Comments

We started at O'Reilly's and took a few detours off the Border Track. First of all we took the Toolona Circuit which added about 5km and then we took the Coomera circuit which added an extra 2.5.
The Border Track is a lot more stable and has more ridge line lookouts but there is no waterfalls.
The Toolona and Coomera detours are tougher on the body with the creek crossings and the undulating rocky tracks so it was harder on the body and we were pretty tired getting not Binna Burra.
Day two there is a big downhill which is hard on the knees. It's also not well signed so you need to do your homework. A few times we took wrong tracks and had to back-track... same on day 3. We got into Woonoongoora Walkers Camp and it was pretty unappealling... no water to fill our flasks or cook with. A bit of rain was forecast so we pushed on and took on the final 10km up the stairs...
The stairs are long but not as hard as I thought they would be. The track from the fire trail up the top of the 900 stairs to Purling Brook Falls was not signed well either and we had to search for the track a few times. I actually think it was closed because it was hard to cross with big white bags machinery on it but we pushed through...
The hardest part of the walk was the final ascent up from the bottom of the Falls to the top... it's steep and we were cooked!
In the end we did about 31km on day one and about 30km on day two with a couple of significant up hill grinds. I would have prefered to do it in 3 days but the Walkers Camp wasn't very good...

Hogey Bear on 19 Apr, 2024

First multi-day hike for me and also did this one solo.
Other than a few questionable navigational issues(on the caves circuit detour) and road works along the road section this walk was pretty epic.
Last day may of been the shortest but it was definetly the steepest and probably the most difficult of all three sections.
note: i wouldnt leave it to much later than september to do this one, it was already getting pretty hot especially down in the valley

Loopy on 8 Sep, 2021

We did this walk backwards in 2 days. First day 32km, was very challenging but so worth it. Second day 22km.

Dav1na on 25 May, 2019

This really is a great walk! It was first multi-day hike and perhaps a little ambitious, but definitely worth it. I recommend booking ahead for the Binna Burra accommodation during peak times as I tried a few weeks out from the long weekend with no luck. We ended up booking after a cancellation on the day. We got lucky the night at the Walkers camp - not another soul there. It was so peaceful. Be aware - we arrived at night time and the map at the walkers camp was misleading, it almost led us up the path more. The camp is directly straight ahead when walking past the toilets (with the toilets on the right). I would recommend taking water purifying tablets as there was no 'drinkable' water after Binna Burra. There is no water at the walkers camp so it's best to make the most of the creeks! Overall, (side from blisters and body ailments!), this walk was really great and has definitely inspired me to do more.

Hannah Stanley on 29 Sep, 2018

Just finished the 3 day walk as written from O'Reillys to Springbrook with 2 adults and a pretty fit and capable 7yo. On Day 1 the diversion up to Mt Merino on the border track is worth it in our opinion and only adds 800m or so on to your days total. We used this as our lunch break stop. Day 2 needs a few more notes - the section along the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road is pretty tedious and would be uncomfortably hot in summer I would expect. Make sure you have plenty of water as there is limited shade until you get to the village. The crossing across the Nerang river would have entailed wet shoes/feet (I suspect it has been washed away in a past flood) so we opted for a quick scurry across the road bridge - the road isn't that busy. You could buy lunch at the shop at Numinbah Village if you wanted to save some pack weight. We had lunch with us so walked past the shop to the hall and took a break under the trees in the park beside it (the public toilets are also here). There was water at the Woonoongoora Walkers camp and I suspect this is always the case as its the middle of a drought, the tank is tiny and the loos there need a little bit of water to keep them working. In any case, if you want to bring water with you as we did (and probably best to save disappointment and having to trek down and up the steep slope again), you can fill up at Waterfall Creek (use a filter or tablets as you prefer) and then lug it up the steep slope to the camp. Fantastic firefly display on dusk in the trees surrounding the campsite and plenty of pademelons as visitors in the evening. The 900 steps (a few less I suspect) on day 3 up to Apple tree Park weren't too bad if you have a reasonable level of fitness. We had Day 3 wrapped up in about 4.5hrs. You have to take the other half of the Purling Brook falls circuit to get up to Settlement Campground as the section highlighted on the map is currently closed. You won't get lost - there are loads of people trekking up and down this track to the falls for a swim - a very popular spot.

BGS3 on 15 Aug, 2018

Day 1 lovely walk, quite damp and eerily cloudy at top of Green Mtn section. Took the expected 7 hours to Binna Burra. On arrival you need to walk past the cafe and camp to the lodge to check in then walk back to camp (but if you’ve prepaid and your feet hurt recommend calling the lodge to check in over the phone!)
Day 2 was tough with some steep fire trail downhills (keep going til you hit a great creek for lunch break) and long inclined road sections at the end. We were slow on this day and it took us 9 or so hours (long lunch break and stopping for fudge and ice cream heading into Numinbah Village added to the time) and so we arrived at Woonoongoora walkers’ camp after dark but trail was really well marked and no hassle to follow with bright head torches.
Day 3 has heaps of stairs but the stroll through Springbrook following the creek was really lovely. Finished within the 5hr suggested walk time.

Elise & Mark on 7 May, 2018

Not recommended to walk in the height of summer, like we foolishly did! The section along the road walking into Numinbah was dangerously hot. All in all, a fantastic walk!

AmandaL on 26 Jan, 2018

I ended up having to complete this walk in two stages which was very frustrating due to incomplete information on the Great Walks NP page. Our car shuttle timings were completely off due to road closures that weren't posted on the great walks page which meant we were too late in the day to do the border track on day 1. Days 2 and 3 went smoothly even though again track closures at the end meant a longer walk back to the car and even more stairs.
I did enjoy the walk a lot though and when we finally did the border track in January 2019 I felt like I had done the walk. Day two is very long and tiring but the walkers camp was lovely and we had it all to ourselves which was extra special. I loved the 3rd day and didn't mind the stairs at all.

Bobbe on Sep, 2017

I did the green mountains section (Binna Bunna to O'Reilleys and back) over 2 days. Nice hike - flat and nice views.

SabrinaBlaas on 9 Apr, 2016

Great Walk! Did this with my 11 year old son and a mate. Day 2 was the toughest for my son. Great views, spectacular waterfalls, beautiful scenery.

Grumps on 2010