Lamington National Park Brisbane | Gold Coast

Toolona Falls is not to be missed! Photo credit: Lightcapturer © Queensland Government

Lush rainforest, ancient trees and stunning waterfalls make Lamington National Park an outstanding place to visit! Photo credit: Nicholas Hill © Queensland Government

Toolona Creek circuit

This spectacular walk crosses Toolona Creek several times and takes you to several small waterfalls in the narrow Toolona Gorge.

Journey type
Walk
Distance
17.4km circuit The same start and finish point, but the traveller doesn’t return along the same path
Time suggested
Allow about 6hr walking time.
Grade
Grade 4 walking track

Accessible by

  • Conventional vehicle

Journey facilities

  • Lookout (natural)
  • Walking

We recommend walking this circuit clockwise.

From the Green Mountain trailhead, walk along the Border Track for 1.7km to the intersection with the Toolona Creek and Box Forest circuits. Continue downhill, 400m past Picnic Rock to the Toolona Creek circuit junction and follow the circuit beside Toolona Creek. Enjoy the cool spray from the many waterfalls—such as Chalahn and Toolona falls—as you journey up through Toolona Gorge. The narrow gorge creates a protected, moist and shady refuge for many ancient flowering rainforest plants. The giant king fern Todea barbara is a relict of one of the oldest fern families, Osmundaceae, evolving even before Gondwana formed.

From the gorge, emerge at Wanungara lookout and enjoy endless views down the Limpinwood Valley and to Mount Warning, Point Lookout on Stradbroke Island, Murwillumbah to the sea and as far south as Byron Bay. This is a great spot for lunch before returning along the Border Track past Mount Bithongabel. Many large clumps of Antarctic beech Nothofagus moorei trees are found in the area.

This park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, famed for its ongoing geological processes, evolutionary history, and diversity (especially of rare, threatened and endemic species).

Getting there and getting around

The Toolona Creek circuit is in the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park, 110km south of Brisbane.

  • The circuit starts at the Green Mountains trailhead in Green Mountains day-use area.
  • It follows the Border Track for 3.2km before branching off.
  • The Green Mountains day-use area is at the end of Lamington National Park Road, 5.7km from the park entrance.

For more details on how to get to Lamington National Park, please see getting there and getting around.

Wheelchair accessibility

This circuit is not wheelchair accessible. There are wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities at the Green Mountains day-use area.

Two wheelchair-accessible walking tracks are provided in the Green Mountains section: Centenary track is a 900m universal access track, and the first 700m of the Border Track is accessible for wheelchairs with assistance.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Toolona Creek circuit is open 24 hours a day.

Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Lamington safely and Walk with care.