The 14km Warrie Circuit Hike Passes 7 Rainforest-Clad Waterfalls in QLD’s Springbrook National Park

The Warrie Circuit hike in Springbrook National Park may be the best track in Australia for avid waterfall chasers. Elisha tackled this 14km loop in South East Queensland, passing at least seven waterfalls within five hours in the ancient Gondwana Rainforest.

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Yugambeh people 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

The Warrie Circuit hike through Springbrook National Park, just under an hour from the Gold Coast, is often considered amongst the best day hikes in Queensland. The 14km loop is the longest walk in the national park and takes around 5-6 hours to complete. If you want to see the best of Springbrook, this is the trail for you.

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Warrie Circuit Facts

Distance: 14km loop
Duration: 5-6 hours
Elevation gain: 421m
Nearest town: Springbrook (nearest major town is Gold Coast)

About Warrie Circuit

The Warrie Circuit in Queensland’s Springbrook National Park takes in many of the highlights in the park in one long circuit walk. The 14km track passes at least seven waterfalls as you explore the depths of the mossy, dense subtropical rainforest below the escarpment.

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The trail is moderately challenging, but the reward for your effort is an intimate wander through the ancient rainforest where rare plant species thrive, waterfalls create rainbows, and the dense canopy of beautiful trees leaves you in awe.

For those looking for a shorter version, the Twin Falls Circuit is a 4km loop taking in the first part of the Warrie Circuit. However, for those with the time and fitness level, I highly recommend extending the walk and tackling the entire Warrie Circuit to really take in the beauty of the rainforest, deep below the towering cliffs.

Warrie Circuit History

Springbrook National Park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, a collection of parks located along the Great Escarpment on the East Coast between Newcastle and Brisbane. It’s one of Australia’s greatest natural wonders, containing the largest area of subtropical rainforest in the world.

Springbrook National Park is on the Country of the Yugambeh people. The area is rich in cultural stories that explain its links to the land and its rare plants and animals.

The Warrie Track is named after the Aboriginal word ‘Warrie’, meaning ‘rushing water’, describing the waterfalls and rivers that run through the route.

How to Get to Warrie Circuit

You can begin the circuit from either Tallanbana Picnic Area or Canyon Lookout car park, both accessible via Springbrook Road. Springbrook Road is essentially a no-through road, so there’s only one way in and out of the area.

Tallanbana Picnic Area is a 50-minute drive from the Gold Coast, via Nerang-Murwillumbah Road and Springbrook Road. It’s a bit of a steep, windy road to reach the top of the escarpment, so take care while driving.

From Brisbane, it’s 110km or a 1.5-hour drive south via M1 and then Nerang-Murwillumbah Road up to the escarpment.

Where to Stay Near Warrie Circuit

If you want to make it a weekend trip, there are some nice cottages, lodges, and other accommodations around Springbrook, a short drive from the trailhead.

The only camping area in the national park is The Settlement Campground. This is ideal for those looking for unpowered camping amidst a natural setting. It has toilets, picnic tables, and BBQs. There are only 11 sites, so I recommend booking online ahead of time to secure your spot.

Skill Level

Intermediate

The Warrie Circuit is a Grade 4 hike, which requires about 5-6 hours to complete. It demands a reasonable level of fitness, with some steep descents and ascents, and slippery surfaces and creek crossings, which can be risky after rain.

However, the trail is well-kept and easy to navigate, so it’s quite achievable for many people with time and a base level of fitness.

Mobile reception isn’t reliable, especially as you descend below the cliffs and deep under the tree canopy. So, ensure you’re well-prepared before setting off.

Essential Gear for Hiking the Warrie Circuit

• Plenty of water, as it can be humid and tiring work
• Walking shoes or boots
• Rain jacket and pants (it’s a rainforest after all)
• First aid kit
• Insect repellent
• Saline to remove leeches
• Snacks to refuel
• Camera

Read more: Leeches: How To Remove, Avoid, and Appreciate Them

What It’s Like to Hike the Warrie Circuit

It was a sunny day mid-week in June when I set off on the Warrie Circuit. I decided to walk the trail in an anti-clockwise direction, but it wouldn’t matter whichever way you choose to do it. The trail begins by following the shorter Twin Falls Circuit, which is a much more popular walk.

It began with a gentle descent, before passing through some spectacular rock slabs and boulders.

The Twin Falls Circuit turns left here to head to the base of Twin Falls (a worthy side trip to the first waterfall of this hike), while the Warrie Circuit continues to the right. There’s a fairly ominous warning sign here, ensuring that you’re prepared for the longer trail.

The next waterfall you come to is Rainbow Falls.

The trail actually continues around the back of the curtain of water, an invigorating beginning to the journey. Once on the other side, you have to turn back to see the natural rainbow created by the mist!

Further along, I passed other waterfalls, Goomoolahra Falls and Ngarri-dhum Falls, as I continued to descend deeper into the gorge.

The trees are just as impressive as the cascading waters. I stopped several times just to gaze up at the canopy and admire the incredible beauty of the rainforest; something clearly much older than we can possibly comprehend.

The trail eventually made its way over creeks to the ‘meeting of the waters’, the halfway point of the circuit and as the name suggests, the point where several streams come together.

This is an ideal spot for lunch, hidden under the shade and coolness of the trees. The sunlight still streams through, creating a magical atmosphere.

From here, the trail meanders past Gooroolba Falls before beginning the last few kilometres of switchbacks back up the escarpment. It’s a winding trail through moss-covered trees, but there are still plenty of waterfalls to see.

There’s a short detour required to reach Poonyahra Falls, but it’s definitely worth doing as it was one of my favourite spots. The cascading waterfall feels like a hidden world, and it’d be the perfect place for a cold dip on a hot day.

Towards the top of the escarpment, once again, the trail rejoins with the Twin Falls Circuit. I passed under another curtain of water, Blackfellow Falls, a fitting end to the ultimate waterfall bagging adventure.

The final climb to the top of the canyon wall meant the hard yards were done, and the last stretch followed the top of the escarpment back to my starting point. It felt like emerging from another world, from the ancient back to the present. Aside from a handful of people on the Twin Falls trail, I hardly passed anyone.

Just before reaching the car park, stop at the Canyon Lookout to take in the expansive views over the rainforest, Rainbow Falls tumbling over the escarpment in the distance, and towards the skyscrapers of the Gold Coast on the coast.

Tips for Hiking the Warrie Circuit

• Wear good walking shoes, as the ground can be slippery and uneven
• It rains often in the national park, so ensure you pack a rain jacket
• Be prepared for a muddy track in parts, as it’s often damp
• Leeches are common, especially after rainfall, wear repellent or carry some saline if you discover any of the suckers on you
• Creek crossings can be impassable after excessive rain. Check the Queensland Parks website for updates before heading off
• Stick to the track and avoid trying to get too close to waterfalls off the trail, as the rainforest is quite dense and rocks are incredibly slippery underfoot
• Try other nearby hikes in the same national park, like Purling Brook Falls and Warringa Pool hike

FAQs Warrie Circuit

What grade is the Warrie Circuit?

The Warrie Circuit is a Grade 4 walk, which means it’s moderately challenging. A reasonable level of fitness and hiking experience is needed to complete and enjoy the track. Expect steep descents and ascents, and slippery surfaces and creek crossings, which can be risky after rain.

Where does the Warrie Circuit start?

You can begin the Warrie Circuit from either Tallanbana Picnic Area or Canyon Lookout car park, both accessible via Springbrook Road. Springbrook Road is essentially a no-through road, so there’s only one way in and out of the area.