Hiking Elabana Falls & Box Log Falls in Queensland.
Come and join me on a beautiful hike through the Gondwana Rainforests of Lamington National Park, Queensland. The Box Forest Circuit is pure hiking magic 🌿🥾 Elabana Falls and Box Log Falls are the show-stealers. If you’re craving a lush, waterfall-studded adventure just two hours from Brisbane, this one’s got your name written all over it.
Where is it?
The trail kicks off from the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park, specifically from the O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat carpark in the Gold Coast hinterland. You're entering one of the world’s most ancient and ecologically rich rainforests, part of a UNESCO World Heritage area 🌎✨. Think moss-draped trees, strangler figs, and rare Antarctic beech that trace their lineage back to the age of the dinosaurs 🦖
From Brisbane or the Gold Coast, head toward Canungra and follow the winding Lamington National Park Road up to O’Reilly’s 🚗🌄. It’s a breathtaking drive, but prepare for hairpin bends and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife 🦜🦘. Parking is available at the trailhead, and the Box Forest Circuit is well signed from there.
The Hike: Box Forest Circuit (10.9km loop)
Clocking in at around three and a half to four and a half hours return, this moderate-grade hike is one of the park’s most rewarding. You’ll cross trickling creeks, descend through fern-filled gullies, and walk beneath towering rainforest canopy, with more than a dozen waterfalls along the way 🌊🌳. Perfect for photography, nature immersion, or simply getting your boots dirty in one of Queensland’s most pristine spots.
What creatures are there?
The Lamington crayfish 🦞, found in the cool streams of Lamington National Park, is a vibrant blue freshwater crustacean. Endemic to Queensland, it's adapted to life in rainforest creeks, thriving in pristine waters. Often spotted after rain, this striking creature is a hidden gem in Australia’s subtropical wilderness 🌿💧
Arguably one of the most photographed falls in the region, Elabana greets you halfway through the loop 📸💦. The waterfall tumbles in two tiers—first a delicate veil into a plunge pool, then over a mossy rock face framed by dense ferns and dappled light. It’s serene, surreal, and utterly spellbinding. Bring a wide-angle lens, you’ll thank yourself later.
Just five to ten minutes beyond Elabana, Box Log Falls is wilder and more rugged, cascading in multi-stream ribbons over a rocky ledge 🌊🌿. It’s a less crowded gem and a great place to sit and listen to the symphony of water and birdsong 🎶🦉. During or after rain, prepare to be awestruck.
This ancient forest is the remnant of the supercontinent Gondwana, once shared by Australia, Antarctica, and South America 🕰️🌏. The Antarctic beech trees lining parts of the track are over two thousand years old. Indigenous people of the Yugambeh language region lived with and protected this land for generations, and in more recent history, early conservationists fought to preserve it from logging in the early 1900s. Thanks to their efforts, you’re walking through a living museum of Earth's past.
Look and listen
Keep an eye out for vibrant crimson rosellas, Albert’s lyrebirds mimicking your footsteps, and carpet pythons basking on sunny rocks 🦜🐍. In summer, the air is alive with the buzzing and clicking of insects. In winter, mist drifts among the trees, giving the circuit a magical, almost Tolkien vibe 🧙♂️🌫️.
Wrap-up
Whether you're chasing waterfalls, hiking Queensland’s lushest rainforests, or just craving deep green solitude, Elabana and Box Log Falls along the Box Forest Circuit deliver in spades 🌿💦. Pack your boots, your curiosity, and your sense of wonder. This isn’t just a trail, it’s a journey into the beating heart of an ancient land.
