Springbrook National Park

Springbrook National Park spreads across the remnants of an ancient volcano in the McPherson Range, inland from the southern Gold Coast. It covers more than 6,000 hectares and forms part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. The plateau is one of the wettest places in south-east Queensland, receiving more than 3,000 millimetres of rain a year, mostly between December and March, which feeds the waterfalls that pour off its cliffs.

The park is divided into several sections, each with its own character. On the Springbrook Plateau, the Gwongorella picnic area is the starting point for walks to Purlingbrook Falls, while waterfall circuits begin at the Tallanbana and Goomoolahra picnic areas. Best of All Lookout, just across the New South Wales border, is reached through a grove of Antarctic beech trees, some of which are thought to be around 3,000 years old.

The Natural Bridge section, in the Numinbah Valley, is the park's best-known sight. Cave Creek has worn a hole through the roof of a basalt cave, so the water plunges through an opening to form a natural arch. The cave is home to a colony of glow-worms, the larvae of the insect Arachnocampa flava, which produce light inside their bodies to lure prey. They are best seen after dark, and commercial operators run evening tours. Swimming is banned in the area around the walking track to protect the habitat.

Springbrook suits walkers, photographers and anyone wanting a break from the beach. Allow a full day if you want to see more than one section, and bring food and water for the walks, using the picnic areas at Gwongorella, Tallanbana or Goomoolahra for lunch. Tracks can be slippery after rain, so wear shoes with good grip. Check the Queensland Parks website for alerts and track closures, as upgrade works on the plateau are planned over several years.

Camping is available at The Settlement camping area on the plateau, booked through the Queensland Government camping site. The park's facilities include picnic tables, barbecues, lookouts and toilets, and some areas have wheelchair access that may need assistance. Mount Cougal, another section on the eastern side about 20 kilometres inland from Currumbin, has twin peaks rising to 694 metres and the Cougal Cascades.