Purling Brook Falls Circuit

GPS Tracks

Purlingbrook Falls (KML)

Together with Twin Falls Circuit, one of the must do's in this Park. Viewpoints, waterfalls, swimming holes, wildlife, name it, it is there! Optionally add an extra 2km to reach the lower Warringa pool. Follow path clockwise to avoid walking up 450 steps!

Waterfalls

Lookouts

Swimming

Bird Watching

Heritage Sites

Picnic Facilities

BBQ

Toilets

Wheelchair Accessibility

Navigation Required

No Dogs Permitted

Camping Permitted

Coastal

Rainforest

Eucalypt Forest

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Maps

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/pdf/springbrook-map-insets.pdf

Topographic maps can be generated using QTOPO: http://qtopo.dnrm.qld.gov.au/Mobile/

Getting There/Parking

There are 2 different car parks that you can use to access this track.

1. Main Car Park: at the end of Forestry Rd, Springbrook QLD 4213

2. The Settlement Day Use Area: 35 Carricks Rd, Springbrook QLD 4213

The main car park can fill up quite quickly especially on the weekend. If so just go to "The Settlement Day Use Area" instead of annoying residents by parking up the street and their driveways. Both these locations have similar facilities (toilets, picnic benches). Differences: The settlement day use area is closer to the Purling Brook lookout, has a huge grass area, while the main car park is within the rainforest/more developed.

Route/Trail notes

The walk is well signposted, easy to follow and can be done in either direction, although it is recommended that you follow the track in a clockwise direction so that you walk down the 450 steps and back up via a much gentler gradient. There is one junction where the Warringa Pool track splits at the base of Purling Brook Falls.

Be sure to keep out of the prohibited access areas along the creek at the top of the falls and the old track that used to pass behind the falls.

The track is closed in times of heavy rain or fire danger. Large gates prevent access - do not bypass these when they are closed. Check the NPWS website before you go to check if the track is currently closed: https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/

If you plan on swimming they request you don't swim at the base of the falls and instead follow the track down to Warringa Pool. This is to limit impact on the wildlife in the pool at the base of the falls.

Permits/Costs

There is no cost or permits required for doing this walk.

Other References

A separate Aussie Buswalking page for Warringa Pool Track has been made for people to tick.

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/

GPS Tracks

Purlingbrook Falls (KML)

Comments

We went after a lot of recent rain and the waterfall was beautiful spraying water as far as the eye can see, with a cold swim at waringa pool, would recommend doing this after major rain and don’t bring fancy camera equipment that would be destroyed by mist because there is a lot of it. Highly recommend this walk
Polarbear88 on 11 Apr, 2021

The two waterfalls are amazing . Good to see the rainbow.
Penny on 11 Apr, 2021

WOW. The rain has done wonders to the falls and truly looks spectacular at the moment. Just look at some of the older photos on here and you'll see just how much the drought had an affect on the amount of water pouring down. I did the extra bit to Warringa Pool and the cascades along the river also deserve some attention too, although they are a bit belittled after seeing the waterfall.
Maverick on 10 Apr, 2021

Beautiful hike loved it
TrinaAtley on 6 Mar, 2021

Waterfalls were flowing really well. Went for a swim at Warringal rock pools, the water was freezing. There are a lot of stairs but the hike is overall very easy. The trail is very well signed and easy to follow.
Frenzy Adventures on 10 Feb, 2021

Great walk! Views of the falls were amazing! Only thing was that we didn't bring our raincoats and it got very wet. Picked up some leeches along the way. Overall highly recommend the walk.
Jenni.H on 25 Jan, 2021

Absolutely stunning walk & lovely swim at the Warringal Pool, recommend!!
Jenny Duckworth on 24 Jan, 2021

Gorgeous easy walk. I can jog most of it on solo missions, can complete the track in under an hour with lots of time for photos. Two waterfalls to admire if there's been rainfall... I usually go right after some rain for some heavier water falls. Easy to take children to do if you choose. My kids loved it.
Nicole Howarth on 19 Jan, 2021

A nice short walk amongst luscious rainforest.
Hayley Nicholson on 17 Jan, 2021

Great walk
9km for circuit and Waringa Pool extension. Today the track was muddy - walking sticks were really useful!
We arrived early and encountered a few people but by the time we left (2.5 hours) it was very very busy

The Waringa pool track is not signposted but the map makes it clear when to veer off the circuit. Take a left before you go down to the falls on the circuit path.

Otherwise it is well signposted.

Really doable walk. Heavily canopied so lots of sun protection.
Tania Waring on 17 Jan, 2021

We did this walk yesterday with 6 kids in tow. The youngest being 3 who I carried most of the walk.
The waterfall is beautiful and worth the walk, it was really flowing after the rain we’ve had.
We did about 9km return, down to Warringa Pool and back to the top. Pool was cold but a great dip.
We got rained on so very muddy trek back to the top.
Take snacks and water and definitely insect repellent before you start your walk.
I probably wouldn’t do this full walk again with the kids, it was a lot for them and they said they don’t want to go again.
Annie on 2 Jan, 2021

It was an amazing walk, its an easy walk; I was with a large group; many had not much experience in the bush. They loved it. The waterfall is brilliant after rain, standing on the rocks near the base, I was saturated from the spray. Very exhilarating.
RosieG on 1 Jan, 2021

Awesome waterfall perfect for begginers
Trent Harrison on 2021

Great walk! Did it with our 10 month old in the baby carrier.
Mumdadbaby on 31 Dec, 2020

The falls looked amazing after all the recent rains. Very busy as you would imagine at the moment but well worth it, just get there early to beat the crowds on the weekend.
Chewie on 27 Dec, 2020

Good fairly easy walk did clockwise
Kmxfitness on 26 Dec, 2020

Just a lovely walk, we did it with a very slow 84 year old, she loved it had a great time.
RosieG on 12 Dec, 2020

This is a beautiful walk. Very easy and manageable. We also walked to the Warringa Pool for a refreshing dip. This made the trip a bit longer (2 easy Ks) but well worth it. It’s very dry at the moment. Water levels are low so the waterfalls have much less water in them than usual. Would love to go back again when we get rain. Purling Brook Falls were beautiful regardless - a spectacular drop and gorge.
Caroline on 6 Dec, 2020

It’s a 4K round loop, simple, walk down the ridge to the falls then walk back, toilets by the car park. Not to difficult , they say start clockwise to avoid steps coming back. It’s a well worn track, signed and hand railings part of the way.I went on a Thursday about 10.30 am, it was raining but the carpark was pretty full, weekends would be packed, always take your trash back. No dogs allowed.
miike2000 on 23 Oct, 2020

A nice walk all along. It's worth pushing a bit down to the water holes. There is a sign no one reads asking to refrain from swimming under the fall in the first water holes impacting to the local flore & fauna and by respect to the indigenes, but no one seems to care!
Sadly, instead I saw people sitting on the sign to get a picture of themselves with this nice backdrop.
matthias levy on 18 Oct, 2020

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Medium

4km return

2hrs

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