Gold Coast's 15 Best Parks and Outdoor Spaces

The Gold Coast's outdoor spaces range from the beaches and esplanades of the coastal strip to the ancient rainforest of Lamington National Park in the hinterland. Here's where to find the best of the Coast's natural environment.

Lamington National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage listed national park in the Scenic Rim hinterland is one of Queensland's most extraordinary natural areas. The ancient Antarctic beech forests, the 160-kilometre walking trail network, and the O'Reilly's Guesthouse tree-top walk create an experience available to Gold Coast residents within 90 minutes that international visitors travel specifically to access.

Currumbin Rock Pools, the freshwater rock pools on Currumbin Creek upstream from the wildlife sanctuary provide the cool, clear swimming experience that the Gold Coast's urban density makes surprisingly scarce. The swimming holes, the walking trails along the creek, and the fig tree canopy create a community asset that Coast families use intensively through the warm months.

Burleigh Heads National Park, the 27-hectare national park on the Burleigh headland provides the coastal walking track, the rock pools, and the views back to the Gold Coast skyline that create the best single-headland experience on the Coast.

Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area, the wetlands north of Helensvale provide the bird observation, the walking and cycling trails, and the natural wetland environment that contrasts with the canal estate development that surrounds it, creating a wildlife corridor that supports over 200 bird species within the Gold Coast urban area.