Summary

Boarding NSW and the pacific Ocean, it is not uncommon for hikes to have views of both worlds (ocean and hinterland). Hikes here are typically on the great dividing range.

History

Any interesting history for the region?

Features

What are the standout bushwalking features?

Access

How do you get there? Include all access points if there are many?

Maps

Which maps cover the region?

Accommodation

Where can I stay there? or near there?

Camping

Council Areas:

1. Scenic Rim Regional
2. Gold Coast City
3. Logan City
4. Redland City
5. Ipswich City
6. Lockyer Valley Regional
7. Brisbane City
8. Somerset Regional
9. Moreton Bay Regional
10. Sunshine Coast Regional
11. Noosa Shire

Contact details

See Qld National parks website

Walks in Gold Coast

Easy

2 km return

50 mins

Burleigh Ridge Park

Remnant bushland in the suburbs, koala habitat.

Easy

250 m return

20 mins

Currumbin Valley Reserve

A short amble around the Bush Heritage Australia property the Currumbin Valley Reserve previously known as the Griffiths Nature Refuge. The reserve is also home to a memorial garden which serves as the final resting place for people's ashes. The reserve has some informative signage on native trees and provides views of and access to the adjacent Nicoll Scrub National Park.

Easy

3 km return

45 mins

Elanora Wetlands

Elanora Wetlands Habitat is a Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) reserve in the upstream estuarine reaches of Tallebudgera Creek. Adjacent to tidal wetlands, a scenic walking track follows the perimeter of the Water Quality Control Centre (WQCC). There are excellent views of mangroves and saltmarsh vegetation along the track where they form a thin fringe along the creek.

Easy

5 km return

1 hr

Emerald Lakes Wetlands Walk

Walk around the main lake through wetland and along built up area. Water views.

Medium

900 m return

20 mins

Ernest Junction Tunnel

This track follows the remnants of the South Coast Railway. With a short trail walk to the tunnel.

Easy

6 km

2 hrs

Federation Walk

This is an easy 3km walk (6km if you go to the end and back) along a well made path through the sand dunes of The Spit. It's perhaps the closest walk to Surfers Paradise and provides a unique insight into the coastal dune network.
The walk starts at the beach carpark on the opposite side of the road from the entrance to Sea World (you'll need to go around the roundabout to get to the carpark). It's basically a 3km stretch of sand dunes, beach and sheoak trees and the path is made of compacted gravel, so it's easy to walk on. There are a couple of small inclines, but nothing too dramatic. The path ends at the Gold Coast Seaway where, on a clear day, you can get an excellent view south down the beach along the entire stretch of the Gold Coast right down to Coolangatta. You can then turn around and walk 3km back, or have someone pick you up at the end.
Take plenty of water on a hot day because there are only amenities at the start and finish of the walk and parts of the track have no shade.

Easy

36 km one-way

12 hrs

Gold Coast Ocean Way

Shared path along the beach from Point Danger to The Gold Coast Seaway or reverse. Can easily be done in stages.

Hard

5 km return

3 hrs

Hanging Rock Bushwalk

This bushwalk follows the border fence East from the Tomewin border crossing through often overgrown terrain. Initially you head up hill to Mount Boyung Thuga before continuing over the shoulder of Mount Tomewin and then over Mount Talganda Colgon (consult NSW SIX maps rather than Qtopo for accurate mountain positioning). The Hanging Rock formation is a few hundred metres past Mount Talganda Colgon.

Easy

5 km return

90 mins

Hinterland Regional Park

A series of several short tracks which can make up a decent distance. A beautiful regional park situated in Mudgeeraba. The parklands cover 62 hectares and are a great location to undertake a range of recreational activities, or to just sit back and enjoy nature.

This parkland was the first Mudgeeraba land to be settled by Europeans in 1869. The original vegetation has been highly modified in the past 140 years as a result of: clearing timber cutting for sawmills and fence posts and rails, grazing by beef and dairy cattle, construction of water pipelines and power lines, invasion by introduced pasture legumes and escapees from gardens, and dam construction.

Very Easy

3.7 km return

1 hr

Hinze Dam Wall

A walk along the Hinze Dam wall.