Purling Brook Falls circuit, Springbrook

From the car park, follow the track west along the top of the escarpment to Gwongorella, then zigzag down through rainforest below the cliffs. The track runs east along the foot of the escarpment to the base of Purling Brook Falls, where it passes through the spray and crosses the creek on a suspension bridge. It climbs the far side of the gorge in long zigzags and returns past the falls lookout at the top to the car park.

It is 4.2 km round with 111 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy: a well-made but steep track with many steps and zigzags, slippery when wet.

After heavy rain parts of the track can be closed for safety, so check the Queensland park alerts before you go. Stay behind the railings at the lookouts. The falls drop about 106 m, and the plateau is often cooler and wetter than the coast below.

The car park is off Forestry Road at Springbrook, in the hinterland behind the Gold Coast. Springbrook National Park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.