Australia’s Gold Coast is full of incredible natural wonders, including the Tweed Shield Volcano and Caldera.
The volcano is now extinct, but the surrounding landscape still provides an incredible backdrop to explore if you’re in the area. You might have heard of the scenery under a different name. It’s also been dubbed Mount Warning Volcano, Tweed Volcano and Tweed Caldera amongst others.
About the Tweed Shield Volcano and Caldera
Tweed Shield Volcano and Caldera has been declared as a Landscape of National Significance by the National Landscape program. The organisation has also given it the title of Australia’s Green Cauldron.
From these names alone, you can see just how magnificent the volcano and caldera is. Today, the valley carves down more than 1000 metres into the landscape and boasts a diameter of over 40 kilometres.
This makes it even bigger than the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. It is actually the largest erosion caldera in the entirety of the southern hemisphere.
What is a caldera?
You might be wondering what a caldera even is.
It’s actually a bowl-shaped depression that has been caused over many years by the collapse and erosion of a volcano.
The Tweed Shield Volcano and Caldera is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere and is one of the most impressive calderas in the world. It is a jaw-dropping natural wonder that is a must-visit when you’re exploring the Gold Coast.
The geology and history of the Caldera
For the past 20 million years, most of the material that has been pushed out of the volcano has eroded away. This has affected the minor creeks and tributaries that wind their way across the valley floors.
The remaining landscape is still incredibly impressive. Thought to be the central magma plug, Mount Warning and a series of rings that are made up of a harder rock than the rest of the landscape have resisted erosion and now dominate the valley. This can be seen particularly around the township of Murwillumbah.
A lid of hard, basaltic rock has protected the rim around the western side of Mount Warning. It now soars skywards to around 1100 metres tall.
These days, it is becoming commonly known by its Aboriginal name, Wollumbin.
Hiking around Mount Warning
The ancient Mount Warning can be seen from all over the Gold Coast. There are various hikes and lookout points that you can visit for premium views of the dormant volcano.
One of the best hikes for this is the Pinnacles walk. The lookout from this hike offers uninterrupted views across the rainforest, the Tweed Valley and of Wollumbin-Mount Warning. If you tend to wake up early, we recommend taking this hike to experience a sunrise above the Tweed Valley.
The walk is under 1 kilometre return and takes about 30 minutes to complete. It’s a fairly easy walk along a gravel road. However, if it is raining, the path may be slippery and rugged.
Mount Tamborine and the Tweed Shield Volcano and Caldera
You may have heard of Tamborine Mountain when researching things to do on the Gold Coast. It’s a picturesque hinterland just an hour drive from the Gold Coast.
Did you know that it was formed as a result of the eruptions from Mount Warning? That’s right, Mount Tamborine formed around 20 million years ago as the eruptions covered the land with basalt lava flows. In fact, the entire Gold Coast hinterland is a result of the ancient volcano.
Explore the Gold Coast Hinterland
You can take a journey into the part of the Gold Coast that was directly formed as a result of Wollumbin-Mount Warning. A day trip to Mount Tamborine is the perfect way to do so. This day trip not only offers stunning scenery, but it also includes a taste of the region.
The day begins as you make your way from the Gold Coast and head inland. You’ll get to visit a coffee plantation and learn all about how the perfect coffee is made. Then it’s on to the scenic Rotary Lookout, which offers impressive views of the Scenic Rim.
The rest of the day will be spent exploring the tropical rainforest, stunning waterfalls and learning about the unique environment. You’ll also enjoy various hikes and a visit to a local gin distillery.
As you may have realised, the Tweed Shield Volcano and Caldera has played an important role in forming the hinterland. Take a journey to the Gold Coast to experience the incredible scenery!
Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia
Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.