If you enjoy moderate grade rain forest walk, lookouts with amazing scenery while staying away from the Queensland summer heat, Springbrook National Park would be the perfect spot.
From Brisbane, there are two ways you can get there:
1. Easy driving route: Through exit 69 of Pacific Motorway from Brisbane toward Gold Coast direction. From Gold Coast, you will need to head towards Advanced Town and go along Nerang Muwillumba Road. Regardless of which direction you are coming from, you will end up on the Nerang Muwillumba Road, make sure you follow the big green sign showing to turn left to head to Springbrook National Park.
This route goes around Hinze dam, so you will see glimpse of it on your way. The water level has risen after the dam being built, the trees along the lake bed has died due to the prolonged water submergence, so when you drive across the edge of the dam through Pine Creek Bridge, it looks like you are passing through "Death Valley", which makes the drive quite interesting.
2. Less easy driving route: Trough exit 77 of Pacific Motorway from Brisbane towards Gold Coast direction. This route have one way lanes as well as lots of blind curves while driving up the narrow mountain road. (This route is currently closed off due to ex-cyclone Debbie)
A bit information about Springbrook (Disclaimer: not a Geologist, haha)
Springbrook and its surrounding mountain ranges were formed by the combination of the flowing basalt lava of a once huge shield volcano and weather and water erosion.It is world heritage listed in 1994.
Along the walking tracks, you can see at least two completely different forest types, the subtropical rainforest and the open eucalypt forest. If you are quiet enough, we may also run into rock kangaroo/wallaby and other animals, If you are lucky, you can also hear the songs of catbirds.
Please protect this beauty and leave nothing but your foot print behind, so that generations many centuries from now would still know what nature's beauty looks like.
Food
There is a modest atmospheric cafe at Hinze Dam that is at a convinience location with good selections of food. I remember their opening hours are longer than your usual cafes, but do check their website to browse their menus and opening hours. The cafe is built at the end of the dam bridge, with windows facing the lake and its surrounding mountain peaks. It also has a spacious veranda if you want to sit outside.
Lookouts
All the lookouts are concentrated near the top, some of them goes very close to the Queensland and NSW border.
All the lookouts are sign-posted, so it is pretty easy to drive around.
Lists of lookouts that are my favorites:
1. Wunburra Lookout: a teaser at the beginning with view to the Gold Coast
2. Canyon Lookout: This is the entrance to the Twin Falls Circuit rainforest walking track. I don't recommend visiting here when it's raining as it is exposed and gets really windy and cold.
If you visit Twin Falls in the dry season, so you can only see one fall, during the wet season like I did, there will be two. This is the view on the walking track which is in the valley below the Canyon Lookout.
3. Goomoolahra Picnic Area and Lookout: Another great lookout, and once you get to the lookout, and then follow the trail to the right, it's less crowd there and you get the look out to yourself.
4. Purling Brook Falls Lookout: This is also the entrance to the Purlingbrook rainforest walking track.
This is the fall from the walking track. You will have a bird eye view of the fall at the lookout.
5. Best of All Lookout: a bit of a distance from the rest of the lookouts, but after you walk a short distance through the dense rainforest, you will reach the lookout where you can see as far as Byron Bay. I will leave this for you to experience on your own!
Walking Tracks_Easy to moderate grade track
1. Purlingbrook Falls Circuit (2km return track)
The entrance and finish point are both at the Purlingbrook Lookout. This is a popular lookout, so parking may be an issue if you don't arrive early.
It's roughly 2km return circuit (about 1.5 to 2 hours walking in normal to slow pace), and as you can see from the picture above, it's worth the walk. You use to be able to walk through under the waterfall through the walking track, it is closed off now which is a shame. But the view is still pretty amazing from afar.
You can see the walking track near the water fall from the lookout in this picture.
2. Twin Falls Circuit (4km return)
You can start the walk either at the Canyon Lookout or the Tallanbana Picnic Area. I would recommend you start and finish the walk at the Canyon Lookout clockwise (start the walk from the entrance at the left of the lookout platform).
You will begin the walk in the dry eucalyptus forest, and after about half an hour into the walk, you will find yourself submerged in the sub-tropical rain forest.
This walk is also a part of Warrie Circuit, which is a 17km walk. Please read the signs along the walk to make sure you stay on the right track.
You will pass through walkways in between rocks, underneath waterfalls as well as through a semi-cave along your walk, I loved the experience seeing the ever-changing landscapes and unique eco-systems. It is one of my favourate walks in Springbrook.
Thank you for the random stranger who accidentally posed for my photo.
Picnic spot under the rock cave, quite a nice spot.
3. The Warrie Circuit (17.6km return)
This is a full day walk showcasing those waterfalls less visited, and a variety of vegetations and wild lifes. Make sure you carry enough water, at least 2L and are well prepared. You will also need a pair of hiking shoes with comfortable cushioning and good grips. I would recommend doing this if you haven't done any hiking longer then 10kms, as you may end up being so tired and won't actually enjoy this experience. The entrance to this circuit is the Canyon Lookout. Follow the track to the left clockwise as most of the waterfalls are concentrated there. The track is pretty defined with signposts showing you the direction, but do stay on the obvious track as the rest of the area has no direction markings and it's remote.
This is Rainbow Fall, one of the waterfalls along this track, taken from the cave underneath it.
This really is a great place for short day trips, a day out with the kids and families, or if you want a organise a girl's or boy's day out!
After all, you only live once, so do whatever it is that makes you you!
