Visitors to one of the Sunshine Coast’s most scenic and popular attractions have been “strongly urged” to heed the warnings there.
Thousands of people have travelled to Gardners Falls near Maleny during the heat of summer.
They’ve flocked to the banks of Obi Obi Creek for picnics, to wade in the shallows and cascades, and to make the most of an impressive swimming hole below the falls, which are more than 2m tall and about 800m from the car park.
But there have been some tragic incidents there in recent years.
A 24-year-old Indian national living in Australia drowned there in November, after swinging from a rope.
According to ABC News, it was the third drowning incident at the falls in the past three years.
A 40-year-old Nepalese man drowned after jumping off rocks in early 2021, and a 15-year-old boy died after being pulled from the water in 2019.
While official statistics aren’t kept for people requiring medical aid, it’s believed several people have also suffered injuries there.
A person was taken to hospital after falling off a rope swing just this month.
People were jumping in to the swimming hole from at least five different rocky ledges of various heights when this reporter was among hundreds at the site on Australia Day.
Sunshine Coast Council manages Gardners Falls Park and Riparian Reserve.
A council spokesperson said visitors should take care when visiting the area.
“The falls is an unpredictable natural water body and we have a range of signage onsite to warn people of the risks of swimming there,” the spokesperson said.
“We strongly urge anyone visiting to heed the warnings and follow the onsite safety signage.”
Signage warns visitors of submerged rocks and broken glass, to swim with caution and not to dive.
Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel also encouraged people to be vigilant when visiting the area.
“There is a short and relatively level walk to access Gardners Falls, making the area popular for all ages,” he said.
“Of course, with any natural attraction, we would recommend visitors follow local signage and information as conditions can change at any time.”
Mr Stoeckel said the site was among the most popular destinations in the hinterland.
He said one of the strongest trends in travel continued to be around demand for nature-based experiences.
“Recent Tourism Australia research indicates 48 per cent of travellers are interested in natural landmarks and wonders and 41 per cent want to explore wilderness/nature,” he said.
“Following the pandemic, extensive research highlights travellers’ desires for nature-based experiences.
“According to Tourism Australia research we know waterfalls are the most appealing form of wilderness for travellers to explore followed by national and state parks.
“This is reinforced as the top request alongside walks at our Montville Visitor Information Centre.”
While it’s difficult to say exactly how many visitors have gone to the falls, Mr Stoeckel said there appeared to be more in recent times.
“We have seen waterfalls rise in popularity over the last two years. They are some of our most popular social media posts.”
