Purling Brook Falls Circuit Track

Located in the McPherson Range, in the Gold Coast hinterland of Queensland, the Springbrook National Park is roughly 105km south of Brisbane and this great little circuit trail is in the Springbrook Plateau section of the national park which is in the World Heritage-listed Gondwana rainforest, famous for its species diversity, evolutionary history and ongoing geological processes.It is one of the parks ‘must do's’ and although only short; 5km, it is a challenging hike. Based on our data, the trail is graded as Difficult. For information on how we grade trails, please click here. The effort is worth it though, there are spectacular waterfalls, ancient open eucalyptus forests and rainforests to discover, as well as the gorge and waterfalls. The falls are viewed from the gorge below before a suspension bridge crossing and then a slow and steady climb back to the picnic area. On the track, look for ancient lepidozamia, a stunning cycad and the beautiful hakea, an endemic flowering plant. Well signposted, the track can be attempted in either direction although clockwise is recommended so you go down the 450 steps at the start and then back up via a gentle gradient and not the other way around. There is a split off towards Warringa Pool at the base of Purling Brook Falls and if you are intending to take a dip in the waters it is requested that you take this short track down to Warringa Pool to swim there and do not swim in the pool at the base of the falls. This is to limit the impact on the wildlife that live in the pool. Note that in times of heavy rain or fire danger this track is closed by large gates to prevent access. To check on any closures go to the NPWS website. Keep out of some prohibited access areas along the creek at the top of the falls and also the old path which used to pass behind them. Young children must be supervised at all times. To get to the park, exit the Pacific Motorway at Mudgeeraba (exit 79 from the north, exit 80 from the south) and follow the Gold Coast–Springbrook Road. There are 2 car parks that can be used to access the track, the Main Car Park at the end of Forestry Road and the Settlement Day Use Area on Carricks Road. The latter being less popular although they both have toilets and picnic facilities.Dogs are not allowed on this trail due to the protection of wildlife and it is not suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs due to the steepness, steps and difficulty of the trail. Expect it to take around 1.45 hours, although caution is advised on trail times as this depends on multiple variables. For more info, click here.