Twin Falls, Springbrook NP, Qld

We had never heard of the Twin Falls but our family in Brisbane came to visit determined to get up there. Twin Falls proved to be a spectacular walk in Springbrook National Park in southern Queensland. However, the description of the walk by Parks presented it as something of a challenge, particularly after rain. So Kerry decided to skip this one as we thought her hip issues would make it impossible. However, reality was that this ranks up there as one of the best waterfall walks in Australia – and Kerry could have done it. We were lucky as we were there after some amazing rain which had all the falls absolutely pumping. Amazing stuff! Really something to behold!

Getting There

We did this amazing walk on 5th February 2022. We had recently moved from Newport to Kingscliff and our Brisbane family were on a visit – Des’ son Owen, wife Jenny and kids Ella (9) and Knox (6).

Kingscliff to Tallanbana Picnic Area > 60km.

We drove to the Pacific Motorway, and then took the Gold Coast – Springbrook Rd. A really nice drive, up the windy and narrow ascent to the plateau. At the top we came to a lookout – great views.

History

The Springbrook landscape was formed 23 million years ago and its pristine state makes it extremely important to the World. The Springbrook Plateau was once the northern face of a huge shield volcano that dominated the area. The volcano was about 80km across and 2,000m high, over 6,000 km² was covered in its lava flows that were up to 270m deep in parts. The basalt, rhyolite and pyroclastic rock formations that are dominant throughout the region today were formed during that time.

The earliest human inhabitants of the area were a First Nations kinship group, the Yugambeh who lived by carefully managing and using its rich natural resources. Known as kaban meaning bush or rainforest to the Yugambeh, the mountains are sacred and spiritual, places to be nurtured and respected. Indigenous names are a reminder that this is a special place for First Nations people. Gwongorella means “dancing waters” while Warrie means “rushing”.

The plateau’s formidable terrain was the major obstacle to British settlers and timber-getters claiming Springbrook. Until the early 1900s the plateau remained unchanged by the explorers. The first British to explore the plateau were surveyors. When Queensland separated from New South Wales in 1859 an accurate map was needed to show the new border.

Living on the plateau proved difficult. When the first selectors arrived in November 1906 the promised access road was still under construction. Built by the Labour Bureau with assistance from Brisbane’s Boggo Road Gaol’s prisoners, the narrow pack track was hacked out of the ridge by pick and shovel.

Better transport saw Springbrook become a popular tourist destination by the 1920s. The very obstacles that made life on the plateau difficult were the very things that attracted people—sheer cliffs, deep gorges and tumbling waterfalls. A guesthouse with dormitory-style accommodation, a post office and telephone exchange and a flourishing dairy industry were established and life improved on the plateau. By the 1940s seven guesthouses, three cafes and four different styles of self-contained accommodation were operating to cater for Springbrook’s growing popularity.

By the 1930s parts of Springbrook were almost devoid of trees. Many of the forest areas on the plateau visible today are regrowth following the decline of the dairy industry after World War II. The growing interest in the plateau for tourism, coupled with the push to protect precious remnants rainforest of the McPherson Ranges, soon saw areas of the plateau gazetted as a national park.

Today, Springbrook National Park is recognised as part of one of the world’s most outstanding and valuable places. In December 1994, UNESCO officially declared the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia’s World Heritage Area over the Scenic Rim (including nearly all of Lamington and Springbrook NPs and most of Main Range and Mount Barney NPs) within the listed rainforests of northern and central New South Wales.

World Heritage listing is a prestigious international recognition of the important conservation values of this area, especially its unique geology, subtropical and cool temperate rainforests and rare fauna. More than 100 bird species live in the park, and rare and threatened animals like the Richmond birdwing rely on Springbrook’s forests for their survival. Ten percent of the plants are only found locally.

Walk to Twin Falls

The Twin Falls Circuit loops around a series of cliffs. Starting near the top, the trail descends to the bottom of the gorge as it heads to an incredible waterhole at the base of Twin Falls. Continuing along at the gorge floor level, the trail then passes through beautiful rainforest before passing behind Blackfellow Falls and rising to continue along the clifftops until you get to Canyon Lookout. One of the best shorter walks we have done.

Firstly we make your way to Tallanbana Picnic Area on Springbrook Rd, then took the general advice and did the walk anti-clockwise.

The track is well formed and there are so many things to keep the children engaged.

We quickly came to the head of the Twin Falls, where the water plunges over the cliff edge.

After that, the trail continues along the cliff line with a metal railing running alongside. While the trees to the left of the track obscured sustained clear views, we nevertheless had some excellent glimpses of the surrounding landscape through the trees. And some of the trees are beautiful.

The trail then descends via a steep switchback as it leads to the foot of Twin Falls; the walk would take us along the bottom of the cliffs before we would rise up again and see the same section from up above. We passed another waterfall on the way down – Tamarramai Falls..

At the bottom of the switchbacks, the trail passes a rocky chasm that features a large boulder lodged above. And the kids agreed, this was a pretty exciting natural feature.

At this point, the Twin Falls Circuit branches off from the longer Warrie Circuit. After descending another series of switchbacks, the trail passes by a cliff face with water running down it. A waterfall would probably be too generous a term for it in normal times, but it was a good sign of what was to come.

We came to a curved part of the trail in concrete blocks, passing over a bubbling creek.

The trail passes through sections of wonderful old forests – really interesting.

Then we came to another narrow chasm which we had to walk through. About half way along there was a “window” to the forest, a large opening in the rock face.

We had been hearing the background sound of a large waterfall getting louder and louder. This was Twin Falls, a spectacular and aptly named waterfall as the water falls in two distinct drops. They were magnificent that day. The video link (click here) really shows the falls to full effect.

There are actually 3 falls into the pool. The Tallanbana Falls is further around and not as spectacular as the Twin Falls – it is hidden by the trees to the right of the twin falls in the first picture.

Below the falls is a perfect swimming hole. But perhaps not on that day with the surging very cold water.

Twin Falls to Blackfella Falls

After enjoying the spectacular Falls and pool we continued along the trail, which passed through more of the typically lush subtropical rainforest. This section of the trail basically runs between the base of the cliffs and start of the steeply sloping valley below, and we pass many smaller falls and rapids, as well as rugged overhangs and platforms. We then found a massive overhanging rock with a bench seat – time for a rest.

From the overhang, we continued along the trail, including to some excellent views of the valley beyond.

About 25 minutes after having left Twin Falls, we reached the second major waterfall of the walk. Given the unfortunate name of Blackfellow Falls – surely a more appropriate name could be adopted.

Regardless of the name, the Falls are quite spectacular, and have a similar appearance to Twin Falls due to the fork in the water’s flow providing two distinct channels of falling water.

While Twin Falls had a side track that allows people to look behind the waterfall, here the track actually passes behind the Falls. This is one of the most outstanding parts of the entire walk. It looks spectacular in the video which records the walk behind the falls – click here.

Blackfella Falls to Canyon Lookout

After this amazing waterfall, the trail took us through more beautiful rainforest before rising up a series of switchbacks to the clifftop above.

Then we made it to the head of Blackfellow Falls, with superb views across the valley and the surrounding landscape. There was a bridge across the creek just before it tumbles over the cliff edge, and many rock platforms on which to scramble to get the best views. Lovely place and quite popular. We stopped for lunch.

There were quite a few beautiful blue yabbies in the creek.

A set of concrete steps invited us to continue to Canyon Lookout. This is an alternate start for the Twin Fall Circuit. This lookout presented unobstructed views of the mountains and beauty of the hinterland landscape.