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Swimming Hole Heaven in South East QueenslandYour guide to the best swimming holes
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Here are swimming holes that I have experienced in south east Queensland, including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, and K'gari.
Above: Discover swimming holes such as Cougal Cascades on swimmingholeheaven.com
(Order this image)
This spot is a bit tricky to access down a steep and slippery path, but once at creek level there are several deep swimming holes to explore, all
surrounded by dense rainforest, and each with its own cascade at the top end of the pool…
Located a few steps from the Currumbin Creek Rd, this huge natural pool has a little cascade bursting in at the top end that creates
a great mix of tranquil and turbulent swimming conditions. It is big enough for lap swimming and well set up for picnics…
An immense, lush lawn leads down to the water's edge of this deep, chalky turquoise swim in the Gold Coast Hinterland. It
has the benefit of shade at the water's edge, a good flow of water, and a submersed wall of stones across the river…
A floating boom creates an Olympic length swimming pool in the estuary, right outside the caravan park. This spot is hugely popular with
kids spilling out from the caravan park, with shade cloth at the back of the beach for onlookers…
This swim has several rope swings with teenagers and adults on high rotation, swinging up and out before darting from great height into the deep water
like human gannets. The water can be a bit murky, but the pool is large…
An often ferocious flow of water into this deep, turbulent pool with stone cliffs on three sides creates an exhilarating space for swimming
that is also popular with cliff jumpers, with calmer water immediately downstream of the pool…
This lake is a natural basin, nestled in between the surrounding hills with a ring of reeds around the shore, creating a calm and peaceful environment for a swim.
Basin Lake is only accessible by foot after a several kilometre walk, well away from the crowds…
A crystal clear, non-tidal, freshwater coastal stream famous for its lazy river tubing, with a boardwalk and steps down into the water at the departure point,
and exit steps roughly 150 metres downstream. The creek has a white sand bed with an array of aquatic life on both banks…
An isolated swim that provides a stopover for hikers along the K'gari Great Walk, with an unfenced bush camping area nearby. A little section of the white sand beach is free of
reeds, which provides access to the transparent, tea-coloured water and open water swimming beyond…
A large, fine white sand beach with shallow entry to a wide expanse of crystal clear water. Arguably just as good for swimming and splashing about as nearby Lake McKenzie, but
with less brilliantly coloured water. Choosing the right car park will influence your impressions of this beach…
The largest freshwater perched lake in the world, with two fenced campgrounds on the hill above the south-west corner of the lake. Extremely shallow near the shore, which is great
for dunking your feet in the tea-coloured water, with a bit more wading required to reach a depth suitable for swimming. The beach is wild and massive…
Immerse yourself in the azure blue waters of this understandably world-reknowned white sand swimming jewell on K'gari. The sparkling
water is also low in pH, which makes it one of the cleanest, critter free swims in Australia that is
suitable for all ages and swimming abilities…
A very steep sand blow is slowly swallowing up this lake, the deepest on K'gari, in a fascinating example of nature re-inventing itself. Bring this one forward on
your bucket list if you want to swim here before the lake eventually disappears…
There are three large, deep pools to choose from within this granite rock cascade in the Mount Walsh National Park, inland from Maryborough.
super slippery when wet because the rocks are so smooth, but also super refreshing. Timing your visit right is important here…
This (mostly) free splash park on the Hervey Bay foreshore has one of the largest splash pads ever built, with dozens of individual water jets, and a separate
smaller splash pad just for toddlers. The park also includes paid entry to two giant waterslides and Australia's first Aqua Ninja course…
Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information. If you know of a swimming hole in south east Queensland that you think I would like to visit, suggest a site.
Above: Discover swimming holes such as Cougal Cascades on swimmingholeheaven.com
(Order this image)
Select Your Swim:
Click on the heading of each location to find your next swimming day trip or holiday destination, or alternatively search by map.
Swim safe, have fun and remember that no matter how cold the water is, it's alright once you're in!
Gold Coast:
Currumbin Creek at Cougal Cascades
This spot is a bit tricky to access down a steep and slippery path, but once at creek level there are several deep swimming holes to explore, all
surrounded by dense rainforest, and each with its own cascade at the top end of the pool…
Currumbin Valley Rock Pool
Located a few steps from the Currumbin Creek Rd, this huge natural pool has a little cascade bursting in at the top end that creates
a great mix of tranquil and turbulent swimming conditions. It is big enough for lap swimming and well set up for picnics…
Tallebudgera Creek at Harley Smith Reserve
An immense, lush lawn leads down to the water's edge of this deep, chalky turquoise swim in the Gold Coast Hinterland. It
has the benefit of shade at the water's edge, a good flow of water, and a submersed wall of stones across the river…
Tallebudgera Creek Estuary Boom
A floating boom creates an Olympic length swimming pool in the estuary, right outside the caravan park. This spot is hugely popular with
kids spilling out from the caravan park, with shade cloth at the back of the beach for onlookers…
Sunshine Coast:
Gardners Falls, Maleny
This swim has several rope swings with teenagers and adults on high rotation, swinging up and out before darting from great height into the deep water
like human gannets. The water can be a bit murky, but the pool is large…
Wappa Falls, Yandina
An often ferocious flow of water into this deep, turbulent pool with stone cliffs on three sides creates an exhilarating space for swimming
that is also popular with cliff jumpers, with calmer water immediately downstream of the pool…
K'gari and the Fraser Coast:
Basin Lake, K'gari
This lake is a natural basin, nestled in between the surrounding hills with a ring of reeds around the shore, creating a calm and peaceful environment for a swim.
Basin Lake is only accessible by foot after a several kilometre walk, well away from the crowds…
Eli Creek, K'gari
A crystal clear, non-tidal, freshwater coastal stream famous for its lazy river tubing, with a boardwalk and steps down into the water at the departure point,
and exit steps roughly 150 metres downstream. The creek has a white sand bed with an array of aquatic life on both banks…
Lake Benaroon, K'gari
An isolated swim that provides a stopover for hikers along the K'gari Great Walk, with an unfenced bush camping area nearby. A little section of the white sand beach is free of
reeds, which provides access to the transparent, tea-coloured water and open water swimming beyond…
Lake Birrabeen, K'gari
A large, fine white sand beach with shallow entry to a wide expanse of crystal clear water. Arguably just as good for swimming and splashing about as nearby Lake McKenzie, but
with less brilliantly coloured water. Choosing the right car park will influence your impressions of this beach…
Lake Boomanjin, K'gari
The largest freshwater perched lake in the world, with two fenced campgrounds on the hill above the south-west corner of the lake. Extremely shallow near the shore, which is great
for dunking your feet in the tea-coloured water, with a bit more wading required to reach a depth suitable for swimming. The beach is wild and massive…
Lake McKenzie, K'gari
Immerse yourself in the azure blue waters of this understandably world-reknowned white sand swimming jewell on K'gari. The sparkling
water is also low in pH, which makes it one of the cleanest, critter free swims in Australia that is
suitable for all ages and swimming abilities…
Lake Wabby, K'gari
A very steep sand blow is slowly swallowing up this lake, the deepest on K'gari, in a fascinating example of nature re-inventing itself. Bring this one forward on
your bucket list if you want to swim here before the lake eventually disappears…
Waterfall Creek Rock Pools, Boompa
There are three large, deep pools to choose from within this granite rock cascade in the Mount Walsh National Park, inland from Maryborough.
super slippery when wet because the rocks are so smooth, but also super refreshing. Timing your visit right is important here…
Free Splash Parks and Splash Pads:
Wet Side, Hervey Bay
This (mostly) free splash park on the Hervey Bay foreshore has one of the largest splash pads ever built, with dozens of individual water jets, and a separate
smaller splash pad just for toddlers. The park also includes paid entry to two giant waterslides and Australia's first Aqua Ninja course…
Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information. If you know of a swimming hole in south east Queensland that you think I would like to visit, suggest a site.
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