The best running trails in An.Ki.Da Nature Refuge

Waterfall Creek Break is a management track that is part of several longer walking and riding routes through the Numinbah Valley section of Springbrook National Park. It follows the Waterfall Creek valley through a mix of rainforest and open eucalypt forest, crossing the creek multiple times as it winds beneath steep, forested slopes. Despite its name, the route is better known for its peaceful creek scenery and shaded forest than for any major waterfall. Along the way, keep an eye out for rock pools in the creek, which are ideal for cooling off on a warm day.

Warringa Pool is a deep, clear swimming hole along Little Nerang Creek, surrounded by dense rainforest. One of the few places in the park where swimming is permitted, the pool is fed by a small cascade at its upper end, with smooth rock edges and a more sheltered setting than the main falls. The name comes from an Aboriginal word meaning “cool place.” It’s reached via a short side track off the main circuit near the base of Purling Brook Falls. Getting to the pool involves uneven ground and rocky surfaces, which can be slippery, especially after rain. However, the pool is best visited after heavy rainfall.

The Purling Brook Falls Circuit is a Grade 3 loop that typically takes about two hours to complete from the Gwongorella picnic area. It descends through open eucalypt forest into a rainforest gorge, offering views of the falls from both the top and base, before crossing a suspension bridge and climbing back to the plateau. The track is well-formed but includes steep sections, steps and cliff-edge environments, so moderate fitness and care are recommended, especially for families walking with small children.

The John Stacey Suspension Bridge spans Little Nerang Creek below Purling Brook Falls, forming a key link in the walking circuit through the gorge. Opened in 2015, it provides elevated vantage points both upstream to the waterfall and downstream to smaller cascades while allowing visitors to avoid landslip-prone sections of the old track. The bridge and associated track upgrades were designed to improve safety and reconnect the circuit within the World Heritage-listed rainforest.

This lookout is a short walk from the Gwongorella Picnic Ground, providing an elevated vantage point near the top of the escarpment. From the platform, you can look across the gorge toward the waterfall as it plunges roughly 100 metres into the rainforest valley below, with views extending over the surrounding hinterland. It's one of the easiest ways to experience the scale of the falls without completing the full circuit walk.

Bring spare socks and a towel - the water in the pools are gorgeous

not far from the start/ finish. use it to cool down

from pine Creek Rd ,start on the main track and keep following it, don't veer off.