Albert River Circuit

GPS Tracks

Albert River Circuit (GPX)

A lesser used walk starting at O'Reillys and spawning from the Border track.

Waterfalls

Lookouts

Rainforest

Add to
My Wishlist

Tick Walk

Getting there

Make the drive through Canungara up to the O'Reilly's guest house. The walk starts as part of the Border track.

Maps

I used the O'Reilly's guest house trail map, bought for a few dollars just before leaving. It's not highly detailed, but gives you enough information to complete the walk.

Route/Trail notes

Starting from across the road from the guesthouse, follow the Border track. The first hour is a highway, and you'll come across all sorts of hikers as the track starts as a grade 1 paved track. There are two tracks leading from the right of the border track to the Albert River Circuit, approximately 200 metres apart. They are both well signed so you can't miss them. From memory, they are about 5 kms into the border track.

We took the second exit and almost immediately the highway became a little goat track. The path is easily distinguishable and it should be almost impossible to get lost. The path is very muddy and intersected by numerous water flows, making the footing a bit unstable at times. I ended up in the mud a few times!

Eventually the rainforest starts thinning out and the track swung around to the right and began following the edge of the Valley of Echoes. The path becomes very narrow at points with quite a steep fall to the left, so watch your footing. There are a few spots to stop and appreciate the view all the way to the Pacific.

After a while there is an old school marker signifying 5 or 8 miles to O'Reilly's. Not too far past this is a sign for the Echo Point lookout. A quick jump on some rocks and it's a great place to sit and eat lunch.

Unfortunately, while we were there the weather turned for the worst, so we had to turn back without finishing the whole circuit as we weren't at the halfway point yet.

References

Take a Walk in South-East Queensland, p226, ISBN 9780957793170

GPS Tracks

Albert River Circuit (GPX)

Comments

Took us about 6 hours and we clocked it at 22km. Lots of leeches today but honestly that was the only negative. We normally start our walks early like 6.30am I highly recommend that you be careful driving up the mountain at this time during winter. It was pitch black and foggy and nearly impossible to see. The walk itself was honestly amazing and my favourite so far. We got on the trail about 6.50am and started walking. Once we hit Albert River circuit we saw about 20 people the whole way around. We did the hike anticlockwise but most others were doing it the other way. It wasn’t a particularly hard walk and no uphill battles. There were cool creek crossings and lots of challenging obstacles on the way which we thought added to the charm. This is one we will do again. A really great walk
Belindak77 on 7 Jul, 2018

Beautiful walk but on a rainy day with many leeches and unfortunately no view from Echo Point. Many leeches. About 7 hours with a few stops along the way.
Doug Mercer on 5 Feb, 2018

Great walk though quite a few (small) leeches due to mud and light rain on the day. Some nice creek crossings to keep things interesting. Though long, nothing too steep so can take your time and enjoy.
Julie on 26 Nov, 2017

Beautiful creek crossings & waterfalls. The track was still covered in ex-cyclone Debbie's debris, making some places a small but not overly difficult challenge to pass. The gradient is easy enough as the track is standard Border Track. We went after heavy rain so the leeches were abundant, but thankfully gaiters helped a lot! The views from the lookout are stunning, never seen Mt Warning look so majestic :)
petalani on 22 Oct, 2017

Few Trees over path & creeks under knee deep in places but managed to keep socks dry rock hopping
newt666 on 26 Mar, 2017

Medium intensity, don't leave it too late as it gets dark quite quickly in these mountains. Lovely waterfalls.@teniille
A peak a week on 26 Sep, 2016

Completed in 5 hours and 10 minutes. A long walk but worth it.
Some sections are slightly overgrown but still easily discernible track.
Did the walk counter-clockwise which i think was a good choice.
Pulled 4 leeches off my ankles as the ground was slightly wet but not too bad overall. Worth it to see the waterfalls and Echo point.
dalehikes on 8 May, 2016

Great walk with some tricky parts and lots of leeches. Wear long pants, gaiters and as an added defence Bushman's Insect Repellent. As well as leeches. this stuff keeps away mossies, sand flies and ugly people in bars (not scientifically proven)! Scenery changes regularly and there are some beautiful waterfalls.
Bushy Bloke on 27 Mar, 2016

All of you will think me stupid, and that's fine, because what I did was downright stupid and could have easily got me killed.
I did this walk alone. Very unexperienced (first proper hike) and very unprepared.

Gear: Shorts, t-shirt, old sneakers. Back-pack containing 600ml of water that I never drank.
Weather: Horrible. Light rain turned to a storm and torrential rain and icy winds.
Time took: 6.5 hours without stopping

Comments: I know this track was beautiful, but I was having such a bad time out there I couldn't stop to look. I didn't find the track to be that visible at all, in fact often times there were other tracks leading off from it, or it was completely covered in storm damage. Almost became lost a few times. Needs better signage.
I got covered in a hundred leeches, I had blood running off me everywhere.
Some steep cliff drops with slippery rocks.
Once the freezing torrential rain set in, coupled with that icy wind, I got pretty sick and stiff and even saw things that didn't exist.
But I persisted, and I finished the track.

What I did was VERY stupid, and I know I could have lost my life out there. Next time, I will do it all properly. Don't know what exactly I was thinking.
Endure on Mar, 2016

Hiked in from Binna Burra. Camped at Echo Point. Great view when the cloud clears. did the rest of Albert River in the morning. Excellent waterfalls and rainforest
Pardo on 6 Jun, 2015

We took 8 hours with stops for lunch (30 mins) and lots of photos! The 11 waterfalls along the way were flowing well and very beautiful. There were several large trees across the track and with our 12kg packs they were taxing to cross at times. We only passed two others on the track. Next time we will camp overnight to experience a night in this incredibly serene Australian bushwalk. We had perfect conditions with great views from Echo Point Lookout. We saw two blue crays in the creeks.
lissavinson on 5 Apr, 2014

Did this walk as part of my Schoolies week. Stayed at Echo point campsite for the night with friends and had a brilliant dinner at the point itself cooking on fuel stoves as the sun set. Spectacular waterfalls and views to Mt Warning!
Viking on 21 Nov, 2013

A long walk but well worth it !
Troy on Oct, 2013

Lots of snakes on this trip!
Allan Allport on 27 Oct, 2012

Well worth the effort!.Rewarded by great views and waterfalls..Completed this walk clockwise, commenced the walk around 11:00am and got to Echo point around 2:00pm set up camp at the second campsite 160 m down from the Echo Point lookout, spent the afternoon taking in the views of NSW and the coastline, that night did a walk out to the lookout to see the lights of Murwillumbah, Potsville and the lights along the coast, the next morning got up early to see the sunrise but the horizon was covered in clouds. After having breakfast and packing up, we walked back out passing the numerous waterfalls to the border track. Met another group out there who were heading to rat a tat hut, they invited us to go with them next time perhaps...
Walkinghawk on 15 Sep, 2012

Started about 8am after getting an early look from the treetops. The border track was fairly uninteresting, and stopped for a brief bite to eat at the 1st junction about 9am (yes, only an hr from the start).
Heading along the top section of track there was a small fallen tree from the recent storms/wind, that was laying across the track, but a small detour track had been worn on the side by others who had been along (maybe less maintained along this track?). Not much else of note for the next 45mins or so, until hitting the creek crossings/water falls, but thankfully getting through OK without many of those tiny leeches out there.
Got to Echo Point for lunch about 11.15, and watched the dark clouds heading over, but not dropping any rain. Also a small snake around there - a couple, who had gone the 2nd exit, turned up and said they'd heard about a tiger snake being reported around there (didn't see one, and didn't stay too long anyway). Latter 1/2 of the return track to the Border Track is a bit narrow/rocky in sections.
Got back to the end of the track about 1.30.
Rusty on 22 Oct, 2011

Started this walk at 08:45 after getting some local knowledge from the visitors centre.

Headed down the Border Track and after 1 hour came to the first track junction for the Albert River Circuit.
After speaking to the locals at the visitor centre, I opted to do the circuit anti-clockwise.
The track is in good condition and navigating is easy. There was a howling wind that made the walk a bit chilly but still bearable.

There are waterfalls galore, so take a camera. There are a few places near the falls to stop for lunch but I waited till I got to Echo Point Lookout. Apparently this is one of the best viewing areas in the park. I got there and managed two photos before the cloud/fog rolled in. The wind picked up and become icy cold. On with jacket, beanie etc.

It took me 3 1/4 hours to get to the Lookout. I had lunch then headed off. From this point back to start is 8.2km's. There is a camping spot within 200 metres of the lookout.

I completed the walk including 20 minute lunch stop in roughly 5 3/4 hours.

I only saw 1 other walker on the circuit, he too opted for lunch at the lookout.

If you are going to do this walk, be prepared for the cool winds that seem to race up the valley.

Happy Walking :-)

Cheers..
Matt on 20 Aug, 2011

A great walk that had pretty high creek crossings.
Laurence Hallam on 16 Jan, 2010

the temp up there is unpredictable, hot at day, but ice cold at mid night. only bring summer sleeping bag we all freeze our but off. but its a great walk.
Remy Run on 2 Dec, 2009