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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Tick Walk

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

Easy walk, you can walk behind the waterfalls! And do not forget you swimming clothes and a towel!
Eze on 14 Jul, 2024

Easy track, go all the way down to see the falls. Awesome view. Get close to the fall.
Eze on 23 Jun, 2024

Great starter walk! So lovely to start at the rocky outcrops and ironbark forest, slowly descending into the rainforest :) The waterfall is VERY gushy and misty today from the recent rains 💧 Nice lookouts overlooking Hinze Dam and the city of GC. Unfortunately, the eastern section is closed so had to go down to the base of the falls and back on the same track.

Track report: Squelchy and wet from the rain. Had a few people in nice new-ish runners stop and chat with us (in hiking boots) about the puddles lol. Weirdly busy for a Monday. No leeches!
:) on 13 May, 2024

Stunning Falls. Easy walk, even in a drizzle.
Lauren T on 28 Jan, 2024

Very hot day so started early. Did the Purling Brook Falls Circuit twice, plus the Warringa Pool track once to make 10kms. Beautiful sitting by the falls and pool.
WildflowerBell on 27 Jan, 2024

Was lovely. How ever lots of people. The loop track back was a bit confusing to find. You need to go to the falls and go though the rock and over the swing bridge. I took the extra track down to the swimming hole but it was beautiful I do recommend that
Jemma on 13 Aug, 2023

Great walk, wasn't too busy, would have loved to go to the Warringa Pool but ran out of sunlight. The waterfall is very high and a great spot for a photo, although a bit touristy.
cc on 8 Jul, 2023

Track closed
Dean English on 6 Mar, 2023

Recommend you do as the signs ask, and walk in a clockwise direction to go down the steps to the base of the waterfall. Took us 90mins return.
Gayle Powell on 7 Jul, 2022

The waterfall was flowing and the track wasn't too muddy.
TrinaAtley on 23 Apr, 2022

SO MANY LEECHES
Pip on 8 Apr, 2022

Muddy and lots of leaches but still worth it
TrinaAtley on 26 Mar, 2022

This walk was pretty challenging due to the recent rain, our boots kept sticking in all the mud and we had to take care to not slip. The waterfall was spectacular though. For those with bad knees like myself, this walk is actually super challenging, the steps you walk down are quite uneven and there is a severe lack of guardrails. I recommend going with a friend if you have mobility limitations.
Melissa on 6 Feb, 2022

Even though it was a wet and rainy day, this walk was very busy for Australia Day. Loads of people swimming
Sofia on 26 Jan, 2022

Great walk. It was a bit wet and muddy but we did it with my daughters (8 and 10 yo) with no problems. The walk to the pool is worth it for the swim!
Pedro on 23 Jan, 2022

Nice walk very pretty, although was a bit rainy and we got lots of little leeches mainly on our shoes, did the purling falls track and the pool track took 3 hours all up.
Kent on 20 Jan, 2022

Beautiful walk. It was raining a little bit and that made it even better. We went to Warringa Pool as well which I would highly recommend!
K8 on 2 Jan, 2022

Lovely walk...doable easy to medium effort
Norzaini Amin on 21 Nov, 2021

Awesome track! I recommend doing this walk after a lot of rain to see the falls in full force. Went swimming too and it was absolutely freezing...totally worth it though :)
AmyKT on 24 Oct, 2021