom boat & guided Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour.
Hopping between microbreweries – with lunch included.
Northern Rivers fruit & distillery tour – with Tropical Fruit World and Husk Distillers.

Tamborine National Park picnic areas near Cedar Creek Falls

There are two large picnic areas near the start of the walking track. Surrounded by tall eucalypt trees, there’s a picnic shelter, tables and toilets. You can also use one of the barbecues. For more information, visit the Tamborine National Park section of the Parks and Forests website.

Cedar Creek Falls is just to the north of Tamborine Mountain. It’s about an hour’s drive south of Brisbane, and roughly 70 minutes north of Coolangatta on the Gold Coast.

While in the area, you can try wine-tasting at the Witches Falls Winery or walking to Curtis Falls. Or maybe tackle the high ropes course at Thunderbird Park.

Cedar Creek Falls: Key questions answered

Are there crocodiles at Cedar Creek Falls? No. Cedar Creek Falls in Tamborine National Park is too far south for crocodiles.

How long is the walk at Cedar Creek Falls? From the car park, the Cedar Creek Falls Track is about 1.1km long. Budget around 20 minutes.

How big is the Cedar Creek Falls car park? The Cedar Creek Falls car park is small, and there is no roadside parking. Getting a parking space can be tricky, particularly at weekends.