Elabana Falls is a waterfall in the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park, reached by a 7.6 km return walk from O’Reilly’s. The track drops through Antarctic beech forest and past some of the largest brush box trees in the park before it reaches the cascades.
It is a half-day walk, not a stroll to a lookout, so plan for the distance, the mud and the leeches. The falls are on the Green Mountains side of the park, which you reach via Canungra.
Lamington is the core of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area and is said to contain more than 500 waterfalls. Elabana Falls is one of the best known.
The walk to Elabana Falls
The Elabana Falls track branches off the main Border Track 1.7 km from the entrance. From there it descends through a stand of Antarctic beech and past some of the largest brush box trees in the park, according to O’Reilly’s.
Turn right at the Box Forest turn-off for Picnic Rock, a popular lunch spot. The falls are about 400 m further on. You come back the same way, which makes 7.6 km in total.
O’Reilly’s gives a planning guide of 15 to 20 minutes per kilometre, which works out at roughly 2 to 2.5 hours of walking for the return trip. Leave extra time for the falls and lunch.
Can you swim at Elabana Falls?
Plan the walk as a look-and-rest stop, not a swim. Check Queensland Parks’ Lamington information for swimming rules before you go, take care near waterfalls and creeks, and stay on the designated tracks, as O’Reilly’s asks.
Safety, leeches and phone reception
O’Reilly’s asks walkers to stay on designated tracks. O’Reilly’s says mobile reception can be unreliable, so walk with others or carry a personal locator beacon.
Leeches are common in the rainforest, especially after rain. O’Reilly’s suggests long socks or tights and carrying salt or repellent spray.
Before and after the walk
O’Reilly’s has the Mountain Cafe for lunch or a light snack and a gift shop, and clean drinking water is available from taps at the retreat. Fill your bottles before you set off.
If the Elabana walk is too long for the day, the Tree Top Walk is among the things O’Reilly’s lists as free to explore, and the Centenary Track is a 1.8 km return walk. Both are covered in O’Reilly’s Rainforest.
Planning your visit
- How long: allow half a day.
- What to bring: water, lunch for Picnic Rock, sturdy closed shoes with grip, long socks, repellent and a charged phone.
- Dogs: not allowed; O’Reilly’s says no pets can be brought into the park.
- Closures: see the warning at the top. Check the Queensland Parks alerts for Lamington National Park and ring O’Reilly’s on 07 5502 4911 before you drive up.
- Other walks: the same area has the Morans Falls walk (4.6 km return), Pat’s Bluff (5.4 km return) and the full Box Forest circuit (10.9 km return). More in O’Reilly’s Rainforest.
Getting there and parking
The walk starts at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, 3582 Lamington National Park Road, Green Mountains. It is about 112 km from the Brisbane CBD, roughly 2 hours 5 minutes by car without traffic. O’Reilly’s recommends the route through Canungra, then about 40 minutes on a winding mountain road. It is about 90 minutes from the Gold Coast.
Details are on O’Reilly’s directions page and walks page. Details can change, so check the park alerts before you go.
Nearby
- Lamington National Park – the whole park, with its two entrances.
- Mount Barney National Park – more Scenic Rim bushwalking.
- O’Reilly’s Rainforest – the Tree Top Walk, bird feeding and shorter walks.
- Canungra – the town on the route up to O’Reilly’s.
- Springbrook National Park – more waterfalls in the Gold Coast hinterland.
- Natural Bridge – a short walk to a cave and waterfall at Springbrook.
- More waterfalls and Scenic Rim days out
You might also like
- Cedar Creek Falls – another waterfall, on Tamborine Mountain.
- Purling Brook Falls (Springbrook)
- Queen Mary Falls (Killarney)
Quick answers
How long is the Elabana Falls walk?
It is 7.6 km return from O’Reilly’s. O’Reilly’s planning guide of 15 to 20 minutes per kilometre gives about 2 to 2.5 hours of walking.
Is the Elabana Falls track open?
Queensland Parks’ storm-damage alert for Lamington (to 31 December 2026) lists the Box Forest circuit as closed, and the Elabana walk joins at the Box Forest turn-off, so check the alerts and ring O’Reilly’s before you go.
Where does the Elabana Falls walk start?
At O’Reilly’s in the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park. The track leaves the Border Track 1.7 km from the entrance.
Can you swim at Elabana Falls?
Check Queensland Parks’ Lamington information for swimming rules before you go. The falls are best treated as a place to look and rest.
Are dogs allowed at Elabana Falls?
No. O’Reilly’s says no pets can be brought into the park.
Is there mobile reception on the walk?
O’Reilly’s says reception can be unreliable, so walk with others or carry a personal locator beacon.
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