Buderim Falls, also called Serenity Falls, is a rainforest waterfall and swimming hole in Buderim Forest Park in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, south of Noosa. Most backpackers never find it because it’s hard to reach without a car. The easiest way to go is the JOEY Buderim Waterfall Day Trip, which runs every Wednesday afternoon from Noosa. It includes time at the falls and a stop at Peregian Beach Hotel with a complimentary drink, for $89, or $75.65 for JOEY Route Pass holders.
Everyone who comes to Noosa does the same handful of things. Hastings Street. Main Beach. The coastal walk to Hell’s Gates. All brilliant, all busy.
But tucked away in the hinterland, about 40 minutes south, there’s a rainforest waterfall that most travellers drive straight past without ever knowing it’s there. No tour buses, no crowds, just a waterfall pouring into a swimming hole under a canopy of strangler figs and ferns. The locals call it Serenity Falls, and once you’ve been, you’ll get why.
Here’s everything you need to know about Buderim Falls, and why the JOEY day trip is the easiest way to see it.
Buderim Falls sits inside Buderim Forest Park, a 45 hectare pocket of subtropical rainforest on the northern side of Buderim Mountain. Martins Creek runs through the park and tumbles over the rocks into a shallow pool below, which is exactly where you want to be on a hot Queensland afternoon.
The walk in is short and shaded, with an elevated boardwalk, timber bridges over the creek and towering rainforest the whole way. Keep your ears open for whipbirds and catbirds, and keep your camera out, because every corner looks like a screensaver. For more on the park, see the Visit Sunshine Coast guide to Buderim Forest Park.
Three reasons most backpackers miss it:
That’s exactly what makes it special. While everyone else is fighting for towel space on Main Beach, you’re floating in a rainforest swimming hole with a waterfall for a backdrop.
JOEY built this trip because we kept watching travellers leave Noosa without ever seeing the hinterland. So we made it easy: we pick you up, take you to the falls, and finish the afternoon at one of the best beach pubs on the Sunshine Coast.
$89, or $75.65 for JOEY Route Pass holders. That covers the return ride, the falls and your complimentary drink at Peregian Beach Hotel.
| JOEY Day Trip | Going on your own | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there | Pickup from Noosa | Hire car or multiple connections |
| Finding the falls | We take you straight there | Suburban lane, easy to miss |
| After the falls | Peregian Beach Hotel stop included | Up to you, and someone has to drive |
| Complimentary drink | Yes, Joey’s shout | No |
| Meet other travellers | Yes | Unlikely |
| Price | $89 all in | Car hire and fuel for the day |
The big one is the drive home. With JOEY, nobody has to be the designated driver after Peregian, and you’ll probably leave with a few new mates for the rest of your East Coast trip.
Wednesday afternoons from Noosa. Rainforest swim, waterfall, beach pub drink. Back by sunset.
The falls run all year, but they’re at their most impressive after rain, when Martins Creek turns the gentle trickle into a proper cascade. Summer is prime swimming season. In winter it’s still a beautiful rainforest walk, and the Peregian Beach Hotel stop makes up for cooler water.
Buderim Falls runs on Wednesdays and the JOEY Australia Zoo Day Trip runs on Tuesdays, so if you’re in Noosa early in the week, you can do both back to back. Fill the rest of your stay with the Fairy Pools, Hastings Street and the Everglades. Our guide to the top things to do in Noosa has the full list.
JOEY runs daily buses into Noosa from Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Byron Bay. A JOEY Route Pass starts at $89 for one trip, with the 6 trip pass working out at $67.50 a trip, and pass holders save on every JOEY day trip. See the full JOEY route, check availability or find your stop in our JOEY bus stops guide.
The Buderim Waterfall trip is already included in one of our JOEY packages:
Shorter on time? The 8 Day Adventure from $1,999 gives you four nights in Noosa, with plenty of room to add the waterfall trip on a Wednesday.
For more on the region, check out Visit Sunshine Coast and Tourism Australia.
Buderim Falls is in Buderim Forest Park on the northern side of Buderim Mountain, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland south of Noosa. It’s also known as Serenity Falls.
Yes. There’s a shallow pool below the falls that’s a popular swimming spot, especially in summer. The rocks can be slippery, so take care getting in and out.
Book the JOEY Buderim Waterfall Day Trip. It runs every Wednesday with pickups at Bounce Hostel Noosa at 12:10pm, Noosa Heads Bus Station at 12:30pm and Flashpackers Noosa at 12:45pm.
It’s $89, or $75.65 for JOEY Route Pass holders. It includes return transport from Noosa, time at the falls and a complimentary drink at Peregian Beach Hotel.
The main trail through Buderim Forest Park is about 1km, with an easy elevated boardwalk at the lower entrance and some rocky sections and bridges further in.
Every Wednesday afternoon, returning to Noosa around 5:30pm.
Definitely. It’s one of the Sunshine Coast’s best kept secrets: a rainforest waterfall and swimming hole with hardly any crowds, and it’s an easy afternoon trip from Noosa with JOEY.
Waterfall swim, rainforest walk and a drink on Joey at Peregian Beach Hotel. Every Wednesday.
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