2026 Buderim Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in January)

We had an incredible time snorkeling, fishing, and cooking with Kadek and his wonderful family. This was certainly one of the highlights of our trip to Bali. The setting is stunning and the family's hospitality was outstanding. We snorkeled at three locations on a traditional Balinese fishing boat, starting with the Japanese Shipwreck. We swam among beautiful tropical fish and even spotted a giant sea turtle! Kadek's nephew was an informed guide. When we returned, Kadek's uncle, a lifelong local fisherman, assisted each of us in catching fish using traditional line methods. At the family's home, Kadek's wife prepared a delightful fish meal from our catch, with fresh ingredients and Indonesian spices, which we helped make under her guidance. They are the kindest people, generously sharing their home and a delicious meal with us. We look forward to visiting them again.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Kadek, from the boat's launch to the delicious lunch. The traditional fishing method his father showed us was captivating and thrilling at times, allowing us to assist and even momentarily hold a barracuda! Kadek leads the snorkeling, where we got to swim near a turtle. Afterwards, you can join his wife in preparing and cooking the fish—or just unwind. It was my favorite fish meal in Bali! Kadek supplies the snorkeling equipment, and an awesome bonus is that he captures photos and videos of the adventure with his GoPro! If you're looking for something beyond just snorkeling, do visit and support Kadek and his family!

Right from our arrival, we were warmly welcomed and given a brief overview of the day's events. We quickly hopped on a scooter and in less than two minutes, reached the boat. On the water, the first activity was fishing, and I was delighted to try my hand at it. With expert assistance, it only took moments before we caught something ourselves. Afterwards, diving was on the agenda. And wow, it was a truly unforgettable experience! The guide explained everything clearly and even took me along to swim with turtles. It was magical seeing these creatures so close in such a stunning underwater world. Returning to shore, the adventure continued. We joined his wife in preparing the fish we caught, and honestly, she is an amazing cook—the meal was incredibly delicious. This day was much more than just an activity; it's an experience I'll never forget. Without a doubt, it ranks in my top three memories of all time. A massive thank you for making it so special!

Ready for a Sunshine Coast nature escape? 🌿🌊 I hit up Buderim Forest Park and Mooloolaba’s Buderim Rainforest—seriously, two hidden gems where peace reigns and waterfalls steal the show! Must-See Places: 1. Buderim Forest Park (Quorn Cl, Buderim QLD 4556, Australia) Open year round (Mon-Sat: 8am–6pm, Sun: open all day!), this spot is perfect for an early morning stroll. The lush rainforest is packed with wildlife, scenic walking tracks, and the star attraction—the Serenity Falls. Early mornings are best; you’ll get the place almost to yourself and the waterfall’s misty magic is unreal. Bonus: The park is wheelchair accessible and great for kids too! 2. Buderim Rainforest (Buderim QLD 4556) This one’s quieter and feels super untouched—just pure Aussie wilderness with towering trees and dreamy lookouts. Bring good walking shoes because the tracks can get muddy, but the peaceful atmosphere and panoramic views more than make up for it. Tip: Don’t rush. Take your time and listen to the birds—it's pure zen. Getting Around: Drive or rideshare is easiest. Plenty of free parking at both spots. Public buses also run from central Buderim and Mooloolaba if you’re going eco-friendly. Food Fix: Pack snacks and water—there are picnic tables in Buderim Forest Park and a few local cafés in Buderim village (try Hungry Feel Eating House for relaxed bites). Fast Facts: No entry fee, easy access from Sunshine Coast, bring insect repellent. Weather can shift, so check forecast and pack a rain jacket! #SunshineCoastNature #BuderimAdventures #AustraliaTravel #RainforestWalks

Sunny Coast 2025

Buderim Forest Park + Sunshine Coast, Brisbane 📍Supernumerary Coffee The first stop was Supernumerary Coffee. The coffee was really good and the breakfast was tasty too. Although the items were simple, the avocado bread I ordered and the tomato bread my friend ordered were both well seasoned. Simple but delicious. After eating, we drove to Buderim Forest Park. It didn’t feel like a forest park at all when we drove there. It was more like driving to a residential area. We didn’t see the parking lot until we were one minute away from our destination. But there were no obvious signs along the way... We were lucky to park in the last parking space, and then walked down for less than ten minutes to reach the waterfall. The two of them changed into their swimsuits and prepared to go swimming, but... the water was super shallow and they couldn't swim at all! The problem is that there are so many rocks underneath, and my friend got scratched accidentally = = ", but the environment here is quite beautiful, but there are so many children = = " We stayed here for more than an hour and then left. Buderim Forest Park: Explore waterfalls in the secret forest 📍Buderim Forest Park 🚗 Traffic reminder: When driving from downtown Brisbane, the area along the way looks like a residential area, and you won’t see the parking lot until about 1 minute away from your destination. It is recommended that you set the navigation to "Buderim Falls" for more accuracy. 🛶 Waterfall Tour Experience: Walk down for about 10 minutes to reach the waterfall area. Although the environment is beautiful, the water is very shallow and you can't really swim. There are many stones and it is easy to get scratched. It is recommended to wear non-slip shoes. The tourists are mainly families, with many children!!! Beefy’s Buderim was our lunch spot, a shop specialising in Australian meat pies. To be honest, I quite like Australian pie XD. When I saw the person in front of me ordered curry chicken pie, I ordered it too...but it tasted just average, and the curry aroma was not strong enough XDD. The steak, cheese and jalapeno pie ordered by my friend was much more delicious with the seasoning! 🍴 Recommendation index: ★★★☆☆ The curry chicken pie tasted average, but the curry aroma was a little lacking. The steak cheese jalapeno pie is more layered, I recommend you try it! It was noon after we finished eating and I didn’t know what to do. My friend said that the nearby Sunshine Coast was also very famous and the beach was beautiful. It was the Gold Coast version for middle-aged and elderly people, hahaha. So we went to take a look, but we didn't expect the wind to be so strong that we were hit by sand not long after standing on the beach. So we decided to go to Maroochy Surf Club, where it was more pleasant to look at the sea view through the floor-to-ceiling windows. We ate fish & chips and had a drink here. 📍Sunshine Coast (about 20 minutes drive from Buderim) 🌀 Beach conditions: The wind was too strong that day and the sand was blown wildly, making it difficult to stay for long. In case of strong winds, it is recommended to move to indoor attractions. 🍹 Recommended places to hide from the wind: Maroochy Surf Club Sit indoors and enjoy the sea view through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and spend a relaxing afternoon with a classic Fish & Chips. At around 3pm, my friend drove me back to the city, ending my two-day tour in Brisbane. I am so grateful to her XDD For dinner, we chose Kebab. This time we went to Turquoise Kebab Pizza. There was a Chinese sign in the shop and it was open 24 hours a day. It also called itself the Best Kebab in Brisbane. The food was really good and the crust was baked crispy and fragrant! 📍Turquoise Kebab Pizza (Downtown, open 24 hours) 🍴 Recommendation index: ★★★★☆ The crust is baked crispy and has a solid texture. The shop also calls itself the Best Kebab in Brisbane and has Chinese signs, making it very friendly to Chinese-speaking tourists. 2025.02.03 Last day in Australia After getting up in the morning, I started packing my luggage and then checked out. For lunch, I chose the highly praised Betty’s Burgers. I didn’t have high expectations at first, after all, everyone can imagine the taste of burgers, but I didn’t expect this restaurant to surprise me! The steak was fried crispy and juicy, the burger was a good size, the flavors were balanced, and the overall flavor was great. My friend also told me that their onion rings are delicious, but unfortunately I had already left when I saw the message QAQ I went to the airport in the afternoon and took the Airtrain. The normal ticket price is more than 20 Australian dollars, but during the special offer before 2/9 it was less than 11 Australian dollars, and it can be paid by credit card, which is very convenient. After arriving at the airport, look for the lockers first. You can find them on the G floor (first floor) when you walk towards the parking lot. If you have a small bag or hand luggage, you can leave it at the Information counter for free, but you will have to pay for a suitcase. I have a 26-inch suitcase and a carry-on bag, and it costs 20 Australian dollars for 24 hours, which is just enough to fit in, lucky! After putting your luggage away, take the free shuttle bus to DFO Brisbane Outlet for shopping. While waiting for the bus, I met an Australian girl. During our conversation, I found out that she had been to Taiwan. She also showed me photos she took in Jiufen and Pingxi. She said she worked for the Royal Caribbean cruise line and was only in Brisbane for a day as she was about to fly to France. Then she told me that she was from a small town in QSL. When I heard that her home was in Rockhampton, I immediately laughed because I had stayed there for five months in 2012 and worked in the local outlet. She was very surprised and wondered how could anyone have been to Rocky? XD Then I talked to her about the first time I went to a Strip Club in Rockhampton, because the only club in that town was also a strip club, and then asked her if Rocky has changed now? She laughed and said that it should be the same for more than ten years, nothing has changed XDD The club is still there XD DFO was very fun to visit on Monday, not many people there. I quietly strolled around from 1:30pm to around 5pm, and took the last shuttle bus back to the airport at 6pm. There are free showers in Brisbane Airport, which is in the toilet near the Information counter. This information was told to me by the Australian girl. So after I returned to the airport and packed my luggage, I took a shower first and then checked in my luggage comfortably. After passing customs, we went straight to the lounge to have dinner, drink, watch animation, and wait for boarding. Everything went smoothly before leaving Australia. This trip to Australia has allowed me to rediscover the friendly interactions between people. When I came here five years ago, COVID-19 had just begun to spread. Everyone wore masks, we couldn’t see each other’s smiles, and there was more distance between people. This time, as long as you make eye contact with passers-by on the street, they will take the initiative to say hi to you. Or when you are waiting for the bus or the toilet, you can easily start a small chat with them. It makes me, an E person, feel very friendly! Also, even strangers would come to help me when they see me standing in front of a bus stop looking lost. I’d even be complimented on my outfit when I’m walking on the street. XD And the compliments are genuine, unlike the compliments from some salesmen in Taiwan XDD These little friendly interactions remind me of the time when I lived in Australia. It was really wonderful! #NewYear2025

Buderim Forest Park is indeed one of the hidden gems of Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is filled with abundant vegetation and wildlife. It is very popular during summer as locals visit the area to swim and enjoy the cool water from the waterfall. It is approximately 1 hour and 20 mins drive from Brisbane. We chose to access the area via Harrys Lane as it has plenty of spaces to park the car. It also took us less than 20 minutes by foot to reach the waterfall. Although it's a short walk, the path can be challenging. Nevertheless, It is worth it and highly recommended. It is a very beautiful place to appreciate nature. Take note, as it is within a nature reserve, dogs are not permitted in the area. #Queensland #localguides #Australia #buderim #familytrip #sunshinecoast #waterfall