LOT 204 JAMES BYRNE ROAD, HIGHFIELDS
Highfields Falls Bushland is a beautiful, well-maintained reserve fifteen minutes north of Toowoomba City, hidden in a peaceful gully that runs along Murphy's Creek. It features a warren of short, intersecting trails, each named after a native bird species you might be lucky enough to spot during your walk. The park features a mixture of level and hilly paths suitable for most fitness levels, and a pretty waterfall that is accessible from the top and base.
About The Name... The town of Highfields was established in the 1860's, with early settler life primarily revolving around the pastoral industry, timber mills, quarries and the construction of a new railway line from Toowoomba to Ipswich. Murphy's Creek, which runs through Highfields Falls Bushland, was named for Peter Murphy, a convict who assisted the Scottish explorer (and original settler of Warwick) Patrick Leslie on his expeditions through the Darling Downs.
BUSHWALKING GUIDE
Flat Bushland Walks | Golden Whistler Walking Circuit | Kingfisher Walking Circuit | Rosella Walking Circuit |
Grade |  easy | easy | easy |
Distance | 710m | 900m | 545m |
Trail Type | loop | loop | loop |
Walk TIme | 10min | 15min | 10min |
Walks along the creek/falls | Yellow Robin Walking Circuit | Bowerbird Walk | Cuckoo-Dove Walk | Lorikeet Walking Circuit |
Grade |  hard |  moderate | easy | moderate |
Distance | 650m | 20m | 160m | 585m |
Trail Type | loop | one way | one way | loop |
Walking Time | 17min | 2min | 5min | 10min |
Amenities/Suitable For:
Location & Parking:
Highfields Falls Bushland is accessible from three separate trailheads, which are all clearly signed.
The western, Kleve Rd entrance has an informal parking space on the shoulder of the road (you will need to make a U-turn to park). This is the closest parking to the waterfall itself, but please note there is a steep walk back to your car.
The eastern, Barber Rd entrance has a large, compacted carpark suitable for long vehicles, at the end of an unsealed road.
There are two compacted parking areas along the southern, James Byrne Rd side of the park. The first carpark on the left is the official trailhead, with a map just inside the fence-line.
Walk 1: Direct to The Falls - Yellow Robin/Bowerbird/Cuckoo-dove walks
If you are just popping in to see the Falls, try this short but rewarding walk.
Parking at the Kleve Rd trailhead, head downhill and follow the signs to the Falls - turning left onto the Yellow Robin Walking Circuit, which zig-zags rapidly down into the bushland.
When you arrive at the T-intersection, take Bowerbird Walk to the left, which leads to the base of the Falls. The trail is wide and well-graded here, but be careful of slip hazards as the path has a moderately steep descent and can have a loose or muddy surface depending on the weather.
Turn right at the rough-cut natural stone stairs and follow them down through this lush, shady forest area until your reach the end of the trail. You should be able to see the main Falls from here, as well as a few trickling cascades into the rock pools below if the water is flowing strongly. (It is possible for the sure-footed walker to pick their way across a narrow dirt-ledge to get right up to the waterfall, but please only attempt this in dry weather. With even a little rainfall, the ground here can become slick with mud, which may lead to personal injury and/or unnecessary erosion).
Now you've seen the base of the falls, double back to the start of Bowerbird Walk and progress along Yellow Robin Walking Circuit for a short distance until you see the sign for Cuckoo-dove Walk. This very short track leads to the top of the falls - a beautiful spot to look out over the treetops in the gully below, and a popular place for families with young children to paddle and explore (under careful supervision).
Return to your car via the same route.
Note: Don't be put off by the Grade 4 (hard) grading on the Yellow Robin Walking Circuit. While walkers with mobility difficulties would find this trail challenging, I've had no problems completing this walk with young children/toddlers, and the reward is well worth the effort.
Walk 2: All-stops Circuit - Golden Whistler/Rosella/Lorikeet/Yellow Robin/Bowerbird/Cuckoo-dove/Kingfisher walks
This is my preferred walk through Highfields Falls Bushland, which combines all of the available trails to create a longer circuit with plenty of variety and interest - starting with the perimeter of the park then cutting through the middle of reserve on the return leg.
Parking at the Barber Rd trailhead, set out to the left on the Golden Whistler Walking Circuit and continue in a clockwise direction around the edge of the park.
Ignore the first and second turn-offs to the right (sections of the Kingfisher Walking Circuit), and continue on past the James Byrne Rd trailhead. You have now joined the Rosella Walking Circuit, which veers sharply to the right and follows parallel to a council service road.
At the next intersection, turn left onto the Lorikeet Walking Circuit along the fence-line of a horse paddock, then watch your footing as the trail falls steeply on the approach to a creek crossing (usually dry). There is an equally-steep ascent on the other side of the creek-bed, before you come in sight of some semi-rural properties.
When you reach the next signpost, follow the Yellow Robin Walking Circuit in a clockwise direction towards the Falls - taking time to enjoy the views at the base and top of the waterfall.
Re-join Yellow Robin Walking Circuit and continue on clockwise, following the path down a set of natural stone stairs and over a beautiful, shaded creek-crossing (always water here).
Ascending the hill to the main intersection at the middle of the park, you will see a shipping-container shed and picnic table. Turn left on Kingfisher Walking Circuit and follow this until it connects to Golden Whistler Walking Circuit, which will lead you back to your car.
Discover More...
Have you been on this bushwalk? Contact me via email or Facebook to share your favourite aspects of the trail, or suggest an update to this page.