Springbrook National Park, QLD. Part 1: Purling Brook Falls.

Springbrook National Park is about 100 km south of Brisbane. However, there are four distinct sections to the National Park so ensure that you have directions for the section you wish to visit. This blog will cover Purling Brook Falls in the Springbrook Section. 

Purling Brook Falls. Lookout near Gwongorella Picnic Area.

We have camped at Springbrook National Park twice but we held off writing a blog about it because we were booked in to camp there Christmas 2014 and we thought it would be better to post new photos and give an update on the upgrade to the Purling Brook Falls Circuit. Well things don't always go to plan in life and we ended up cancelling our booking three days out. We have an account with Queensland National Parks and they gave us a full credit so we will be able to use the money when we go camping next time. 

Our tent at Settlement Campground.

At Settlement Campground in Springbrook National Park there are 13 individual sites and you choose the site number when you book.  We saw online that our campsite was quickly rebooked by some lucky last minute campers. There is a map of the sites here which you might like to study before making your booking:

http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/pdf/settlement-campground-map.pdf

Sunrise at Settlement Campground

Birds around the campground.

There is an easy walk from the campground through the day use area to the nearest lookout and beyond to link up with the Purling Brook Falls Walk. Along this walk, some of the birds we have seen were Grey Fantails, Crimson Rosellas, Bar-shouldered Doves, White-browed Scrubwrens, Pale-headed Rosellas, Brown Cuckoo-Doves, Eastern Whipbird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and a Buff-banded Rail.

Monarchs and a Buff-banded Rail near the campground.

Purling Brook Falls

The Purling Brook Falls Circuit is a Class 3, 4 km walk. The walk does require some fitness as there are lots of steps going down and on the return up again. At the time of writing this blog, the Purling Brook Circuit is closed while a 25 m suspension bridge is being constructed downstream of the falls. If you are in a hurry or not keen on the walk, there is a large carpark at the Gwongorella Picnic Area with easy access to a lookout with stunning views of the falls.

View of the circuit from the lookout nearest to the campground.

Purling Brook Falls drops an impressive 109 m

One of the great things about this walk is that you can walk behind the falls.

We are looking forward to returning to the Purling Brook Falls Circuit when it reopens.

Note: We went back in April after Purling Brook Falls Circuit reopened and the trail has been redesigned so that you can no longer walk behind the falls.