Enjoy a few hours or days in outstanding parks in this in outstanding parks in this delightful corner of South delightful corner of South East Queensland. Four of the East Queensland. Four of the parks covered in this guide parks covered in this guide are part of the Gondwana are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, which World Heritage Area, which is internationally renowned is internationally renowned for its conservation values—
for its conservation values—
especially its unique especially its unique geology, subtropical and geology, subtropical and cool temperate rainforests cool temperate rainforests and rare animals.
and rare animals.
ours or days ours or days
Gold Coast
Gold Coast and and
Scenic Rim Scenic Rim
V i s i t o r g u i d e
Burleigh Head National Park David Fleay Wildlife Park Nerang National Park
Pine Ridge Conservation Park Tamborine National Park Springbrook National Park Lamington National Park Mount Barney National Park Main Range National Park Moogerah Peaks National Park Glen Rock State Forest.
Featuring Featuring
Great state. Great opportunity.
Photo: Robert Ash down, NPRSR
Welcome to the parks of the
Gold Coast and Scenic Rim
Stretching in an arc west of Brisbane and the Gold Coast lie some of our most spectacular landscapes conserved for their stunning scenery and unique wildlife. This semi-circle of mountains that stretches over 200 km from Tweed Heads to Main Range National Park is called the
‘Scenic Rim’. The Gold Coast hinterland forms the eastern edge of the Scenic Rim, while the rugged escarpments, hidden passes and spectacular peaks west of the hinterland form the western Scenic Rim.
Indigenous Australians have a long history and ongoing relationship with many areas that are now protected as State forest, conservation or national park. These areas are important connections with country—please treat these places with care and respect.
Explore this outstanding landscape of lush subtropical and temperate rainforests, open forests, montane heaths, seemingly impassable ranges, plateaus and imposing peaks by planning a holiday or weekend in this area. Much of the landscape is internationally recognised for its unique natural values as part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World
Heritage Area.
There is something for almost everyone to see and enjoy, from a 10-minute stroll followed by a family picnic, to a challenging hiking experience or photographing impressive waterfalls tumbling over cliff-lined escarpments.
Discover what this area has to offer.
There are many walking tracks that lead through an ancient volcanic landscape—
one that is still being eroded by rushing streams, plummeting waterfalls and dramatic landslides. The rugged mountainous Scenic Rim has witnessed tremendous changes over many millennia including dramatic volcanic activity of the Main Range, Focal Peak and Tweed volcanoes—active between 25 to 22 million years ago.
Mount Barney (1351 m) is South East Queensland’s second highest mountain, and stands close to the centre of the extinct Focal Peak Volcano. Lamington and Springbrook are a part of the eroded
Photo: Robert Ashdown, NPRSR
slopes of the Tweed Volcano and Main Range National Park is on the western fl anks of this ancient volcano.
The rich biological diversity of wildlife species and plant communities—some rare and endangered—are protected within national and conservation parks and State forests that cover approximately 78 000 ha. Four of these national parks are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.
Reach back to our Gondwana heritage by walking beneath some ancient giants such as Antarctic beech and be enchanted by the loud ringing call of the Albert’s lyrebird. More of our Gondwanan wildlife can be found in Lamington, Springbrook, Mount Barney and Main Range national parks.
South Pacific Ocean
Gold Coast Toowoomba
Warwick
Kilarney
Rathdowney
Locality map
New South Wales
1 1
13 54
42
15
Tamborine Ipswich
Laidley
Beenleigh Brisbane
Beaudesert
Canungra Nerang
Murwillumbah Boonah
Aratula Gatton
Allora
20 40 km
Scale
2 0
Gondwana Rainforests ofAustralia World Heritage Area Park offi ce Toilets Information Drinking water Water—treat before drinking Picnic table and shelter Barbecue—wood/gas/electric/coin Short or half-day walks Full-day walks Lookout—platform Lookout—natural Wheelchair assisted access Horseriding Cycling Fishing Cafe Showers Camping
Gold Coast parks Burleigh Heads National Park P 5
David Fleay Wildlife Park P 6
Nerang National Park and
State Forest P 7
Pine Ridge Conservation Park P 7
Tamborine National Park P 8
Scenic Rim parks Springbrook National Park P 12
Lamington National Park P 13
Mount Barney National Park P 14
Main Range National Park P 15
Moogerah Peaks National Park P 16
Glen Rock State Forest P 17
Gold Coast Hinterland
Great Walk P 11
Planning guide for the Gold Coast and Scenic
Rim parks
To make planning a trip in this area easier, please use the trip planner below to match expectations with the park’s facilities and opportunities.
Matching walking tracks with walking experience
Class 1 track
• Wheelchair access.
Class 2 track
• Easy level track, suitable for all fi tness levels.
Class 3 track
• Gentle sloping, well-defi ned track with slight inclines or few steps.
• Caution needed on loose gravel and at exposed, natural lookouts and cliff edges.
• Reasonable level of fi tness required and ankle supporting footwear recommended.
Class 4 track
• Distinct tracks; usually with steep exposed inclines or many steps.
• Caution needed on loose gravel surfaces, creek crossings, cliff edges and natural lookouts.
• Moderate fi tness level and ankle- supporting footwear strongly recommended.
Class 5 track
• Trails are not constructed or maintained.
This indicates a lookout with a built platform and handrail.
This indicates a lookout with no built structures or handrails. Please keep away from the edge and supervise children at all times. Take care when using binoculars or cameras at these sites.
Horse riding
Horse riding is permitted on specifi c trails in Tamborine National Park—Corbould, Cedar Creek and Knoll sections, Nerang State Forest, Numinbah and Austinville sections of Springbrook National Park and Glen Rock State Forest. For more information about trails and horse riding safety, visit <www.nprsr.qld.gov.au>.
Inset photos: Adam C reed, EHP
Photo: Robert Ashdown, NPRSR
The Main Range rises majestically
from the surrounding landscape 3
Legend
National park State forest Conservation park Timber reserve David Fleay Wildlife Park Water Waterway
Highway
Major sealed road Railway
State border Town
World Heritage Information Park office
Toilets
Wheelchair access Walking track Hiking Lookout
Constructed lookout Picnic table Sheltered picnic table
Barbecue—wood Babecue—gas Barbecue—
electric/coin Camping Car camping Drinking water Shower Horse riding
Bike riding Fishing Cafe Water—
treat before drinking North Tamborine
Hinze Dam
Robina Station Canungra
Canungra Conservation Park
Rosins Lookout Conservation Park Tamborine
Wickham National Park Wickham
Timber Reserve
Plunkett Conservation Park
Beenleigh
Tamborine National
Park
Cedar Creek section
Joalah section Guanaba
section
Lepidozamia Grove section Witches Falls
section Knoll
section MacDonald
section Pine Ridge
Conservation Park Southern Moreton
Bay Islands National Park North Stradbroke Island
South Stradbroke Island Conservation Park
Burleigh Head National Park Burleigh Knoll Conservation Park Springbrook
National Park
David Fleay Wildlife Park
Coolangatta Gold Coast
Nerang National
Park
Nerang Conservation
Park
Nerang Nerang
State Forest Coomera
Oxenford
Mudgeeraba
To Lamington National Park
To Lamington
National Park To Mount
Cougal section To
Murwillumbah
To Springbrook National Park To Brisbane
To Brisbane
Pac ific M
oto rway
Pacific H ighw
ay Beaudesert–
Nerang Road
Lati mers George Road
Be
ec hmon
t Rdoa
Pin
e C
re ek R
oad Beechmont Road
Southport–
Nerang Road
Ad vanceto
w n–
Neran g–Broad
bea ch Rd
Burleigh Conn R d
Nerang–Murwillubamh Road
Gold Coast–Springbrook Road
Tallebu dgera Creek Road
rruB
a R oa
d
Bin
na Tamborine M
dao Rinounta
Lamington National Park Road
Beaudesert–Nerang Roa d
Bea ud
eser t –Nerang Ro ad Oxenford–
G old Coas t Roa
d
uaeB
desert–oa RBhdeigenle
aW
terford–Tamb
orine Road
Mun doolum
Co
nnectio
Rn
ao
d
Tamborine–O
xen ford Road
Gold Coast H igh
way
So uthop
u B rt–
rleig
h Rd
Beechmont
Crossing Rd
G ooding Drive Rd M
udg e eraba
Road
Tallebudgera Conn Rd Biddaddaba
Road
Currumbin Creek Road Henri Robert Dr
8 km Scale
0
e riding hing
e ter—
at before nking
Gold Coast and Tamborine
Parks of the
Photo: Tourism Queensland
Photo: Tourism Qudenensla 4
Planning a day out in the park and not looking to do any long walks? There are plenty of park destinations on the Gold Coast and hinterland that offer just that.
Drop in to
Burleigh Head
Burleigh Head National Park is the prominent forested headland midway along the Gold Coast beach strip. Packed into this 27.6 ha park is a range of habitats including rainforest, eucalypt forest, pandanus groves, tussock grassland, coastal heath and mangroves.
The headland is an important refuge and feeding area for many animals including migratory birds. During winter and spring, humpback whales pass the headland during their annual migration along the coast.
Getting there
Travelling from Brisbane on the Pacifi c Motorway, take exit 89 and drive into Burleigh Heads. Turn right onto the Gold Coast Highway.
To reach the northern entrance of the park, turn off the Gold Coast Highway into Goodwin Terrace. The car park is at the end of Goodwin Terrace.
To reach the southern entrance at Tallebudgera Creek, turn off the Gold Coast Highway at the traffi c lights just before the bridge.
Access to Echo Beach is by designated stairways only.
Wheelchair accessibility
There is a wheelchair ramp to the fi shing platform on Tallebudgera Creek, at the southern entrance to the park. The tracks within the park are not wheelchair accessible. Ocean View track is wheelchair assisted only—other tracks are not compatible for wheelchairs and prams.
Explore on foot
Explore the park’s features by walking along one of two tracks that wind through the headland; the Ocean View track (1.2 km one way, 30 mins) and Rainforest circuit (2.3 km return, 45 mins). Take a walk around the rocky foreshore and return via a rainforest-covered headland past Tumgun lookout. Relax by the creek at Echo Beach and admire the tumbled masses of six-sided basalt columns on the headland.
Learn about the headland from signs located along the track.
View from Tumgum lookout towards Coolangatta View of Burleigh Head National Park
Photo: Tourism QueenslandPhoto: NPRSR
Photo: NPRSR The tumble of basalt columns
Burleigh headland
Photo: NPRSR
Photo: Darren Jew, Tourism Queensland
5
Take the family to David Fleay Wildlife Park
The Gold Coast’s green credentials are enhanced by West Burleigh’s David Fleay Wildlife Park—a wildlife park with a wonderful collection of Queensland’s rare and threatened species. Nestled in the secluded bushland and mangrove fringes of Tallebudgera Creek Conservation Park, the wildlife park carries the name of its famous Australian founder—zoologist Dr David Fleay.
Animals are displayed in three different habitats; rainforest, wetland and open eucalypt forest. The park also
includes a nocturnal house that features the elusive platypus, the bilby, mahogany gliders and numerous other creatures.
The park is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily, except for Christmas Day and ANZAC morning—opening at 1 pm. Contact 13 QGOV (13 74 68) for admission costs and further information.
Getting there
Take the Burleigh Heads turn-off (exit 89) from the Pacifi c Motorway and follow the signs along West Burleigh Road, West Burleigh to the park entrance.
What’s on in the park?
Daily wildlife presentations provide an ideal way to learn about Queensland’s unique native mammals, birds and reptiles.
See some of our most fascinating creatures such as the endangered cassowary from the north Queensland rainforest, freshwater and estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles, Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroos, mahogany and yellow- bellied gliders, wedge-tail eagles and a variety of snakes.
Some of our most unusual native animals are located in the nocturnal house.
Featuring the woma python, Julia Creek dunnart and the endangered greater bilby of the inland deserts, this is where the platypuses are on display feeding on
their diet of crayfi sh and worms.
Explore the park alone or join one of the special activities or guided walks with
knowledgeable rangers and volunteers.
Spotlighting tours can also be booked during school holidays as
part of the ‘Connect with Nature’ program, visit
<www.nprsr.qld.gov.au>.
David Fleay Wildlife Park also features a range of special environmental education programs for schools, tailored to provide a wonderful experiential classroom
for kids from K-12.
Explore further on foot
Located beside the wildlife park is the Tallebudgera Creek Conservation Park. This area is best explored via the mangrove boardwalk (400 m one-way), which is wheelchair accessible.
The boardwalk weaves through the fringe-dwelling plants that live between land and water.
The platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus is on display in the nocturnal house where it feeds on a diet of crayfi sh and worms.
These endangered Proserpine rock-wallaby Petrogale persephone, make their home amongst the rocky mounds that refl ect their natural habitat at David Fleay Wildlife Park.
Photos: Robert Ashdown, NPRSR
Photo: NPRSR
Connect with Nature
A wide range of ranger-guided activities are offered in various parks throughout Brisbane, the Gold Coast and hinterland, and western Scenic Rim. Connect with Nature offers school holiday activities for adults, children and families as well as curriculum- based school educational activities for primary and secondary years. For more information on Connect with Nature, visit <www.nprsr.qld.gov.au> or phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
Photo: Briony Masters, EHP
6
Photo: Adam C
reed, EHP
Photo: Monique Shepherd, NPRSR
Walk in Nerang National Park
This largely undeveloped sanctuary in the Gold Coast hinterland forms a green backdrop to the township of Nerang.
Located 12 km from Surfers Paradise on Nerang’s north-west outskirts, this park is a popular bush retreat for bushwalkers.
There are no picnic or day-use areas in this park.
Getting there
Nerang National Park and adjoining Nerang State Forest are on Nerang’s north-west outskirts, 12 km from Surfers Paradise and 70 km south of Brisbane. Both park and State forest can be accessed from Matilda or Coolibah roads off the Pacifi c Motorway, Nerang township or Beaudesert–Nerang Road.
Explore on foot, horse or bicycle
A network of multi-use trails and tracks are shared by cyclists, walkers and horse riders. Walkers must give way to horse riders when using these tracks. Horses may be ridden on all multiple-use trails unless otherwise signed.
Mountain bike riders have access to all multiple-use trails and two designated mountain bike trails. Horse riders and bushwalkers are not permitted on these designated trails.
Follow the give-way code when on multi-use recreation trails.
For details on multiple-use trails within this park, please visit
<www.nprsr.qld.gov.au>.
Picnic at a coastal
conservation park
Some conservation parks, located in the Gold Coast area, have visitor access and facilities. Camping is available South Stradbroke Island Conservation Park, which is managed by Gold Coast City Council. For further details, please contact the council on 1300 MYGCCC (1300 694 222) or visit <www.goldcoast.
qld.gov.au>.
Pine Ridge Conservation Park
Culturally important to the Kombumerri–
Ngarangwal people, the park protects one of the last wallum remnants on the
Gold Coast, featuring banskia woodland, heath and paperbark swamp forests.
Escape the bustling suburbs in this quiet retreat. Take a stroll or cycle around the bitumen boundary track of the park or bring binoculars and go birdwatching on the sandy, centre track that passes through the paperbark swamp forest.
Enjoy the wildfl owers late winter and spring.
Picnic tables are provided in the picnic area in the north-west section of the park.
Getting there
Pine Ridge Conservation Park is in Runaway Bay, 10 km north of the Gold Coast city centre. Access to the car park and day-use area is via Oxley Drive off the Gold Coast Highway. Wheelchair accessibility is limited to the sealed bitumen bike track along the northern boundary (Columbus Drive) and eastern extent (Jacaranda Avenue).
Photo: NPRSR
hP
oto: NP
RS R
Ph oto
: NPRSR Forest kingfi sher
Todiramphus macleayii
Hairpin banksia Banksia spinulosa var. collina
7
Short, easy walks
Cedar Creek Falls track
500 m return to lookout
15 mins Cedar Creek
Falls via rock pools
900 m 30 mins
Joalah access track
400 m
return 10 mins MacDonald
rainforest circuit
1.4 km
return 30 mins
Longer or more diffi cult walks
Palm Grove circuit
2.6 km circuit 1 hr Jenyns circuit 4.5 km
circuit 1.5 hrs Curtis Falls
track
1.1 km
return 30 mins Lower creek
circuit
2 km return 1 hr Sandy Creek
circuit
2.6 km circuit 1 hr Witches Falls
circuit
3.1 km return 1 hr Witches Falls
circuit
3.1 km return 1 hr
Photo: Mark Simmons, NPRSR
Touring around Tamborine
National Park
Sitting on the edge of an escarpment that borders the Gold Coast, Tamborine National Park protects precious areas of rainforest and eucalypt forest, water catchments and wildlife habitat. It is a popular spot for visitors seeking a bush picnic or short bushwalk within an hour’s drive of the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
The park’s beginnings arose out of the early settlers’ foresight—Witches Falls was Queensland’s fi rst national park, declared in 1908.
Approximately 2150 ha of the Tamborine plateau and surrounding foothills are protected by 14 sections of national park.
The escarpment contains 85 per cent of all native animal species and 65 per cent of all native plant species found in the Gold Coast area.
Getting there
Tamborine Mountain is about 80 km south of Brisbane via Beenleigh and Tamborine Village or via the Pacifi c Highway and Oxenford–Tamborine Road.
Travelling north from the Gold Coast, Tamborine Mountain is 36 km from Southport via the Pacifi c Highway and Oxenford–Tamborine Road or 28 km from Nerang via Nerang–Beaudesert Road. From Canungra, take Tamborine Mountain Road for 8 km.
Please note the steep, narrow roads from Nerang and Canungra are unsuitable for buses, trailers, caravans and trucks.
There is no access for large buses and motorhomes at Cedar Creek and this section of the park has an entry gate that is locked each evening.
Explore on foot
The park boasts 10 graded walking tracks—most are short and take only a few hours to walk. Some tracks are suitable for assisted wheelchair access.
Horses may be ridden on specifi ed forest trails in the Corbould, Cedar Creek and Knoll sections only. For track details and where to horse ride, refer to the Tamborine National Park Guide or
<www.nprsr.qld.gov.au>.
For more information about horse riding in Queensland’s protected areas, visit
<www.nprsr.qld.gov.au>.
Photo: NPRSR
Photo: NPRSR Photo: courtesy of Glen Threlfo
Curtis Falls Richmond birdwing butterfl
y
Rainforest palm tree
Strangler fi g Rufous scrub-bird
Photo: Queensland Museum
8
Warwick
Tweed Heads
Byron Bay
Grafton Main Range
Group
Focal Peak Group
Iluka Group QLD
NSW
Border Group
Gibraltar Range Group
New England
Group Hastings–Macleay
Group
Barrington Group
South Pacific Ocean Armidale
Glen Innes
Port Macquarie Coffs Habour
60 km Scale
0
Welcome to the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area
While visiting the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim, take the opportunity to explore the Gondwana
Rainforests of Australia parks of Springbrook, Lamington, Mount Barney and Main Range.
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area covers some 366 507 ha across 40 separate reserves in South East Queensland and north-east New South Wales.
The northernmost reserve is Main Range National Park and the most southern is Barrington Tops National Park, north of Newcastle in New South Wales.
The New South Wales and Queensland governments work together to protect this property in cooperation with the Australian Government.
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area meets three of the four natural criteria for listing:
• its features represent major stages of the Earth’s evolutionary history
• it contains outstanding examples of ongoing ecological and biological processes; and
• it contains the most important and signifi cant natural habitats for conserving extraordinary biological diversity.
This World Heritage Area contain a wealth of biological diversity. Rainforests on both sides of the border contain more frog, snake, bird and marsupial species than anywhere else in Australia.
The World Heritage Area protect many rare and threatened plants and animals—
many are descendants from ancient life forms. Birds such as the vulnerable plumed frogmouth, rufous scrub-bird and the endangered eastern bristlebird fi nd refuge in the rainforests or at their fringes, while the endangered Fleay’s barred-frog breeds in the rainforest streams.
The rainforests of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area include a remarkable diversity of rainforests that are broadly divided into warm temperate, cool temperate, subtropical and dry rainforests.
This property contains the world’s most extensive subtropical rainforest and nearly all of the world’s Antarctic beech cool temperate rainforest.
Choose an activity to explore these remarkable rainforests—plan a short or long walk, relax while picnicking or
birdwatching, or come equipped for photography or sketching—and discover just how unique they are.
The world’s heritage is what we inherit from the past, live with today
and pass on to future generations.
Amazing diver sity—
of all our forests, rainforests cont ain
the greatest diversity of plant s
and animals.
Amazing diversity—
of all our forests, rainforests cont ain
the greatest diversity of plant s
and animals.
Photo: Adam Creed, EHP
The vulnerable spotted-tailed quoll
King fern, Todea barbara Plate fungi
Photo: Robert Ashdown, NPRSR
Photo: NPRSR
Photo: Quee nsland M
useum
9
Cunningham Cunningham
Highw ay Highw
ay
Highw ay Highw Mt Lindesa ay
y Mt Lindesa
y Left Hand
Branch Road
Head Gate Road
Fletcher Road
Newman
Road Cotswold Road Lake
Moogerah Road
Ganthorpe Rd
Waterfall Creek Road
Goomburra section
NEW SOUTH WALES QUEENSLAND
To Ipswich To Ipswich
To Gatton
To Gatton
To Warwick
To Urbenville To Kyogle
To Stanthorpe Eas
t Ha ldon R
oad
Inverramsay Road
Swanfels Road
Yanga n
ernilaK
y Road
B orde r Rd
Emu Creek Road
arC ys ne Cr eek R
d
Gambubal Road
White Swam p Road Condamine Road
Head Road
Upper Logan Road
Lake
M oog
era h Road
Cro
ftby
–
Burnett Creek Road
Runnin g C ree k
Rd Dw
ery
Ridges Rd
nahooB
-R athdow
ndaoey R
Spring C r eek Road Warw
ick–Kilarney Rd
Tunsta ll Rd
Boonah–Fassifern R oad
Ipsw ich-B
oonah R oad
Boonah-Beaudesert Road
Munbilla–Peaking
Crossing Rd
Mount Alford Road
Coope
rs G
ully R oad
10 km Scale
0
Lake Moogerah Road
Mount French Road Charlwood
Road
Lake Moogerah
Wyaralong Dam
15
15
13
13
Lake 13
Maroon Main Range
National Park
Mount Barney National Park
Moogerah Peaks National Park Mount Beau Brummell
Conservation Park
Glen Rock State Forest
Spicers Gap Road Conservation Park
Kalbar
Boonah
Rathdowney Kooralbyn Munbilla
Milbong–
Munbilla Road
Emu Vale
Killarney Tannymorel
Warril View
Mount Alford
Legume Gladfield
Queen Mary Falls
Scenic Rim Regional Council Mount May Reserve
Scenic Rim Regional Council Yellow Pinch Reserve
LES
To Stanthororpeor
d
13 Legume
Photos: Robert Ashdown, NPRSR Photos: Offi ce of Environment and Heritage NSW
10
Innisplain Road
Mundoolum Connection Road
Advancetown–
Mudgeeraba Road Beechmont
Road Beaudesert–
Nerang Road
Widgee Creek Road
South Pacific Ocean North Tamborine
Canungra
Beechmont Canungra Conservation Park
Rosins Lookout Conservation Park
Tamborine
Beaudesert
Beenleigh North Stradbroke Island
Springbrook National Park Lamington
National Park Green Mountains
section (O'Reilly)
Binna Burra
Numinbah section
Coolangatta Gold Coast
Nerang Conservation
Park
Nerang Jimboomba
Coomera Oxenford
Mudgeeraba
To Murwillumbah
To Murwillumbah To Murwillumbah
To Brisbane To Brisbane
Pac ific H
igh way
Pacific H ighway
Go ld C
oa st H
ighw ay
Mousandey Ht Linighway Ch
ristm as
Cre ek R
oad
Kerry
Ro
ad
Jimbo omb
a– Mund
oo lum
Road at W
-Tardorfe
mborine Road
Beaudesert-Nerang Rd Beaudese
rt–Beenleigh Ro ad
Lnamtoing
N
antioa
l P ark R
oad
Binna B o Rurra
ad
Beechmont Road
Gold Coast-Springbrook Road
Tallebudgera Creek Road
Currumbin Creek Road
illrwu-MgnraeN
mu
ab
h Road
Hinze Dam
13
1
1
Mount Chinghee National Park Innisplain
Kerry
Nerang Neranng Coomera
Oxenfordford Pac
ificH igh
way
Go ldC
oaa sttHHHHH
iiiiiggggghhh 1
To Beaudesert
10 km Scale
0
Burleigh Heads
Springbrook National
Park Mudgeeraba
Lamington National Park
Green Mountains (O’Reilly)
Binna Burra Beechmont
Canungra
Numinbah Nature Reserve
Limpinwood Nature Reserve
Up for a Great!Walk
Spectacular views, ancient Antarctic beech forest, thundering waterfalls and amazing geological formations are a few of the highlights of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk. The 54 km
track links Lamington and Springbrook national parks via the Numinbah Valley with major sections passing through the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.
The walk follows an ancient volcanic rim, passes through Gondwanan rainforests and acknowledges the cultural signifi cance of the area. It is recommended walkers take three days to complete. For current information, to book camp sites and purchase a topographic map, visit
<www.nprsr.qld.gov.au>.
Photos: Robert Ashdown, NPRSR
11
Natural Bridge
Discover
Springbrook by day or night
Numinbah and Austinville sections Dominating the Gold Coast’s western skyline, Springbrook’s cool forests and mountain streams offer visitors views of impressive World Heritage-listed landscapes and walks among subtropical and temperate rainforests, open eucalypt forest and montane heath. Spectacular waterfalls, cascades and tumbling creeks are dominant features. Springbrook’s 6197 ha has four sections—the plateau, Mount Cougal to the east and Natural Bridge and Numinbah to the west.
The plateau has many lookouts with spectacular views while Mount Cougal offers an insight into the area’s logging history. Visit Natural Bridge by day, to see a unique waterfall, or by night, to discover the park’s amazing glow-worm colony. For more information about Springbrook National Park, visit the park’s information centre located on Old School Road, off Springbrook Road.
Getting there
From the Pacifi c Motorway, Springbrook plateau is 24 km from Mudgeeraba or 36 km from Nerang. Exit the Pacifi c Motorway at Mudgeeraba (exit 79 from the north, exit 80 from the south) and follow the Gold Coast–Springbrook Road.
Alternatively, exit the Pacifi c Motorway at Nerang (exit 69) and follow the Nerang–
Murwillumbah Road for 23 km then take the Springbrook turn-off at Pine Creek Road. Both bitumen roads are steep and narrow.
Reach Mount Cougal by exiting the Gold Coast Highway (exit 93) at Currumbin and follow Currumbin Creek Road 21 km to its end.
Natural Bridge can be reached by exiting the Pacifi c Motorway at Nerang (exit 69) and driving 38 km along Nerang–
Murwillumbah Road.
Numinbah section, which is 13 km north of Natural Bridge section, is 25 km from Nerang on Nerang–Murwillumbah Road.
Tracks from
Springbrook plateau
Wunburra lookout
30 m
return 5 mins Canyon lookou 30 m
return 2 mins Goomoolahra
Falls lookout track
200 m
return 5 mins Best of All
lookout
700 m return
30 mins Purling Brook
Falls circuit
4 km
return 2 hrs Twin Falls
circuit
4 km
return 2 hrs Warrie circuit 17 km
return 5–6 hrs
Natural Bridge walk
Natural Bridge circuit
1 km return 1 hr
Mount Cougal walk
Cascades track 1.6 km return 1 hr
Discover on foot
Springbrook National Park offers a wide range of walking opportunities ranging from a 30 m stroll to a 17 km hike. Many tracks lead to lookouts and spectacular waterfalls. Numinbah section has no designated walking tracks except for the Great Walk. Numinbah Forest Reserve has horse trails and walkers must give way to horse riders when using these tracks.
For track details refer to the Springbrook National Park Guide or <www.nprsr.qld.gov.au>.
Photos: NPRSR Purling Brook Falls
Antarctic beech Nothofagus moorei Goomoolahra Falls
Photo: Tourism Queensland
Photo: Adam C reed, EHP
Photo: T
ourism
Queen
sland Ph
oto : Adam
Cre ed, EHP 12
Easy or short walks Green Mountains section
Rainforest return
1.4 km
return 30 mins Python Rock
track
3.1 km return 1 hr Morans Falls
track
4.4 km return 1.5 hr
Easy or short walks Binna Burra section
Caves circuit 5 km
return 1.5 hrs Bellbird
lookout
2 km return 1 hr Rainforest
circuit
1.2 km
return 30 mins Tullawallal
circuit
5 km
return 1.5 hrs
y Binna
Caves c Bellbird lookou Rainfor circuit Tullawa circuit
Photo: R
ober
t Ashdown, NPRSR
Explore
Lamington at leisure
Lamington National Park is one of Queensland’s best known and most popular protected areas.
It is internationally renowned for its ecological importance as a World Heritage area and its natural beauty.
Declared in 1915, Lamington National Park—covering 20 590 ha—boasts extensive walking tracks along the McPherson Range allowing visitors to explore the area’s forests, creeks and waterfalls. Lookouts afford views over the Gold Coast, towards the western Scenic Rim and northern New South Wales. Lamington’s natural diversity can be discovered on the many walking tracks. See subtropical rainforest, ancient Antarctic beech trees, hoop pines, eucalypt forest and montane heath, and if fortunate, some of the area’s elusive wildlife.
Getting there
Lamington National Park is made up of two sections—Green Mountains and Binna Burra. Green Mountains section is located on the western side of the Lamington Plateau in an area called ‘O’Reilly’.
Green Mountains section
From Broadbeach, drive 40 km to Canungra via Nerang. From the north, take Pacifi c Motorway exit 34 to Beenleigh, route 92 to Tamborine, and route 90 to Canungra. The 36 km winding and often narrow bitumen road from Canungra requires care and takes at least 50 min. This road is unsuitable for caravans.
Binna Burra section
Allow 70 mins from Broadbeach. Drive 38 km to Beechmont via Nerang. From the north, take Pacifi c Motorway exit 69 and follow the signs west to Lamington National Park, Binna Burra. The fi nal section of the 10 km drive is very narrow.
There are many commercial tour operators that conduct tours to Lamington National Park. There is no public transport to the park.
Chalan Falls
Noisy pitta Pitta versicolor Bushrangers Cave
Natural lookouts are a feature of this park—take care
Photo: Robert Ashdown, NPRSR
Just for a picnic…
Not all visitors to Lamington wish to walk great distances but prefer to birdwatch or enjoy just being on a plateau surrounded by rainforest. Both sections of the park provide facilities. The main picnic area at Green Mountains has toilets, electric barbecues and picnic tables. Be prepared for crowds on weekends and in holiday seasons—bring seating and a fuel stove.
A small picnic area with toilets is next to the park’s information centre at Binna Burra. Private kiosk and café are located at both sections.
Explore on foot
Two park information centres provide detailed walking track and park information. Lamington National Park offers a wide range of walking opportunities ranging from easy strolls to challenging full-day hikes. A few of the half-day walks are listed below. For track details refer to the Lamington National Park Guide or <www.nprsr.qld.gov.au>.
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The many peaks of Mount Barney National Park
Mounts Barney, Maroon, May and Lindesay that rise majestically above the surrounding grazing and farmlands, make up Mount Barney National Park on the Queensland−New South Wales border.
Mount Barney National Park is one of the largest areas of undisturbed natural vegetation remaining in South East Queensland. It is signifi cant for nature conservation with many rare and restricted plant species, especially on the higher peaks, and is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.
The 17 654 ha park has extremely varied vegetation with open forests around the foothills, subtropical rainforest above 600 m, montane heath shrublands high up, cool temperature rainforest on the Mount Ballow summit (1310 m) and mallee eucalypt shrublands on Mount Maroon (965 m).
Getting there
Mount Barney can be accessed from Beaudesert, Boonah or Woodenbong.
From Beaudesert, follow the Mt Lindesay Highway to Rathdowney. Turn right onto Boonah–Rathdowney Road 1 km from Rathdowney and travel 8 km to the Barney View–Upper Logan Road turnoff.
After turning left, travel a further 12 km and follow the signs to either Lower Portals or Yellow Pinch.
From Boonah, follow Boonah−
Rathdowney Road south for 39 km.
Turn right on to Barney View–Upper
Logan Road,
travel a further 12 km and follow the signs to
either Lower Portals or Yellow Pinch.
From Woodenbong, take the Mt Lindesay Highway north for 31 km. Turn left into Barney View–Upper Logan Road and follow the signs to either Lower Portals or Yellow Pinch.
Explore on foot
Scenic beauty and rugged country make Mount Barney National Park popular with bushwalkers. The Lower Portals and Yellow Pinch areas are the only section of the park that has maintained tracks and basic facilities. These tracks are located around the base of the mountain.
To access the Mount Barney peaks (West Peak and North Peak) a series of steep unformed trails (Class 5 track), some involving rockclimbing, are best navigated with map and compass.
The climb to Mount Barney summit is only suitable for experienced, fi t and well prepared walkers and takes a minimum of eight hours to return.
All other peaks within the park are accessed by unmarked trails and have no facilities. These trails are suitable only for the self-reliant and reasonably fi t visitor with sound bush skills.
Visitors intending to walk these tracks or climb the peaks of the park, must ensure they have topographic maps for the area, a copy of the Mount Barney National Park Guide or have visited
<www.nprsr.qld.gov.au>.
Walking around Mount Barney
Lower Portals track
7.4 km return 3 hrs Cronan Creek
track
13 km return 5 hrs South Ridge
track
8−10 hrs return
Mount Maroon summit
Cotswold track 6 hrs return
Photo: Tourism Queensland
Photo: Peter Lehmann, NPRSR
There is more to Mount Barney than meets the eye!
Rocky pavement of Mount Barney Mount Maroon cliff face
Pultenaea whiteana
Photo: Glenn Leiper
Photo: NPRSR
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Brush box
Lophostemon confertus
Queen Mary Falls walks
Cliff circuit 400 m
return 20 mins Queen Mary
Falls circuit
2 km
return 40 mins
Short walks in Goomburra
Sylvesters lookout
940 m
return 30 mins Mount Castle
lookout
960 m
return 30 mins Dalrymple
circuit
1.2 km
return 30 mins
Short walks around Spicers Gap
Pioneer Graves track
260 m
return 15 mins Moss’s well
track
120 m
return 10 mins Governors
Chair lookout
300 m
return 15 mins
One short walk at Cunninghams Gap
Rainforest circuit
1.6 km
return 25 mins
The Steamers
Main Range … the Gaps,
Goomburra and Queen Mary Falls
Cunninghams Gap and Spicers Gap are the favourite stopping places for visitors to the top of the range in Main Range National Park, which is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.
These ‘gaps’ are in the middle of the 29 730 ha, 60 km long park that extends along the Mistake and Little Liverpool ranges and the Great Dividing Range south to Wilsons Peak on the interstate border and west to Queen Mary Falls.
Goomburra—a 3500 ha section of Main Range National Park—nestled in the western foothills of the Great Dividing Range is part of an extensive area of diverse forests ranging from dry open forest to lush subtropical rainforest.
Queen Mary Falls is a small scenic western outlier of Main Range National Park that has long been a popular day- visit destination for its interesting forest and wildlife. Where Spring Creek fl ows over a basalt ledge, it forms a 40 m perennial waterfall.
Getting there
Cunninghams Gap lies between the landmark peaks of Mount Cordeaux in the north and the twin-peaked Mount Mitchell in the south. This is 116 km south-west of Brisbane, 21 km from Aratula, or 50 km north-east of Warwick.
Conventional vehicle access to Spicers Gap is from the east. Turn south off the Cunningham Highway into Lake Moogerah Road 5 km west of Aratula or 15 km east of Cunninghams Gap.
Travel a further 6 km and turn right into Spicers Gap Road—a bitumen then gravel road that ends at Governors Chair car park. This road is steep in places and traffi cable in good weather but not suitable for campervans or caravans.
Goomburra can be reached from either the New England highway 3 km south of Allora or from the Cunningham Highway 25 km west of Cunninghams Gap. Travel time to the camping area is approximately 25 mins from either highway.
The last 6 km of road to the park is unsealed and may be closed by fl ooded creeks after periods of heavy rain.
In good weather this road is traffi cable by conventional vehicles and suitable for campervans or caravans.
Queen Mary Falls is 11 km from Killarney and 64 km south-west of Boonah on Killarney–Boonah Road. The scenic road from the east is steep and should be travelled with care. It is not suitable for caravans.
Explore on foot
Choose from 22 walking tracks ranging from short, easy strolls to long, physically demanding hikes. A few of the easier, short walks are listed below. Queen Mary Falls section is an ideal location for a relaxing day out with the family.
For track details refer to the Main Range National Park Guide or
<www.nprsr.qld.gov.au>.
Photo: Ben Blackwell, NPRSR
Photo: NPRSR
Photo:
Harry Hines, NPRSR
Red-and-yellow mountainfrog Kyarranus kundagungan
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