*This is purely our opinion based on our experience. Factors that we included:
- The adventure to get to the waterfall
- Whether we could swim or not
- How the falls were flowing at the time we visited
- How impressive or beautiful the falls were
- If a waterfall had been commercialised, did it detract from it
- Size doesn’t matter (in this instance haha)
Coming in at Number 8... West Mulgrave Falls, Wooroonooran National Park

Hike Time: 4 hours return
Hike Length: 10kms
Hike Difficulty: Difficult
West Mulgrave Falls is an adventure and a half to get to haha. Be prepared for some pretty confusing trails, leg burning hills and some fun creek crossings.
You’ll be rewarded for the effort though! This waterfall is remote and lesser known than Windin Falls – the trail starts in the same carpark. There is also a nice side trip up one of the creeks. Here you’ll be rewarded with some smaller waterfalls and cascades with beautiful swimming spots at multiple locations. I believe the two main falls are called South Falls and Rapid Falls.
This is best done with someone who has been before. Take your swimmers and enjoy the frigid waters.
Coming in at Number 7... Unnamed Falls, via Private Property
Hike Time: 45 minutes from the campgrounds.
Hike Length: 3kms
Hike Difficulty: Moderate
This waterfall ticked every box for us – and we are planning to get back there again soon!
If you are lucky enough to stay at the campsite where directions will be given (we have an article on this place), you’ll most likely have this to yourselves. Please respect the owners by staying at their campgrounds and/or obtaining permission to walk there. It’s a real gem and would be a real shame to see people entering illegally.
It was a fun and adventurous hike in – much shorter than the usual slog to get to the real gems! There is rock hopping and plenty of obstacles along the way, but it made the adventure all the more worthwhile. You’ll be relying on a worn path and ribbons to find your way.
Once we came into the view of the falls I was instantly impressed by the swimming hole and the bottom tier of the falls. It took a few more seconds to realise that the falls were comprised of multiple tiers – and it was next level awesome!
There is a large boulder that sits roughly 15 metres from the base of the falls, and this is the prime spot to sit and enjoy, or use it as a run up for a dive into the swimming hole.
This is an absolute treasure and we hope you get to experience the camping and also the falls here.

Coming in at Number 6... Emerald Creek Falls, Dinden West Forest Reserve
Hike Time: 45 minutes from the carpark.
Hike Length: 2kms
Hike Difficulty: Easy
Hike Starting Point: Follow Emerald Falls Road (unsealed for 6km), then take the 2km return hike
Emerald Creek Falls was an unexpected treat for us. We were travelling with some friends for a couple of weeks and decided it would be cool to check it out as we were in the area for a couple of days.
Boy, we were pleasantly surprised! It’s an easy walk to get there, and the landscape is impressive. Although the surrounding plant life was a bit dry, the section that followed the creek and falls were very vibrant.
There’s an awesome swimming hole at the base of the falls and a few rocks to jump off. Just be aware, some of the rocks around the swimming hole are very smooth and slippery. Two of our friends slipped over, and as we were leaving, a couple came and the guy slipped and faceplanted – it was not a pleasant site!

Coming in at Number 5... Josephine Falls, Wooroonooran National Park
Hike Time: 30 minutes from the carpark (return)
Hike Length: 1.4kms
Hike Difficulty: Easy (sealed path)
Hike Starting Point: Follow Josephine Falls Road (sealed). Be sure to take the path to the falls – the other one goes to the summit – of the tallest mountain in QLD!
We’d already had high expectations coming to this waterfall – and they were certainly met. We’ve been back several times already, and will go again soon!
The whole feel of the National Park is amazing, and as you meander through the forest, there is beautiful scenery and some small creeks along the way flowing with water. There are a couple of viewing platforms of the main falls and following cascades, then also some stairs that lead down to the swimming area – ensure it is safe and not flowing too fast before jumping in.
There is a fun rock slide that leads to the main swimming section and also a large boulder you can jump off into the crystal clear water.
We hesitated on adding this to our list because of how popularised and commercialised it is (compared to others we have ventured to), but there’s no doubt of the beauty here at Josephine Falls. The surrounding rainforest and swimming hole is a perfect combination.


Coming in at Number 4... Green Cliff Falls, Wooroonooran National Park
Hike Time: 8 hours
Hike Length: 15kms
Hike Difficulty: Difficult
Weirdly enough, I found this lesser known waterfall marked on Google Maps. After checking out the satellite images, it looked as if there were multiple falls and cascades in the same area. Luckily for me, there was a trail marked on the AllTrails application.
The initial section of the track on the Goldfield Trail (starting from Babinda) was relatively easy BUT as soon as you veer off onto Green Cliff Falls Trail, things get difficult. It’s a slog uphill on a goat track that isn’t used very much.
The final descent out of the forest is a bit tricky, but then it opens up onto a raging creek/river with beautiful falls and swimming holes.
Read about Green Cliff Falls.
Coming in at Number 3... Zoe Falls, Hinchinbrook Island

Hike Time: 4 days
Hike Length: 32kms
Hike Difficulty: Hard (this is a part of the multiday Thorsborne Trail)
Though this waterfall can be accessed via a day trip and a fairly easy walk, for anyone who has conquered the Thorsborne Trail would know – this waterfall cannot be truly appreciated and enjoyed without the hard work that precedes it.
The Thorsborne Trail is rated as one of the best hikes on the planet – and Zoe Falls would be rated as one of the most impressive falls on the planet too – partly because of the journey that leads to it.
We visited it on two occasions during the hike – one for afternoon wine and cheese, and the other for sunrise (with sneaky wine too haha).
Put this on your list and you will not be disappointed!
At the top there is a small pond with an infinity edge lookout over the forest and Zoe Bay. We were lucky both times as well to have it too ourselves.
You can find more information on Hinchinbrook Island in our other articles and also the video below highlights our adventure of the Thorsborne Trail.
Coming in at Number 2... Alexandra Falls, The Daintree Rainforest
Hike Time: 4 hours (return)
Hike Length: 8kms
Hike Difficulty: Hard (rock hopping, dense forest and wading through water)
I will not provide directions here as the only two proper entrances are through private property or a sacred Indigenous site. If you wish information, please get in touch with us and we can point you to people who can help.
This experience was unbelievable – the journey to this waterfall seemed like the ultimate representation of what the Daintree Rainforest has to offer. It was completely raw, untouched and stunning in beauty and atmosphere. I had the opportunity to visit before and after rain. After rain is extremely challenging – but 100% worthwhile.
It is a challenging but fun trail that requires wading through water, finding your way through dense forest and rock hopping through one of the most incredible creeks in the Daintree.
There are technically six tiers that make up Alexandra Falls – the first one is hidden within the thick forest at the top, then the second is this perfect single drop that seemingly emerges from nowhere. This is followed by several larger tiers, then eventually another tier hidden under the canopy – this bottom one is the easiest to get to and is ideal for a swim. It is worth a steep climb up to the second tier to stand under the flowing water.

Coming in at Number 1... Cowley Falls, Mamu
Hike Time: 1.5 hours (return)
Hike Length: 2.5kms
Hike Difficulty: Difficult
Towards to the end of our time in Far North Queensland, I noticed a pretty prominent waterfall on Google Maps – it was very close to the Palmerston Highway but I couldn’t actually find if there was a recorded trail for it.
After scoping out the area, I did find an entry point into the forest and then found some ribbons that led the way. It’s a little tricky finding your way through – especially after some storms. There was wait-a-while everywhere! Trees were down and ribbons had disintegrated.
Eventually you can see evidence that there was once a proper track leading down to the creek. Follow this and then follow the riverbank downstream until you reach the top of the falls.
Please be careful! You can get to the ledge after crossing the creek (if safe), but it is a straight drop below!
Cowley Falls will blow your mind! Read our article about Cowley Falls – The Forgotten Waterfall of Far North Queensland 🙂
We’ve now visited over 85 waterfalls in Queensland so far and we truly are impressed with all of them – because it is the product of nature – they all have a unique sense of beauty about them.
What are your Top 8? Let us know!
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