Purling Brook Falls circuit: Walking in Springbrook National Park, Queensland
The Purling Brook Falls circuit from the Gwongorella picnic area in Springbrook National Park offers splendid views of Little Nerang Creek plunging 100m through the rainforest. Continue your Springbrook walk on the Warringa Pool Track for a marvellous swimming hole in the Gold Coast hinterland.
The national parks of the Gold Coast hinterland offer something very different to the famous Queensland coastal strip. And nowhere is this more clear than amid the World Heritage-listed Gondwana rainforest of Springbrook National Park.
There are several waterfalls amid the eucalypt forest in Springbrook National Park. Purling Brook Falls is perhaps the most spectacular of them. This Springbrook National Park waterfall is more about height than power and water flow. Little Nerang Creek drops around 100 metres over the cliff edge at Purling Brook Falls.
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.
Springbrook National Park walks: Purling Brook Falls Circuit
The cliffs and water make the base and top of Purling Brook Falls dangerous. Access is restricted by the national park authorities. However, you can get excellent views of the waterfall along the Purling Brook Falls circuit. This 4km loop track takes about two hours to walk. It shows off Springbrook National Park’s wildflowers on the way into the gorge.
The Purling Brook Falls circuit is far better walked clockwise rather than anticlockwise. This way, the hundreds of steps are tackled on the way down. Then, after crossing the suspension bridge, there’s a gentle gradient on the way back up to the Gwongorella picnic area.
The Purling Brook Falls circuit is rated as a Grade 3 walk – moderately challenging, but it should be fine for most people with a basic level of fitness.
Warringa Pool Track in Springbrook National Park
It’s also possible to extend the walk by tagging on the Warringa Pool Track. This adds 2km to the Purling Brook Falls circuit, and takes about three hours in total from the Gwongorella picnic area.
The Warringa Pool Track follows Little Nerang Creek to a pool that, unlike Purling Brook Falls, is open for swimming. If you fancy an idyllic swim in the wild, surrounded by World Heritage rainforest, the extra 2km is worth adding to the walk.
Where is the Gwongorella picnic area?
You will need a car to get to the Gwongorella picnic area. It’s a 45 minute drive south-west from Surfers Paradise.
Other things to do on the Gold Coast away from the coastal strip include watching a movie at the Yatala Drive In, craft shopping in Tamborine Mountain and wine tasting at the Witches Falls Winery. You can also go on Gold Coast hinterland hot air balloon flights.
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