Curtis Falls Mt Tamborine & Lower Creek Circuit

Curtis Falls Mt Tamborine & Lower Creek Circuit

A complete guide to visiting Curtis Falls on Mt Tamborine. Everything you need to know about the waterfall and the Lower Creek Circuit Walk.

The Curtis Falls Track in Mt Tamborine National Park is a lush waterfall hike that is easily accessible and features arguably the most beautiful waterfall in the area. Visitors have the option to take the short 500-meter walk to the falls or continue on a fun stream loop known as the Lower Creek Circuit.

A walk on the Curtis Falls Track is a great way to enjoy a piece of Mt Tamborine National Park's unique rainforest environment. Huge flooded gums burst from the narrow path into the sky as you hear the tranquil sounds of rainforest birds and clean running water. The main event, Curtis Falls, is a must-see for anyone making the trip to Tamborine Mountain.

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Where is Curtis Falls in Mt Tamborine?

The Curtis Falls Track is located in the township of Tamborine Mountain in the Gold Coast hinterland. This region is approximately 40 km from Surfer’s Paradise (50 minutes). The trailhead includes a decent parking area and toilet facilities.

How do I get here?

Every trip to Mt Tamborine involves climbing one of three steep and winding roads up the ancient volcano. If you are coming from the Gold Coast I would recommend taking Henri Robert Drive as it is one of the most scenic drives I have seen in the region.

I would recommend using Google Maps to navigate to the pin above which will take you to the trailhead parking lot. There are about 20 parking spaces here and you can also park on the street next to the parking lot if necessary. Keep in mind that Curtis Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in Mt Tamborine, so you can expect it to get a little crowded on the weekend.

Over the Curtis Falls and Lower Creek Circuit

Hiking distance: 3.5 km loop (550 m to Curtis Falls)
Duration: 1 hour return (10 minutes to Curtis Falls)
Difficulty: Easy

Curtis Falls on Mt Tamborine has two tracks, the Curtis Falls Track and the Lower Creek Circuit. Both are accessible from the same starting point. However, the Lower Creek Circuit begins as an additional stream loop that ends near the waterfall.

Hikers return the same path from the waterfall to the parking lot whether they choose to do the additional loop route or not.

Both tracks are very easy to navigate, with only a few sections requiring climbing man-made steps. However, the end of the Lower Creek Circuit loop includes a shallow creek crossing. But don't worry, you can hop over the rocks if you don't want to get your feet wet.

The routes feature rich moist eucalyptus forest and dense ferns around the stream. On a sunny day, look for giant tortoises on the rocks, as well as the elusive platypuses known to live in the stream. Additionally, some of the giant rubber trees that shoot up along the route are some of the tallest I've ever seen and did the walk for me.
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Curtis Falls track

The Curtis Falls Track trailhead is easy to see from the parking lot. There are also arrow markers with distance estimates along the route. So it's impossible to get lost. Although the trail can get muddy after rain, you can easily walk to the falls in your straps.

After a short stretch into the hiking trail, the path splits at a fork with a signpost. Turn left here and continue 105 meters to the falls or turn right to continue on the 1 mile Lower Creek Circuit Loop.
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RELATED POST: Hiking to Twin Falls Waterfall in Springbrook National Park

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What to Expect at Curtis Falls Mt Tamborine

Curtis Falls is a very picturesque little waterfall with a decent sized freshwater pool underneath. There is a large covered viewing platform in front of the falls. Here you can take a few photos and enjoy the view. Curtis Falls is approximately 12 meters high and can vary from a rushing stream to a gentle trickle depending on the season.

It is also possible to circle this platform to the left to get behind Curtis Falls. However, there is a sign asking visitors to stay on the platform to avoid disturbing platypus and firefly habitats.
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Can you swim at Curtis Falls?

Curtis Falls was known as a great place for swimming at Mt Tamborine as there is a pool below about 1 meter deep. However, there are now signs asking visitors to refrain from swimming at the falls.
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See also: Wallaman Falls – Highest waterfall in Australia

Lower Creek Circuit

Return to the fork 105 m from the waterfall. Here you have the option to continue on the loop or return to the parking lot the same way. The Lower Creek Circuit is a scenic walk that follows the rocky banks along the winding creek for approximately 1.5 kilometers.

If you're chasing some photo opportunities in the rainforest, there are some scenic bridges and incredibly towering gums along the way that make it worth pushing on.
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More epic travel and adventure guides for Australia

I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to visiting Curtis Falls Mt Tamborine. For more epic Australia travel and adventure guides featuring viewpoints, waterfalls, hikes and more, check out the blog or use one of the links below.

If you have any questions or news about Curtis Falls or the Lower Creek Circuit Walk, please let me know in the comments!

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