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

Definitely check out Warringa Pool if you want to swim. There is no swimming under the waterfall itself (though disrespectful people might) so the extra walk to the pool is worth it. It is safe to jump in the middle of it too! Plenty of wildlife and the views are amazing
Samuel Armstrong on Jan, 2017

BEST waterfall in gold coast hinterland !!!! Its only a super short walk to get there and if the temperature allows for it - you can have a lovely swim in the swimming hole - can get VERY cold in winter! If you're lucky you'll get to see a rainbow created by the waterfall too - absolutely glorious
Emmalea on 2017

Comfortable walk with lots to see in the rainforest - travelled the circuit in the recommended direction cos I truly hate clambering UP steps. Giant tadpoles in pools near the restricted area at the top, lots of land mullet (big black skunks) crossing the path :) Worth the quick trip down to Waringa for a swim & to explore the pools
Anonymous on 28 Dec, 2016

Stunning waterfall! Was after some heavy rain however.
werd_arkitek on 11 Sep, 2016

We did this walk in Springbrook and it didn't take long to get to the falls about 2 hrs all up. The walk back to the picnic area was a little more demanding.
Yvette on Sep, 2016

Easy, beautiful walk.
Kay on 6 Aug, 2016

Nice, easy walk. Beautiful spot for a picnic at the bottom of the waterfall. Took about 2 hours at a leisurely pace
Kiran on 10 Jul, 2016

Great walk, views out to Surfer's, black cockatoos and a beautiful waterfall.
mjorn_ on May, 2016

Very nice walk, not difficult.
Ryan on 16 Apr, 2016

Another great walk with plenty of water features.
ian parker on 15 Apr, 2016

This was a lovely walk but slightly too much for my eldest, so I had a baby strapped to my chest and a nearly three year old on my hip (taking turns with my wife) it was a lot if weight for the ascent!
The falls and pool were impressive a nice spot to sit for a snack, albeit it can get crowded.
Well worth the time to do this walk.
Wattshappenin on Apr, 2016

Loved it!
jesssicastevens on 1 Mar, 2016

A popular walk. It's a shame that you cannot walk behind the waterfall anymore but at least with the new bridge you can complete the circuit.
rob.bushman on 26 Sep, 2015

Did this walk this morning. About 7km. Spotted a metre long goanna at the beginning. Beautiful place, love to see again after rain to catch the waterfalls in action.
tonks on 13 Sep, 2015

Was a great walk, quite easy and the waterfall is amazing
Amy on 4 Jul, 2015

Did this walk on the weekend after spending the night at the Settlement campground. It's a nice short walk with a great view of the falls from the bottom. We happened to see a couple of base jumpers land at the bottom just as we got there!
I took a dip in a pool under the bridge at the base of the falls. The water was cold but very refreshing!
Total time was just over an hour.
Macduff89 on 31 May, 2015

Another jewel of the Springbrook NP, not to miss!
Hugues Debeyser on 14 Apr, 2015

Spectacular walk. We've done this walk a few times. Unfortunately the walk behind the falls has been decommissioned. They are in the process of building a suspension bridge downstream from the falls instead. The track is cut at the moment so you can't complete the circuit. You can still walk to the Waringa Pool though and this is certainly worth the walk. Great place for a swim. The Purlingbrook Falls themselves are fantastic.
Ian and Sue on 30 Jan, 2015

amazing views for the difficulty required of this walk. Gone on this walk many times and down to Warringa pools as well. Great spots to stop and have lunch and relax with friends and or family.
wendyd on 15 Sep, 2014

Walk has a lot of distracting features such as large boulders and cliff faces to climb. We continued down the trail facing away from the falls and went further to the Warringa Pool which is another 2km return. Would love to go back in summer for a swim! 6km total distance.
Alice on 21 Apr, 2014

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Medium

4km return

2hrs

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