Witches Falls walking track

Witches Falls walking track explores the Witches Falls section of Tamborine National Park, a forested landscape with a notable place in Queensland’s conservation history. The section was declared in 1908 and is recognised as Queensland’s oldest national park. The track begins beyond the commemorative shelter and follows a zigzag route down the mountainside, moving from open banksia forest into rainforest filled with giant strangler figs.

The 3.6km return Witches Falls circuit is classified Grade 4 and takes about an hour of walking time. Along the way, it passes seasonal lagoons surrounded by piccabeen palms before reaching a lookout platform beside Witches Falls. The lagoons can fill after heavy rain, bringing insect and frog activity, while the waterfall itself flows only after recent rain. A 200m detour from the main circuit leads to the lookout, making recent wet weather an important consideration when planning a visit.

For a longer outing, the Witches Chase track branches from the circuit and continues towards Beacon Road. It passes the falls lookout before winding through rainforest containing large red cedar trees and then into eucalypt forest. The 2.6km return track takes about an hour and requires returning along the same route to rejoin the circuit. Together, the two walks offer a choice between a focused rainforest outing and a more extended exploration of the section.

Access to the Witches Falls section is via Main Western Road. The picnic area includes electric barbecues, wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and toilets, with parking for larger vehicles at the southern end. The walking track is not presented as fully accessible, and its Grade 4 classification, changing forest surfaces and mountain-side route make it important to choose the walk according to your group’s experience. A landslip area is signposted along the circuit; visitors should follow the instructions and avoid stopping in the marked section. The track suits walkers, photographers and nature-focused visitors who are prepared for a bushwalk, while families should take particular care around the landslip area and supervise children.