Airlie Beach: Cedar Creek Express (cruise ship friendly)
Description
You show up. Everything else is done. By the time you arrive at Cedar Creek Falls, your table and chairs are set up in the shade, water shoes in your size are waiting, pool noodles are stacked and ready, and your guides — eco certified, warm, and full of stories — are there to make the whole day feel effortless. Cedar Creek Express is a small group experience designed for people who want the real Whitsundays, not a crowded bus tour. 4.8 stars, a 97% recommendation rate, and a Viator Badge of Excellence from 121 reviews — our guests say it best. Cruise ship in port? We've built this around you. Drop-off and pick-up at Airlie Beach Lagoon, perfectly timed so you never have to worry about missing your ship. Swim in crystal clear water, explore rock pools, eat homemade banana bread fresh from the oven, and let two knowledgeable local guides take care of everything else. This is what a good day in the Whitsundays actually looks like.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Drive to Cedar Creek Falls. The day starts at Airlie Beach Lagoon, and from the moment you're on board, you'll notice this isn't your average day trip. Air-conditioned comfort, a small group, and guides who actually know this country — your 30- to 40-minute drive through the Whitsunday hinterland comes with real local history, stories about the region, and a genuine sense of anticipation as the rainforest starts to close in around you. By the time you arrive, you're already looking forward to what comes next.
Cedar Creek Falls This is where the day opens up. Your table and chairs are set up in a beautiful rainforest clearing when you arrive. Water shoes in every size are laid out and ready. Pool noodles, towels, sunscreen — it's all there. Swim in the crystal clear swimming holes, wade through rock pools above the falls, or simply sit with a cup of tea and a slice of homemade banana bread and let the rainforest do its thing. One of your guides plays ukulele while you relax. The other shares the history of Cedar Creek Falls and the surrounding area — how this place came to be, why it matters, and what you'd never find in a guidebook. You have up to two hours here. Take every minute of it.
Happy, relaxed, and probably a little damp in the best possible way. Your guides keep the local knowledge and stories coming on the drive back, rounding out the picture of this part of Queensland that most visitors never get to see. You're back at Airlie Beach Lagoon in plenty of time — cruise ship passengers can return to port with hours to spare, and everyone else is free to explore the town, grab lunch, or simply sit by the lagoon and replay the morning.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(133)
Very enjoyable. Lovely guide with fantastic music. Stunning scenery and felt amazing and refreshed after a lovely swim. Met some nice people and overall a fantastic day. Thank you
If you are visiting Airlie Beach, I would highly recommend this tour. Jenni the tour guide and bus driver was very friendly and even dropped us back to our apartment. The Cedar creek falls were beautiful and very peaceful. A lovely swimming spot. Bring runners as there is a short walk up a hill to the top of the water fall. We brought our own water shoes, but the company provided some. The banana bread was lovely and nice to have a hot drink. Jenni provided some history of Airlie Beach and Whitsundays which was very interesting.
This was a wonderful visit to the falls, which are beautiful. Enjoyed the swim under the waterfall the best!
Had a great day hanging out with our wonderful tour guide Jenny. She was great company with lots of laughs and interesting stories about the region. Highly recommend!
An enjoyable and informative tour. The day was too cold for swimming, but I enjoyed seeing the falls and waterhole and the turtles, butterflies and kingfisher that live there.
jeni was the best tour guide. kept us entertained and informed and made us all feel very welcome. was difficult to navigate the falls to swim as we had mobility difficulties but eventually got there for a refreshing swim. definitely recommend
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so pleased to hear Jeni made you feel welcome and kept everyone entertained throughout the tour 😊 She’ll be delighted to hear your kind words. We appreciate you sharing your experience at the falls as well. We’re glad you were able to make your way in and enjoy a refreshing swim in the end! Thanks so much for the recommendation, and we hope to see you again soon. 🌿💦
Beautiful waterhole. Even if the waterfall isn't flowing much, it's a great place to swim. We went 1st June and it was cold but lovely and refreshing. Jenny our host provided great snacks including homemade cookies. She was great and made us feel welcome.
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit to Cedar Creek Falls and took the plunge despite the cooler weather 😊 A refreshing swim always feels rewarding afterwards! Jeni will be so pleased to hear you enjoyed her hospitality, homemade cookies, and the snacks provided. Thanks for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another relaxing adventure soon! 🌿💦
Great drive, great tour guide, great snacks and beautiful location.
Simple things done well can make for a pretty great day 😊 We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the drive, guide, snacks, and beautiful location. Thanks so much for joining us — we really appreciate the lovely feedback and hope to see you again on another tour!
Even the overcast weather couldn’t take the smiles off our faces or spoil our day!! Jeni, our host, had wonderful local knowledge and stories. Amazing home made morning tea made with local produce. Our every need was catered for. Thank you for such a memorable experience.
Thank you so much for your beautiful review! We’re so glad the weather didn’t stop you from enjoying such a memorable day 😊 Jeni will be delighted to hear you enjoyed her local stories and homemade morning tea featuring local produce. It means a lot to know you felt well looked after throughout the experience. Hope to see you again soon!
Great experience. Great tour guide. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear you had a great experience and enjoyed the tour 😊 We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again soon!
