Currawong Falls Circuit Walk

Currawong Falls Circuit is an about 11 km (6.8 mi) loop from the lower Distillery Creek Picnic Ground car park. It climbs through ironbark forest to a cliff-top coastal lookout, drops to Currawong Falls, then circles back through Melaleuca Swamp and Fern Gully. Allow 3–4 hours at a moderate pace. The mapped line is just under 11 km; published totals range from 10.2 to 12 km. I’d do this for the coast-and-forest variety, not for a guaranteed waterfall.

The track rises gently through open ironbark forest and rocky stretches before the ridges open over steep-sided gorges. At the coastal lookout, the Claire Roberts seat faces Aireys Inlet and Split Point Lighthouse. The lookout sits above steep, unstable cliffs, so keep well back from the edge. Mountain bikes also use this track; listen for riders around bends.

The falls look down into a gully on Distillery Creek. After rain, water tumbles over the rocks; at other times it can dwindle to a trickle or dry up altogether. Don’t make the waterfall your only reason for coming. There’s a flatter spot just beyond it that works well for a break.

After the falls, the circuit crosses Melaleuca Swamp and the damp Fern Gully. Tall tree ferns and the rare King Fern stand out here, and Eastern Yellow Robins favor this stretch. Spring brings heath and wattles under the eucalypts; orchids sometimes grow beside the track.

Start at the lower car park. The separate upper picnic area has the information board and toilets; both areas have picnic tables and wood-fired barbecues, but you need to bring your own wood. Dogs aren’t allowed. Markers at the road and track junctions can be hard to read, so check the return direction before leaving the main trail.