Currumbin Valley is the easiest green escape from the coast, about a 20 to 30 minute drive inland from Princess Palm. This plan runs the day in order: a morning rainforest walk, an unhurried valley lunch, a farm-gate afternoon, and a scenic drive home. It is built for a crisp winter’s day, when the valley is at its clearest and the walking is at its best.
Morning: the Cougal Cascades walk
Start early and drive to the top of the valley, about 30 minutes up Currumbin Creek Road to the Mt Cougal section of Springbrook National Park. There is a free day-use car park at the end of the road, though it fills on weekends, so an early start pays off. The one thing not to miss is the Cougal Cascades walk, a 1.6 kilometre return track on a sealed path that reaches the cascades lookout in under five minutes, with a disused 1940s sawmill about 300 metres further on. The creek runs clear and cool in June, perfect walking weather. The sealed track follows Currumbin Creek the whole way, past a string of small swimming holes and shaded pockets of rainforest, so there are plenty of spots to pause. Mobile reception is patchy this far up the valley, so download your map before you leave the coast. If you are short on time, skip the steeper tracks toward the Mt Cougal summit and just do the cascades loop.
Late morning: the Currumbin Rock Pools
On the way back down, pull in at the Currumbin Rock Pools, one of the valley’s best-loved spots for decades. In summer this is a swimming hole, but in June the water is cold, so it is at its best as a scenic stop for photos and a creekside sit. Parking is roadside and limited, so slow down and take the first safe spot you see. Directly opposite, Om Cafe is open seven days from 10am to 3:30pm, and guests keep mentioning its acai bowls and warm pies as the ideal mid-morning pick-me-up. The pools sit right beside the road with a grassy picnic area alongside, so it is an easy stop even with young kids in the car. If parking is full and time is tight, this is the stop to keep short.
Lunch: Pasture and Co at the Ecovillage
For lunch, drop into Pasture and Co at the Currumbin Ecovillage, a few minutes back down the valley on Village Way. The cafe leans on local, seasonal and where possible organic produce, with an all-day menu that runs from shakshuka and a breakfast burrito to a free-range beef burger. The shakshuka is the one to order, a warming baked-egg dish that suits a winter’s day. If that is not your speed, the menu runs from chilli scrambled eggs and truffle mushrooms to a zucchini and potato rosti and French croissant toast, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options across the board. There is parking on site and space to settle in. It is an easy, relaxed spot, so give yourself an hour here rather than rushing off to the next stop.
Afternoon and the drive home: Currumbin Valley Harvest
Round out the day at Currumbin Valley Harvest at 1380 Currumbin Creek Road, open Thursday to Monday from 8am to 2pm. This roadside organic growers market and cafe overlooks the creek, with a long table of local fruit and vegetables, herb beds you can pick fresh, and shelves of artisan sauces and oils. There are beds of medicinal plants alongside the herbs, and the deck has the best coffee view in the valley late in the afternoon, so grab a cup and watch the hills roll by before the drive home. The road back to Palm Beach is part of the pleasure, a gentle wind down Currumbin Creek Road through rainforest and farmland, about 25 minutes to your front door. If the afternoon is running late, skip the shopping and just enjoy the view.
FAQs
How far is Currumbin Valley from Palm Beach?
Currumbin Valley is about a 20 to 30 minute drive from Princess Palm, depending how far up you go. Head north to Currumbin, then follow Currumbin Creek Road inland. The road winds gently up the valley, so the last stretch to Cougal Cascades takes the longest.
Is the Cougal Cascades walk easy?
Yes. The track is a 1.6 kilometre return walk on a sealed path, mostly gentle with a few small hills. It reaches the cascades lookout in under five minutes and suits families, strollers and assisted wheelchairs. A disused 1940s sawmill sits about 300 metres further on.
Can you swim at the Currumbin Rock Pools in winter?
The rock pools are open, free and beautiful year-round, but in June the water is cold, so most visitors come for the scenery and the walk rather than a swim. It makes a lovely stop for photos and a creekside picnic, with Om Cafe directly opposite for a warm coffee.
Where can you eat in Currumbin Valley?
Pasture and Co at the Currumbin Ecovillage is the standout for a sit-down lunch, with an all-day menu. Om Cafe opposite the rock pools does great coffee and acai bowls, and Currumbin Valley Harvest has a cafe and deck overlooking the creek. All three are an easy drive apart.
Do you need a 4WD for Currumbin Valley?
No. Currumbin Creek Road is sealed all the way to the Cougal Cascades car park, and the walking track itself is a sealed path suitable for strollers. Any car will manage the drive comfortably; just take the bends gently and watch for cyclists on weekend mornings.
A valley day is one of the best reasons to base yourself down on the sand, close enough to swap the beach for the rainforest and be back for a sunset swim the same afternoon. When you are ready to plan it, book your Palm Beach apartment with us and browse our Currumbin area guide for more ways to fill the days around your stay.
Image credit: mihitha / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
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