Camping Plus’s favourite walking trails ~ a stone’s throw from the Gold Coast

Purling Brook Falls is another well known gold coast walk, located in the Springbrook section of Springbrook National Park.

The Purling brook falls walking trail begins high atop the Springbrook plateau not far from the carpark and winds down 265 stairs in a clockwise direction. The waterfall is a refreshing, spectacular site to behold halfway through your hike.

Moonlight crag hike, is a lesser known gold coast walking trail in the Orielly’s section of the Lamington National Park. This hike is not on a graded track and requires some hill climbing.

Moonlight crag is a unique hike, which starts and ends at the O’Reilly’s Rainforest Guesthouse. The hike follows the road for a kilometre until you cross the road to follow the Moran’s creek trail. If you follow the faded signs up the faint track, eventually you will reach Moonlight Crag. The Moonlight Crag offers outstanding, breath taking views of The Lost World.

Denham falls, is an ever popular, short hiking trail to an incredible chain of cascades that are great for swimming on a hot summer’s day. These falls are located in Denham Reserve, Doomben Ct & Doncaster Drive, Beechmont QLD 4211. There is a well worn and maintained path that travels from the road past a beautiful array of waterfalls in the Denham Reserve, culminating in Denham Falls and then Lip Falls.

Denham falls is great for a swim with the kids on a hot summer day, this great east hike can be done in under an hour (minus the travel time).

Camping Plus’s number 5 favourite is Minyon Falls, located just outside Byron Bay. Minyon Falls is a bit of a drive from the Gold Coast, but is well worth the extra effort.

Minyon Falls is a favourite weekend hiking trail for many, and offers ancient landscapes, dense rainforest, box brush trees and fern lined creeks. The best place to start this hike is from the picnic areas at the top of the escarpment. This is a fairly long and strenuous hike, so should only be done by those with some familiarity with hiking.

The Border Trail is another unique gold coast walk that is different to most of our other recommendations as it is actually not in a national park. This hike is a fire trail, which is a piece of crown land that follows the border between NSW and Qld. This tract of land goes for kilometres and kilometres up and down mountain ranges. This is a great trail as you are free to walk as far or as short as you want.

The Border Trail is a little difficult to find, but can be accessed at many points along its length. The easiest access is the gate at the end of Hoffschildt Drive, Currumbin Waters.

Mt Cougal is a beautiful hiking trail that ranges through diverse landscapes from sugarcane archways to dense rainforest. This isn’t a very well known hike, as it is not well graded and requires some decent fitness levels.

Mt Cougall is located about 4km into Garden of Eden Road, in Tomewin. At this point there is a steel gate with a roughly painted sign. You then have to follow the fence up the hill. You continue to follow the fence the whole way to the top of Mt Cougal. This is a long steep hike, however the reward is well worth it, twin peaks with breath taking views as well as some bonus caves.

Protesters falls is another one of Camping Plus’s favourite hikes. This one is located pretty close to Minyon falls in Nightcap National Park, out the back of Byron Bay.

Protesters falls is a quick and simple hike amongst the bangalow palms and native tamarinds, emerging into an enticing waterfall reward at the end. Look out for the endangered frogs!

Mt Warning is the pinnacle of the Gold Coast hiking trails available to you, not too far from the Gold Coast. This one is located in Wollumbin National Park and is a summit track, so it is very steep and difficult at times. This hike even requires rock scrambling and the use of a chain at the summit. Mt. Warning hiking trail is worth the effort for the spectacular views of the Gold Coast, Byron Bay and the surrounding hinterland.

These are Camping Plus’s favourite hiking trails, all just a stone’s throw from the Gold Coast. Camping Plus stock all your hiking needs from hiking boots, water bottles to backpacks that will ensure that your next hiking adventure runs smoothly so that you can enjoy the view of the landscape or waterfall.