Just 5 minutes from the inland border crossing between NSW and QLD (or a 1 hour drive west from the Gold Coast) lies an area of unexpected and unique beauty. On the west border of the Springbrook National Park, are a collection of stunning forest walks, towering waterfalls, and picturesque swimming spots. So if you are driving along the Australian east coast across the border, adding just 30 minutes to your trip, will bring you to an eye-opening spot to stretch your legs or even have a quick swim while you avoid the crowded, tourist-rich and expensive coastline. We first stumbled across this hidden gem by accident while attempting to avoid the traffic of the Tweed Heads border crossing during Covid in 2020. Since then, Springbrook has become a regular stop on almost every east coast drive that I have done! Keep reading to see what this beautiful Aussie destination it has to offer.
What’s coming up in this post:
- Natural Bridge – Rainforest Walk, Waterfall, and glowworn cave
- Bochow Park – playground, swimming hole and picnic facilities
- Purling Brook Falls – Rainforest walk, suspension bridge and 106 meter waterfall
1. Natural Bridge Rainforest and Waterfall
As its name suggests, Natural Bridge is an area named for a spectacular natural rock arch within the Springbrook National Park. The arch is formed at the edge of a large cave, with a hole in the ceiling allowing the waters of Cave creek to flow through. Making for a fantastic waterfall and light show in the middle of the cave. It forms is the main feature of a gorgeous short circuit walk, approximately 1 kilometer round trip with only a few steps to ascend. The entrance of the walk features a small carpark and public toilet block for an easy pit stop.
During the day this lovely forest walk is a spectacular way to witness the power of water as it carves its way through the ceiling of the cave over time, allowing the sun to shine through, with light bouncing off the water and dancing on the ceiling of the cave. From inside the cave, you can look out at the arch as it perfectly frames the luscious green forest surrounds.
However, if you want to experience this walk to its full potential, you need to return after dark. I recommend enjoying the sunset or a barbeque at the nearby Bochow Park (see below) while you wait for the stars to come out. Around 10pm, return to the Natural Bridge Circuit to witness the Australian forest on an exciting new level. But take a torch, because there’s no lights on the circuit!
Top Tip – Experience the forest; adjust to the darkness
At the entrance of the path, close your eyes in the darkness and count. Keep your eyes shut for at least 30 seconds (but the longer the better) and allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness while you listen to the quiet forest around. Take in the sounds, smells and calmness of the forest. Once you feel that your eyes have adjusted to the dark as much as possible, begin your journey towards the cave using as little torchlight as possible to keep safe. Faint red or yellow lights are recommended, otherwise just the light from your phone screen alone should be enough. If you must use a torch, place a layer of fabric over it to diffuse the light a little.
The path of this short walk remains unlit to preserve the natural features of this beautiful forest, to not disturb the wildlife and to allow you to witness the full beauty of nature. As you walk along keep an eye on the forest floor in the darkness to spot fantastic natural glowing mushrooms and even glowworms on the edges of the path!
That’s right, GLOWING!
Bioluminescent mushrooms and glowworms litter the forest floor, right to the edges of the path. As you get closer to the cave, the intensity and number of the glowworms will increase. Once inside the natural bridge cave, you will witness some of the most prevalent and brightest glowworms that you will likely ever see. Like thousands of tiny stars that seem so close that you could touch them. But don’t! Try to resist flash photography, touching or using your torch towards the glowworms as this will cause them to dim their light as well as cause your (and everyone around your) eyes to need to re-adjust to the dark and make it harder to see this stunning natural source of light.
Disclaimer: The Natural Bridge circuit is intentionally not lit to give the best experience of this natural forest feature. Be safe while walking over uneven areas and take it slow. Using harsh light, leaving rubbish or touching the flora and fauna, will not only ruin the experience for others, but also likely cause the area to need higher maintenance and safety protocols, resulting in a less natural and less unique experience. This cave will feature MORE glowworms than any commercialised caves (that you pay to enter), due to the fact that it is able to be left in its most natural state possible. If we look after this area, it will remain a spectacular (and FREE) feature for people to enjoy for years to come.
Destination Summary:
Entry: Free
Walk Distance: 1km (round trip)
Approximate Duration: 45 mins
Walk Grade: 2
Main Features: Rainforest Walk, Waterfall, Cave, Glowworms, Bioluminescent Fora
Parking and Public Toilet Facilities: Available and Free
2. Bochow Park – Picnic and Swimming Area
A short 5 minute drive from The Natural Bridge Circuit Walk lies a lovely open field park alongside the Nerang River. Featuring barbeques, public toilets, picnic tables and a playground amongst a lovely grassy field, this park is a perfect place to relax, stretch your legs or even go for a swim. By the river, on the left end of the park, there is an easy access point for the river, making for a perfect refreshing dip in the summer.
During my past few visits, there has even been a rope swing hung above one of the deeper areas of the river for visitors to enjoy. [Disclaimer: never trust a rope swing that you do not know how long it has been there or how deep the water is. Always check the rope, tree and water depth before attempting the swing]
The Nerang River features beautiful, clear, fresh water, with a deeper area on the south and gradually gets more shallow as you swim towards the north end of the park. There is a light current flowing towards the shallow end, making for a fairly safe swimming environment.
The road by this park is fairly quiet, so it’s a lovely spot to lay out a towel on the grass, have a picnic, or set up a hammock for a lovely relaxing afternoon without the noise of cars or crowds to disturb you.
Free Facilities Available:
- Parking
- Public Toilets
- Stanless Steel Barbaques
- Playground
- Picnic Tables
- Grass Area
- Swimming Area
3. Purling Brook Falls – Springbrook
A lovely rainforest walk featuring a huge, 106 metre, horsetail-style waterfall! The gentle 4km circuit includes approximately 250 steps and a well-maintained dirt trail, often with siderails as you walk along the cliffs edge. With spectacular views well situated lookout points, the trail provides a new perspective of the surrounding world heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests at every turn. There are two opportunities to observe this waterfall, one at the top; looking down as the water cascades over the edge of the cliff. And the other at the bottom, where you can feel the spray of the falling water on your face and grasp the power of the drop as it hits the rocks below. But if that’s not enough, there is also an exciting suspension bridge to give a midway perspective as you cross the Nerang river flowing below.
Along the way, the surrounding lush, green rainforest hosts plenty of unique flora and fauna all year round! Can you spot the lizards basking in the sun, or the mushrooms growing through the mossy bark? Overflowing with life, these beautiful trails will open your eyes to the wonders of nature, then blow you away with the towering waterfall.
If you are not ready to go home, you can also take a detour to the Warringa Pool Track, leading 2km downhill to a stunning rock pool where you can swim in the fresh, clear waters, surrounded by beautiful rainforest greenery. The main circuit should take around 2 hours, and allow for an additional 40 minutes to visit the Pools at the base as well. At the entrance to the trail, near the carpark, you can also find public toilets and barbeque and picnic facilities.
Destination Summary:
Entry: Free
Walk Distance: 4km (round trip) – additional 2km for Warringa Pool Track
Approximate Duration: 2 hours – additional 40 mins for Warringa Pool Track
Walk Grade: 3
Main Features: Waterfall, suspension Bridge, Lookouts, Swim Opportunities, River
Parking and Public Toilet Facilities: Available and Free
Springbrook National Park in a nutshell:
Possibly my favourite destination in Australia! And best of all it’s completely free. This beautiful National Park is a perfect example of how we can enjoy the natural flora and fauna of the Australian forests to a greater extent if we work hard to preserve and respect it. So whether you are in the area or are just passing through, check your route to see if this beautiful spot is worth a little extra time on the quiet forest roads.
