It was Friday afternoon; I was starting to wind down into weekend mode when I noticed our youngest making a B-Line for me with a questioning frown on her cute little face. Then it came… “Hey dad can you help me with this homework?” How bad could it be?

As she thrust her notebook into my face, the question I was confronted with looked more like some kind of quantum physics calculation than what I remembered for math homework. I started to back away from the pink princess dress and her two-foot long question, using my standard response to such things as I retreated… ‘What do YOU think the answer is?’ She obviously saw my pained expression and went off to bug her siblings, leaving me to let out a sigh of relief. The whole week had been more or less the same story, everyone had stuff they had to get done, so I figured we all needed a break from the monotony of the day to day – we needed an adventure.

The Buderim Falls, or Serenity Falls as they are unofficially known, is a great tourist icon of the Sunshine Coast, a must see for anyone with a penchant for the beauty of our natural environment. From what I’ve picked up about the area, the land was purchased some years ago by the Council to create a reserve. Much of the creek that flows over the waterfalls and into the ponds travels through to private land. Originally, the falls were a hotspot for relaxation and cultural events for the local indigenous people who called it ‘Serenity Falls’. Ultimately it is a stunning landmark, with breathtaking bushland and natural water features, filled to the brim with cultural heritage and beauty. So I decided this was to be the site of our forthcoming adventure.

There are two entry points to the forest trail through the reserve, Lindsay Road, via Harry’s Lane and Quorn Close at the top of Buderim, which runs off Lindsay Road. We chose to start at Quorn Close, mainly because it has the largest parking area for visitors and as such was an easier place from which to begin our walk. Our plan was to explore right through and down into the parklands below for a picnic, before making our way back up to the car park.

It was one of the most beautiful reserves I’ve been to in a long time. Thanks to the recent rains the area was full of life, the plants have sprouted and blossomed, the creeks and waterfall were flowing fast with crystal clear, cool water cascading over and around the rocky creek beds before falling over the cliff face. The few shafts of sunshine that did manage to reach the earth through the dense tree canopy reflected a beautiful golden hue that seemed to amplify the serene nature of the surrounding landscape.

The trail itself was mostly boardwalks and bridges, although a lot of it was no more than a dirt track, beaten into the ground by thousands upon thousands of footsteps – leaving it a little treacherous if you’re not paying attention, especially after rain. One of the girls became a little unnerved after hearing a story concocted by her hilarious, but evil little sister, after the telling of which had her convinced that land sharks were indeed real. ’Think Sharknado!

The climax of course, was seeing the falls themselves, and I can see why it is such a prized attraction within this area. The clear, cool water surged over its rocky ledge to the pond below, in a billowing and majestic manner. We stayed beside the falls for quite some time, letting the mist fall over us, cooling us as we slowly but surely let nature relax our souls. There are no words worthy to describe this experience, it’s simply something you must see and feel for yourself. Check it out online on the Buderim Forest website.