Experiences - Nature & Parks

Chase 4 Waterfalls in 1 Day at Springbrook National Park

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12/02/2023Lisa Owen

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Proudly sponsored by

12/02/2023Lisa Owen

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Springbrook National Park gives you plenty of bang for buck! Hike to four unique waterfalls and even take a dip in a few, all in a single day.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Country on which this adventure takes place who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants, for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Highlights

Four waterholes in four hours
Just 50 minutes from the Gold Coast
Heaps of other walks around the area

Purling Brook Falls & Warringa Pool

Please note! Purling Brook Falls Circuit & Warringa Pool are currently closed due to flood damage. Please check the QLD Parks Alerts page before heading out.

Spurred on following a very rainy weekend, I headed out to Springbrook National Park to chase some waterfalls.

The first stop was Purling Brook Falls, which cascades more than 100 metres down the cliff face. In the mid-morning light there were rainbows appearing in the frame! A short walk from the base of the falls is a suspension bridge over Little Nerang Creek.

From the Purling Brook Falls waterhole, continue another kilometre through dense rainforest to the picturesque Warringa Pools where you can sit on the rocks or paddle in water and take in the sound of the cascading falls.

Read more: Staying Safe Around Swimming Holes

Purling Brook Falls

The Twin Falls Circuit

A 4km drive from the Purling Brook Falls car park is the Canyon Lookout or Tallanbana Picnic Area. You can start from either of these lookouts to reach Twin Falls via an easy trail, bordered by large rocks.

The Twin Falls Circuit leads you behind the falls and you’ll look down into the waterhole and into the rainforest through a curtain of water.

If you have more time, you can continue past Twin Falls onto the Warrie Circuit which passes by Goomoolahra Falls.

While the water was ice cold at the time I visited, the waterholes at Twin Falls and Warringa Pools would be bliss in summer.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace!

Natural Bridge Walk

Now this will be a little bit out of your way, but I promise you, it’s worth the extra time in the car.

After your hike at Twin Falls, jump back behind the wheel and drive back to the intersection of Pine Creek Road and Nerang Murwillumbah Road. Instead of turning right to go back to the coast, turn left and follow the road to Natural Bridge. Your fourth and final waterfall of the trip.

Stroll along the kilometre-long Natural Bridge loop walk and marvel at the surrounding Hoop pines as you descend down to Cave Creek. It won’t take you long to spot what you came to see – the awesome naturally eroded Natural Bridge and waterfall.

Photo by Destination Gold Coast

For safety and environmental reasons, swimming is prohibited here, but there’s nothing stopping you from whiling away the time bird watching for Wompoo fruit doves, Green catbirds, and Paradise riflebirds.