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

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

Great little walk. Fantastic waterfalls
Timothy Crowther on 22 Dec, 2018

Did this walk 3 months post birth, fat as a whale at 90kg and managed to smash through it. Easy done if I a fatty at the time can do it.
Kaitys on 4 Dec, 2018

The falls were flowing nicely (I've seen them much lower). The main carpark is currently closed as they refurbish the picnic area so the walk starts from the camping area. This is well signposted from the road.
Richard Mason on 2 Dec, 2018

Pleasant reasonably easy walk if completed in the recommended clockwise direction. Currently the entry & car park from Forestry Rd is closed (revamp of the area possibly) however entry from Carricks Rd offers parking & is easy to find.
The circuit plus the extra to Warringa Pool is around 8 klms at an easy stroll taking a little over 2 hours.
Goannas, wallabies & large skinks plus an array of birds were seen along the way.
Cheryl on 29 Nov, 2018

After all of the rain we have had the waterfall was flowing like a majestic veil and the pools were a lovely swim spot.
Syd on 28 Oct, 2018

Beautiful easy walk and swim in the icy water!
Mandy on 28 Oct, 2018

Despite torrential rain this walk didn’t disappoint, As long as you’re not scared of leeches this walk is perfect for going barefoot and the waterfall really is beautiful. The best thing about going out in the rain was it wasn’t crowded, I only ran into a couple of other people on the track.

Lia Skye
www.livingahimsa.com.au
Lia Skye on 13 Oct, 2018

Lovely hike..did it after the rains so waterfall was amazing..best to do clockwise to avoid climbing up the stairs. Not difficult and can be done with children.
Ashwin on 11 Oct, 2018

Always a great walk to do. Had to start from the campsite as the usual carpark entrance was all under construction
Annabel Kate on 6 Oct, 2018

Easy walk in two hours if done clockwise to avoid the 250 stairs going up! Great for wildflowers this time of year.
Watflo on 30 Sep, 2018

Absolutely love Purling Brook Falls and have completed this walk many times. Was pleasantly surprised yesterday to find that the circuit has reopened (had not looked it up prior to going) - I was like a kid in a candy shop, I was that excited!!! The parks team have done an amazing job to restore the track. Water fall is still a trickle due to the lack of rain we have had in recent months, but still beautiful all the same. Constantly surprised at some people's stupidity and lack of prep when out viewing these amazing places. No respect for nature - people climbing over rails to get to the edge of the top of the waterfall. It makes me a little mad as this is why places get closed, all it would take is for the person to slip.
JenC on 21 Sep, 2018

This track was a good level of challenge for me...not too easy but not too difficult! The waterfall was beautiful but I recommend visiting after some rain as it was only trickling when I visited last Sunday. Gorgeous none the less !
AmyKT on 5 Aug, 2018

Very nice walk apart from having a snake 🐍 stop us in our tracks till it moved on!
Half of the circuit is closed off from the bridge near waterfall due to storms.
But so many photo opportunities and spots to sit for lunch.
Great walk down just be prepared for the walk all the way back up stairs and all!
Shara on 3 Jun, 2018

Nicely maintained and clean path with a few stairs. Please note the loop that begins at the falls (halfway through the walk) is closed due to damage from the hurricane (see photo of sign posted here). Still a lovely out-and-back walk.
Ryan Ketterl on 11 May, 2018

Some good scenery particularly at the top of the falls and up stream of the falls. The base of the falls was worth the walk.. Only half the circuit is open, so you’re going to be walking up all those stairs, so many stairs! It was a good work out for an old guy.
David S on 9 May, 2018

This was a great easy walk down from the top of the falls. Arrived around 8:45am Sunday and it wasn't too busy. Weather was perfect and cool, and the view of the falls was brilliant. We went down to the Warringa Pools and had a snack for 30min before coming back up the same path (because half the circuit is still closed). The whole trip probably took around 2 hrs. Definitely would recommend.
Laura on 29 Apr, 2018

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Medium

4km return

2hrs

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