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Travel by car into the Scenic Rim region and up the winding tree-lined slopes of Mt Tamborine to delve into the subtropical rainforest of Tamborine National Park. Enjoy a short and easy morning bush walk on the Curtis Falls Walking Track, taking you past streams, cascading waterfalls and basalt boulders.
On your Curtis Falls adventure, discover native flora and fauna, such as towering white-washed flooded gums, strangler figs, staghorn ferns, and crows nest.
Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for exotic birds, fish and eels in the Curtis Falls rock pool, and if you’re lucky, the local platypus and frogs in their native freshwater habitat.
And, if you desire an after-dark magical experience, uncover the glowworm spectacle in the surrounding reserve embankments.
John and I love to go bushwalking away from the everyday grind of city living. From being outdoors in the subtropics to seeing flora and fauna in their native habitat to breathing in the crisp fresh mountain air. All this and more feeds our soul. In our opinion, Curtis Falls was no exception.
If you’ve never hiked the Curtis Falls Walking Track, there are a few things you should know before you go.
From what to expect to when to go for the best photo lighting, here are our tips for bushwalking the Curtis Falls Walking Track, Tamborine National Park.
Southeast Queensland’s Scenic Rim
John and I are always on a mission to take the back roads in South-East Queensland’s less explored regions. But on this occasion, we didn’t have to venture far from our hometown Brisbane to get a Suitcase Escape to the country feels.
There’s something extraordinary and worth driving to the middle of seemingly nowhere to be greeted by spectacular views, delicious wines, and farm-fresh paddock-to-plate food experiences.
The Scenic Rim Region is a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life over a weekend getaway.
Furthermore, we now have bragging rights. Lonely Planet named Southeast Queensland’s Scenic Rim among the world’s top 10 regions to visit in 2022. Gotta be happy about that!
The Scenic Rim is an easy one-hour drive from both Brisbane and the Gold Coast, with daily flights connecting both of these locations with Australia and the world.
Farm Gate Trail
Mark the calendar — you don’t want to miss one of these Scenic Rim’s seasonal and regular events!
On this end-July weekend getaway exploring the Scenic Rim Farm Gate Trail, John and I often refer to our AllTrails mobile app to help guide us towards the best trails for a scenic hike.
Curtis Falls hit the mark as a short-distance bush walk to get our morning off to a good healthy start before we continued our adventure-filled road trip discovering what the Scenic Rim had to offer.
About Curtis Falls Walking Track
Walking Effort: Easy to Moderate (Grade 3 & 4)
Distance: 1.1km return (Curtis Falls track) + 2.5km return (Lower creek circuit)
Time: Allow about 30min + 1hr total walking time.
From the Denang Road car park entrance, follow the flat dirt pathway, a gentle downward gradient, strolling by debris, fallen logs and giant flooded gums.
Navigate the stairs until you reach a left bend in the path leading you to the viewing platform and heart and soul of the rainforest — to admire the beautiful but small cascading waterfall and the rock pool beneath.
Either backtrack to return in the direction you just came back to the car park or continue your bush walk in descent across the bridge to follow the Lower Cedar Creek circuit that runs parallel to the stream.
How to Get to Curtis Falls
From Eagle Heights Road, Eagle Heights, turn off at the Curtis Falls directional signage to the free public car park on Dapsang Drive.
The Curtis Falls Walking Track is a moderately challenging 1.1km return/30min trail located in the Joalah section of the Tamborine National Park. It includes 100+ steps of descent to the rock pool below.
Branching off the Curtis Falls track is the Lower Creek circuit crossing Cedar Creek before passing a tall strangler fig. Once you pass by the fig, the walk becomes a little more muddy and challenging. Allow about 1hr and a 2.5km return, and don’t forget the ascent of the stairs upon return.
Tamborine National Park is a lush mountain plateau, 550 metres above sea level, located within an hour’s drive of Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and forms part of the Scenic Rim in Queensland, Australia.
Where To Park the Car
The Curtis Falls Walking track is accessible from both Eagle Heights Road and Dapsang Drive car parks. Provided are a toilet block and plenty of vehicle parking. There are no picnic facilities at this site.
Where Does the Walking Trail Start?
You can start the walking trail from the Eagle Heights Access Track from the cafes and shops on Eagle Heights Road, extending an additional 10min/400m return onto your journey.
Alternatively, you can commence your bush walk from Dapsang Drive. Both have available free car parking, as mentioned above.
Is the Curtis Falls Free To Enter?
Yes. There is no admission fee to enter the Curtis Falls Walking Trail, and the walking track is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
However, before you leave home, check the park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions, as the Eagle Heights area has before experienced floods.
Can You Swim at Curtis Falls?
Swimming in the Curtis Falls rock pool and accessing the surrounding area is prohibited for the safety and protection of the glowworms and platypus populating the nature reserve. Respect the glowworms, the platypus and other flora and fauna, please!
Highlights
Want to know why Curtis Falls is worth visiting?
Below are our highlights and reasons why you should do the Curtis Falls Walking Track and Tamborine National Park walk.
- This towering eucalypt rainforest walk will take you into the oldest National Park in Queensland – Tamborine National Park!
- Experience the unique Australian flora and fauna above and below the rainforest canopy.
- It’s a short and easy-to-follow walk, perfect for families.
- The tumbling waterfall and its turquoise rock pool below look perfect year-round and at their best after prolonged rainfall.
- Visit after dark to see the glowworms and mushrooms on the streamsides.
Our Curtis Falls Bush Walk Experience
On this Australian July winter morning, we donned our hiking boots plus light-weight waterproof jackets as the crisp Tamborine mountainous air (a chilly 3-5 degrees colder than the norm) hit us.
Magnificent towering flooded gums spanning metres high to the sky are a sight to experience within this ancient rainforest reserve.
The choir of lyrical birds singing and chirping, particularly the mimicry call of the male Albert’s lyrebird, greeted us as we followed the bush path most travelled. Even an Australian Brushturkey had made a home by our observation of a tall bush mound of forest floor debris.
As we descended the stairs, we felt a slight temperature drop as the wet eucalypt forest merged into the lush-green rainforest.
The best part about wandering through these botanical wonders is there’s always something new to discover
In the distance, you could also hear the gush of the waterfall as we slowly worked our way down the rainforest belly to our first stop, the viewing platform, to admire Curtis Falls. Beyond our vantage platform, we saw the cool early morning mist floating off the waterfall into an iridescent turquoise rock pool. Nature creates the best tranquil and zen noises. Peace and serenity!
It’s not only the falls that we loved but also the lush palm-fringed vegetation surrounding them, the basalt cliff faces and the lovely rock pools. Even the elusive platypus, frogs and glowworm colonies (within the cave dwellings) we understand made their homes here among the freshwater.
Once we reached the waterfall, we continued our journey a further 380m crossing a bridge over Cedar Creek before venturing back the way we came.
Look out for protruding strangler fig roots, moss-covered slippery rocks and mud pools along the rainforest grounds.
Rock hopping and being careful of our surroundings as minor trip hazards comprise the bush walk path parallel and creek crossings of the Joalah Lower Cedar Creek circuit. So much fun never-the-less!
Sitting amongst the rainforest with the tranquil sound of water gently flowing past is one of those timeless moments every nature lover cherishes.
Our return hike took us a leisurely hour, with photo stops trying to capture the serenity along the way. There are over 100 steps on this walk, so be prepared for the steady uphill return.
At night take a torch to see the glowworms and mushrooms along the babbly stream.
Best Time To Visit Curtis Falls?
Queensland is known for being the Sunshine State, and Tamborine Mountain exudes the same typical warm and sunny conditions of the sub-tropics averaging up to 30 degrees Celcius.
On Tamborine Mountain, you will experience temperatures that vastly differ from the city. The plateau is 576m (at its highest point) above sea level, and temperatures on Tamborine Mountain are around 3-5 Celsius degrees cooler than Brisbane or the Gold Coast.
One of the reasons we like to frequent this place is because it’s so close for a weekend mountain getaway.
While Curtis Falls are at their best after heavy rainfall or during the wet season (December-April), the waterfall flows all year round.
The many waterfalls on Tamborine Mountain are at their most spectacular after prolonged periods of rainfall.
What To Wear & Bring For A Nature Walk?
We recommend you bring the following suitable items for a short bush walk:
- Wear a pair of sturdy waterproof hiking boots or closed-in joggers with good sole grip. Chances are possible your shoes will get wet and muddy, especially on the Lower Creek Circuit track.
- Wear lightweight clothing (during Summer) and a rainproof jacket (during Winter) as the temperature gets cooler the deeper you descend into the wet rainforest.
- Bring a hydration pack or drink bottle because no drinkable water fountains are available.
- Don insect repellent, especially for the evening mosquitos and other creepy critters.
- A small battery-powered flashlight or headlamp is essential when exploring glow worms at night.
Other Mount Tamborine Hikes Worth Considering
If waterfalls are your thing, it is possible to visit all four of the following falls in one day.
- Curtis Falls
- Cedar Creek Falls
- Witches Falls Circuit
- Cameron Falls
To find other hikes in the Scenic Rim region, download the AllTrails mobile app – which allows you to filter by difficulty, length, and features.
There are six National Parks within the Scenic Rim region with kilometres of hiking trails to explore with more than just the touristy sites. We like to use the All Trails app to help find hikes that are perfect for our skill and fitness level.
The Tamborine National Park splits into six park sections, each with unique walking tracks, the Joalah section (where the Curtis Falls Walking Track is located) being one of them.
Things to Do in Tamborine Mountain and its Surrounds
After spending your morning bushwalking and breathing in the clean mountain fresh air, why not continue your stroll in a different environment?
The Gallery Walk is ideal for a coffee break and some retail therapy by browsing the local speciality shops.
Or, taste a glass or three of their award-winning regional wines in a beautiful mountainside setting over a cruisy lunch with a view?
Later in the afternoon, soak up breathtaking views and scenery of Canungra Valley and the Gold Coast from Hang Glider Launch and Lookout, Tamborine Mountain, especially at sunset.
Read More:
The Farm Gate Trail covers a range of areas in the Scenic Rim, with some stops over an hour’s drive apart, so we recommend you plan ahead and visit three to five stops!
- STOP 1: Enjoy an enchanting morning hike on the Curtis Falls Walking Track, Tamborine National Park
- STOP 2: Visit Summer Land Camels and join one of their Cameleer tours.
- STOP 3: Enjoy the fresh food, flora and fauna at Scenic Rim Farm Shop & Cafe
- STOP 4: Wine and dine at The Overflow Estate 1895
- STOP 5: Shop until you drop on Tamborine Mountains Gallery Walk.
- STOP 6: Happy hour and sunset picnic at Hang Gliders Lookout, Tamborine Mountain.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for something other than cascading waterfalls and peaceful rainforest walks, Mount Tamborine and its Tamborine National Park are a must-visit. This area is the wine country of South-East Queensland, boasting some of the best wines and distilleries in the state.
After your short walk to Curtis Falls, relax within the trees at Witches Falls Winery for local wines and cheeses or visit the Glow Worm Caves at Cedar Creek Estate Vineyard and Winery.
If you like wineries, ice creameries, breweries or many other attractions, make extra time to explore. This area is a place to indulge whilst connecting with nature. Or you could do one or the other, but we recommend you do both.
There is so much to see and do in the Scenic Rim. It would take you four days or more to discover the highlights. Who knew all this was on our back doorstep?
