Curtis Falls are just 90 minutes' drive south of Brisbane. Located within the Joalah section of Tamborine National Park, the falls are a popular stopover for day trippers making their way to Eagle Heights, Canungra and Lamington National Park.

Accessing Curtis Falls is very easy. From the car park, it is a short 1km walk down a relatively steep but well-maintained track passing through eucalyptus forest. At the track junction, you can turn left and walk straight to the falls or continue right down an easy return loop passing the lower sections of the creek and taking in the flooded gums and lush surrounding forest.

Due the presence of platypus and glow worms, the main viewing area below Curtis Falls is fenced off and a no-go area is in place around the base of the falls and the upper reaches of the creek. If you want to photograph the falls and use a slower shutter speed, I recommend using a tripod which can be extended to allow you see over the fence. If you have a Joby Gorillapod or similar flexible support, you can attach it to the fence to provide a more stable shooting platform.

Curtis Falls generally flows all year, but I recommend visiting a day or two after rain. Don't go during a rain event as the water flow can be quite strong and this often causes a lot of spray to drift towards the viewing platform.

Due to its accessibility, Curtis Falls is a popular spot to visit all year around, so be courteous and share the space around the main viewing areas with other visitors. You can always avoid the crowds altogether by visiting later in the afternoon or early in the morning. Not only does this reduce the risk of strong contrast on forest floor, but it will also allow you to see the glow worms present on the rock faces surrounding the falls. This itself is a very unique experience.

Once you are done with the falls, take a walk around the return circuit. There are plenty of compositions to be had passing by and over the creek and you can often see flying foxes and various species of birds. I have completed numerous trips to Curtis Falls and I find there is always something new to see and photograph during every visit.

I hope you have enjoyed this article. If there is another waterfall or location that you would like to hear about, drop me a line.

Cheers,

Russell