Guidebook for Springbrook, Gold Coast

When you arrive at Springbrook you enter a different world. The roads are lined with trees, some are very tall and meet overhead looking like a cathedral ceiling of treetops. There are mountain views and dramatic cliff drops. It is cooler and greener than the coast. You will notice lots of ferns and some tree ferns growing by the road. You might see a pademelon (a marsupial that is like a wallaby but smaller) darting across the road. There are beautiful crimson rosellas and king parrots and many other birds. Stop at any of the lookouts to enjoy the views. If you have a sweet tooth stop at the Fudge Shop for locally made goodies. Across the road is the Craft Corner which may or may not be open. Dancing Waters Café and The Sitting Room Café are currently the two main cafes, note that they are closed 1 or 2days mid-week. Dancing Waters Café is located at the end of Forestry Road near Purlingbrook falls. At the end of Springbrook road is The English Garden, which is lovely and has a café but is rarely open. There is a picnic area opposite and a view of the top of Goomalarah Falls. A drive up to “Best of All” lookout is well worthwhile to see the views into NSW and the ancient beech trees. Canyon Lookout, opposite The Sitting Room Café, is a must with views to the Gold Coast and Ocean on fine day and is a good place to start your walks into the National Park. If you look to the right, you can see the top of Twin Falls from Canyon Lookout. Treefern Retreat is ideally situated close to and between Canyon Lookout and Tallanbana Picnic area. You can walk to Twin falls in about an hour return-trip from either of these two places or do a loop. Start at Canyon Lookout, head down the track to Twin Falls, do the circuit and when you get back to the top go to Tallanbana picnic area and walk along Springbrook Road to Treefern Retreat. This is a real advantage because the parking at Canyon Lookout and Tallanbana Picnic area is often full. Alternatively go the other direction to end at the café. Twin Falls has a pool at the base of the falls that can be swum in. You can also walk behind the falls. You can take a longer walk from Twin Falls to the right along the base of the cliffs in a northerly direction. You will see many smaller waterfalls, eventually making your way back up the cliff top and along the top of the cliff back to Canyon Lookout. Conveniently ending with The Sitting Room Café across the road. For more information about the walks visit: http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks//pdf/springbrook-inset-maps.pdf