Discover Springbrook

Canyon Lookout is located in the township of Springbrook and offers views across the valley to the coast. The surrounding area is home to Springbrook National Park, with waterfalls, lookouts and varied forest landscapes. When planning your outings, it helps to distinguish the destinations by their character and—where specified—by trail length.

Views and landscapes around Springbrook

Springbrook National Park covers 6,558 hectares and consists of four main sections: the Springbrook Plateau, Mount Cougal in the southeast, and Natural Bridge and Numinbah in the west. The plateau has lookouts, waterfalls, dense rainforest and ancient Antarctic beech trees. The park’s landscapes range from subtropical and temperate rainforest to open eucalypt forest and montane heath; cool forests and mountain streams are also part of its character.

The Springbrook Plateau is a remnant of the northern side of a once-vast shield volcano that shaped the region around 23 million years ago. Almost the entire national park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. The lookouts reveal different aspects of this landscape: from Canyon Lookout, the view stretches from the valley to the coast. The Best of All lookout track passes through ancient Antarctic beech forest and offers a view of northern New South Wales, shaped by Woolumbin (Mount Warning).

Compare trails and waterfalls

The trails differ considerably in length and destination. The Buliya-buliya jagun – land of many little birds boardwalk on the Springbrook Plateau is graded 2, measures 100 metres return and has a platform lookout. The Goomoolahra Falls lookout track passes through the Goomoolahra picnic area to a lookout at the top of the 60-metre-high Goomoolahra Falls.

The Twin Falls Circuit is listed as 4 kilometres return. The route passes behind two waterfalls, through rock crevices, and among palms and tree ferns. Check current park alerts before visiting. The 14-kilometre Warrie Circuit follows the base of The Canyon’s cliffs to Goomoolahra Falls, then descends into the rainforest; here, too, it is advisable to check park alerts.

As a longer regional connection, the 54-kilometre Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk runs from Lamington National Park through the Numinbah Valley to Springbrook National Park. This means there are longer routes in the wider region as well as individual lookouts and circuit walks. More than 100 bird species can be seen and heard in the park; which birds are actually spotted varies with conditions.

Culture and history

Springbrook National Park is in Yugambeh Country. The Yugambeh language group comprises clans. They are linguistically connected and speak one or more dialects of the Yugambeh language. Springbrook’s cultural stories explain the Yugambeh people’s connection with the land and its plants and animals.

The area’s history also reaches back in time: Gauriemabah, Springbrook’s first schoolhouse on Old School Road, was built in 1911. Its exhibits tell stories of Springbrook. In the 1920s, Springbrook was a popular tourist destination; steep cliffs, deep gorges and rushing waterfalls drew visitors at the time. This historical perspective complements the landscape features of today without equating past popularity with the present.

Access to the Springbrook Plateau

Two access routes from the Pacific Motorway lead to the Springbrook Plateau: from Mudgeeraba via Gold Coast–Springbrook Road, or from Nerang via Nerang–Murwillumbah Road and Pine Creek Road. Both roads are sealed, steep, winding and narrow. As road conditions can change, check them before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Tugun, Wongawallan, Mermaid Waters, Carrara, Labrador, Willow Vale, Biggera Waters, Beechmont

For the broader travel overview: Gold Coast.