Guess What? We ticked another item off our ‘Must Do’ list yesterday! Emerald Creek Falls walk and swim ‘owned’ as the kids would say, meaning we did it and it was awesome :-). Can’t believe it has taken us so long to get there and definitely going again soon – swimming in the waterhole under the falls was beautiful.
Emerald Creek Falls can be found just outside Mareeba in the Dinden West Forest Reserve. You turn off the Kennedy Highway onto the signposted Tinaroo Creek Road, follow Tinaroo Creek Road for about 3 kms and then turn left into Cobra Road. From Cobra road it is all dirt and quite corrugated and steep in parts, but regular vehicles can still get out there just by taking it steady. It is unsuitable for caravans and trailers and unfortunately there is no camping. However, the day use area has wood fired bbq’s and picnic tables and there are some nice spots along the picnic area to swim with the kids.
My mum and I brought the kids and cousies out to Emerald Creek for a swim last year, but didn’t attempt the walk to the falls.
I wasn’t sure if we would make it carrying Kipp and if the other kids would manage – turns out the 1.9km return walk to the falls and back is no problem. The big kids all managed fine and Kipp even walked some of the way too. The track is well marked and very well worn. We made it to the water fall lookout in under twenty minutes just strolling along.
Up the track we go!
Kipp doing his first bush walk.
We didn’t do the scramble to the top of the waterfall to check out the ‘infinity pool’ which makes the place so famous, just because we didn’t have a lot of time and didn’t want to risk it with Kipp – Matt and I might have a ‘date’ day (one day!) and head up there to check it out without kids first.
View from the water fall lookout back towards the swimming hole.
View looking up to the infinity pool.
Earlier in the day, we spent the afternoon splashing around the creek at the picnic area with a stack of other scouting families which was lovely, then when the afternoon finished at 5pm we made a quick decision to tackle the walk and check it out for ourselves at last.
This meant it was nice and cool and there were not many others around at this time of day!
To get to the swimming hole under the falls, you just follow the orange arrows off the track. There is a little bit of climbing and scrambling involved in this part, but again we managed no problems with Kipp and the kids. Oh and we spotted a tiny little snake on the path too – so keep an eye out!
The swim was amazing, so clean, clear and the water was fresh but not too cold – I even hopped in! We didn’t want to leave but it was getting dark and nearly 7pm on a Sunday night before we left – eeeek! But it was totally worth the break out of the ‘bed early on a Sunday’ routine!
We made it!
Swim time!
Love this one of Tobes – sunset shot!
A ‘mum in the picture’ shot.
Terrible photo but this is us walking back just as it was getting dark – see the full moon out? Carrying all the ‘stuff’ left behind by tourists, grrrr!
Don’t miss it if you come to Mareeba!
Love The Fealy Family xoxo
Fealy Family at Emerald Creek Falls
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