Springbrook National Park is the classic green-behind-the-gold day trip from Burleigh Surf Apartments: about an hour up the range to a rainforest plateau that sits right on the Queensland border. This guide runs one full day, the drive, Purling Brook Falls, a mountain lunch and the Best of All Lookout, so you can leave after breakfast and be back for a swim.
How long is the drive, and what is the road like?
It is about 45 kilometres from our front door to the Springbrook plateau, and it takes 50 minutes to an hour. Head inland to the Pacific Motorway, then follow the Gold Coast Springbrook Road as it leaves the flat farmland and starts to climb.
The last twenty minutes are the part to plan for. Springbrook Road narrows, twists and gains height quickly, with tight bends and the odd cyclist grinding uphill. Take it slowly, especially if someone in the car gets carsick, and watch for morning fog and damp patches under the tree canopy. Leaving mid-morning gives the fog time to lift and gets you a park before the falls car park fills on a fine weekend. Fuel up before you leave the coast, because there is no service station on the mountain.
What should we see first up top?
Start at Purling Brook Falls, the tallest waterfall in the park at 106 metres. Parking is free at the falls day-use area, and there is a kiosk, toilets and shaded picnic tables at the car park if you want a coffee before you walk.
The one thing not to miss is the lookout at the top of the falls, which is only a short, flat walk from the car park and hangs you right over the drop with the water plunging into the gorge below. If everyone is up for it, the full Purling Brook circuit is a 4-kilometre loop that drops to the base of the falls, crosses a suspension bridge over the creek and comes back up through the rainforest, allowing about two hours. Short on time or travelling with little legs? Walk to the top viewing platform and back and skip the descent.
Where do we stop for lunch on the mountain?
The practical lunch stop is the Springbrook Cafe and Bar, the licensed general store and cafe at 10 Forestry Road, close to the corner of the main road. It is the hub of the tiny mountain village and it is open daily, so it is your safest bet for a hot meal up here.
It is known for its home-style cooking and its burgers, and there is a kids menu and vegetarian options, which keeps a mixed group happy. Guests keep mentioning the verandah, where you eat among the rosellas and king parrots with the rainforest at the edge of the deck. Grab a table outside if the weather is kind. If you would rather picnic, pack lunch before you leave the coast and use the tables at Purling Brook, because cafe choices on the mountain are limited and can be pricey.
Which lookout is worth the afternoon drive?
Finish the day at the Best of All Lookout, a short drive further along the plateau to the far southern edge. Parking is free, and the walk out is a gentle 600-metre return boardwalk that passes a grove of Antarctic Beech trees, an ancient cool-climate species with individual trees thought to be 2,000 to 3,000 years old.
The name is not an exaggeration. On a clear afternoon the platform opens onto a sweeping view south across the state border into New South Wales, taking in the great cone of Wollumbin (Mount Warning), the Tweed Valley, Murwillumbah and, on the best days, the coastline down towards Byron. This is the “border ranges” the day is named for, and it is the payoff shot before the drive home. On the way out, the Canyon Lookout is only a few steps from its own car park and frames the Twin Falls tumbling off the escarpment, a quick stop that needs almost no walking.
Aim to reach the Best of All Lookout by early-to-mid afternoon, before the coastal haze builds and while the light is still on the ranges to the south. If you have brought a thermos, the small clearing near the car park is a fine spot to sit for ten minutes with the view before you point the car back down the hill.
FAQs about a Springbrook day trip from Burleigh
How long does it take to drive to Springbrook from Burleigh?
About 50 minutes to an hour for the roughly 45 kilometres from our front door. The last stretch up Springbrook Road is winding and climbs steadily, so it feels longer than the distance suggests. Leave mid-morning and you will be at Purling Brook Falls before the car parks fill.
Is Springbrook National Park free to visit?
Yes. Entry to Springbrook National Park is free, and parking at the main sites, including Purling Brook Falls, the Canyon Lookout and the Best of All Lookout, does not cost anything. You only pay for food, coffee and fuel, so it is one of the cheaper big days out from Burleigh.
Can we do Springbrook with young kids?
Yes, if you pick the short walks. The Best of All Lookout is a 600-metre return boardwalk, and the Canyon Lookout is a few steps from the car park. Save the full 4-kilometre Purling Brook circuit for older kids, or just walk to the top viewing platform and back.
Should we visit the Natural Bridge on the same day?
Not on a plateau day. The Natural Bridge sits in a separate section of the park down in the Numinbah Valley, about 30 minutes drive from the Springbrook lookouts, and it is best seen after dark for the glow worms. Keep it for its own evening trip.
A day on the plateau and a swim to finish is a good rhythm for a Burleigh stay, and the beach is right across the road when you get home. Book your dates and reserve direct with us, then plan the rest of your trip around our Gold Coast attractions guide once the mountain is ticked off.
Image credit: Tourism and Events Queensland
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