Curtis Falls, Tamborine National Park: How do you get to this Gold Coast waterfall?
Curtis Falls in the Joalah section of the Tamborine National Park is about an hour’s drive from Brisbane in Queensland’s Scenic Rim. The 1.1km Curtis Falls track will take you to this Gold Coast waterfall.
Curtis Falls in the Tamborine National Park might not be Queensland’s biggest waterfall, but it’s certainly one of the most photogenic.
This Scenic Rim waterfall daintily tumbles over a basalt rock ledge into a tempting green pool, surrounded by lush green rainforest.
Where is Curtis Falls?
But how do you get to Curtis Falls? Well, this Tamborine Mountain waterfall is in the Joalah section of the Tamborine National Park, sandwiched between Tamborine Mountain and Tamborine North.
The creek flowing over the waterfall is Cedar Creek, although Curtis Falls is south of Cedar Creek Falls and Thunderbird Park.
Access to the Curtis Falls walking track is from a parking area with public toilets. The car park is off Dapsang Drive, which you reach by turning right off the Eagle Heights Road, just south of Tamborine Mountain.
Best day trips from the Gold Coast – 7 ways to improve your stay
The Gold Coast is a destination in its own right, but there are several excellent day trips you can do while using it as a base.
- Deluxe Tamborine Mountain winery tour – with gourmet lunch.
- Full day Springbrook National Park tour – with waterfalls and bush tucker tasting.
- Snorkelling with turtles at Cook Island.
- Evening glowworm-viewing experience – with guided stargazing.
- Lady Elliot Island day trip – with glass bottom boat & guided Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour.
- Hopping between microbreweries – with lunch included.
- Northern Rivers fruit & distillery tour – with Tropical Fruit World and Husk Distillers.
Curtis Falls from Brisbane
From Brisbane, it’s about an hour’s drive. You come off the Pacific Highway at Stapylton. You then follow the Stanmore road through Yatala, switching to the Beaudesert-Beenleigh Road at Wolffdene. Continue on this road until you reach Tamborine, then turn left down the Tamborine Mountain Road until you reach the Eagle Heights Road. The turning off the Eagle Heights Road is on the left shortly afterwards.
Curtis Falls walking track
Once parked, the Curtis Falls track is about 1.1km return. It should take you about half an hour to get there and back, as you walk through the wet eucalypt forest.
There’s a wooden viewing platform by the falls, in a prime spot for photography. But now for the bad news… That tempting looking pool at the bottom? You’re not allowed in it. Swimming is banned. The pool is an important platypus habitat, and the rockfaces are a key glowworm hangout. The Parks and Forests department prohibits entry, and that’s enforceable with fines.
On the flipside, Parks and Forests does provide maps and further details of the Curtis Falls track on its website.
Queensland’s Scenic Rim is often known as the Gold Coast hinterland. Beaudesert is the main town here, but other attractions include the Witches Falls Winery on Tamborine Mountain and O’Reilly’s Winery in the Canungra Valley.
More inland Queensland
What are the best things to do in Laidley?
What animals can I see at the Darling Downs Zoo near Toowoomba?
The Millaa Millaa Falls in the Atherton Tableland.
What is the best cave tour at the Capricorn Caves near Rockhampton?
What are the best things to do in Kingaroy?