Get out and get into the Gold Coast’s best hikes and bushwalks
THE Gold Coast is renowned for its stunning beaches and glitzy nightlife, but there is much more green behind the gold than one might expect.
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THE Gold Coast is renowned for its stunning beaches and glitzy night life, but there is a lot of green behind the gold.
Kaylene Whitley, founder of Rainforest Tours Australia, has been hiking in the Gold Coast hinterland for more than 30 years and says our tracks are some of the best in the world.
As residents and tourists adhere to new year resolutions about health and fitness, here are the Coast’s best hiking trails.
BOX FOREST CIRCUIT
Lamington National Park, Green Mountains, O’Reillys
This is a great circuit for hiking or bushwalking beginners. The straightforward trail is 10.6km, taking about half a day to complete. Nugurun Falls, which you will pass on the circuit, is a great place to stop for a bite of lunch or to snap a picture for Instagram.
TOOLONA CREEK CIRCUIT
Lamington National Park, Green Mountains, O’Reillys
The Toolona Creek circuit branches from the Box Forest circuit near Elabana Falls, then continues beside Toolona Creek. The narrow Toolona Gorge creates a protected moist and shady refuge for many ancient rainforest plants: the king fern Todea barbara is a relict of one of the oldest fern families, Osmundaceae, evolving even before Gondwana formed. The Toolona circuit is a 17.4km walk return, so allow about six hours.
ALBERT RIVER CIRCUIT
Lamington National Park, Green Mountains, O’Reillys
This circuit leaves the Border Track and follows a branch of the Albert River upstream to Echo Point lookout, featuring panoramic views of Mount Wupawn, Mount Durigan, the McPherson Range and the Tweed Range. In September when the beech orchids Dendrobium falcorostrum are flowering, this circuit takes on a particular charm, with the delicate orchids contrasting with the massive trunks to which they cling. Allow about seven hours to complete the 21.8km return trail.
ELANABA FALLS & PICNIC ROCK
Lamington National Park, Green Mountains, O’Reillys
Located in the Green Mountains at Lamington National Park, not only is this picnic spot located in world heritage-listed rainforest, it has spectacular views. You are unlikely to find the masses here because it requires a short 3.5km scenic walk through rainforest to get there. But Elabana Falls is one of the most striking features in Lamington National Park, and well worth the walk.
WEST CANUNGRA CIRCUIT
Lamington National Park, Green Mountains, O’Reillys
This circuit crosses several creeks and passes by towering rainforest trees. If you’re planning on swimming in the West Canungra Creek, be wary that eels inhabit the creek and bite when threatened. Creek crossings may be difficult to navigate and slippery after rain.
MORANS FALL
Lamington National Park, Green Mountains, O’Reillys
Morans Falls is a great place to sit, relax and watch the sun set. This place, while still in the Lamington National Park, is in the Green Mountain section. Getting to Morans Falls is a rather easy 4.6km return walk and the entrance to the track is just down the main road from O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.
BORDER TRACK
Canungra, Scenic Rim Area
As the backbone of the Lamington walking track system, the Border Track will take you on a discovery of stunning waterfalls, awe-inspiring views and fascinating wildlife. The track winds through dense rainforest, interspersed with Antarctic beech on the higher slopes. This trail connects Binna Burra and the Green Mountains, passing through both subtropical and temperate rainforest. The track is 22km one-way so allow about seven hours each way. Many spots on the track have steep drop-offs beside them, so walk carefully and keep children under close supervision — a steep drop-off may be just around the corner.
PURLING BROOK FALLS CIRCUIT
Springbrook National Park
The Purling Brook Falls circuit leaves the Gwongorella picnic area in world heritage-listed Springbrook National Park and passes through open eucalypt forest of New England ash, before descending via a series of steps into the gorge to view the falls from below. A steady climb through forest brings you back to the picnic area via a lookout above the falls.
CAVES CIRCUIT
Lamington National Park, Binna Burra
If you’ve ever wanted to check out the volcanic rock built up by the explosion of Mount Warning, the Caves Circuit is your chance to do it. The track first passes through eucalypt forest and woodland with some rainforest gullies. Keep an eye out for koalas in the branches of eucalyptus trees above. The Caves were created by wind and rain erosion and were used for shelter and cooking by the aborigines. The track passes through these caves and then climbs through rainforest back to the summit of Mount Roberts. The short 5km track takes just two to three hours to complete.
SHIPS STERN
Lamington National Park, Binna Burra
The 21km return trail takes about eight hours to complete. It descends past the scenic Yangahla lookout and through a fine stand of piccabeen palm to the valley floor. A short side track (an additional 600m one way) can be followed to the bottom of Ballunjui Falls. The circuit then crosses Nixon Creek and ascends through Hidden Valley past Charraboomba Rock to the top of Ships Stern range and into open eucalypt forest. If you still have energy left at the end of the trail, Daves Creek circuit can be added to this walk, making it a total of 23km.
LOWER BELLBIRD CIRCUIT
Lamington National Park, Binna Burra
This 12km track offers great viewing areas at Koolanbilba and Yangahla Lookouts which feature views of Egg Rock, Turtle Rock, the Numinbah Valley and Ship’s Stern. Down the track, the outcrop known as Kong Gong Rock is reached with the track passing through a cleft in the rock. Bellbird Cliffs can be seen occasionally through gaps in the trees and the track also crosses a number of small creeks. The track eventually leaves the rainforest and enters an area where there was an old dairy farm and traces of its previous existence are still readily visible. Allow two to three hours to complete this track.
COOMERA GORGE CIRCUIT
Lamington National Park, Binna Burra
This scenic Coomera circuit offers views that provide dramatic evidence of the power of erosion, which has cut through a thick resistant rhyolite lava flow. The circuit continues to ascend while following the edge of the 160 metre-deep Coomera Gorge. The river crossings involve stepping from rock to rock, which can be hazardous after heavy rain and should not be attempted when the river is in flood. Allow seven hours for the 17.4km return track.
NATURAL BRIDGE CIRCUIT
Springbrook National Park
This short one-hour circuit is such an easy walk, you won’t even need walking shoes. In this part of the rainforest, you’ll come across large, very impressive, strangler fig trees. Another option is to explore this track by night when the cave becomes illuminated by thousands of glow-worms’ tiny green lights. While glow-worms are visible year-round, their display is significantly reduced during the winter months.
TWIN FALLS CIRCUIT
Springbrook National Park
Start your 4km journey through subtropical rainforest from the Tallanbana picnic area. You’ll reach a small bridge, flowing water and immense rock formations after a couple of minutes, which makes for a great Instagram shot. When you reach the bottom of the track you will see
two rushing waterfalls. At the base of the Twin Falls you’ll find a large rock pool that’s perfect for a swim.
CEDAR CREEK FALLS TRACK
Tamborine Mountain National Park
Cedar Creek Falls are a popular Mount Tamborine destination among locals and tourists. The relatively short 3.2km track takes you along gorgeous cascades and rock pools.
CURTIS FALLS
Tamborine Mountain National Park
This popular waterfall is a lesser-known Mount Tamborine treasure. The 1.1km return trail, which begins in wet eucalypt forest beneath towering flooded gums, takes about 30 minutes to complete. Beautiful crows nest and staghorn ferns can be seen in the canopy above while the rock pool and surrounding basalt rock face provide important glow-worm habitat.
HIDDEN TREASURES
Most Gold Coasters know about the beauty of Mount Warning and the heart-shaped rock pool at Killarney Glen — they’re treasures, but certainly not hidden.
From waterfalls to lookouts, here are six of the Coast’s best kept natural secrets.
LIP FALLS
45-57 Doncaster Dr, Beechmont
This waterfall is located in the Denham Reserve on Back Creek, Beechmont. Aptly named, water gently flows over the “lip” of the rock formations It’s a short 3km return — about 30 minutes each way — but it’s also a very steep hike next to deep gorges so keep a close eye on children.
COOMERA AND YARRABILGONG FALLS LOOKOUT
Lamington National Park
The stunning Coomera and Yarrabilgong Falls lookout over the Coomera Gorge is found in the Binna Burra section of the Lamington National Park. The walk to this lookout is an 8km return trip and widely considered one of the most spectacular views in Lamington National Park.
BEST OF ALL LOOKOUT
Springbrook National Park
No, this isn’t a hyperbole. Located on the edge of an escarpment, you’ll find spectacular views that cover Murwillumbah, Mt Warning and Brunswick Heads. And it’s not just the view that is worth the trip — you’ll walk through a Lord of the Rings-style ancient temperate rainforest full of old knurled trees, moss covered rocks and ancient plants. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of the reclusive Albert’s lyrebird.
CANYON LOOKOUT
Springbrook National Park
You can see the Surfers Paradise high rises from 20km away at Canyon Lookout, which is part of the Twin Falls Circuit. The lookout is wheelchair accessible, nestled among the tangle of dense subtropical rainforest.
NATURAL BRIDGE
Springbrook National Park
You’ve probably seen pictures of Natural Bridge on Instagram, but did you know this natural treasure is in our own backyard? The walk to the bridge is through a paved circuit that takes you above, below and around the beautiful spot. The bridge is an unusual geological feature created over millions of years by water tumbling through the roof of a basalt cave. It is home to an colony of glow-worms, whose lights can be seen only after sunset so the best time to visit is in the late afternoon to catch the incredible glow-worms as they light up the cave.
MOUNT COUGAL CASCADES
815 Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin Valley
The Cougal Cascades track (1.6km return) is bitumen path which follows Currumbin Creek alongside a series of rock pools and small waterfalls. Even the drive along Currumbin Creek Rd is a stunning scenic experience featuring a backdrop of rolling hills and impressive cliffs. Viewing platforms are provided for viewing the cascades and a historic 1940s sawmill is found at the end of the track. The track, which gently rises, is suitable for prams and wheelchairs — so bring the whole family along.
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