How hard is the Gwongoorool Track really?

Much harder than the moderate grade suggests. Our terrain data shows 73.5% of this track is steep or very steep, and the return climb includes a brutal 142m gain packed into just 300m — roughly 200 rock steps back up from the river.

What is the Gwongoorool Track?

A 4.5km return track from the Binna Burra lower day-use area in Lamington National Park, descending through volcanic tuff cliffs to the Gwongoorool swimming pool on the Coomera River.

Can you swim at Gwongoorool?

Yes — the track leads to the Gwongoorool swimming pool, a genuine swimming hole on the Coomera River, making the steep return climb a fair trade for a proper cool-down after the walk.

Gwongoorool Track: Complete Guide (Lamington National Park)

Gwongoorool Track is a genuine leg-burner disguised as a “moderate” walk — 200 rock steps carved through volcanic tuff cliffs down to a swimming hole on the Coomera River, with an honest return climb waiting at the end.

Quick stats

Distance: 4.54 km return
Elevation gain: 824 m
Time: Half-day (allow time for the swim)
Grade: Moderate (official) — see below
Route type: Out and back
Location: Lamington National Park, Binna Burra section, QLD

How hard is it, really?

Don’t trust the moderate label on this one. Our terrain data shows 73.5% of this track is steep or very steep, and the return leg includes a genuinely brutal 142m climb packed into just 300m — that’s the roughly 200 rock steps the official description mentions, and it comes after you’re already tired from the swim. Treat this as a hard walk that happens to be officially labelled moderate, not the other way around.

What the track is actually like

Starting from the Binna Burra lower day-use area, the track descends through volcanic tuff cliffs — a distinctive geological feature of this part of Lamington National Park — down to the Gwongoorool swimming pool on the Coomera River. The descent is steep and step-heavy the whole way, which means the reward (a genuine swimming hole) comes with a mandatory, equally steep return climb. This isn’t a there-and-back stroll with a lookout at the end — it’s a real destination walk where the effort on the way back matters as much as the way down.

Wildlife to watch for

Lamington National Park’s Binna Burra section protects genuinely vulnerable species, with two specifically documented right on this track:

Olive Whistler — vulnerable, and specifically documented on the Gwongoorool Track itself, not just the wider park.
Richmond Birdwing Butterfly — vulnerable, also specifically documented on this exact track — keep an eye out for its distinctive large wings near the rainforest edges.
Platypus — near threatened (IUCN), and worth watching for quietly at the Gwongoorool pool itself, given the track’s destination is a genuine river swimming hole.
Richmond Birdwing Vine — near threatened, the essential food plant for the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly’s caterpillars, likely present in the lower-elevation rainforest sections of this descent.

Practical tips

Save energy for the climb back up. The steepest single stretch (142m in 300m) is on the return leg, and it comes after you’ve already covered the descent and had a swim.
Bring swimwear. The Gwongoorool pool is a genuine swimming destination, not just a scenic lookout — plan for it.
Don’t underestimate the “moderate” grade. This track’s terrain profile behaves like a hard walk. Budget more time and water than the distance alone suggests.
Watch quietly at the pool for platypus — a real possibility given the river habitat, though sightings are never guaranteed.

Nearby

This track connects into the longer Illinbah Circuit, a full-day loop that descends the same steep Gwongoorool track before looping back — a natural extension if you want more distance. See the full South East Queensland hikes list for more Lamington National Park and Binna Burra walks, or view Gwongoorool Track on the map for the live route and elevation profile.