The Green Behind the Gold

When someone mentions the Gold Coast, many things automatically spring to mind straight away. Things like high rise buildings, resorts and beaches, flashing lights, casinos and theme parks, but not usually rainforests, waterfalls, amazing mountain views, secluded swimming holes and lakes. But this page is here to change that perception. The Gold Coast Hinterland has many natural attractions that are within an easy drive of the coastal hotels.

There is also a vast array of accommodation in the hinterland to suit all budgets so the region makes a great relaxing weekend getaway, week long stay or even an awesome day trip to escape from the madness of the city. From the incredible views at The Best Of All Lookout at the southern tip of the Springbrook Plateau with it's World Heritage Listed National Park to Thunderbird Park on the northern slopes of Mount Tamborine and everything in between, it is a nature lovers paradise. The state of Queensland has the largest amount of National Parks in Australia and some of the most visited ones are located in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Rising 900 metres above sea level, the Springbrook plateau is home to a small community of people who are for the most part very environmentally friendly and eco conscious as they live amongst a pristine wilderness area. The mountain is also home to the World Heritage listed Springbrook National Park. This National park has many features such as the Best Of all Lookout with it's incredible views over the Tweed Valley all the way across to Byron Bay. It is accessed via a short 300 metre walking trail through the worlds most northern stand of Antarctic Beech trees. These trees are amazing. It is like stepping into an ancient world as soon as you set foot amongst them where the temperature drops immediately. Inside this small forest, it can be 10 to 15 degrees Celsius cooler than the temperature down on the coast.

Springbrook National Park also has many majestic waterfalls, some with drops as large as 100 metres such as Purlingbrook Falls, which is easily accessed down a short walking trail. There are a number of trails that are longer in distance (up to 17 kilometres long) which take you underneath some of these falls, to serene rock pools and through caves which were once home to local Aboriginals. The park has three sections. The main section is on top of the Springbrook Plateau, the second most visited section is the Natural Arch section on the lower side of the plateau in the Numinbah Valley.

The third section is the Cougals Cascades section which is found at the very end of the 21 kilometre Currumbin Valley Road. This road starts at the beach at Currumbin and winds it's way through this beautiful valley all the way to the park. The track is only 800 metres and is a sealed and safe track alongside one of the most beautiful streams on the Gold Coast. On a hot day, the numerous rock pools that are fed by the clean crisp water provide a great place to swim.