Springbrook National Park, Queensland

The Gold Coast is awash with stunning hinterland and plenty of landscapes to explore. Springbrook National Park is a magical oasis bursting with colour.

Springbrook National Park

Bright green floods the area, with red, blue, and purple flowers blossoming within. Stretching 6,197-hectares within the Gold Coast Hinterland, you can discover a range of unique scenery and wildlife encounters. Wander through twisting trails that take you past rare plants, ancient hideaways, and cascading waterfalls.

At the heart of the park, you can stand atop an ancient volcano, soaking up the incredible views of the scenery surrounding you. Set just 45 minutes from the pristine beaches of the coast, this park gives you an insight into a wilder and greener side of Australia. Admire whimsical views across ancient landscapes, stand beneath magical waterfalls, and watch over cool rock creeks that cascade into refreshing swimming holes.

Beneath the lush canopy of the park, you’ll be ushered into a world of age-old magic, where rare birds can be spotted, and glow-in-the-dark mushrooms light your way. Elsewhere, thick vines tangle around ancient trees, while quirky rock formations are scattered through fern groves filled with native wildlife.

What’s So Special About Springbrook National Park?

Springbrook has a bit of everything within its confines. Expect to explore cool forests, mountain views, and subtropical rainforests, all of which are punctuated with mesmerising waterfalls and centuries-old creeks. There are four main parts to the park: Mount Cougal, where you can learn about the region’s rich logging history, Natural Bridge, home to unique waterfalls and glow worms, Numinbah, and Springbrook Plateau, which boasts several fantastic lookouts. It’s also considered to be such a significant Australian treasure that it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Things to do & see in Springbrook National Park

While at the Springbrook National Park, there is plenty for you to see and do regardless of what kind of adventure you’re looking for.

  • The Trails of Springbrook National Park

    Walking Trail, Springbrook National Park

    The walks range in effort, starting from short walks easy for any kind of traveller, to long day hikes only fit for professionals. These walks have incredible things to see along the way, including waterfalls, lookout points, natural constructions, and native flora and fauna.

    You can wander along weaving trails that take you past lush rainforests and give you a chance to spot some of the native wildlife that calls it home. There are also plenty of picnic areas, where you can kick back and relax with a bite to eat against a stunning backdrop of ancient landscapes and unique natural offerings.

    Noteworthy spots include the Purling Brook Falls, a spectacular cascading waterfall that thunders over the cliff tops. Another sight worth a visit is the ancient formation of the Natural Bridge, a cave structure that has been moulded by thousands of years of cascading water.

    And for animal lovers, there are numerous encounters to be had, whether that’s with the colourful selection of bird life, spotting the native insects, or horse riding through the magical landscape to explore it from a different perspective.

    You can also discover the amazing Australian sky at the Springbrook Research Observatory and learn more about the major constellations.

What to bring if you plan on hiking

An experienced hiker knows that it’s always good to be prepared as being out during the day and night in an environment as large as Springbrook can turn quickly. In this case, it’s always a good idea to bring food and plenty of drinking water with you. Make sure you’re wearing sensible footwear, and if you plan on doing afternoon or night hikes, a torch will come in handy. During the winter months, some sections of the Springbrook National Park can experience high levels of rainfall so bring wet weather gear with you and be prepared as the temperature is some degrees cooler as a result of it being on a plateau.

How to get to Springbrook National Park

  • Car

    Springbrook is easy to get to by car, being only about a 45-minute drive from the Gold Coast, and a couple of hours from Brisbane. Make sure you are confident behind the wheel, however, as the roads leading to the national park are quite windy. If you’d rather skip the bendy roads, it will add about 20 minutes to your trip. Parking is free throughout Springbrook, such as Tallanbana picnic area or at the Canyon Lookout. No petrol shops are located near the National Park, so we suggest filling up at the start of your journey.

  • Public Transport

    If you are interested in a cheaper mode of transportation, look out for the public bus or train available. There are multiple bus routes and train lines, depending on where you are starting from. If you’re a bit confused as to which line suits you, download Moovit, the transportation app, to help you figure it out.

  • Tour

    Planning the perfect day trip involves making a lot of choices so make it a bit easier by joining a tour for the day. Sit back and relax as your guide takes you to the best attractions that the National Park offers, imparting their expert knowledge as you go. The tours start early in the morning, and offer both pick ups and drop-offs in the heart of the Gold Coast.

Other tourist attraction: