Burleigh Head National Park Walks

Burleigh is home to one of the most iconic and beautiful beaches in Australia, uniquely protected by a sacred fauna-and flora-covered headland.  Locally known as The Point, the headland is a kick-off point for exploring the walking trails of beautiful Burleigh Head National Park.

This small 27hectare park contains a diverse range of habitats from rainforest, eucalypt forest, pandanus groves, tussock grassland, coastal heath, mangroves and creeks, to rocky foreshore and beaches.  There are two wonderful walking tracks in the national park—the Oceanview Track and the Rainforest Circuit. 

The delightfully flat and easy Oceanview Track leads around the headland just above sea level, past the brazen bush turkeys and bearded dragons, connecting Burleigh Head with Echo Beach and Tallebudgera Creek to the south.

The more challenging Rainforest Circuit climbs steps up to the spectacular summit at Tumgun Lookout 88m above sea level providing spectacular views to Snapper Rocks.

The grade 2 Oceanview Track is 1.2km one-way (30minutes) and you can choose to return by the same path or via the Rainforest circuit and Tumgun lookout.  The grade 3 Rainforest Circuit is 2.3kms (45 minutes) with a steep section in the middle near Tumgun lookout.

You can choose to start at either end of the track, with limited parking available at Goodwin Terrace on Burleigh Headland and similarly limited parking at The Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Tallebudgera Creek to the south.

Both walks provide shaded benches along the way—perfect pitstops to take in the stunning views from Surfers Paradise to the north and Coolangatta to the south. 

The headland is home to a teaming array of flora and fauna and also provides the perfect vantage point for spectators to watch surfers and majestic humpback whales as they make their migrations, from May to November.

Please remember that everything in the park is protected so visitors are asked to leave pets at home (as their scent frightens native animals), and are reminded not to interfere with plants, animals, soil or rocks.  Bicycles may be left at racks provided at the park entrance.

You may like to finish your walk on Burleigh’s grassy headland taking advantage of the perfect chill-out spot with a view, or alternatively you may choose to finish with a swim at Tallebudgera’s Echo Beach to the south.  Either way, you can’t go wrong!

Track Length: Oceanview Track is 1.2km one-way (30minutes). Rainforest Circuit is 2.3kms (45 minutes).

Track Difficulty: Oceanview Track Grade 2 (flat and easy). Rainforest Circuit Grade 3 with a steep section in the middle near Tumgun lookout.

Facilities: There are toilets adjacent to Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Tallebudgera Creek and at Burleigh Pavillion. Bubblers, benches, and limited parking available.

By Michaela Lyons