If you’re averse to salt water, waves or cabanas, we’ve got good news – our region offers more places to swim than just the beach. The Gold Coast, and especially nearby Northern Rivers, is home to the best waterfalls and rock pools, all waiting to be explored. You just need to know where to look…
Currumbin Rock Pools
One of the most accessible watering holes on this list, the Currumbin Rock Pools are perfect for those looking for an easy alternative to a beach day. With a carpark, public toilet and even its own café across the road, you don’t need to battle through bushland to enjoy the cool oasis of the rockpools – though you probably will have to battle a crowd. Honestly, worth it!
Cougal Cascades
If you’re looking for somewhere a little more secluded, but still easy to access, keep driving up Currumbin Creek Road to the Cougal Cascade Carpark. From there, it’s a short walk to the cascades themselves – a series of short waterfalls that pool into rocky craters as far as the eye can see. Go for a wander to the Historic Sawmill, or pick a flat rock and unwind in the sun. You’ll feel like you’re a world away.
Bexhill Quarry
Vast, calm and impossibly blue, Bexhill Quarry was once something of a local secret – now, it’s become so popular that the local council is in talks to turn it into a proper swimming site. Until then, you’ll have to trudge along the beaten bath, navigate the narrow banks and dodge discarded cars and building materials – all the fun that comes with swimming in an abandoned quarry.
Check out our guide to Bexhill Quarry, right here
Tosha Falls
Just outside Alstonville (which is, in turn, just outside Ballina), you’ll find Tosha Falls. One of many waterfalls in the area, there’s something about Tosha that keeps us coming back. It’s the Goldilocks of waterfalls – not too tall, not too busy, not too hard to get to, everything about Tosha Falls is just right. And after a dip and a lounge in the sun, the perfect lunch spot – the Eltham Hotel – is less than 15 minutes away. Perfect.
Killen Falls
Chasing waterfalls? You’re in luck. Just a 15-minute drive from Tosha Falls is Killen Falls, one of the most popular waterfalls in the area (for good reason). Part of a patch of rainforest called the Big Scrub, Killen Falls is only a few hundred metres from the carpark – though it feels perfectly secluded. Take a (cautious) dip in the water, then round the bank to the cave behind the falls to see them in a whole new light.
Whian Whian Falls
A collection of falls, rather than just one, Whian Whian offers options depending on your mood and energy levels – from short walks to peaceful lookouts, to longer tracks that lead to wide, clear pools perfect for a post-hike swim. It’s greener, quieter and a little wilder than some of the more popular Northern Rivers waterfalls, making it ideal if you’re craving space, shade and that “how is this only an hour from the Gold Coast?” feeling.
Minyon Falls
Last, but certainly not least, is Minyon Falls – certainly the grandest waterfall on this list. Located between Byron Bay and Nimbin in the waterfall-dense Nightcap National Park, Minyon Falls is famous for a reason. If you’re willing to take the hike, you’ll be rewarded with views from all angles – from the dizzying 100-metre lookout to the lower walking tracks – and a cooling swim at the base of the falls.
Editor’s note: Be careful when exploring these areas. Wildlife, submerged objects and slippery surfaces are just some of the hazards you’re likely to encounter, so go slow, stay shallow and never jump into murky water.
