Purling Brook Falls Circuit – Queensland, Australia

by vivid · November 29, 2020

Purling Brook Falls circuit is one of the must do hiking around Brisbane. Relatively easy to medium difficulty level, about 4.5Km loop. This circuit can be accessed all round the year. This hike has all-in-one, got great scenery, Rain forest(Springbrook National Park), Water fall(Purling Brook Falls, Gwongorella, Tanninaba), Natural Water pool (Tanninaba, Warringa Pools, Gwongorella), Birds, goes on. We did our hike end of November (was getting hot, 34° C Brisbane, Approx 26° C Springbrook National Park). Less water at the fall.

Approximately 104Km from Brisbane if you go south along pacific motorway and take Exit 77.

There is plenty of car parking space here. The trail starts short distance from car park. Sign’s and direction every where, very difficult to miss around. To begin the circuit you can choose any direction, clockwise if you choose left and anti clockwise if you choose right in the photo below. Both the direction has great scenic view.

Approx 400mts hike from the car park you will find beautiful scenic Purling brook falls lookout. The lookout overlooks Springbrook national park.

The actual entrance starts after the lookout. First 2.3Km is most easy walk until you reach bottom of the fall, hike is mostly down hill if you chose clockwise which avoids climbing steps while coming back. The second half of the walk after suspension bridge is bit tiring for one with average fitness. We did the hike with a 6 year old, not much drama. Just after the entrance gate you will find Tanninaba falls, not much water flow when we went there, but over flows during rainy season.

As you walk downhill for about 1Km after Tanninaba falls, you base of Tanninaba falls – a small water pool.

As you walk further next stop would be yet another beautiful water pool, Gwongorella- Dancing water. Great place to have some sip of water and cool down.

Then we head straight to Warringa Pools our main attraction, base of Purling Brook Falls. Great place to have your packed picnic, dipping your leg in the cool water.

After our picnic we headed back to our car park about 2Km from Warringa Pools, over a suspension bridge. Walk mostly uphill, but easily done. I would say a day well spent.