Gardner's Falls are situated about three or four kilometers from Maleny on the eastern side of the town. Down the end of a country lane way called Obi Vale South Road, dotted either side with beautiful rural properties and scenery, is the elegant and impressive falls filled with mountainous swimming holes which the locals and tourists alike flock to, especially in the summer months.
The carpark caters to about 20 cars but many a time I have been there and cars line the little lane way into the area sometimes with sixty cars or more hugging the narrow shoulders of the road entrance. Next to the carpark area is a picnic table and rubbish bins while nearby is the composting toilets.
Starting from the carpark is a pleasant walk of about 300 meters which is lined with lush trees and other vegetation. The Obi Obi creek hugs the side of the neighbouring wide track and together this leads the visitor to the swimming holes and the popular falls. On the other side of the creek tall trees rise up the bank and escarpment giving a feeling that you are lost in a timeless world where only nature exists as it surrounds and caresses you with the gurgles of the rushing waters of the creek.
The energy in the area is palpable as the air is filled with the aromas of trees and the penetrating smells of the fresh flowing mountain water.
Once you arrive at the falls through the canopy of lush trees the area opens up to massive rocks still only partly exposed above the water as they not only line the creek but also they line the creek bottom.
There are two picnic tables with benches at the falls with a small area of open grass and a hilly incline to the top picnic table. Just below the falls is the biggest pool, where swimmers jump about three meters from the rocks to the rushing waters below, swimming across the creek to the embankment where the Obi Obi narrows and starts flowing again through small bushes on its scenic journey to the Baroon Pocket Dam and then eventually to the Mary River.
Swimming, jumping, or exploring the shallower pools is a pleasant pastime as is just lazing around sun-baking on the rocks. Some people bring a picnic basket full of delicious treats and sharing the picnic with their family or friends is also a wonderful joy in the scenic and paradisaical surrounds.
But whatever you do at Gardner's Falls, coming to this magical place is a blissful and peaceful experience where a deeper, resounding connection to nature can literally take your breath away with the serenity.
If you are a first-timer, bring your camera and take snaps of the falls as Gardners is a unique and special place that has captured the hearts of many people, especially the locals.