As Brisbanites, we have the privilege of Lamington National Park being right on our doorstep, a quick 2-hour drive from the city. With its spectacular waterfalls, hiking trails, and swimming holes, you could make the trek there every weekend and still have areas to discover! Best of all, it’s home to over 500 waterfalls, so any hiking trail you choose is bound to reward you with stunning views.
The Toolona Creek circuit is no exception. Although only three waterfalls are marked on the map — Elabana Falls, Chalahn Falls and Toolona Falls — you can actually see a number of them along this hike, as well as smaller cascades.
The trail starts at the Green Mountains trailhead in Green Mountains day-use area, and follows the Border Track for 3.2km before branching off. If you do the circuit clockwise, which we would recommend, then you would walk along the Border Track for 1.7km to the intersection with the Toolona Creek and Box Forest circuits, until you reach Picnic Rock.
You can then choose to make a very short detour — only 300 metres! — to Elabana Falls, which we promise will be well-worth it. This enchanting horsetail-style waterfall is a sight to behold, and will be the first of many waterfalls on the circuit.
Box Log Falls can also be reached from here, and then the track will meet back up with Toolona Creek. As you journey up through Toolona Gorge, you’ll come across the stunning Chalahn and towering Toolona Falls. Another short detour will take you to Wanungara lookout, which offers endless views as far south as Byron Bay!
Along the way, you’ll be able to spot rare flora and fauna. Thanks to the moist and shady environment of the gorge, it is a refuge for many ancient flowering rainforest plants. In fact, the 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.
Lamington National Park is also a renowned spot for bird watching, so keep your eyes peeled! If you look closely, you might also see blue crayfish, eels and other aquatic animals.
We recommend going on this hike after the rainy season, as that means the waterfalls will be at their most spectacular, but even in the drier months, the sights are worth seeing!
What to bring
Make sure to wear waterproof hiking shoes, as the trail can get slippery. It’s always a good idea to layer up, as many sections of the hike are shady and may get chilly.
We recommend wearing long pants in case of leeches, and to cover up to protect yourself from sunburn and insects.
How to get there
The Toolona Creek circuit is in the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park, 110km south of Brisbane, which comes out to about 2 hours.
From the Canungra township take Lamington National Park Rd until O’Reilly’s, where there is plenty of public parking. The trailhead is 100m up the road from here.
Although you can technically do the hike in one day, it would make for a very long day. If you’d rather make a weekend of it, you can camp at Green Mountains for only $12.70 for two people, or stay at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, for more luxurious accommodation.
Always check the Park’s website to ensure that the trail is open and has been cleared of obstacles.
Key features
Where: Lamington National Park
Distance: 20 km
Total time: 6-7 hours
Difficulty level: Moderate