Best of Gold Coast
Gold Coast Hinterland Day Trips: Rainforest, Views and Village Stops
The Gold Coast hinterland rises quickly from the coastal strip into subtropical rainforest and offers some of the most rewarding day trips in Southeast Queensland. Tamborine Mountain, about 45 minutes inland, has a popular gallery walk, craft shops, rainforest walks and winery cellar doors. Lamington National Park, accessible from Canungra and Springbrook, contains ancient Antarctic beech forest and the renowned O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat. Springbrook National Park, closer to the coast, has waterfalls and a natural bridge with glow-worm caves accessible on an evening walk. Most hinterland destinations are sealed-road accessible in a standard vehicle.
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- 1
Springbrook National Park
A World Heritage-listed plateau rainforest in the Gold Coast hinterland, with the Natural Bridge glow-worm cave, Purling Brook Falls and Gondwana rainforest walks.
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Tamborine Mountain
A scenic plateau village in the hinterland with Gallery Walk's art galleries, craft distilleries, wineries and rainforest walks, 40 minutes inland from the coast.
- 3
Lamington National Park
A Gondwana rainforest World Heritage national park bordering NSW, with 160km of walking tracks and the famous O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat tree-top walk.
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Natural Bridge, Springbrook
A short walk through rainforest to a rock arch formed by a waterfall, home to a glow-worm colony visible on evening guided tours.
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The Currumbin Valley
A lush farming valley 20 minutes inland from Palm Beach, with a popular swimming hole at Currumbin Rock Pools and a peaceful rural character.
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