Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

Went for a mothers day drive to Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland about an hour south of Brisbane.

Springbrook is part of the world heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia which include the most extensive tracts of subtropical rainforest in the world.

Almost the whole of Australia was covered in these rainforests until the climate changed and they retreated to the highland areas of the east coast of Australia.

The Gondwana border range National Parks along the nsw/qld border behind the Gold Coast contain the "highest concentration of frog, snake, bird and marsupial species in Australia."

"The Gondwana Rainforests provide an interesting living link with the evolution of Australia. Few places on earth contain so many plants and animals which remain relatively unchanged from their ancestors in the fossil record.

Some of the oldest elements of the world's ferns and conifers are found here and there is a concentration of primitive plant families that are direct links with the birth and spread of flowering plants over 100 million years ago"

See: http://www.environment.gov.au/node/19758

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

We left the M1 south at Mudgeeraba and travelled up the Gold Coast Springbrook Rd.

We passed The Old Teahouse Gallery.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5593/...9006be75_b.jpgThe Old Teahouse Gallery by fish.2, on Flickr

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

The first attraction we stopped at was the Purling Brooks Falls. There has not been much rain lately but it is spectacular at full flow. We still had some water going over the top:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5552/...3fc9c424_c.jpg
Purling Brook Falls by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/...1239344e_b.jpg
Purling Brook Falls by fish.2, on Flickr

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

There is a lovely mural on the Springbrook Community Hall:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7307/...6c18cc96_b.jpgSpringbrook Community Hall by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2922/...32c18f06_b.jpgLocal Aboriginal Names by fish.2, on Flickr

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

We then headed to the aptly named Best of All Lookout:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7381/...429032d0_c.jpgBest of All Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5500/...8b9fc62a_b.jpgBest of All Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

Some rare large antarctic beech trees on the way:

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/...9b5bef36_b.jpgAntarctic Beech Trees by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7420/...27fb055f_b.jpgAntarctic Beech Trees by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5572/...3b80a102_b.jpgBest of All Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5078/...a7ffd158_b.jpgBest of All Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

The QLS/NSW border runs along the ridge to the left:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7436/...fff34446_b.jpgBest of All Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2940/...b22563eb_b.jpgBest of All Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7302/...d586e4b3_h.jpgBest of All Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

The view from the lookout is stunning. The photo doesn't do it justice. You can see the Coolangatta/Tweed Heads area, Murwillimbah in NSW, Bryon Bay, Mt Warning etc.

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/...d5dbe979_b.jpgBest of All Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2928/...23f64bb8_b.jpgBest of All Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/...b441aa97_b.jpgBest of All Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2898/...c08ea919_b.jpgBest of all Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7436/...f8641361_b.jpgLookout anyone ? by fish.2, on Flickr

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

We then popped over to Canyon lookout for a late lunch:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/...b069218d_b.jpgCanyon Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2899/...c291da3a_b.jpgCanyon Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7446/...cf30e555_b.jpgCanyon Lookout - Gold Coast by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2939/...16225d41_b.jpgRosellas at Canyon Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7438/...3301e63e_b.jpgRosellas at Canyon Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2922/...c159fd6e_b.jpgRosellas at Canyon Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7298/...15f9a8b2_b.jpgRosellas at Canyon Lookout by fish.2, on Flickr

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

It was a nice little day out...hope you enjoyed our snaps. :)

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

Beautiful photographs. Looks like a stunning day out :)

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

Fabulous photos, it always amazes me when people go to the Gold Coast on holiday and never visit the hinterland!

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

Cracking photos ! Purling Brook Falls looks beautiful. :)

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

Thank you Fish, what fab pics. Spring brook is definitely on my list.
We go regularly to Barrington Tops, an hour and a half from us, it's the start of the Gondwana rainforest. I love it, it's one of my main reasons for wanting to come to Australia :)

Re: Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland
 

Thanks everyone. Am going to try and explore more of the Gondwana border ranges this year.

Love this photo on the internet of Mt Warning:

http://d3lp4xedbqa8a5.cloudfront.net...Rains_main.jpg
Source: http://d3lp4xedbqa8a5.cloudfront.net...Rains_main.jpg