Twin Falls Circuit, Springbrook National Park: A Complete Walk Guide
Published 2 November 2026
Photo: Twin Falls, Springbrook, by Lawrence On, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to fit.
The Twin Falls circuit is one of the best-loved walks in the Gold Coast hinterland. In about two hours you drop off the edge of the Springbrook plateau, walk behind two waterfalls, squeeze through rock clefts and climb back up through palms, tree ferns and ancient brush box. This guide covers the official track details from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), where to start, how long it takes, the swimming question and what's happening in the park right now.
Quick facts: Twin Falls circuit
- Distance: 4 km circuit (QPWS)
- Time: allow about 2 hours
- Grade: Grade 3 (some bushwalking experience recommended)
- Start: Tallanbana picnic area or Canyon lookout, Springbrook section of Springbrook National Park
- Direction: anti-clockwise, so the interpretive signs make sense
- Highlights: walking behind two waterfalls, rock clefts, palms and tree ferns, views of Twin and Rainbow falls from Canyon lookout
- Dogs: not allowed (dogs and other domestic animals aren't permitted in Queensland national parks)
- Active Quests: check in along the way on the Twin Falls Circuit quest
Where to start the Twin Falls walk
QPWS says to start from either Tallanbana picnic area or Canyon lookout, both on the Springbrook plateau. Canyon lookout is the starting point for both the Twin Falls and Warrie circuits, and it's a step-out-of-the-car view: Twin and Rainbow falls, the sheer walls of The Canyon and the ocean beyond.
Springbrook is about 24 km from Mudgeeraba (M1 exit 79 or 80) or about 36 km from Nerang (M1 exit 69). The road up the range is narrow and winding, so allow extra time, and fill up before you leave the coast.
What the walk is like
Follow the track anti-clockwise. QPWS designed the interpretive signs to be read in that direction, and they guide you through the changing forest types as you descend.
- Down from the plateau. The track leaves the escarpment edge and descends through changing forest types.
- Behind the falls. The highlight is passing behind two waterfalls. The rock here stays wet, and QPWS warns that tracks behind the waterfalls may be slippery, even when they appear dry.
- Rock clefts and palms. The track threads through narrow clefts in the cliff, among palms and tree ferns.
- Ancient brush box. Look for the smooth pink bark of brush box (Lophostemon confertus). QPWS notes that similar brush box elsewhere in this World Heritage area have been radiocarbon-dated at 1,500 years, the oldest trees ever carbon-dated on Australia's mainland.
- Back up to the top. The climb back to the plateau is steady. Take your time and carry water.
QPWS's safety message for this track is blunt: sheer cliffs and waterfalls; one slip could be fatal. Keep to the track and supervise children closely. Read visiting Springbrook safely before you go.
How long is the Twin Falls walk?
QPWS says to allow about 2 hours for the 4 km circuit. Fit walkers may be faster, but photo stops behind the falls and the climb out add up. If you want more, the Warrie circuit also starts at Canyon lookout. It's a much bigger day: 14 km, Grade 4, allow 5 to 6 hours. Creek crossings may be impassable after heavy rain, and some sections may be overgrown. Try the Warrie Circuit quest if you're up for it.
Can you swim at Twin Falls?
QPWS doesn't list swimming as an activity on the Twin Falls circuit, and the plunge pools sit at the base of sheer cliffs. The track behind the falls is about looking, not swimming. QPWS warns that all creeks on the Springbrook plateau become waterfalls, and that jumping or diving into creeks can cause spinal injuries. Elsewhere in the park, swimming is banned in Cave Creek at Natural Bridge (including inside the cave), and the top and base of Purling Brook Falls are restricted access areas, with penalties.
Our advice: don't plan a swim here. Enjoy the falls from the track.
Current park alerts (checked 2 November 2026)
- Tallanbana toilets closed. QPWS lists the Tallanbana picnic area toilets as closed until 29 January 2027. The nearest alternatives are at the Goomoolahra and Gauriemabah picnic areas, each about 1.5 km away.
- Purling Brook Falls partial closure. Plateau upgrade works run from 2 November 2026 to 15 February 2028. The Settlement day-use area is closed; the western lookout and Gwongorella picnic area stay open. See QPWS alert 27185.
Alerts change, so check Springbrook park alerts on the day you go.
More walks nearby
Make a day of it on the plateau. These short walks pair well with Twin Falls:
| Walk | Distance | Grade | Quest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best of All lookout track | 600 m return | Grade 2 | Best of All Lookout quest |
| Goomoolahra Falls lookout | 250 m return | Grade 1 | Goomoolahra Falls quest |
| Natural Bridge circuit | 1 km return | Grade 2 | Natural Bridge quest |
| Purling Brook Falls circuit | 4 km return | Grade 3 | Purling Brook Falls quest |
- Best of All lookout walks through Antarctic beech forest to a view over northern NSW and Wollumbin (Mount Warning).
- Goomoolahra Falls is a five-minute stroll to the top of a 60 m waterfall, with views to Stradbroke and Moreton islands on a clear day.
- Natural Bridge is a sealed circuit to a cave where a waterfall plunges through the roof. Come back after dark to see glow-worms.
- Purling Brook Falls is affected by the upgrade works above, so check the alert before you go.
Browse every trail in the region on the Gold Coast walks and trails hub, or read our guides to Gold Coast waterfall walks, Gold Coast hikes and Lamington National Park trails.
Tips for walking Twin Falls
- Wear shoes with grip. The rock behind the falls is wet all year.
- Go after rain for the best flow, but take extra care on slippery sections.
- Carry water and a light rain jacket. The plateau is often cooler and wetter than the coast.
- Start early on weekends. Parking at Canyon lookout and Tallanbana fills up.
- Leave no trace. The water here flows through the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Twin Falls circuit at Springbrook?
The Twin Falls circuit is 4 km. QPWS suggests allowing about 2 hours to walk it.
Where does the Twin Falls walk start?
Start at Tallanbana picnic area or Canyon lookout in the Springbrook section of Springbrook National Park, then walk the circuit anti-clockwise.
Can you swim at Twin Falls, Springbrook?
QPWS doesn't list swimming on the Twin Falls circuit, and the pools sit below sheer cliffs. QPWS warns against jumping or diving into creeks, and swimming is banned at nearby Cave Creek (Natural Bridge). Plan to enjoy the falls from the track.
Is the Twin Falls walk hard?
It's a Grade 3 walk with a steady climb back to the plateau and slippery sections behind the waterfalls. Most people with reasonable fitness and good shoes manage it comfortably.
Are there toilets at Twin Falls?
The Tallanbana picnic area toilets are closed until 29 January 2027. Use the toilets at Goomoolahra or Gauriemabah picnic areas, each about 1.5 km away.
Can I take my dog on the Twin Falls walk?
No. Dogs and other domestic animals aren't permitted in Queensland national parks, including Springbrook.
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Active Quests turns walks into GPS check-in quests where you earn ACTIVE Coins on the trail. Get it on the App Store.