- Cedar Creek Swimming Holes near Samford
- Currumbin Rock Pools, Currumbin Valley
- Lower Portals Rock Pools, Mount Barney National Park
Are you looking for a weekend adventure that will get the kids out in nature?
South East Queensland has a great range of rock pools scattered around the region that offer the perfect day trip adventure with some amazing scenery.
We’ve put together a short list of our three favourite freshwater rock pools to swim and explore all within a few hours of Brisbane CBD.
Cedar Creek Swimming Holes near Samford
Less than an hour northwest of the CBD and about twenty minutes past Samford Village, the Cedar Creek Swimming Holes are a popular destination for families. To get there, make your way up to Samford Village and turn north onto Mount Samson Road until to reach Closeburn. From here, turn west onto Cedar Creek Road and take in the beautiful surroundings as you snake your way through the hills at the edge of the D’Aguilar National Park. Before you reach the swimming holes, you’ll pass Andy Williams Park which is the perfect spot to stop for a picnic lunch by the picturesque waterfalls. The swimming holes are a wonderful spot to cool off, especially on a sweltering Queensland day. The trickling streams and teeming wildlife in the surrounding forest offer the ideal atmosphere for a quick getaway that’s sure to make you forget that you haven’t even left city limits. The best time for a swim is just after a downpour when the creek is flush with fresh water from the mountain rains.
Currumbin Rock Pools, Currumbin Valley
Tucked away in the lush Currumbin Valley, about one hour and fifteen minutes from Brisbane and around twenty minutes from Currumbin Beach is this hidden gem. From Brisbane, take the M1 to Exit 85 at Reedy Creek, then follow Old Coach Road onto the Tallebudgera Connection Road which ends at Currumbin Creek Road. From here, turn west onto Currumbin Creek Road and head into Currumbin Valley until you reach the rock pools. Alternatively, from Currumbin Beach, head inland along Duringan Street and onto the connecting Currumbin Creek Road until you reach the rock pools – a trip of about fourteen kilometres.
The Currumbin Rock Pools are a popular spot for swimming and are just off the main road so there’s no hiking required. Bring your picnic items and spread out for a lazy afternoon on the shores, or drop into the Om Cafe & Convenience Store just across the road for a coffee or a yummy treat. If you want to experience more of the rainforest, head a further ten minutes down the road to Cougal Cascade. A short fifteen-minute walk from the car park, you’ll be greeted with beautiful waterfalls and another cute swimming hole that’s sure to be a hit with the kids.
Lower Portals Rock Pools, Mount Barney National Park
If you’re looking for a bit more of an adventurous day trip that’ll get your muscles moving and your heart pumping, we’d recommend heading out to Mount Barney National Park to visit the Lower Portals Rock Pools of Mount Barney Creek. Not only is it one of the best rock pools near Brisbane, but the challenging 3.5-kilometre hike to get there makes reaching the rock pools that much more rewarding. The hike is a three-hour return trip with a moderate-to-steep grade and a short scramble near the end so prepare for more than just a leisurely stroll.
Getting there will take you just under two hours so it’s best to set aside a full day to make the most of the experience. From Brisbane, make your way to the Mount Lindesay Highway where you’ll continue south highway until you reach Rathdowney. About a kilometre past the Rathdowney Hotel, turn right onto Boonah-Rathdowney Road and drive for about seven kilometres (about 5 minutes) until you reach Upper Logan Road with a sign for Mount Barney. Drive for another eight kilometres along Upper Logan Road – this will take you through Barney View – and turn right onto Seidenspinner Road. About 500 metres down here on your left is Lower Portals Road which will take you into the Lower Portals Car Park from which you begin your hike.
The pools are flanked by large rock walls that rise high above the water level and offer picturesque framing of the crystal-clear stream. Stretch out on one of the larger boulders or cool off amongst the rocks in the babbling flow of the creek. If you’re game to make a weekend of it, there’s even a camping spot a short distance upstream.
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