 GOLD
COAST HINTERLAND
Fancy a change from the
sun, sand and surf? A popular destination for Gold Coast holiday makers
is "The Green Behind The Gold" which is the beautiful Gold
Coast hinterland. Just a 30 minute drive from the coast is all
that is required to enter the vast mountainous and rural backdrop of the
hinterland.
The region provides a
magnificent contrast to the unbroken chain of golden beaches of the
shore line and is a popular day trip for Gold Coast holiday makers and
travellers from as far away as Brisbane and northern New South Wales.
Scenic drives meander
through the region, taking visitors from one natural or historic
attraction to the next. The rainforest tranquility of Tamborine
Mountain, the lush Numinbah Valley, the Hinze dam, the
pioneering history of Beaudesert, the Springbrook plateau
and Purlingbrook Falls... its all easy to access and enjoy.
Activities to be enjoyed in
the hinterland include hang-gliding, abseiling adventures, wilderness
treks and 4WD tours along rainforest tracks. This is an region of
country crafts, cottages and friendly guest houses, art galleries and
tea houses, colourful
markets, historical buildings, nostalgic pubs and working farms.
Native wildlife unique to
Australia abounds in the National
Parks and rainforests. The area provides a wonderful opportunity to
see and hear native animals and birds in their natural
environment.
Hikers and bush walkers
enjoy 160kms of walking
trails providing access to spectacular views and cascading
waterfalls. The parks have picnic areas for visitors who come to enjoy
the conserved remnants of the area's original subtropical and eucalypt
forests.
The mountainous countryside
has resulted in steep, winding roads and caution is recommended when
driving to the scenic lookouts, lodges, quaint towns and villages.
A great hinterland day trip
is a circuit starting at Coolangatta, then travelling south to
Murwillumbah and the Tweed Valley in New South Wales, swinging north
through Crystal Creek, Chillingham, Numinbah, Natural Bridge, Nerang,
Mudgeeraba and back to the coast.
Another excellent trip is to head west from Nerang through Tamborine
National Parks taking in Wilson's Lookout, Thunderbird Park and Cedar
Creek Falls before rejoining the highway at Beenleigh.
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