Sneaky Side Trip to the Springbrook Pinnacle (QLD)

15/07/2017Lisa Owen

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15/07/2017Lisa Owen

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If you’re hiking the Warrie Circuit, do yourself a favour and don’t miss this side trip to Springbrook Pinnacle.

Highlights

Waterfall wonderland close to Brisbane
360° views over Springbrook and out to the Gold Coast
Rock scrambling opportunities

Sights Set on Springbrook National Park

Despite a forecast of rain, I was determined to get a hike in and headed over to Springbrook National Park. Having hiked the Warrie Circuit trail only a few weeks before, I knew that the waterfall wonderland was the perfect way to spend a possibly rainy Saturday for an explorer suffering a bad case of cabin fever.

Turns out the weather forecasters got it wrong and while the clouds rolled in by lunchtime, my hiking buddies and I only experienced about 30 seconds of rain along the length of the Warrie Circuit. The waterfalls were the best I’ve seen along this trail after all that rain from Cyclone Debbie and a top-up the day before.

But I’m not here to talk about the Warrie Circuit because I’ve done that before — this adventure is all about the Springbrook Pinnacle which is reached from this trail. I only found out about this pinnacle after I did the circuit last time and was keen to go find it.

Reach for the Pinnacle

To reach the Pinnacle, start the Warrie Circuit anti-clockwise. You’ll pass Rainbow, Goomoolahra and Kadjagooma Falls. Continue on for about 15 more minutes before you turn a corner and you’ll see a clear path on your right that leads to a large tree a couple of metres down. If you get to Ngarri-dhum Falls, you’ve missed the turnoff.

The trail isn’t marked at the start but you’ll see a definite trail. Continue along the footpadding and you’ll gradually start passing pink ribbon markers tied to trees at regular intervals. There’s a bit of storm damage along the trail which can obscure the foot padding, so keep an eye out for ribbons if you start losing the foot padding.

As you go deeper in, the bush thickens and it is a bit of a bush bash, but then suddenly you reach the bottom of the Pinnacle. From the Warrie Circuit to the Pinnacle, it will take about 30 minutes. You’ll need your rock scrambling skills here for a short climb, and then you’ll be rewarded with 360° views.

Once you can return to the Warrie Circuit, you can go back the way you came but I recommend doing the whole circuit where you’ll pass more beautiful waterfalls and the Meeting of the Waters.

Activities

Hiking
Photography
Rock scrambling
Chasing waterfalls
Swimming
Rock hopping

Essential Gear

Camera
Long pants for bush bashing
At least 3 litres of water
Lunch and snacks
Insect repellent for leeches
Jumper

How To Get There

Springbrook National Park is an easy 90 minute drive from Brisbane via Nerang.

Take Exit 69 off the Pacific Motorway and follow the signs to Springbrook along the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road. Take the Springbrook turn-off at Pine Creek Road and park at Tallanbanna Picnic Area. Start on the Twin Falls circuit and follow the signs to Warrie Circuit. The trail is best done in an anti-clockwise direction.