Summary

The tourism capital of Australia. Although visitors may know the Gold Coast for its beaches and theme parks, locals are known to have an active lifestyle so the council has provided plenty of accessible parks and the GC hinterland also isn't too bad either.

History

The GC used to be a swamp filled with mangroves till all the residential buildings popped up.

Features

What are the standout bushwalking features?

Access

Just 1 hour south of Brisbane or catch a flight to Coolangatta in which case you'll have arrived at the most southern part of the GC.

Maps

Which maps cover the region?

Accommodation

Camping

Other

As the Gold Coast thrives off tourism there are plenty of accomodation options available.

Contact details

City of Gold Coast: https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Home

City of Gold Coast Park Finder: https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Things-to-do/Parks-gardens-reserves/Park-Finder

or CoGC Walks-trails: https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Things-to-do/Walks-trails

Walks in Gold Coast

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.

Easy

2 km return

40 mins

Mount Nathan

A short walk through the Mount Nathan Reserve to the summit of Mount Nathan with some views between the trees of the Gold Coast.

Medium

1.4 km return

30 mins

Mount Wongawallan

With multiple entrances to the reserve, it's your choice if you want a long or short walk either way there will be steep gradients. Once reaching the top of Mt Wongawallan you can find a deep hole, (assumed to be an old mine shaft) and a bit beyond that a wonderful lookout looking towards the Gold Coast Skyline.

Medium

6 km return

3 hrs

Nerang National Park Ridge Loop

A walk in Nerang National Park ascending via the Nerang Break to the highest point in the National Park and then following the ridge North till dropping down to the Western Break via the steep 400 Break. Then following the Western Break to the start.

Easy

1.2 km one-way

30 mins

Oceanview Walk

This track leads around the rocky headland from Tallebudgera Creek to the southern edge of Burleigh Heads township.

You can look at the tumbled masses of six-sided basalt columns, and relax by the creek at Echo Beach. You can either return by the same path or via the Rainforest circuit and Tumgun lookout.

Very Easy

3.5 km return

1 hr

Palm Beach Parklands

There isn’t another location on the Gold Coast that is so diverse, where so many activities can be enjoyed in one concentrated place, from exercising your dog to wind surfing.
Along with this is the beauty of the location, its part of the Currumbin Estuary and Palm Beach Spit and a photographer’s paradise.

Easy

4 km return

1 hr

Paradise Point Foreshore Walk

.Walkway around a peninsula along the broadwater. All sealed through parks, dunes and built up areas.

Very Easy

500 m return

15 mins

Phil Hill Environmental Park (Jabiru Island Walk)

Boardwalk trough mangroves along the Coomera river.

Easy

2.3 km return

1 hr

Rainforest Circuit

A wild, natural headland in the heart of the Gold Coast offers walks along the rocky foreshore and through rainforest, with the chance to see whales in winter/spring and sea-eagles soaring along the coast.