Best of the Gold Coast: The region’s 13 best walks and hikes

Now is the perfect time to take a hike and explore our backyard. Best of the Gold Coast reveals the top 13 tracks where you can choose your own adventure. SEE THE FULL LIST

NOW is the perfect time to take a hike and explore our backyard. Best of the Gold Coast reveals the top 13 tracks where you can choose your own adventure.

TREE TOP WALK

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

Open to the public, the free Tree Top Walk is an iconic part of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

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Open to the public, the free Tree Top Walk is an iconic part of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Wander through the canopy via a network of nine suspension bridges floating up to 16m above the forest floor. Go the extra mile and climb 30m above ground in a fig tree over the walkway to enjoy a bird’s eye view. Jane O’Reilly, a second-generation member of the founding family, says the self-guided 800m return sojourn was the world’s first treetop walk. “Second-generation O’Reilly, Peter or ‘Big Pete’, was the driving force behind construction and wanted to share his interest in the rainforest with guests, particularly the spectacular flowers, fruit and birds nesting from this elevated vantage point. Spring is the ideal time to experience the Tree Top Walk, especially early or late in the day.”

BURLEIGH HEADLAND

Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

Blue water for days awaits along the Burleigh Headland walking tracks.

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Preserved in our city’s centre, Burleigh headland’s 27ha of national park protects rainforest, eucalypt forest, pandanus groves, tussock grassland, coastal heath, mangroves, rocky foreshore and beaches. With wheelchair assisted access, the 1.2km Oceanview track meanders metres from the waves, passing Burleigh’s basalt boulders and arriving at Echo Beach for another blue view of Tallebudgera Creek. If you’ve still got some steam in the tank, take the stairs to the 2.3km return Rainforest Circuit and wind your way through cool pockets of rainforest to Tumgun lookout to survey the scene on eye level with white-bellied sea-eagles. You may spot one of the park’s cutest residents cuddled in the canopy — this track is excellent for koala spotting.

HINZE DAM

Spillway Rd, Advancetown

The Hinze Dam in Advancetown. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

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As well as being the main source of drinking water for the Gold Coast, Hinze Dam is a top recreational destination with a number of trails and parks to explore. The dam wall walk is the main attraction, stretching 2km and offering views of the colossal volume of water and surrounding hills and valleys. “Hinze Dam also has about 7km of multi-use trails through catchment land around the lake that are also available for recreation use,” Seqwater spokesman Matthew Wellington says. “These trails provide opportunities for horseriding, mountain biking, walking and running, as well as links to the trail network within the adjoining Springbrook National Park.”

NATURAL BRIDGE

Nerang Murwillumbah Rd, Springbrook

The Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

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This Gold Coast icon doesn’t require a hard slog to experience its magic first hand. The Natural Bridge circuit is found in Springbrook National Park and is a short 1km return trek from the car park on Nerang-Murwillumbah Road. Gold Coast National Park ranger Jess Rosewell says the Natural Bridge itself is a picturesque rock formation formed from water falling on a basalt cave over a millennia. “The waterfall going through into the cave gives it the Natural Bridge name,” she says. “The walk is suitable for young families. It takes about an hour with a couple of lookouts.” Jess recommends visiting early morning or midafternoon to avoid crowds, however the glow worms that call the cave home are a drawcard for visitors at dusk.

CURTIS FALLS

14-18 Dapsang Drive, Eagle Heights

The Curtis Falls at Mt Tamborine provide ideal subject matter for photographers.

Curtis Falls circuit is another easy walk with maximum aesthetic gain. The track is located in Tamborine National Park and is a quick 1.1km return hike. “Curtis Falls is a relatively easy walk, it takes about 30 minutes to complete,” Jess says. “You do have to go down a couple of sets of stairs so it’s not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs.” The enchanting walk takes you through eucalypt rainforest to a platform overlooking the Curtis Falls and a rockpool. There’s plenty of interesting flora and fauna to see, including staghorn ferns and the strangler fig as well as turtles and eels. If you listen very carefully, you might hear the ghosts of the Curtis family working away at an old timber mill that crumbled into the surrounding forest.

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ELABANA FALLS

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

The beginner-friendly Elabana Falls Track is a half-day walk that branches off the Main Border Track, about 1km from O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

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You don’t need to be super fit to chase one of the hinterland’s prettiest cascades. The beginner-friendly Elabana Falls Track is a half-day 7.6km return walk that branches off the Main Border Track about 1km from O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. It descends through ancient Antarctic beech, meandering past the largest brush box trees in the World Heritage listed Lamington National Park. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at Picnic Rock, a part of the Box Forest Circuit, and then continue on to Elabana Falls 400 metres away for a refreshing dip … if you dare. Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive bright blue Lamington spiny crayfish, which inhabit this area.

STINSON WALK

Starts O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat and ends Christmas Creek

The Stinson Walk is a challenging 14-hour trek tracing the steps of Bernard O’Reilly, who found the survivors of the Stinson Plane crash in 1937.

Not for the faint hearted, the 37km Stinson Walk is a challenging 14-hour trek tracing the steps of Bernard O’Reilly, who found the survivors of the Stinson Plane crash in 1937. The terrain is tough, so you should only attempt it with an experienced guide. O’Reilly’s runs guided tours twice a year (the next one is September 13-15) priced from $399. “The Stinson is an integral part of the O’Reilly family history and not to mention a very challenging hike for those wanting to take their fitness and endurance to the next level,” Jane O’Reilly says. “The walk takes you through some stunning subtropical landscapes and, when coupled with an extraordinary story, it’s very hard not to take something away from this experience. We are seeing more adventure enthusiasts joining the hike, not only to test their fitness but to learn more about the local history.”

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PURLING BROOK FALLS CIRCUIT

Forestry Rd, Springbrook

Purlingbrook waterfall in full flow at Springbrook after heavy rainfall. Photo: Steve Holland

Here’s a tip for those looking to take on the Purling Brook Falls circuit — walking in a clockwise direction will see you taking 450 steps down and a gentle gradient of switchbacks back up. This hike is 4km and starts at the top of the waterfall cliff edge before tracking down to the base with a rockpool. “Purling Brook Falls is 100m high,” Jess says. “(The walk) is a difficult grade, it’s more suited to slightly older children for families. You’ve got to go into the floor of the valley and back up again. You do get beautiful views of the waterfall down below looking back up.”

TWIN FALLS CIRCUIT

Canyon Parade, Springbrook

Rainforest scenes from Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Canyon Lookout's Twin Falls.

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Kicking off this hike at the vast Canyon Lookout is just the beginning of this track’s magnificence. Similar to the Purling Brook Falls circuit, Twin Falls is also 4km in length, starts at a cliff edge and maps around to the floor of the rainforest. “Once you go down to the forest floor, you can walk behind two different waterfalls,” Jess says. “You get your different habitat types through the walk, there’s montane heath which is more shrubby, and there’s rainforest birds. Sometimes you might be able to hear an Albert’s Lyre Bird.” Some visitors arrive at the base of the Twin Falls and turn around, but if you continue around back to Canyon Lookout you’re treated to more waterfalls and panoramic views.

WARRIE CIRCUIT

Canyon Parade, Springbrook

Springbrook waterfalls in Warrie Circuit.

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Branching off the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park, this track is for the serious hikers. Spanning 17km, it takes about five to six hours to complete with lots of waterfalls and rainforest to marvel at. “It’s more for your experienced bush walkers,” Jess says. “You don’t want to be setting off on that one after midday.” Keeping right from the Canyon Lookout will take you along the Warrie Circuit path, with the track descending to the ‘Meeting of the Waters’ halfway point — a picturesque spot where a number of creeks and waterways meet. The walk back up is a mild gradient of switchbacks with a waterfall towards the end marking the completion of your adventure.

SANDY CREEK CIRCUIT

48/50 Knoll Rd, North Tamborine

Cameron Falls Lookout at the end of the Sandy Creek Circuit. PicDavidKelly

Jess says you’ll have to get in quick to savour the tranqulity of this walk before it becomes too popular. The Sandy Creek circuit is 2.6km and takes you to down to Cameron Falls lookout. Jess says it’s a relatively easy hike that’s ideal for families with younger children and is much less visited than Curtis Falls. “While the waterfall’s not major, you do get views up towards Brisbane and Mount Cootha,” Jess says. “It is getting more widely known, it’s got a nice picnic area as well as barbecues and a nice lookout.” The path travels next to steep cliff edges, so make sure to stay on the designated track.

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OCEANWAY WALK

SeaWorld Drive, Main Beach

The Gold Coast coastline spans 37km and you can walk the entire length.

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Where else in Australia can you walk the entire length of a city next to the beach? The Oceanway walk is 37km and takes you from the tip of Main Beach to Tweed Heads, or vice versa. If you’re going north to south, start at Doug Jennings Park at The Spit and, well, just keep walking. You can stick to paved footpaths or mix it up with sand stepping and boardwalks, but be warned: there’s no reprieve from the sun, so make sure to reapply sunscreen every couple of hours. It should take about six and a half hours non-stop, but it’s not a marathon — best to take a break at a cafe, park or enjoy a quick dip in the ocean to cool off every 10km or so.

COOMBABAH WETLANDS BOARDWALK

Coombabah Lakelands Conversation Area, Myola Ct, Coombabah

The Boardwalk at Coombabah Lakelands Picture Donna Mroz Turcic

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If you’ve navigated your way through the Gold Coast’s waterfalls, rainforests and beaches, then it’s time for a change of scenery. The Coombabah Wetlands takes in 1290ha of marshlands and everglades and is surrounded by a number of flat boardwalks and trails, perfect for an easy stroll, walking with children in prams or cycling. It’s at the northern end of the Coast and is considered a hidden gem by many as it’s often super quiet bar the dozens of kangaroos that laze about the nearby grassy pastures, native owls, koalas and frogs. Make sure to plan ahead — there’s no toilets or drinking water and insect repellent is a must.