Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk
Brisbane Queensland - Thu 21st March 2024

Leaving mid-morning we will head to the Gold Coast Seaway. Here we will enjoy a picnic lunch and a stroll around the parkland. Don't forget your swimmers as there is an opportunity to swim. From here we will travel to our accommodation in the Nerang Hinterland, where we will settle in and have some light refreshments.

Then it's back on the bus for our first walk together! This afternoon we will be heading to Natural Arch in Springbrook National Park. We will descend the sealed path through ancient Gondwana rainforest to the rock arch with its unique waterfall and rock pool formation. Microbats and glow worms are often seen in the caves with the area also home to many rare and threatened species like the cascade tree frog, tusked frog, sooty owl and koala. Hoop pines emerging from surrounding forests are living relics of the Jurassic Age, 180 million years ago. A true gem in the crown of the Gold Coast hinterland. We will be visiting this area in the late afternoon so we hopefully have the opportunity to catch the Glow Worms!

Meals: Lunch, Snack, Dinner

Today the bus will take us to the first section of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk, often referred to as The Border Track. It traverses from Green Mountain/O'Riellys across to Binna Burra. It is the backbone of the Lamington walking track system. Today we will experience the misty forests of 2000-year-old Antarctic beech trees, dense rainforest, stunning waterfalls & panoramic views. It is common to hear the calls of catbirds. lyrebirds, cockatoos and bowerbirds along this part of the track.

The bus will be at Binna Burra to return us to our accommodation.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, Dinner

Our First Nations people gave this destination the name of Binna Burra - "where the beech tree grows".

The bus will drop us off at Binna Burra. From here we head down through beautiful beech tree forests, past gigantic strangler figs and cliff lines of volcanic rock. We take in views of the Numinbah Valley from the lookouts along the way. The Lower Bellbird Track is where the GCHGW branches off.

The landscape changes to dry rainforest, as we continue into the Kurraragin Valley area. Here we pass through forests of piccabeen palms, large red cedar and graceful flooded gum with the towering form of Egg Rock or Kurraragin, appearing through the trees in the distance.

According to Yugambeh legend, Kurraragin was a giant who battled the enormous landforms around him to become king of all the mountains.

At Numinbah Valley we will be meet by the bus for lunch & toilet break. After our break we continue on to the Woonoongoora walkers camp, then up the infamous 900 steps to Apple Tree Park. Another big day!

The bus will be at Apple Tree Park to return us to our accommodation.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, Dinner

The final section of this incredible walk:

After breakfast we pack our bags, load up the bus and head back to Apple Tree Park. From here the track winds down to a creek crossing at Little Nerang Creek, then traverses along the opposite side of the creek up to Warringa Pool. At this pool depending on the amount of water, there maybe be an additional creek crossing. We continue on to Purling Brook Falls. This is one of Springbrook NP most spectacular waterfalls, a perfect place to

stop & enjoy morning tea. The track is a steady climb back to the top of the plateau to Settlement campground - the finale of this epic walk.

It is back on the bus for a quick drive to a beautiful local restuarant or winery for a celebratory lunch.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch