From a bushwalker’s point of view, Mt Warning volcano did a marvellous job 22 million years ago when it created the heights that now form Springbrook National Park.
Five walking trails are available through the forests of this 900-metre tall plateau, the longest at 17km and the shortest at just 300 metres. They are spectacular in the variety of vegetation and wildlife they offer.
Warrie Circuit, the longest of Springbrook’s trails at 17km, incorporates a 4-kilometre loop called the Twin Falls Circuit. Together they form one of the most spectacular walks in south-east Queensland.
The Blackfellow Falls can be seen towards the end of the Twin Falls circuit, just before the short sharp climb back to the top of the plateau. After the spectacular views of Twin Falls and a short walk through dense rainforest we reached the Blackfellow Falls. This is another waterfall that you have to walk under to be on your way and does not have a big overhang for you to walk under so getting wet is expected. Luckily my camera bag has an inbuilt raincoat.
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The scenery once you are back on top of the plateau in the final stage of the circuit walk (which includes both walks) is stunning.
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The vegetation change in descending from the clifftops to the forest floor is remarkable, from montane heath to blue mountains ash to warm temperate rainforest to sub-tropical rainforest, all in a drop of a few hundred metres. This stand of blue mountains ash is rather special, forming the northern-most fringe of a species that stretches south for 600km. Scientists have found this elegant eucalyptus needs the regenerative effects of a fire every 50 years to reproduce.
Closer to the ground, the Warrie Circuit and Twin Falls Circuit are teeming with life. Walkers may be lucky enough to see a blue Lamington spiny cray, or hear lyrebirds in the cooler months, or be startled by jet-black land mullets (the largest skink in the world) sunning themselves beside the track.
The track at the base of the escarpment winds through virgin forest left unlogged by the pioneers of the 19th Century. Walkers may notice a horseshoe-shaped cliff just south of Blackfellow Falls arcing around a stand of brushbox trees, all about the same age. These germinated in the 1890s after several hundred metres of the cliff face collapsed, leaving a scar that could be seen in the early days from Main Beach.
Entries to these walking circuits are at Tallanbana picnic area, about 6km beyond Springbrook village on Springbrook Road. Allow at least six hours for Warrie and two-and-a-half hours for Twin Falls.
Springbrook Maps of Warrie Circuit and Twin Falls Circuit
Directions
For the Springbrook Plateau: From Surfers Paradise take the Pacific Motorway and take the Mudgeeraba exit (exit 79 from the north, exit 80 from the south) and follow the Gold Coast-Springbrook Road. Or from Nerang follow the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road for 42km then take the Springbrook turn-off at Pine Creek Road. Both bitumen roads are steep and narrow.
(click on images to enlarge)
Waterfall Wonders on Tweed 
