This walk incorporates parts of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk and the Purlingbrook Falls circuit to see spectacular waterfalls and beautiful rainforest, and it has some great waterholes if it's a hot day!
On Springbrook Rd, heading south, drive about 600 metres past Apple Tree Park, then very soon after you pass Springbrook Mountain Chalets on your right you will see an obvious turn-around area on your left, with a coloufully painted watertank. Park here.
QTopo, Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk map
This walk is mainly based on part of the Springbrook section of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great walk and part of the Purlingbrook Falls circuit. It also incorporates walking along roads to complete the circuit.
Leave your car and walk through a gate on an obvious trail that very soon intersects with the Great Walk (at this point, it's a wide firebreak). Turn right and head south (downhill) for a few hundred metres, then just before the firebreak heads up a steep hill, look for the walking track on your left (it's not well signed). This heads steeply downhill, with quite a few stairs, eventually reaching Little Nerang Creek (West Branch). Before crossing the creek, head downstream about 40 metres to look at a very picturesque waterfall coming in from the opposite (eastern) bank of the creek. Head back to the Great Walk track and cross the creek (you'll probably need to take of your shoes) - it's not hard to find where to cross. The track heads steeply uphill with several sets of stairs to negotiate, then follows the creek upstream above a beautiful gorge with another (unnamed) waterfall seen entering the creek from the Western side. The track then loops west then east around a gully and not long afterwards there's a great waterhole where you can have a cooling swim. A few hundred metres further on you'll come to Warringa Pool, which is where you cross back over Little Nerang Creek to join the Purlingbrook Falls circuit. This will lead you back up and out of the valley passing Purlingbrook Falls and several lookouts to bring you up to the Gwongorella picnic area. Follow Forestry Road back out to Springbrook Rd and turn right. From here it's about 3km along the road (watching out for traffic) back to the car.
No permits or fees.
There's no specific description of this walk, but you'll find plenty written about the Great Walk and Purlingbrook Falls circuit.
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