Backyard Tourist: Coomera Gorge is the Gold Coast’s answer to the Grand Canyon
FEEL like seeing something really impressive? Try visiting the Gold Coast’s answer to the Grand Canyon this weekend.
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This is the grand canyon of the Gold Coast.
Okay, the Coomera Gorge may be a mere 160m deep compared to the real Grand Canyon’s 1857m, but just go with me here.
Considering how ancient and well-worn our landscape is, this is still a pretty awesome drop — especially as you watch the Coomera Falls cascading down the cliffside.
You don’t get that at the Grand Canyon.
Just sayin’.
Binna Burra’s Coomera Circuit track, which followed the edge of the gorge, is an 18km roundtrip rainforest walk. It’s long but fairly flat, making it suitable for hikers of most ages.
This scenic circuit offers views that provide dramatic evidence of the power of erosion, which has cut through a thick resistant rhyolite lava flow.
Starting at the upper car park near the Binna Burra Mountain Lodge Cafe and Restaurant, you head off into the rainforest down the Border Track, one of Australia’s last wilderness hikes — where you can view Mount Warning and Byron Bay on a clear day.
About 1.9km after the trailhead, turn off onto the Coomera Falls Track — and then return (much later) via the Border Track.
Although you can go the opposite way, this route ensures that you won’t miss the turn-off from the Border Track onto the Coomera Falls section and end up walking off to New South Wales instead of returning home.
The circuit will see you cross over creeks by boulders, navigate ancient volcanic streams, walk along cascades, pass through thick dense rainforest and marvel at more than 15 waterfalls plunging over cliffs and down into the gorge.
As a matter of fact, this hike was rated by the Australian Geographic Outdoor magazine as the second best day walk in Australia.
Sounds pretty grand to me.
Eat and drink
The Lamington Teahouse and licensed cafe is located within the Binna Burra Lodge precinct, making it the perfect spot for a pre-walk coffee or post-hike cold beverage. There’s also a small range of groceries if you need to pack some last-minute snacks. If you’re looking for more of a meal, the Teahouse has a selection of cafe-style dishes and hearty snacks available. It wouldn’t be a teahouse without some scones, cakes, slices — and, of course, lamingtons. While you enjoy your order, savour the priceless views over the Numinbah Valley.
While you’re there … do
Rather than just making a day of your Binna Burra adventure, why not make a night of it too? The Mountain Lodge is an authentic heritage-listed accommodation house that’s been welcoming guests since the early 1930s. The Lodge not only retains its original charm and character, but its unique isolation provides the perfect escape from the stresses of every day life. Get back to basics, interact with nature and experience freedom from the rat race. (FYI that means rooms do not include televisions, telephones, clocks and radios.)
Discover
Please don’t tell anyone that the famous Lamington Blue Spiny Crayfish is actually, technically (okay, maybe not technically, technically) a yabbie. Let’s just call it the LBSC instead. So … the LBSC is pretty cool because it’s, well, blue. This colourful creature turns up vibrant blue in the Hinterland, red in Northern NSW and orange-brown on the Sunshine Coast. And nobody really knows why … even cooler. Just keep that coolness in mind when this glorified yabbie — which looks like an angry forest lobster — comes hissing and snapping down the path at unsuspecting bushwalkers.
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