Springbrook National Park - Aussie Bushwalking

Summary

Springbrook is a 29.2 square kilometre National Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Only 90 minutes from Brisbane, Springbrook comprises a range of beautiful sub-tropical rainforest, spectacular lookouts and breathtaking waterfalls.

The park is part of the World Heritage Listed Gondwana Rainforests and consists of three sections: Springbrook Plateau, Natural Bridge and Mount Cougal (The Cougals).

Walks

v.Easy

700m

0.5hrs

Best of All Lookouts

Despite its lofty claims, this short walk is well worth the effort with excellent views of the Tweed Valley including Mt Warning, Byron Bay and The Cougals. If you haven't been there, make sure to stop off next time you're on the plateau.

Hard

10km

5hrs

Mt Cougal

A walk along the border fence line to the twin summits of Mt Cougal.There are excellent views from the top!

v.Easy

1km

0.5hrs

Natural Bridge

Very easy, asphalted track. It is all fenced and you are not allowed to swim here anymore. There are glow worms in the cave if you come at night. Still very spectacular and this is where a lot of the tourist day trips come to. You can also get your car broken into if you are unlucky (when we were there, there was a fair bit of broken glass.

Easy

4km

2hrs

Purlingbrook Falls

Start Point:Springbrook's most popular walk starts in the rainforest at Gwongorella picnic area. Best walked in a clockwise direction
From the Purling Brook Falls lookout in Springbrook National Park, take the track along the top of the cliffs through open forest sprinkled with cycads to the top of Tanninaba Falls. From here, you can see the Gold Coast and Purling Brook Valley.

The track leads down 450 steps into the rainforested valley and along to spectacular Tanninaba Falls wh

Normal

4km

1.5hrs

Twin Falls Circuit

A rewarding sheltered walk through rainforest rock clefts and behind the twin falls.

Easy

17km

5hrs

Warrie Circuit

Beautiful walk through the valley. Pass and go through lots of waterfalls and rainforest.

History

Timber getters arrived in the late 1800's they cut down red cedars and beech. In approx 1905 farmers came to the plateau and cleared for settlement and dairy farming.

Features

Waterfalls are the most common feature for the plateau. Natural Bridge, which consists of a waterfall plunging into a cave, is very popular and only a short walk. Possibilities for off-track walks are also available.

Access

Springbrook Plateau Section

Take the Mudgeeraba exit from the Pacific Highway (exit 79 from the north, exit 80 from the south) and follow Gold Coast-Springbrook Rd or take exit 69 (Nerang) and follow Nerang-Murwillimbah Rd for 42km till the Springbrook turnoff at Pine Creek Rd

Natural Bridge Section

Take the Nerang Exit from the Pacific Highway (exit 69) and follow Nerang-Murwillimbah Rd for 30km to the park entrance (on the left).

Mt Cougal Section

Take the Currumbin Exit from the Pacific Highway (exit 93) and keep following Currumbin Valley Rd to the end.

Maps

Sunmap Springbrook shows most of the park at 1:25000. The Currumbin and Beechmont maps are useful for the adjoining sections of the border route.

Accommodation

Camping

The Settlement Campground on the plateau. Bookings are made through the National Park office.

A number of private campgrounds are available in the area.

Other

A range of other accommodation is available in the immediate area and of course the Gold Coast is in short driving distance.

Contact details

National Park Website - http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?parkid=31