Curtis Falls
Curtis Falls
Tucked into the rainforest of Tamborine National Park, this is one of those short walks that feels bigger than the stats on paper. The track ducks off the side of the mountain, trades traffic noise for whipbird calls, and drops you down through cool, green forest to a basalt-walled waterfall that’s busy with life even when it looks quiet on the surface. This is Curtis Falls.
Quick Details
Total Length: 1.2km to 2.8km
Elevation: 35m
Grade: Easy
Best season: Best after recent rain
Suitable for kids: Yes
Starting the Trail
Normally I’m not a fan of touristy hikes — you know the ones: short, overly maintained, with a crowded lookout at the end. That’s what I was expecting from Curtis Falls and, in a lot of ways, that’s exactly what it is — but I also really loved it. The forest, the falls, the track, and everything in between were surprisingly beautiful and enjoyable. I even managed to catch the falls to myself for a few brief moments.
The trail begins wide and flat over deep red earth — tall eucalypts with pale trunks lining the track on either side. Dark green palms are dotted through the undergrowth and it all looks really pretty. Being here in the late afternoon didn’t hurt either — that golden light filtering through the canopy did a lot of heavy lifting.
It’s not long before I start heading downhill. The trail switches between a well-worn dirt path and very muddy stone steps, the kind that make you concentrate a little harder on where you’re putting your feet.
As I get further down the hill, the forest shifts properly into palm country. Not just a few palms either side of the track — a whole forest of them. Unlike the massive rainforest trees that are usually thick with undergrowth around their base, there’s almost nothing between these trunks. I can see a long way between the trees, just slim grey columns and fans of green fronds. It feels open and airy, but still very much like a rainforest.
One of the things I really love about the Gold Coast hinterland — and one of the reasons I keep coming back again and again — is how different each patch of forest feels. One walk is all dry, scribbly gums and rocky outcrops; the next is ferns, palms, and creeks. Curtis Falls definitely sits in that “palm gully” category, and it’s one I’d happily wander through more than once.
As I reach the bottom of the hill, Cedar Creek is in front of me and the trail splits in two directions. Downstream, the track heads off along the lower creek circuit. I decide to save that for after the falls and turn left towards Curtis Falls.
Curtis Falls
A hundred or so metres upstream from the junction, the trail ends at a viewing platform in front of the falls. The view is somewhat spoiled by a mess of bright orange temporary fencing, which I presume has been put there to stop people from going past the platform into what is now a declared restricted area.
Why is it restricted? Because it's a crucial habitat for glow-worms and platypus. Disturbing the ground — or worse, swimming in the pool — can damage platypus feeding areas and the tiny invertebrates they actually feed on. Is it likely that you’ll see a platypus here? Probably not, given how busy it is. But they are here, and the glow-worms are definitely here, so it’s important to stay on the right side of the barrier.
Curtis Falls may not be impressively tall or spectacular, but it has this quiet kind of beauty to it. Visiting at the end of the day turned out to be a great idea; I had the whole viewing platform to myself for long stretches in between other visitors, with just the sound of water and the occasional bird call for company.
Back to the Trail
I headed back along the creek and figured that, while I was here, I may as well check out the lower creek circuit. It would only add another 1.6km to the hike, and I was keen to see more of the forest and the creek. The trail is still easy to follow and manage. It crosses Cedar Creek on a small concrete bridge, then climbs a short flight of stairs and continues deeper into the forest downstream.
The light was really starting to fade down here, so I decided to turn back early before finishing the full track. A lot of the trees were full of flying foxes and I didn’t particularly want to be in the forest when they all took off, which felt like it would be any minute.
On the way back towards the creek, not really paying attention, I heard that all-too-familiar sound of shoes losing grip on wet stone. There was a brief, horrible moment where I knew exactly what was happening and could do absolutely nothing about it. Then I was in the air, then I was on the stairs, and then my whole midsection went almost instantly numb. I lay there for a minute, trying to work out what hurt, what still moved, and whether I was about to become the reason someone had to hike down here with a stretcher.
Once I’d worked out that I was probably fine, thanks to a quick Google search for the signs and symptoms of spinal injury, I slowly pulled myself back to a standing position. I certainly wasn’t going anywhere quickly once I did, but I was up and moving. It was a slow and painful walk up that hill, let me tell you. So, be aware that muddy stone steps make for very slippery walking surfaces. I stopped off at the rainforest viewing platform to rest before walking the rest of the way back to the car. It’s not much, really — the forest looks nicer lower down.
I wasn’t really paying attention to that though, because a group of pademelons were foraging around the base of the platform. If you don’t know what a pademelon is, they’re basically very small wallabies, and their babies are tiny. They’re really cute, and another reason why I love visiting the hinterland.
Sunset
Since I still had a little time before sunset, I drove to a well-known local spot — Hang Gliders Lookout. There was still a good half hour before sunset and there must have been well over a hundred people there. Instead of trying to compete for a spot on the hill (and trying to find a parking spot), I went over to Rotary Lookout. It’s essentially the same sunset view, just a little more obstructed around the edges.
Getting There
Curtis Falls is in the Joalah section of Tamborine National Park on Tamborine Mountain, in the Gold Coast hinterland.
Tips and Tricks
Parking is limited and this is a popular walk, so expect the carpark to be busiest in the middle of the day, on weekends and during holidays.
Muddy stone staircases can be slippery.
Curtis Falls is home to a large colony of glow-worms and a known platypus hangout. Return at night to see the cliffs come alive with glow-worms, but keep lights low and stay on the formed track and viewing platform.
If you want a great sunset location in the area, Hang Gliders Lookout on Main Western Road is a classic choice — just arrive early if you want a good spot on the hill. Rotary Lookout is a quieter backup with a very similar view.