Underground Creek

GPS Tracks

156 Underground Creek (GPX)

This walk include spectacular wildflowers, varied birdlife and a creek that disappears beneath boulders that have fallen from the cliffs above creating a wave rock. Climb to above the lava flow for views out to the Aztec Temple and Mt Norman and see the rock pools and the creek gurgling down the crevasses.

Waterfalls

Lookouts

Bird Watching

No Dogs Permitted

No Camping Permitted

Rainforest

Eucalypt Forest

1047m

Maximum Elevation

36m

Total Climb

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Getting there:

Girraween NP is situated approximately 260km by road south-west of Brisbane. To reach the park, turn off the New England Highway 26km south of Stanthorpe or 30km north of Tenterfield onto Pyramids Road. The winding bitumen road continues a further 9km east through the Wyberba Valley to the park's Information Centre. Continue along the gravel section of the road for a further 3.5km to the walk's car park.

An alternative road from Stanthorpe to Girraween via Eukey and Storm King Dam has some gravel sections.

Maps:

Girraween National Park

Route/Trail notes:

From the car park the track is well signposted and you bare left after 200m to the creek. The track passes through swamp communities, woodland and shrub land. There are numerous rocks to scramble up and a small boulder cave with a waterfall to explore.

This section is not achievable if there has been heavy rain. The track continues across a water covered ledge to the right and around the main rock feature where you climb to the lava flow platform which features the creek’s rock pools.

Return by the same route.

Permits/Costs:

None.

Other References/Comments:

With so many bushwalking options in the park, why not take advantage of the excellent camping facilities at Castle Rock.

Most people will combine this with Dr Roberts Waterhole by branching off left to the waterhole on the way back. This gives a 4.8km round trip walk.

For those with time on their hands, they may like to carry on beyond the lava flow platform and complete the Aztec Temple which adds a further 2km to your walk.

GPS Tracks

156 Underground Creek (GPX)

Comments

The last time we visited here we were unaware of the ‘unofficial’ track that takes you to the platform above the creek, which we found challenging and most rewarding.
F.A.B. on 2 Jun, 2023

If possible, don't miss the rock platform above the creek/ cascade.
Wanderlust on 1 May, 2023

Great walk and the rock formations and creek at the end were very well worth it. Did it early in the morning so there wasn't many people around.
Daia on 27 Dec, 2022

Gentle walk with only a few short flights of stairs. The wave-shaped rock formation was a wonderful surprise after seeing so many of the typical stacked boulders of Girraween NP. Even in winter there were many flowers out on show today - banksias, purple peas, various wattles and countless puffs of white-flowered bushes, as well as a bracken fern section and some grassy marshland. My 5&7 year old kids loved climbing on the rocks, though with close supervision as the drop off is a bit concerning for young ones.
Steph T on 31 Jul, 2022

Easy flat walk to a truly beautiful area. Well worth the visit and shouldn’t be missed.
Bobbe on 12 Feb, 2022

Amazing how the creek has carved it's way through the rock.
Pendinghiker on 21 Sep, 2021

We are experienced hikers so this was an easy walk to the Underground Creek. Jump the rocks on the right side of the underground creek to be able to walk up a little bit and climb up on top of the rocks. There you will see where the water flows into the underground creek, which at this time of year after so much rain, was absolutely stunning. Travel a bit further to your SE and get to the Aztec Temple, it is off track but well worth finding.
wheres_wally on 10 Jul, 2021

Beautiful spot. Mother Nature is amazing. The way the creek swirls under boulders and has created so many natural rock pools is spectacular! Would love to swim when it’s a bit warmer as just 0 degrees here this morning 🥶
JulesD on 16 May, 2021

A beautiful but very cold walk early this morning . Easy and flat. Lovely where the water runs beneath the rocks.
Tara Keizer on 15 May, 2021

nice, easy walk. best to do after the rain.
Fat_Echidna on 30 Mar, 2021

Interesting little spot. The walk itself was decent enough, nothing too hard. Rock formations, like everywhere in this region, are very cool to see. Water running through. Hadn't been raining so not much, but I think after rain it would definitely be an interesting place to visit
Lobster on 26 Dec, 2018

Pretty spot sadly for us it was raining making the rocks super slippery so we couldn’t explore in and around them. Would be great on a fine day
Syd on 13 Oct, 2018

Although this was fun to scramble up over the boulders, it had been very dry of late and there was little or no water running.
F.A.B. on 5 Nov, 2017

A nice walk to start off our adventures at Girraween. Once we got to the main rock that goes over the creek, we found a small track leading right around it which was a lot more interesting - and required a bit more scrambling than the proper track does.
Dvette on Jan, 2016

Amazing rock formations. Great photo op. Plenty of interesting birds, wildflowers and smells along the track.
rob.bushman on 15 Nov, 2015

This walk was heaps of fun! I definitely recommend if you're in Girraween! We went in the rain and it was still worth it. You can hear the rushing water but good luck finding it!
Alice on 5 Oct, 2014

Nice walk to a very impressive area after rainfall. A couple of easy jumps over a few rocks, and you can check out the creek flowing underneath the boulders. Certainly worth the hike !
DrummerJeff on 30 Mar, 2014

Nice walk, went then it was very lightly raining, amazing covered in a light mist. Heaps of rocks to climb and jump over. Great Time :D
Stellar on 30 May, 2012