Warrie Circuit – a rainforest loop with eight picturesque waterfalls

Combining the Warrie Circuit and part of the Twin Falls Circuit, this is one of longest signposted bushwalks in Springbrook National Park. It passes a number of waterfalls and many sections of dense rainforest as the trail drops from the top of the escarpment to the bottom of the valley. I’m starting the loop at the Canyon Lookout (you could also start at the Tallanbana Picnic Area), and initially taking the Twin Falls Circuit Track as it follows the top of the escarpment.

Twin Falls Circuit

The Canyon Lookout is directly above The Canyon, the name of the sheer, vertical cliffs above the deep valley.

Despite the misty weather, there are some nice views from the track over Springbrook National Park.

There are a couple more fenced lookouts offering views out to the east towards the coast, and a nice view from the top of Blackfellows Falls.

After about a kilometre, the trail drops below the top of the escarpment, and heads back the way we just came from – but below the cliffline.

I’m soon at the base of Blackfellow Falls; while the waterfall would be more impressive after heavy rain, there’s a decent flow of water that drops over the trail.

Warrie Circuit

Just after the waterfall is a junction: the Twin Falls Circuit continues along the base of the cliffs, while the Warrie Circuit continues to descend into the valley. I take the Warrie Circuit track, which soon reaches a rather ominous warning sign. As the entire loop I’m about to undertake is on a signposted and well-made track, I’m not entirely sure why there is a need for such signage… perhaps it’s to prevent tourists doing the much shorter Twin Falls Circuit wandering down the wrong track.

The Warrie Circuit track zigs and zags down the valley in a very wide series of switchbacks, under a canopy of tall rainforest trees. Although there hasn’t been much heavy rain for a while, the track is a little muddy in places – but the descent is steady and gradual, and there are no slippery sections.

The first waterfall is Poondahra Falls, which would look a lot more spectacular after some heavy rain; a short clamber up the creek takes you to the base of the this small waterfall. Below the track is the top of Poonyahra Falls, which is also on the Little Nerang Creek East Branch. (The Warrie Circuit is named after the Aboriginal word for “rushing water”, and there are many waterfalls along this loop.)

The track descends a little further, before reaching the junction with a short side-trail that goes to Poonyahra Falls.

Poonyahra Falls is also a little underwhelming during the dry season, with only a trickle of water cascading over the wide rock face.

I’ve done about half the descent so far – the Warrie Circuit drops just over 300m in total elevation – and it’s very pleasant walking through the rainforest. Although it’s pretty busy at the top, I’ve only seen a handful of people so far.

As the track near the bottom of the valley, it crosses Boy-Ull Creek, which flows into Little Nerang Creek East Branch (booyul is the Aboriginal word for hill-top).

The track soon reaches the third and most impressive waterfall: Gooroolba Falls drops into a small pool, which would make a nice swimming spot on a warmer day.

The Warrie Circuit track continues to follow Little Nerang Creek East Branch downstream.

The lowest point of the Warrie Circuit – which is also about the halfway mark in terms of distance – is Meeting of the Waters. At about 370m elevation (the top of the escarpment is 780m), this is where all the watercourses which drain The Canyon converge.

Not surprisingly, it’s uphill for most of the return leg… the Warrie Circuit initially follows Mundora Creek upstream, before crossing and re-crossing a fairly dry, unnamed creek.

As with the descent, the trail has a fairly gentle grade as it heads up through the tall and shaded rainforest.

About halfway up, the track passes an open and rocky section under a high cliff, which is also a waterfall – Ngarri-dhum Falls. There’s almost no water flowing in the creek, which has a relatively small catchment area and needs some heavy rainfall to get a decent flow.

There’s more tall rainforest trees and giant strangler figs, as the track heads to the most easterly point of the loop. Although it’s not signposted, next to a Warrie Circuit trail marker is a minor track or route that follows the ridge to The Pinnacle. There are some nice views from this high point along the ridge, but it’s for another day… I don’t have enough time left today for this side-trip.

The Warrie Circuit now swings back towards the west, following the base of The Canyon cliffs.

There are some views of the The Canyon cliffs, and the vegetation varies from subtropical rainforest to more dry forest as the track follows the base of the uppermost cliffs.

A concrete bridge passes below Goomoolahra Falls, which again would look a lot more spectacular after heavy rain. (You can also see these falls from the car-accessible Goomoolahra Picnia Area above, at the end of Springbrook Road.)

While none of the waterfalls so far have been overwhelming (this bushwalk is best done after a few days of heavy rain), it’s still very pleasant walking. A gap in the canopy provide a nice view out to the east – you can just make out the Gold Coast city skyline in the distance.

The next waterfall is the most picturesque so far on the Warrie Circuit – Rainbow Falls cascades over the cliff face, with the track passing under the water.

Soon after the waterfall is the end of the Warrie Circuit, where it meets the Twin Falls Circuit again.

Twin Falls Circuit

The last part of my extended loop is along the much busier Twin Falls Circuit, taking the first turn-off that goes to the popular Twin Falls via a narrow crack in the cliff-line.

Twin Falls is pretty impressive, and there are a large number of people picnicing around the pool at the base of the waterfall. There’s no-one in the water – it’s a fairly cool day – but it would be a nice spot for a swim in summer. (You can visit this waterfall via the much shorter Twin Falls Circuit which is about 4.2km, or a 2km return walk.)

I’ve now almost completed my loop; after taking photos of Twin Falls from different angles, I head back the way I came, but this time taking the lower, alternate track.

There’s a final, short but steep climb up to the top of the escarpment, with the track going through a couple of slots in the cliffs and between large boulders.

The very well-made Twin Falls Circuit crosses Boy-Ull Creek above Twin Falls…

…and offers some sweeping views out to the Gold Coast before reaching the Canyon Lookout, which completes my loop walk.

Although on the map the Warrie Circuit loop appears a bit shorter, the actual distance is around 14km (as signposted) and once you add part of the Twin Falls Circuit you get about 17km in total. However, the tracks are all good quality and you can do this walk in half a day – my total walking time (including taking photos) was just under 4.5 hours. You can do the loop in either direction; walking clockwise from the Canyon Lookout means you finish with the two most impressive waterfalls.

Getting to the Warrie Circuit

Springbrook National Park is situated on the McPherson Range, 100 kilometres south of Brisbane. The Warrie Circuit trailhead is about a 90-minute drive from Brisbane via the Nerang–Murwillumbah Road (State Route 97) and Springbook Road (State Road 99). There is parking near Canyon Lookout (which is just off Springbrook Road) and at the Tallanbana Picnic Area (an alternate starting point).