Guidebook
Lonely Planet East Coast Australia
Lonely Planet · 2024
More detail than the national guide on Far North Queensland, the Gold Coast hinterland and the Blue Mountains.
Australia · Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland
Purling Brook Falls
A circuit trail through the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area lets hikers walk down, behind, and back up past the full drop of this Springbrook plateau waterfall, an unusually complete perspective for a falls of its height. The surrounding subtropical rainforest is a relic of the ancient supercontinent that once linked Australia to Antarctica and South America.
UNESCO World HeritageA full behind-the-falls circuit walk in a Gondwana rainforest relic Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Purling Brook Falls drops 109 metres (358 ft) on the Little Nerang Creek, inside Springbrook National Park. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Springbrook, with OOL the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
As a plunge waterfall, water leaves the rock entirely and falls free through the air.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Purling Brook Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Springbrook are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Autumn and spring give reliable flow along the full circuit trail behind and around the falls.
Entry: Free park entry
Getting there
- Base town Springbrook
- Airport OOL
- Country Australia
- Region Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland, Australia, Oceania
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Purling Brook Falls
Australia
Height109 mWidth—
Most similar
Minyon Falls
Australia
Height100 mWidth—
Also a plunge waterfall, of similar height and in Australia too
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
100 m
108 m
109 m
330 m
979 m
Minyon FallsVictoria FallsPurling Brook FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 9.0× taller than Purling Brook Falls. It is about the same height as Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Purling Brook Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Purling Brook Falls
3:56
4:58
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Australia
Lonely Planet · 2024
The 22nd edition covers the Top End, Far North Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria and NSW in one volume.
Lonely Planet Best Day Walks AustraliaLonely Planet
Walking guide
Lonely Planet Best Day Walks Australia
Lonely Planet · 2024
Short and half-day walks around Australia, useful for fitting waterfall hikes into a wider trip.
Places We Swim: Exploring Australia's Best…Caroline Clements and…
About this place
Places We Swim: Exploring Australia's Best Beaches, Pools, Waterfalls, Lakes, Hot Springs and Gorges
Caroline Clements and Dillon Seitchik-Reardon · 2018
A guide to Australian swimming spots including waterfall plunge pools; check the state of each pool locally before swimming.
On the map
-28.1719, 153.2689
Quick answers
Where is Purling Brook Falls?
Purling Brook Falls is in Australia (Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland), inside Springbrook National Park. The nearest base is Springbrook and the closest airport is OOL. Its coordinates are -28.1719, 153.2689.
How tall is Purling Brook Falls?
Purling Brook Falls drops 109 metres (358 feet). It is a plunge-type waterfall on the Little Nerang Creek.
When is the best time to visit Purling Brook Falls?
Peak flow is March to May and September to October. Autumn and spring give reliable flow along the full circuit trail behind and around the falls.
What can you do at Purling Brook Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
Is Purling Brook Falls a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes. Purling Brook Falls lies within a UNESCO World Heritage Site — Springbrook National Park. Expect park fees, marked trails and rules on where you can walk, swim and fly drones.
How do you get to Purling Brook Falls?
The usual base is Springbrook, and the closest airport is OOL. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there. Free park entry.
Nearby
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