Burleigh Headland walk: Everything you need to know

If you’re looking for one of the most beautiful walks to add to your Gold Coast itinerary, look no further than the Burleigh Headland Walk.

Only a few places in Australia allow you to walk through an eucalypt rainforest right next to the ocean and a creek. 

Located south of the Gold Coast in Burleigh Heads National Park, this walk is a popular track for locals and tourists exploring the area.

We have done the Burleigh Headland Walk a few times now, and it is still our favourite walk on the Gold Coast. Once you see the views, you will know why.

There are two routes you can take, to experience both, we highly recommend doing it in a circuit. We’ll explain this further down in this Queensland travel guide. 

If you’re a lover of coastal walks, we are positive you will love the Burleigh Headland Walk!

Burleigh Headland Walk

The Burleigh Headland Walk, also known as the Burleigh Heads National Park Walk or ‘The Point’ to locals, is a must-visit walk on the Gold Coast.

The trail is located between Burleigh Heads and Tallebudgera Creek, offering stunning coastal views, lush rainforest, wildlife spotting and two tracks suitable for different fitness levels. 

It is the perfect walk for nature lovers, it doesn’t even feel like you are in the heart of the Gold Coast while on the trail. 

Where to start the Burleigh Headland walking track

You can start this walk at either end of the track in Burleigh Heads or at Tallebudgera Creek near the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre. We started our walk in Burleigh Heads, which is the most common route.

To find the start of the walk, make your way to the top of Burleigh Hill. Once you reach the Burleigh Head National Park sign (shown below) you have the option to take two routes.

The left path takes you along the Oceanview track along the coastline towards Tallebudgera Creek, while the right path takes you along the Rainforest circuit past Jebbribillum Lookout and Tumgun Lookout (which you should definitely stop at!!).

We highly recommend completing the walk in a circuit so you can experience both the Rainforest Circuit and the Oceanview track.

We started our early morning walk with the Rainforest track first, heading towards Tumgun Lookout. We kept following the path through the rainforest to Tallebudgera Creek.

Once we made it to Tallebudgera Creek, we decided to keep following the path over the bridge to the other side of the creek.

We had a coffee & a light breakfast at Custard Canteen before finishing the circuit along the ocean-view track to Burleigh Heads.

If you do choose to do both routes, we highly recommend doing the Oceanview track on the way back, as you get a view of the city skyline.   

How long is the Burleigh Heads walk?

Both the Oceanview track and the Rainforest track are similar in length, however, the Rainforest track has some steep sections, making it slightly more challenging than the Oceanview track.

Oceanview Track

Distance – 1.2km one way
Time – 20 – 30 minutes each way
Difficulty – Easy

This track is a flat and well-maintained path suitable for all ages and fitness levels. It takes you along the coastline, offering amazing views of the ocean and rocky headland, and if you visit during winter, you might spot a whale!

Rainforest Circuit

Distance – 2.3 km loop or 1.2km one way
Time – 25 – 35 minutes each way
Difficulty – Moderate

This track takes you through the lush rainforest, past Jebbribillum Lookout and Tumgun Lookout, which provide amazing panoramic views of Burleigh Heads Beach, Surfers Paradise, and Tallebudgera Creek, however, as we said, it is steep in sections. 

We would highly recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes, bringing a hat, sunscreen, water, and of course, a camera to get some stunning pictures!

The best time to do the Burleigh Head walk

You can access this walk year-round, and every season offers a unique perspective.

During whale season (June – October), it is a special time to do the Oceanview track to try and spot whales as they migrate along the ‘Humpback Highway’.

The best time of day to do the Burleigh Headland walk, in our opinion, is early morning or late afternoon, when you can watch the sky change colours. 

It’s also one of the best places on the Gold Coast to see the sunrise over the ocean from the headland or watch the sunset on Burleigh Hill in the afternoon. 

We would avoid doing it during the day in the summer (December – February) as it gets very hot, and there is little shade. 

Before, during and after severe weather events, a section of the Oceanview walk may be temporarily closed to avoid the risk of falling rocks. You can check park alerts here for closures. 

Facilities on the tracks

There are no toilet facilities on either of the tracks. However, at both ends of the track, there are toilets

At Tallebudgera Creek, they are located adjacent to the Jellurgal Aboriginal Culture Centre and at Burleigh Heads, there are toilets at Burleigh Pavilion. 

If you’re planning your travels to the Gold Coast, be sure to check out our comprehensive Gold Coast Travel Guide for all the details you need!

Where to park when doing the Burleigh Heads walk

There is parking at both ends of the Burleigh Headland Walk. However, it can get very busy during weekends and holidays, so the earlier you arrive, the better!

If you are planning on starting the walk in Burleigh Heads, to avoid paying for parking, we suggest doing the walk before 9 am and after 5 pm or parking in Justins Park Carpark, where you can park for FREE for a maximum of 3 hours between 9 am and 5 pm. 

At the Tallebudgera Creek entrance, there is limited parking available at the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre. 

Map of the Burleigh Headland walk

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap up:  Burleigh Headland walk

If you’re looking for one of the best walks on the Gold Coast, the Burleigh Headland walk needs to be at the top of your list!

With two routes, you get to experience the best of both worlds: from the views of the city skyline, ocean, and Tallebudgera Creek on the Oceanview track to the lush eucalypt rainforest, lookouts and wildlife on the Rainforest circuit. 

And if you want to add to the experience, visit during winter to see the whales migrating on your walk.

If you’re looking for more amazing nature walks on the Gold Coast, check out the amazing walks and waterfalls in Springbrook National Park.

We hope you enjoy your time visiting the Gold Coast and walking the Burleigh Headland walking trails. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us!

Happy Travels 😊

Read More about the Gold Coast

• The Perfect 5-Day Gold Coast Itinerary
• The Ultimate Gold Coast Travel Guide
• A Detailed Guide on the 7 Best Springbrook Waterfalls + Map
• Burleigh Headland walk: Everything you need to know
• Honest Dorsett Gold Coast Review