Today I wanted to share something pleasant, so I'm going to talk about Mapleton Falls in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. I recommend if you are looking for a good day trip or weekend away where the kids can get dirty and reconnect with nature and rediscover themselves this is the place to go.
Originally known as Barron Falls, which I felt was quite a nice name, but the local people changed the waterfall name to Mapleton Falls in about 1915 .
There are toilets in the picnic area near the car park as you drive in. I can not recall seeing any other toilets anywhere else, so remind the kids before you set out on the walking tracks.
I would recommend you take advantage of the prefect photo opportunity on viewing platform. From here you can get a 360 view of the falls and Obi Obi Valley. It would be an awesome spot to use a drone if you have one, that's something I would like to see.
I tend to visit these sorts of places a lot, as they are filled with so much beauty, noise from the birds and insects, and being able to take in the crisp, clean air. Maybe I just love the change from the dry hot land I'm used too.
I reckon some abseiling here.
No camping is allowed. We stayed in a home-stay three doors up from the falls.
Lovely people, lovely view and lovely accommodation.
I have heard stories of a 'flying fox' that was built some time around 1919 that people could go across the ravine on a cable wire and see the falls in all its glory. Maybe they could have gotten some good photos.
Me and my two boys wish they would do it again. But I bet the liability insurance would be too expensive. So we as a society destroyed it for ourselves by suing everyone all the time. Apparently people could winch themselves above the falls using the trees for better views.
We could see metal spikes in some of the trees near the waterfall and figured that's where they once were. Poor trees, though it doesn't seem to bother them.
Thanks for reading
