Gheerulla Circuit is a Luscious Overnight Rainforest Hike in Queensland’s Mapleton National Park

The two day hike along the Gheerulla Circuit in Queensland’s Mapleton National Park will have you staring up in wonderment at the array of greenery and wildlife on display.

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Jinibara, Kabi Kabi, and Gubbi Gubbi peoples who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

Gheerulla Circuit is a 21.2km loop, Grade 4 hike and is located in Mapleton National Park in Queensland. The hike can completed over two days. Experienced hikers can attempt to finish it within nine hours.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Gheerulla Circuit Quick Facts

Distance: 21.2km
Duration: 2 days
Elevation gain: 410m
Map: AllTrails

Gheerulla Circuit Highlights

• Epics views over the valley from Thilba Thalba viewpoint
• Picnicking by Gheerulla Falls
• Trekking through luscious rainforest

About the Gheerulla Circuit

The Gheerulla Circuit is a winding and undulating trail that follows ridge lines speckled with glorious views while a meandering valley of rainforest slowly lengthens high above your head.

You’ll find an abundance of flora sheltering you from above and the music of creeks and birds adds a soundtrack to the serene views through Mapleton National Park.

Just a short 40-minute drive from the Sunshine Coast, the Gheerulla Circuit is a quiet escape from the busy coastal beaches, where you’ll find tranquillity hidden in an escarpment of wet sclerophyll forests and rainforests – this needs to be on your list of hikes to have a crack at.

How to Get to Gheerulla Circuit

A 40-minute drive west of the Sunshine Coast, follow Nambour-Mapleton Road into Mapleton Town, turn off onto Delicia Road and park at entry/exit to Gheerulla Falls.

From there the world’s your oyster. Hike clockwise (that’s what we did), or anti-clockwise for a challenging ascent.

Skill Level

Intermediate

Essential Gear

• Tent
• Headtorch
• First aid kit
• PLB
• Enough water for one day/night and water purification system (you can fill up at campsites)
• Insect repellent
• Rubbish bags
• Sleeping bag 

Read more: Overnight Hiking Packing List: 20+ Must-Have Hiking Essentials

What It’s Like to Hike the Gheerulla Circuit

Day 1: Pencil Creek Road to Thilba Thalba Walkers Camp

Distance: 7.8km

An intermediate 7.8km trail started off day one, with a few glorious cliff edge viewpoints that drew our attention to the gumtree covered valley, ridgeline, and extended views of Mount Cooroora in the distance. 

We spotted Rufous fantails, Golden whistlers, and Lewins honeyeaters that nestled high amongst our heads and enjoyed the she-oaks and banksias that followed the edges of the trail. 

Camping amongst blackbutt forest and scribbly gum trees, we sipped on a few thirst-quenching cans of Carlton to celebrate the end of the first day. 

We settled on top of a boulder to cook dinner which overlooked the candy-coloured sunset disappearing below the ridgeline.

We discussed our gear as frothing outdoor education teachers to be and got a little jittery over all the bird species we’d spotted over the day’s hike, as well as the magnificent views we glanced upon.

Day 2: Thilba Thalba Walkers Camp to Pencil Creek Road (via Gheerulla Falls 100m off track)

Distance: 13.4km

Day two was a 13.4km hike beginning with a descent from the ridge top and winding around grass trees that followed down to the valley. It’s an undulating trail that crosses rivers and 4WD tracks and meanders underneath rainforest canopies and piccabeen palms. 

We stopped at a campsite to fill up and boil water, took a long coffee break by a tranquil river crossing, and spotted some more Brown cuckoo doves, Brown thornbills, and Grey fantail birds. 

With the rainforest growing profusely high above our heads, rose gums occupying the blue sky vision, and Gheerulla Falls growing nearer, we perched ourselves on a large rock overlooking a trickling falls.

Read more: Staying Safe Around Swimming Holes and Waterfalls

The serenity was enough for us to sit quietly over lunch and absorb ourselves amongst the backdrop of wildlife sounds. 

With very few people seen along the trail, a plentiful amount of wildlife, and views to take in, as well as the contrast of wet sclerophyll forests to rainforests covering the valley floor, it’s a glorious two-day hike you must try.

Gheerulla Circuit FAQs

How hard is the hike to Gheerulla Falls?

You don’t need to walk this overnight hike to get to Gheerulla Falls, it can be accessed by a shorter 2.7km out-and-back trail from the same starting point.

What park is Gheerulla Falls in?

Gheerulla Falls is in Mapleton National Park.

Is Gheerulla Falls good for swimming?

Yep! There’s a small swimming hole at the base of the falls that’s lovely to swim in.