Daves Creek Circuit

GPS Tracks

Daves Creek Circuit (GPX)

Starting near the Teahouse at the top car park at Binna Burra, the Dave's Creek Circuit track starts some two kilometres along the Border track and then branches off and follows the Ships Stern circuit track before branching off again. Well sign posted, good tracks and some good views from the Numinbah lookout. There is also a small cave side track that is sign posted - Molongolee Cave - detour right at the sign. On the way back don't miss "Surprise Rock".
There are no steep ascents or descents, a reasonably gentle, undulating track.

Lookouts

Bird Watching

No Public Transport

No Dogs Permitted

Rainforest

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Getting there

Follow the signs from Nerang to Binna Burra. The track starts from the carpark near the campsite and cafe. To access the circuit you must walk down Border Track for 3km.

Maps

The information centre 1km before Binna Burra, The Binna Burra Lodge or Campsite have maps available.

http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/lamington/pdf/lamington-binna-burra-map.pdf

Route/Trail notes

Don't miss climbing Suprise Rock for a great view. When you see the sign continue along the path about 200m when you see the fork take the path that heads towards the rock. You will see a short path where you can scramble up the rock.

Other References

http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/lamington/about.html

GPS Tracks

Daves Creek Circuit (GPX)

Comments

Wild weather out above the Numinbah Valley. Cloudy very windy and 5 minutes of rain. Track is pretty muddy and slippery at the moment. Always a good one to do. The benefits of hiking during the week as I only saw 7 people and they were starting as I was on the last 2klm.
ian parker on 2 May, 2025

4th time on this quite easy but beautiful hike. Always like climbing up and along surprse rock.
ian parker on 26 Oct, 2024

Visually stunning walk!!
Took close to the four hours with lots of breaks and photos.
Not a technically hard walk. Can get hot in the sun along the ridge.
Tegan on 9 Sep, 2024

Loved the changes in vegetation. Lots of thing to see along the way. Stunning lookouts. Little creek crossings. Gorgeous banksias blooming. Molongolee cave was special with water gently trickling down the rock face. An elusive lyrebird at one stage. A gigantic ant. I would do this walk again. You will be trudging through bog and pooled water (potentially) so waterproof hiking boots recommended. Mine stood up to the test :) Surprisingly, no leeches. That was a win.
BalticAussie on 27 Apr, 2024

Fantastic walk, something a bit different to the usual Lamington rainforest once you get on the Dave’s track. Although it’s recommended by Parks to complete clockwise, we followed signs and found ourselves walking anticlockwise. This was totally fine, you won’t miss the cave (on a side track, but there is a sign), Numinbah lookout, picnic creek or surprise rock. To walk clockwise, when you see the sign saying left for Ships Stern and right for Dave’s, go left and a short way down the track you’ll branch off to the right again for Dave’s.

The lookout or picnic creek (if hot and sunny) would be the best lunch spots. We were up in the clouds at surprise rock.

Returned via Tullawallal (added 1.4kms) and the loop circuit (approx same distance as border track). Saw 2 king parrots and a couple of pademelons in this area.
Rosie on 26 Jan, 2024

I did this with Steve. It is my favourite walk at Lamington - along with Caves Circuit. I like ridge top walks, rather than creek walks. I would have done this track a dozen times over nearly 20 years. This was Steve's first time. We were passed by a nude man and were stalked by a Dingo. I've walked hundreds of hours around Binna Burra and never had those experiences before. Best to walk with a pole for protection now. How sad! DON'T feed the Dingos. They are potentially dangerous.

The walk has a great variety of vegetation types, including heathland on the escarpment. Great views. Have lunch on top of Surprise Rock. There is a concealed climb to the top when you first encounter it.

This was our third trip to Binna Burra in the last two months, plus I took Mum and Dad on a day trip. Steve and I stayed in the Safari Tents. They are great! Our favourite is Tent 91. It is a standard size tent and we got it on sale for $70 per night. It has its own private fireplace!
Kaz Manley on 12 Sep, 2023

Dave Creek Circuit is a hike close to my heart, with stunning views and plenty of different biomes to see. I have done this hike in heavy downpours and sunny days. I often do this hike counterclockwise so I can end the hike with Surprise Rock. Surprise Rock is easy enough to scramble up if somewhat a little overgrown. There are many great spots to stop and have lunch on the track a particular favourite is beside a little creek on the second half of this track as you pass over some small wooden bridges.

If you go on a weekend I would head up early parking can be difficult during school holidays and weekends but usually during the week it is very good.

If you are looking to pack train or weight train daves creek is good to start increasing your distance on. not too steep but with plenty of gradual inclines and declines. I would recommend this to older kids but not something i would take younger kids on unless you are prepared to carry them most of the way.

Happpy adventures everyone!
brad on 10 Jul, 2023

Pleasant hike, not a difficult one. Good for beginner hikers who want to go the distance without intense inclines. Gorgeous views and just a beautiful day out amongst nature. I even stumbled across a friendly python who was sunning himself on the pathway. Thank goodness I didn't tread on him!! It was definitely a near miss. : )
Faith on 20 May, 2023

Nice easy hike. There was one place of climbing onto a small rock where we had our lunch. Apart from that climb, this was easy. You can always avoid that part if you want.
Please enjoy this video I did:
https://youtu.be/pdwyvWGdU8M
Sujeeva on 19 May, 2023

Easy hike, bit sloppy in places after some rain, took approx. 3 hours with couple of brief rest breaks, lovely scenery, bring a jacket, bit fresh here & there
Bernie on 1 May, 2023

3rd time around this circuit. First hike in the rain. Very windy and a bit cold. Conditions just made it more adventurous especially climbing up surprise rock.
ian parker on 3 Sep, 2022

Rainy and wet but a lovely walk nonetheless
Kittykate76 on 6 Feb, 2022

A nice easy hike with plenty of views.
ian parker on 25 Sep, 2021

Really chilled walk. Will do again soon.
Rod Hewins on 22 Sep, 2021

Good walk to do with the kids.
samkramer on 7 Jul, 2021

A pleasant walk and not much elevation so the kids enjoyed it too. Thanks for the tip to join this website Sam
Ben Dyer on 7 Jul, 2021

This turned out to be one of my favourite hikes to date. Loved the change in landscape and variation of vegetation. Was a rainy day with some soft mist which was beautiful, and with very few others on the track, it felt like you were the only person on earth walking among the giant red cedars and lush rainforest as well as the more exposed spaces with stunning views to the surrounding mountains, cliffs and hillsides. No leeches!
Sunnygirl on 30 Jun, 2021

Absolute favourite walk in SEQ. A varied walk that goes through multiple biomes with heaps of interesting features along the way, just absolutely magical. A great way to experience the rich history of this old-growth forest (although please be respectful).

Recommend taking a torch if you start the walk after midday (especially if you stop to look at things along the way), sundown can really creep up on you here where the forest gets extremely dark on the way back - you don't want to be caught out.
cc on 9 May, 2021