Summary: The Girrakool Loop Track is a very short walk that passes an Aboriginal engraving site, the picturesque Piles Creek and a couple of lookouts.

Last time I was here, I completed the longer Piles Creek Loop – and suggested in my blog post that the much shorter Girrakool Loop Track wasn’t really worth doing. Pehaps I was wrong… I’ve only got time for a quick visit today on way north today, so this time I’m doing the very short Girrakool Loop walk. After descending a short distance from the carpark on the well-formed track, I reach the marked Aboriginal engraving site.

The small Girrakool Aboriginal engraving site has one figure, which is fairly easy to make out (it was a very overcast day, so the photo is not great).

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The track then drops between two large boulders, as it continues descending to the bottom of the valley.

An informal side-track goes down to Piles Creek, which is surrounded by ferns.

The rough track goes up a small (unnamed) tributary of Piles Creek, as well as Piles Creek, which is flowing nicely after recent rain.

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It’s then back onto the main loop track, which follows the valley for a while, above Piles Creek, before another rough track descends to the water.

At the bottom of the track is Piles Creek Cascades, a set of cascades that flows over a wide rock platfom.

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Just below the cascades is a small waterfall that drops into a wide pool, which would make a nice swimming hole in summer (take care at the top of the falls – the rocks are fairly slippery).

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Once back on the main track again, I soon reach the Broula Lookout, which provides a view across the valley (and you can just make out Piles Creek).

Just after this lookout is a junction with a track going back up to the Girrakool carpark and picnic area; I take this option as I don’t have much time. This makes the loop about 1km.

You can also continue straight ahead to complete the full Girrakool Loop. This goes past the Illoura Lookout (meaning “creek in a gully”) which is much better than the previous lookout as you can see a nice pool formed by Piles Creek.

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The track follows Leask Creek in a northerly direction, to reach Boondi Lookout and Andamira Lookout, before returning to the carpark. There’s not much of a view from either lookout, but you can scramble down to Andamira Waterfall (also called Leask Creek Falls), which drops off an almost semi-circular cliff covered with ferns.

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The full loop is about 400m longer (1.4km total), and is worth doing (I had walked this part of the loop last time I was here). Although I’d still highly recommend the much longer Piles Creek Loop if you have time, the Girrakool Loop is a great alternative – especially in summer when you can take advantage of the swimming holes!

More information on Girrakool Loop

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1 Comment

Girrakool Loop Track (Brisbane Water NP) – OkRoam · June 15, 2020 at 2:32 pm

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