Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP OF CHAPTER
Springbrook National Park
About a 40-minute drive west of Burleigh Heads,
Springbrook National Park
(
www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/
parks/springbrook
)
is a steep remnant of the Tweed Shield volcano that centred on nearby Mt
Warning in NSW more than 20 million years ago. It's a wonderland for hikers; trails
through cool-temperate, subtropical and eucalypt forests offer a mosaic of gorges, cliffs
and waterfalls.
The park is divided into four sections. The 900m-high
Springbrook Plateau
section houses
the strung-out township of Springbrook along Springbrook Rd, and receives the most vis-
itors: it's laced with waterfalls, trails and eye-popping lookouts. The scenic
Natural Bridge
section, off the Nerang-Murwillumbah road, has a 1km walking circuit leading to a huge
rock arch spanning a water-formed cave - home to a luminous colony of glow-worms.
The
Mt Cougal
section, accessed via Currumbin Creek Rd, has several waterfalls and swim-
ming holes (watch out for submerged logs and slippery rocks); while the forested
Numinbah
section to the north is the fourth section of the park.
Sights & Activities
Best of All Lookout
(Repeater Station Rd, Springbrook)
True to its name, the Best of All Lookout offers phenomenal
views from the southern edge of the Springbrook Plateau to the lowlands below. The
350m trail from the carpark to the lookout takes you past a clump of gnarled Antarctic
beech trees: you'll only find them around here and in northern NSW.
LOOKOUT
Purling Brook Falls
(Forestry Rd, Springbrook)
Just off Springbrook Rd, the Purling Brook Falls drop a rather aston-
ishing 109m into the rainforest: check them out from the vertigo-inducing lookout.
WATERFALL
Canyon Lookout
(Canyon Pde, Springbrook)
Canyon Lookout affords views through the valley to Surfers
Paradise. This is also the start of a 4km circuit walk to
Twin Falls
, which is part of Spring-
brook's longest trail, the 17km
Warrie Circuit
.
LOOKOUT
