You can expect to see a few people on a weekend for the short and partly off-track walk to the beautiful Gorge Falls… while not very well known a few years ago, it’s now popular with locals and tourists. Access is intially by a rough gravel road that crosses Tallebudgera Creek three times via rocky fords (this is the same route as The Cream Track, which ascends to the heights of Springbrook Plateau). The first creek crossing was the filming location for parts of Nim’s Island and George of the Jungle 2.
After about one kilometre – immediately after the third crossing of Tallebudgera Creek – the Cream Track heads up to the right, while the track to Gorge Falls continues along the creek. There is one of many private property signs here; the route follows a narrow easement and is surrounded by private land.
The rest of the way varies from a rough track next to the creek, or simply wading in the creek – the bushwalk to Gorge Falls is just as much about the journey, as it is the destination!
Not too deterred by the many visitors, a pied cormorant suns itself on a rock in the creek.
There are many small cascades (and a few deep pools) along Tallebudgera Creek.
It’s a very picturesque and fun walk, with tall rainforest trees towering above the creek.
You could do most of the route the bank of the creek, and there is sometimes an obvious track. But on a warm day it’s more pleasant to just walk in the creek – which also means you’ll reduce the likelihood of picking up a leech hitchhiker.
It’s less than a kilometre from the end of the gravel road to Gorge Falls, although it feels longer as you need to negotiate a route along the creek. The waterfall plunges over two tiers into a deep pool, which makes for a picturesque swimming hole. The total drop over the two tiers is about 20m – I haven’t seen an official height for Gorge Falls.
A climbers route on the eastern side of the creek provides access to the top of Gorge Falls; on the way up the steep track you get a good view of the upper tier of the falls. A small group was abseiling down the falls, using the walking track to access the top.
A vantage point at the very top of the waterfall provides an eagles-eye view of the middle pool and the lower pool at the base of the falls.
Above the waterfall is a tranquil and deep water hole – a good option if you want to avoid the crowds at the lower pool under Gorge Falls.
A small cascade drops into the pool, it’s one of two creeks that converge just above Gorge Falls.
Following Tallebudgera Creek (the right-hand or western creek) – which involves a bit of scrambling and negotiating a path along the creek – leads to another pool and waterfall. It’s about 200m (10min) upstream. It would make another swimming spot, although accessing the water is a bit tricky with a steep bank on all sides.
Getting to Gorge Falls
The walk to Gorge Falls starts at the end of Tallebudgera Creek Road, which is accessed from the Pacific Motorway at Burleigh Heads. It’s about 40min from the Gold Coast, and a 1:30min drive from Brisbane. There is a parking area near the end of the road, and you can also park along the shoulder.
The track is just under 4km return, but allow 45min each way as it can be slow-going, and at least another hallf an hour if you’re exploring the top of the falls.
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