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If you feel like escaping the hustle and bustle of the Gold Coast for day, I suggest renting a car and discovering South East Queensland for yourself. One thing the tourists always seem to miss are the real beauties the Gold Coast has to offer besides the sun, surf and sand.
One place I definitely recommend taking a day trip to is Natural Arch which is only 40 minutes drive from the Gold Coast. Also known as Natural Bridge, this place is a subtropical rainforest nestled within the scenic Numinbah Valley. As one of my all time favourite places to go, Natural Bridge has more then just greeny surroundings on offer. Get in and discover the ancient rock formations, rock waterfalls, the vast range of flora and fauna and the infamous glow worms which light up the caves in which they hide in.
If you do get a chance to get out here I suggest bringing something warm to throw on as it is usually refreshingly cooler then the coastal areas during the day.
If you do fall in love with this place as much as I do, consider coming at night. With the bright glow worms to light up the darkened sky this place is much alive at night as it is during the day.
If you have the chance to make a day of it, why not bring along a picnic or try the local Natural Arch Cafe.
Natural Arch Cafe details are as follows:
Nerang-Murwillumbah Road
Natural Bridge QLD 4213
Australia
PH: +61 (07) 5533-6140
Natural Bridge is located on the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road, about four kilometres north of the border gate. From the Pacific Highway, you can turn off at Nerang (30 kilometres to the park) or at Mudgeeraba (42 kilometres to the park via Springbrook plateau). The scenic access roads are winding and should be travelled with care. Mini-bus tours run to the park from the Gold Coast and Murwillumbah. Phone: Int: + 61 (0) 7 5533 5147
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Now we get down to the parts of the Gold Coast I find the most interesting, the ranges inland. Much of these are included in the extensive Springbrook National Park. You could spend weeks walking on the National Park trails and still not see all the sights. Here you will find waterfalls, cliffs, thick sub-tropical rainforest dripping with moisture, and ancient Antarctic Beech trees which are relics of Gondwanaland.
The most direct route from the Gold Coast is to head inland from the Pacific Motorway via Mudgeeraba (exit 79 from the north, exit 80 from the south), then follow the Gold Coast – Springbrook Road. The road gradually narrows and there are some quite blind corners, finally culminating in a section of one-way road, so take care. The drive from Mudgeeraba is not long, I’d say about 30-40 km. We had only a few hours to drive in, make a short visit, then drive out – and had no trouble fitting it into the time available. We even stopped for a very pleasant lunch at the former Post Office in the little settlement of Springbrook.
On our way up, we stopped to take in the views back to Surfers Paradise from the Wunburra Lookout. I had forgotten how good the purple ‘morning glory’ flowers can look, as they are too tropical for my part of Australia. For interest sake I’m including the second photo – I could never repeat it, but of all things I stopped a dragonfly dead centre in the frame!
For those interested in ‘collecting’ World Heritage Sites’, the rainforests in these National Parks are part of the World Heritage site ”Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves.
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If you have developed a taste for the scenic ranges behind the Coast by now, you probably will enjoy this somewhat longer trip. I’d allow a day for it. Head down to Murwillumbah in NSW (probably the shortest and fastest route is on the main road, the most scenic would be via Springbrook).
Murwillumbah is an old agricultural centre for the dairying and sugar industries, alongside the Tweed River. Unlike the coastal communities, life here moves at a more relaxed pace. I have a VT page on it and on the subsequent drive I’d suggest you take through Chillingham and back into the ranges to visit Numinbah Valley. From there you can continue on to the main roads and Brisbane or Southport, or alternatively head back via Springbrook on the scenic route to the Coast. Either way, I’m sure you’ll have a great day’s outing.
Of course, if you’re feeling suitably fit at Murwillumbah, you could climb Mt Warning which is National Park and which more or less dominates the area.
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Off to the northern end of the ranges you will find Mt Tamborine and the associated Tamborine National Park. To reach it from the Coast, head toward Brisbane on the Pacific Highway and 36km from Southport turn onto the the Oxenford-Tamborine Road. The mountain section is another relatively narrow winding road requiring care, but the rewards are worth it when you find rainforest such as in the heading photo.
The top of Mt Tamborine is outside the National Park and relatively well developed with tourist facilities, such as restaurants and tourist-related shops. You can read more about Mt Tamborine and the giant ancient volcano which formed all these ranges (photo 2 shows model) in my Mt Tamborine VT webpage.
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These 110 metre falls are one of the real highlights of this section of Springbrook National Park. A short and easy walking track from the carpark at the Gwongorella Picnic Area makes them accessible to just about anyone. Gwongorella also is easy to find: just following the road from the Coast will almost take you there, but fortunately the good people of National Parks have provided large maps to guide you in various places – Gowngorella is marked with the red box saying ‘you are here’ (which may be difficult to read on screen), however I have marked the route with red dots.
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 Hinze Dam by goldcoaster
There are sail boats and boats with electric motors. There are no power boats allowed on the dam. Leave a Comment
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 Nimbin by aussiroseLeave a Comment
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 Tree Top Walking by ATXtraveler
There are some beautiful views to be seen here, and although my fear of heights kept me from going to the top, Sarah ventured further up one of the lookout posts, to get some great photos of the treetops!
The suspension bridges support up to 6 people per span, so for those people like me that are afraid of heights, please respect this... otherwise I may throw you off! Leave a Comment
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 Mt Warning Gold Coast by aussiroseLeave a Comment
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 Binna Burra Views by ATXtraveler
Binna Burra is full of great bushwalks, and has many guides who are trained naturalists, to show you the part from their perspective. There are 160Kms worth of walking tracks, so bring your hiking boots and get started!
We only enjoyed the views from the lodge, but with more time, we would have enjoyed even more! Leave a Comment
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