Springbrook National Park is located in the Gold Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. The 6,197-hectare (15,310-acre) park is located at Springbrook on the McPherson Range, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) south of Brisbane. Springbrook’s cool woods and mountain streams dominate the Gold Coast’s western skyline, offering views of magnificent vistas and treks amid subtropical and temperate rainforest, open eucalypt woodland, and montane heath. The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia’s Shield Volcano Group, Australia World Heritage Area is known for its spectacular waterfalls, cascades, and falling torrents. Springbrook National Park has a total area of 6,558ha and is divided into four sections: the Springbrook plateau, Mount Cougal to the south-east, Natural Bridge and Numinbah to the west. The plateau boasts several lookouts with spectacular views, and Mount Cougal provides insight into the area’s logging past.
Visit Natural Bridge during the day to view a stunning waterfall, or after dark to experience the park’s incredible glow-worms. Take in the commanding vistas of the spectacular rocks that line each side of the valley as you journey through Numinbah Valley; this terrain was built 23 million years ago by the Tweed volcano.
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Mount Cougal
The park’s Mount Cougal area is roughly 20 kilometres (12 miles) inland from Currumbin. It began in 1938 with 142 hectares (350 acres) set aside, and through time, expansions grew it to 811 hectares (2,000 acres), and it was merged with the Springbrook National Park in 1990. The part is named after Mount Cougal, which is located in the park near the Queensland-New South Wales boundary. The mountain contains two peaks, East Peak and West Peak, that rise 694 metres (2,277 feet) above sea level.
Natural Bridge
The Natural Bridge is a rock arch constructed by nature that spans Cave Creek, a tributary of the Nerang River. It was constructed by a waterfall that undercut a cave beneath the waterfall and excavated a pothole on top of the waterfall until the two united and the stream poured into the cave, creating an arch over the front.
The bridge is located on the traditional territory of the Kombumerri aboriginal people of the area (a family group of the Yugambeh language peoples). Timber cutters Alexander (Sandy) Duncan and Din Guinea are reported to be the first Europeans to discover it.
Fauna
The park is a fantastic place to see nocturnal wildlife such the mountain brushtail possum, ringtail possum, and sugar glider. Springbrook National Park has become a sanctuary for birds as a result of land removal in the hinterland area. More than a hundred bird species live in the park, including the yellow-tailed black cockatoo, rufous fantail, satin bowerbird, whipbird, and Albert’s lyrebird.
