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

With Tracey Harbourne & Karen Palin
Kimmi on 4 Jun, 2020

Nice walk the is easy going that most people can do. Good walk to pack some food and chill at Warringa pool and swim. Very full and fresh right now
Adam on 9 Feb, 2020

Absolutely beautiful. Did it with 3 kids in just over 4 hours stopping about 4 times and getting caught in the rain.

We stupidly walked back up the way we came down *the stairs.* which took a bit longer.
Sandra on Feb, 2020

One of my favs
SharnaR on 22 Jan, 2020

8.1 km all up - walked from the camp ground to begin this walk (camped overnight). Lovely walk however, my highlight were the birds coming down to drink from the creek at the end - if you are a birder spend some waiting time there.
Anoogle on 10 Jan, 2020

Started at the Settlement Camp Ground and walked across the very green paddock to the parking area and information hut at the Gwongorella picnic area. There is good signage all the way to Purling Brook circuit. We walked clockwise, stopping at the lookouts and onto Warringa Pool. Still plenty of water for a swim but just trickles coming over Purling Brook Falls. A beautiful location to see some wildlife - lace monitors, big black shiny lizards (land mullets), plenty of birdlife as well. A total of 8.1km return to the campground in 3hrs at an extremely leisurely pace spotting wildlife.
S K on 9 Jan, 2020

Cant remember the exact date
Adrian Harvison on 12 Dec, 2019

It was fun to do this with my wife.. easy walk going clockwise on the track. Thick flora most of the track. Relaxing sounds of birds the whole way through. Waterfalls was amazing. Steady ascent back to the top. Minimum to low fitness requirement. Would not be our last, for sure.
Francis.thebarber on 20 Oct, 2019

So high I got vertigo looking up. Worth it.
Sames on 10 Aug, 2019

Amazing. Definitely go clockwise but not a difficult walk.
Linda on 17 Jul, 2019

Amazing waterfall, very rainy but so much fun and many great photos!
Jane Mousley on 29 Jun, 2019

I have done this walk many times but it is always beautiful. Lots of rainbows dancing in the falls today which was particularly special
Bobbe on 20 Jun, 2019

Beautiful walk to an amazing waterfall and pools via some great rock formations. We completed the walk quite early on a public holiday. Arriving at about 6.30am I was not expecting to see many people. It was actually quite busy with tourists taking selfies in the waterfal area. Walked quite fast and was able to complete in about 1.25hrs.
Jimcar on 6 May, 2019

I went in the recommended clockwise direction. I found it to be a pretty easy walk but I definitely got the heart pumping on the incline as I’m a fairly fast walker. Took me just over an hour, not including a stop at the waterfall.

Beautiful scenery and waterfall was decent after some rain earlier in the week.
Came across a green tree snake, a couple of decent size lizards, but also a red belly black snake. It was just sunning itself and I had to edge towards it slowly to make it move, but it eventually did.

Temperature was about 33-34 degrees and humid on the day but it was actually not too too bad in the rainforest.

There is a carpark on site but also areas to park on the adjoining streets - best to try get there before 10.30-11
Pure Wanderlust on 24 Mar, 2019

Absolutely beautiful walk; my second time visiting Purling Brook Falls and first time since the full circuit reopened. We also tagged on the Warringa Pool track which branches off from the base of the falls, which was well worth doing. It took us 2.5 hours altogether.
It's a perfect time to visit the Falls, with all the rain we've had recently - there was a decent amount of water flowing, and so much lush greenery and all kinds of fungus and mushrooms growing in the forest. We were fortunate enough to come across a tree snake right next to the track, and watched it slither away up the bank. Noticed a few leeches in a particularly muddy spot on the track down to Warringa Pool, so take care to check your shoes!
This walk is very popular, so if you want to avoid the crowds, it's best to head out early morning. It was a shame to see so many people ignore the request not to swim in the pool at the base of the Falls, and we were glad we arrived early enough to get some beautiful photos before it filled up with people. Such a shame.
Other than that though, this remains one of my favourite walks and waterfalls, and plan to return many times yet.
Sarah on 23 Mar, 2019

Really pleasant walk. Took us a bit under 2 hours going at an easy pace. Nice to see the falls -we would have liked to go down for a swim but were a bit pushed for time, so might have to go again another day

NB. the Gold Coast-Springbrook Rd has reopened now
lamalama on 20 Mar, 2019

A beautiful fairly easy walk. Lush and dense fern forests and water after some rain. Also added the Warringa Pool track which made it a 6 km walk
Giuliana on 12 Jan, 2019

Great walk with the family
Etienne Van Heerden on 5 Jan, 2019

My first hike, so beautiful! Pretty easy too.
Mel on 3 Jan, 2019

OMG! this walk is well worth it. The view from the bottom is outstanding. Makes us appreciate how small we are in this world. Easy walk for older children. A couple of fallen trees to climb over, but an easy step over. We completed in 1.5 hours even with stopping to take in the views. Was a warmer day at lunch time but track was a perfect temperature for walking.
CassyN on 31 Dec, 2018

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Medium

4km return

2hrs

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