Can you explain what is the proper info about the waterfall and provide the link?
There are several articles, and they are all worded a little differently.
I'm pretty sure you can find it in the DM, and the Malaysia Mail, although I will have to go back and check if that's right. There are several sources.
But from what I remember, one of the hikers (I can't recall her name) had said that they had heard that Nora told her family when they were at the resort that she was excited about seeing the waterfall, so they decided to search near the water fall and they found her body. It was an area that had already been searched extensively by the search team.
It wasn't very clear how they got the information, just that she had told her family she was excited. For all we know it may have been the Dutch tourist. She seemed to know a lot about what they did. She must have observed them playing outside before the family went to bed at 10:00 (reportedly)
So it has not been verified as to whether her parents suggested they look there, or someone else suggested it, or if anyone suggested it. It could be that LE asked the family if there was anything she especially wanted to see and they mentioned the waterfall and the searchers somehow found out and "came up" with the idea.
Since they had already searched the general area (2.5 sqare miles) for over a week with over 300 searchers, including cadaver dogs, it's amazing that they did not find her earlier.
Also, the trail from the resort leads directly to the waterfall so it's reasonable that police would have already thought to look everywhere between the resort and the falls. It may have been right in the center of the search area. (or more likely, the resort itself.)
The way it is described as previously "unknown" information is a little misleading. I doubt police never considered that she may have made it the 1.6 miles, even though it seemed unlikely that she could get there on her own. Her parents have consistently said she could not have gotten there, as she had never wandered off or gone anywhere independently before. She was dependent on family and care givers, and was shy, sensitive, and anxious around others.
I would think her going to the falls would be a common assumption, at least it was on the thread in the very beginning. (for others and the public, who would not understand the extent of her disability.
In fact from what I understand, the falls are the main (and maybe only)attraction, in the area. Imo