Top 5 coastal walks in New South Wales

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Explore Australia

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Light to Light walk, Ken Eastwood

Walking is one of the best ways to experience Australia’s stunning natural beauty.

And as we move into the cooler months, walking is guaranteed to keep the chill at bay as you explore the famous New South Wales coast.

We’ve picked five coastal walks from the fantastic new book by Ken Eastwood, Top Walks in New South Wales, that will get your blood pumping as you traverse what is arguably the most stunning coastal landscape in the world.

Let us know your favourite coastal walk in the comments.

The Coast Track, Royal National Park

With a name like that, you’d expect the Coast Track to deliver on coastal views – and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s our favourite way to experience the dramatic cliffs, escarpments and spectacular ocean views of Royal National Park.

The track runs the length of the park from north to south, and at 26 kilometres, it’s no stroll in the park (pardon the pun). But you shouldn’t let the length deter you from undertaking the walk.

While experienced hikers might power through in one day, it’s more enjoyable if divided over two days, with a stay at North Era camping area in the middle. You’ll need to be self sufficient to stay at this bush camping site. There aren’t any showers, but you have the whole stretch of the Tasman Sea before you in which to wash off the dirt of a day’s walking (although you’ll get a bit of a cold shock if you go for a swim in winter).

A lot of people have discovered this spectacular walk, and it’s often used for Duke of Edinburgh hikes and scout groups, so go during the week in school term if possible.

Light to Light walk, Ben Boyd National Park

Light to Light walk, Ken Eastwood

Have you always fancied getting off the beaten track? While you will be walking on established tracks on the Light to Light walk, at 32 kilometres this splendid trek is rarely walked end-to-end. This is probably because there’s limited transport available to and from the walk meaning you really do need to have a car at both ends of the walk (unless you fancy walking 64 kilometres). It’s also recommended that you drop off some bottles of water in advance at whichever campsite you’d like to spend the night. Hikers generally stay at Saltwater Creek, which is the halfway point of the walk.

The Light to Light walk is in Ben Boyd National Park, which is situated on the appropriately named Sapphire Coast. As the walk mainly hugs the coast, you’ll have plenty of time to see the region live up to its name, as the water will sparkle into a million different shades of blue, from azure to navy and every blue in between.

The terrain is relatively flat ground, although you will have to clamber over some rocks and up some stairs. The most challenging thing about this walk is its length.

Make sure you say ‘hi’ to the locals on the trek – the area is heavily populated with native animals, including kangaroos and wallabies.

Angourie Coastal Walk, Yuraygir National Park

Angourie Coastal Walk, Ken Eastwood

Angourie Coastal Walk is in the rarely talked-about Yuraygir National Park.

We don’t know whether the park’s low-key profile is due to its distance from Sydney or the fact that it’s relatively undeveloped, but whatever the reason, it’s good news for hikers. A walk this spectacular would normally be crawling with walks, but as it stands, you don’t have to worry about being overtaken by hordes every time you stop to take in the views.

At three hours the walk is quite short, although some hikers might find the up-and-down nature of the walk challenging. You can also turn this walk into the longer Yuraygir Coastal Walk, which spans the length of the park and is estimated to take four days.

There are plenty of camping areas throughout Yuraygir National Park if you’d like to make a night of it, although most of the campgrounds in the park have limited facilities. Check out the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service for information on other walks you can take in the park if you decide to stay for a few days.

Spit to Manly, Sydney

This famous walk hardly needs an introduction. The entire 10-kilometre walk starts at the Spit Bridge and continues all the way around the coast of the inner harbour to Manly. The full walk is definitely worth completing, but if you don’t want to commit, this 8-kilometre-return section of the walk is a delightful introductory version.

This shortened walk will primarily take you through Sydney Harbour National Park, which encompasses one of the few remaining areas of (almost) undisturbed bush left in the city. There will be parts of the walk where you will feel like you are alone – a rare experience in a city of over four million people.

Starting at Clontarf Reserve, follow the walk until you reach the lookout near Dobroyd Head. This is roughly the 4-kilometre point, although you can choose to continue on the walk for a bit longer and turn around at Reef Beach or Forty Baskets Beach, but that will involve adding more uphill sections on the return trip.

We think some of the best views of Sydney are to be had on this walk. You’ll catch glimpses of both North and South heads, as well as a stunning overview of the developed areas of the inner harbour. It’s hard not to fall in love with Sydney after completing this walk.

Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island

Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island, Ken Eastwood

You might see the inclusion of this walk as cheating – after all, climbing a mountain doesn’t really count as a coastal walk. Unless that walk is on Lord Howe Island, where it’s hard to avoid the coast.

You’ll walk along the coast for a few sections of the 10-kilometre walk to the top of the mountain, and if you’re lucky and the summit isn’t cloudy, you’ll even see the spectacular Balls Pyramid, which is 23 kilometres out to sea. Make sure to take your camera along for this trek. You’re going to need it.

To climb Mount Gower, you’ll need to take a local guide. The return trip is around eight to nine hours, and there are ropes lining the path so you can steady yourself on your way up to the 875-metre-high summit. It’s a marvellous trek that displays the World Heritage–listed island’s stunning natural beauty.

For more top walks in New South Wales, check out Ken Eastwood’s Top Walks in New South Wales.

Top 5 cool camping spots in Victoria and New South Wales

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Explore Australia

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Dunphys camping area, Nic Hanson, used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

It’s been a few weeks since your last holiday and you’re feeling the camping itch. But you don’t want to stay at just any camping ground.

You want to camp in a spectacular location with activities that take you outside your comfort zone.

The campsite doesn’t have to have state-of-the-art facilities – in fact, you’d really like it to be tent-based camping. Something that takes you back to nature, and that feels relaxed and separate from the bustle of your daily life.

Basically, you want to go ‘cool’ camping.

We’ve picked out some of the best cool camping spots in Victoria and New South Wales. So why not leave the heavy camping artillery at home and give one of these sites a go? Let us know which sites you think live up to the cool camping manifesto in the comments.

Dunphys camping area, Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales

Narrow Neck Plateau, visible from Dunphys camping area, Destination NSW

Wind your way down into the peaceful Megalong Valley from the charming town of Blackheath. Keep going along the Megalong Valley Road for another 19 kilometres (you can stop off for a delightful tea break at the Megalong Valley Tea Rooms if required) before heading up into the mountains on the other side of the valley.

Don’t worry, you haven’t reached the end of the civilisation. You’ve just arrived at the splendidly isolated Dunphys camping area – a cool camping spot par excellence.

Dunphys is one of the most scenic camping areas in the Blue Mountains. Its view of the swooping escarpments and tree-carpeted valleys is truly spectacular, and, unlike many other campsites in the mountains, its scenic aspects aren’t obscured by trees. This also means that Dunphys is one of the few campsites in the Blue Mountains that enjoys the sun’s warming rays in winter.

Once you’ve set up tent, grab a drink (you’ll have to have brought one with you) and sit back and enjoy the sunset. But don’t drink too much – you’ll find it hard to resist the fantastic walks accessible from the camping area, including the well-known Six Foot Track.

Kangaroo Valley Tourist Park, New South Wales

You might not think that a tourist park would tick all of the cool camping boxes. After all, there are cabins on offer here – and isn’t cool camping about getting back to nature? Don’t let the cabins distract you from the other charms of this tourist park. Kangaroo Valley Tourist Park has dedicated sites for camping with plenty of space for you to spread out.

Set in the delightful Kangaroo Valley in New South Wales’ Southern Highlands, this park has the nostalgic feel of a park from a lost time. In fact, the whole valley has a similar feel, which first hits you as the cross the distinctive, turreted bridge into the valley.

It’s easy to lose track of time here, whether you’re reading a book on the riverbank, strolling into town for a cuppa, or riding the park’s bikes around the valley. If you feel the need to wake yourself up from this relaxing idyll, getting out on the Kangaroo River in a canoe is a fantastic way to do it.

Kangaroo Valley Tourist Park’s proximity to the river is one of our favourite things about the park and you can give the canoeing a go even if you haven’t had any experience.

Buchan Caves camping area, Buchan Caves Reserve, Victoria

Buchan Caves camping area, by Attila con la cámara’s, used under CC BY-NC 2.0

You’ll come for the caves and stay for the camping. Buchan Caves Reserve is famous for its network of subterranean caves with incredible limestone formations that almost seem to drip off the ceiling. People have been touring the caves since the early 20th century, and the caves are just as worth visiting today.

Once you emerge from the caves, you’ll find the reserve filled with beautiful European trees, which adds to the feeling of not quite being in Australia, a feeling that lasts until the first kangaroo bounds past your campsite. You can camp under the shade of these European trees at the designated campground.

While you are at Buchan Caves, make sure to grit your teeth for a dive in the pool. It’s fed by an underground stream, and rumour has it the pool is one of the coldest in Victoria.

Sealers Cove camping area, Wilsons Promontory National Park, Victoria

Sealers Cove, by Skeggsy, used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

To get to Sealers Cove, you’ll have to leave your four wheels behind and get there on two legs. Due to flooding, the only way to reach Sealers Cove at the moment is via an overnight hike from Oberon Bay (you’ll need a permit for all hikes in Wilsons Promontory).

The hike almost transports you to a hidden land, and while the toilets and signs at Sealers Cove will clue you in to the fact that people have visited this delightful cove before, that won’t detract from the feeling of serenity and calm at this campsite.

The shady, tent-only camping area has glimpses through to the splendid beach below, which is overlooked by the Wilson Range.

Aire Crossing camping area, Great Otway National Park, Victoria

Have you been camping in Great Otway National Park? Chances are you’ve stayed at Johanna Beach or Blanket Bay camping areas. It’s not hard to see why – with their spectacular ocean views and laid-back vibe, these camping spots embody what the Great Ocean Road is all about.

But secreted away in the depths of the national park is another sort of campsite, one without ocean views and not a surfer in sight. Campers at Aire Crossing are more likely to be seen drinking tea and gazing at the old-growth trees in the temperate rainforest than hitting the waves.

Triplet Falls, Tourism Victoria

As you’d expect for a hidden rainforest campsite, the facilities at Aire Crossing are limited, but the activities are not. Some of the best walks in the park are in the vicinity of the camping area, including the walk to the beautiful Triplet Falls. A nature escape doesn’t get any better than this.

For more cool camping spots, check out Kerryn Burgess’s Cool Camping Australia: East Coast.

Top 5 camping spots to take a novice camper

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Explore Australia

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Tidal River campground, Tourism Victoria

Whoever says that camping isn’t for everyone obviously hasn’t been to the campsites on our list.

With their fantastic amenities and often spectacular locations, these camping areas are sure to convince even the most fervent anti-tentist that camping can be fun and enjoyable.

Be sure to let us know where you’d take a novice camper in the comments.

1. Bonnie Vale camping area, Royal National Park, New South Wales

Don’t worry – the facilities at Australia’s oldest national park, Royal National Park, aren’t as ancient as the park itself. In fact, you could say they’re quite flashy, as the facilities include flushing toilets, hot showers, white square basins and drinking water.

From the moment you drive up to this camping ground to the moment you leave, your experience at Bonnie Vale will be easy and comfortable. While you can bring a caravan or camper trailer, we think it’s the perfect camping area to set up tent the old-fashioned way.

The campsite is right on the riverfront, and has fantastic water-based activities. The kids will love the sandbar in the middle of the river, and it’s a great spot to try your hand at a bit of kayaking or waterskiing on the calm waters of Port Hacking.

One of the best things about Bonnie Vale is that it’s just over an hour away from Sydney, so novice campers won’t feel too far out of their comfort zones. And what’s even better? The tiny township of Bundeena is within walking distance of the campsite, where a skim flat white (or skinny flat white for those of you south of the border), is close at hand.

2. Tidal River camping area, Wilsons Promontory National Park, Victoria

The bad news about Tidal River is that the word is out about this fantastic campsite (and has been for some time). The good news? If you avoid the site during the peak times of Christmas and Easter, it’s the perfect spot to take a first-time camper.

Camping doesn’t get much easier than at Tidal River. Not only do you have drinking water, hot showers and flushing toilets, there are also dishwashing stations, laundry facilities and a kiosk that serves takeaway food. And with 484 sites on offer at the campground, if you don’t know how to set up your tent, there’s sure to be someone who does.

Situated behind the dunes at the spectacular Norman Bay, Tidal River has easy access to what makes Wilsons Prom so magnificent – the golden dunes and ocean views of the national park. You’ll want to spend a couple of days exploring the nooks and crannies of Wilsons Prom, knowing that you have a comfortable base camp where you can relax after a hard day’s exploring.

3. Dandabah camping area, Bunya Mountains National Park, Queensland

Dandabah camping area, Jackie Carpenter

Dandabah camping area is just inside the southern entrance to Bunya Mountains National Park, so you can make a quick exit if the camping experience becomes too much for your novice camper, even if it’s just for a trip to the nearby general store or restaurant.

The campground itself is a large, grassed area, with no designated sites, so you can set up wherever you find a spot. Yet, it still has all the amenities needed to reassure a novice camper in, including hot showers and flushing toilets. There is running water, but it needs to be treated before you can drink it.

The road into the national park is long and windy, so you’ll be glad to leave your car behind and take advantage of the fantastic walking trails in the park once you arrive.

4. Wilpena Pound Campground, Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia

Wilpena Pound Campground, Tom Simpson

If there’s anywhere in Australia that’s going to convince someone to camp under the stars, it’s Flinders Ranges National Park. This spectacular national park will leave you in awe of its overwhelming natural beauty, whether you are climbing the magnificent ampitheatre of Wilpena Pound, scouting for hidden waterholes or wielding your 4WD over the peaks and ridges of these ancient rocks.

Of course, the fantastic amenities at this campground don’t hurt either. You’ll find hot showers, drinking water and toilets here, as well as easy access to the nearby Wilpena Pound Resort.

The campsite also offers novice campers a back-up option, as there are permanent tents, with solid floors and actual beds, set up at the campground.

5. Lake Navarino Forest Resort, Western Australia

Visiting a forest of tall jarrah trees is probably on your list of things to do when you visit Western Australia. But you can also go one-step further and stay in the heart of the forest at Lake Navarino Forest Retreat.

This is a caravan park, making it the most luxurious of all of the camping areas on this list. Luxury being relative, of course – a novice camper who is used to hotels probably won’t think this is the lap of luxury. But Lake Navarino Forest Resort has all the facilities you need in a delightful forest setting.

Just don’t tell too many people about it, because once you’ve visited, you’ll want to return again and again.

What campsites do you visit with novices?

Discover 7 of Australia’s more unknown national parks

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Explore Australia

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Melaleuca sp., by codiferous, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

From Kakadu to the Blue Mountains, Australia’s most famous national parks are spectacular and attention-grabbing, with their arsenal of majestic rock formations, towering waterfalls and stunning views.

But there are some national parks hidden throughout the country that only see a fraction of the number of visitors to these major parks, mainly due to their remote locations (although one of the parks is to be found in the heart of Sydney).

We pick seven more unknown national parks and reveal why they are well worth a visit.

Garigal National Park, New South Wales

Garigal National Park by Ian Sanderson, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Sydney is famous for its urban sprawl. Yet hidden among the suburbs of Sydney are some of the most enchanting national parks in the state, including Lane Cove, Ku-ring-gai Chase, Cattai and the little-known Garigal National Park.

Sitting unassumingly off Mona Vale Road on the way to the northern beaches, Garigal National Park is home to spectacular bush and water views, sandstone formations and significant Aboriginal sites.

There is a range of trails around the park, so the best way to explore is by foot, although if you’re the adventurous sort, many of the trails are also good for mountain biking and horseriding.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Sydney if there weren’t also water-based activities on offer. There are some great fishing spots right on Middle Harbour, or experienced canoeists can take a canoe out on the water.

Coopracambra National Park, Victoria

Coopracambra National Park, Don Fuchs/Tourism Victoria

There aren’t many places in Victoria where you can really feel like you are getting off the beaten track, but with its soaring trees, craggy gorges and heritage-listed river, Coopracambra certainly fits the bill.

Situated in the remote north-east of Victoria, Coopracambra doesn’t see many visitors. But this isolation has been fantastic for the park, allowing its ecosystem to carry on pretty much undisturbed. Much of the park’s history, including Aboriginal sites and fossil remains, has also been preserved.

As with many little-visited parks, the best way to get around Coopracambra is by 4WD or on foot. Popular walks include hiking to Mount Coopracambra and Mount Wakefield, and many of the walks involve rock-hopping and exploring the stunning isolated scenery of this region.

Lake Torrens National Park, South Australia

Lake Eyre gets all the exposure, but the smaller salt lake at Lake Torrens is also worth a visit, although small in this case is relative – the Lake Torrens salt lake still stretches for 250 kilometres.

This national park doesn’t have the amenities of Lake Eyre, as there are no camping areas, picnic areas or toilets. It’s only accessible by 4WD via two roads on private stations, which you’ll need to seek permission to use. But jumping through these obstacles to get to the park just makes the experience all the more worthwhile.

This astoundingly wild and barren land is extremely photogenic, and also offers great opportunities for birdwatching. But don’t worry about bringing your floaties – the lake has only filled up once in the past 150 years.

Karlamilyi National Park, Western Australia

Karlamilyi National Park, Jiri Lochman / Australian Geographic

The national park formerly known as Rudall River, Karlamilyi is the biggest national park in Western Australia and one of the most isolated. Situated in the Pilbara region, the park is 260 kilometres from the nearest town of Marble Bar.

Luckily, most people don’t visit Karlamilyi unless they are extremely well prepared for a desert journey, as the park is surrounded on both sides by the Great Sandy and Little Sandy deserts. The park can only be reached by a series of rough 4WD tracks, which you need to get permission to use.

Once you reach the centre of the park, you might think you’ve reached an oasis, as the ancient gorge hides a series of rockpools. The park, although mainly consisting of distinctive red desert lands including salt lakes and scrubby plains, has a surprising amount of greenery. And no trip to Karlamilyi would be complete without a trip to the Desert Queen Baths, where you can dip into the pristine swimming holes.

Limmen National Park, Northern Territory

Butterfly Springs by eyeweed, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

You’d think that a national park with spectacular geological formations, wild rivers, an overabundance of lush natural beauty and a fascinating history, would be one of the most popular in the Northern Territory.

Yet Limmen National Park, found on the coast of the Barkly Tablelands next to the Arafura Sea, is one of the least-visited national parks in the Territory, and the newest, having only been declared in 2012.

The main drawcard at Limmen is the Lost City, a collection of sandstone spires and columns. The park also draws anglers with the chance to catch barramundi.

While the wild rivers can look very appealing, saltwater crocs cruise the rivers of the park, so don’t dip your foot (or any part of your body) in the water. The only safe place to swim is at Butterfly Springs. You can also camp at the springs.

Now that it’s officially a national park, visitor numbers may pick up, so visit before the rest of Australia does.

Mount Hypipamee National Park, Queensland

Hypipamee Crater, Karl Seelig/Tourism North Queensland

You might not think of far-north Queensland as being a volcanic area, but the central feature at this national park is a crater that formed when a volcanic vent erupted around 10,000 years ago. Things have thankfully cooled since then, as this small national park now protects a beautiful patch of high-altitude rainforest, which stands out from the more common tropical rainforest of the region.

The crater is a spectacular site. A viewing platform over the crater reveals a 58-metre drop to the green lake below. Also worth a visit within the park is Dinner Falls, a series of cascades that rush over the cliffs into a boulder-strewn creek.

A variety of possums call the national park home, so keep your eyes peeled for a touch of possum magic while visiting.

Strzelecki National Park, Tasmania

Sandy beaches? Tick. Spectacular granite mountains? Tick. Wombats? Tick. If you haven’t already got the awe-inspiring Strzelecki National Park on your to-visit list, you should add it now and count yourself lucky that this park is hidden on Flinders Island in the middle of the Bass Strait – otherwise visitor numbers would probably rival those of Freycinet.

One of the most popular activities in the park is the walk to the top of Mount Strzelecki, the tallest peak on the island at 756 metres. The ocean views from the top are truly majestic.

And once you get back down to level ground, you may want to take inspiration from the amusingly named Trousers Point, and jump into your swimmers for a spot of wading or snorkelling.

Discover the Gold Coast hinterland’s national parks

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Explore Australia

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Natural Bridge cave

Melissa Chambers discovers the spectacular national parks, from Springbrook to Lamington, in the Gold Coast hinterland.

What do you think of when you hear the words ‘Gold Coast’? Most people immediately think of the Surfers Paradise glitter strip, the beaches, or the theme parks.

But within an hour’s drive from Surfers Paradise are the hidden treasures of the Gold Coast – the national parks!

Filled with rainforests, walking trails, rivers, waterfalls and dams, these national parks offer some of the most picturesque country you will find in Queensland.

So whether you are a local or just visiting it is well worth your time to spend a day or two exploring the beautiful hinterland. It’s a great family day out and best of all – most of it is free.

Hinze Dam

Hinze Dam

Hinze Dam is the water storage facility for the Gold Coast region. It has just reopened to the public after being closed for four years, with new picnic and barbecue facilities, as well as a visitor centre and cafe. Plenty of thought has gone into the redesign of the recreational areas.

Access to the dam recreation area is now from the Nerang–Advancetown Road. If you are heading to Hinze Dam, don’t follow your GPS. It will send you to the side which is now closed. Go via Advancetown.

At the dam there is a large grassed area, perfect for the kids to kick the footy around on. The new stainless steel barbecues, which are free to use, are all undercover. There’s plenty of undercover seating and tables as well as lots of tables out in the open. There are also lots of well-established trees to provide shade, or you can just throw a rug on the ground and enjoy the sunshine.

A walking track runs between the picnic area and visitor centre, and a walk along the length of the dam wall is a must to appreciate the huge amount of water that this dam holds. The wall itself is over 1800-metres long and offers spectacular views of the water and the hills surrounding the dam.

You aren’t permitted fuel-powered boats on the dam, but sail boats, electric-powered boats and canoes are welcome. There are also mountain bike trails throughout the area and horse-friendly trails as well.

Springbrook National Park– Purling Brook Falls

Purling Brook Falls

Springbrook National Park is possibly one of the most spectacular national parks in Queensland, full of waterfalls, lookouts and walking tracks. Purling Brook Falls is superb and you are able to walk down to the eastern side of the falls, but you will have to return via the same way as the rest of the walking track is closed due to damage caused by last year’s heavy rain and floods.

If you don’t fancy going all the way to the bottom of Purling Brook Falls, you can walk across the top of them to the other side where there is another lookout. The Settlement camping area is only a short walk away and provides 11 designated camp sites, four of which are suitable for camper trailers or campervans. There are free electric barbecues, toilets and drinking water available in the campground. Bookings are essential for the campground and a permit must be displayed.

There are also several more lookouts in the park, including The Best of All Lookout, which looks out towards the NSW towns of Murwillumbah and Byron Bay. On a clear day the views are incredible. There are also a couple of good B&B’s in the area if you fancy staying a night. Rosella’s Coffee Shop at the Canyon Lookout is a cosy spot for morning tea, especially if the weather happens to be on the cooler side. The weather in the hinterland can get quite chilly so it is advisable to take a jacket.

Springbrook National Park– Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge waterfall

If you continue down the road from Advancetown you will find yourself at Natural Bridge, a cave that formed at the base of a waterfall. It’s located just off the Nerang–Murwillumbah Road in Springbrook National Park.

The drive to Natural Bridge will take you through a couple of tiny villages that offer small cafes and roadside picnic areas – perfect for a quick refresher or somewhere to enjoy lunch.

The walking track at Natural Bridge takes you down to the bottom where there are viewing areas both inside and outside the cave, so make sure you have your camera ready.

Following the path will then take you up and over the ‘natural bridge’ to view the waterfall from the top. It is a spectacular sight, especially when there has been generous rainfall.

The cave also hosts a colony of glow worms, which of course can only be seen after dark. The whole of the Natural Bridge area is within a national park, so make sure you stay on the designated walking tracks. No swimming is permitted and fines do apply. And of course it goes without saying – take any rubbish with you!

Unfortunately, Natural Bridge is not wheelchair friendly and you will encounter stairs, rough terrain and a reasonable incline on the way back out, but it is well worth the effort. Anyone with a moderate level of fitness will easily be able to manage the walk.

An hour should be plenty of time for the walk and to enjoy the sights. It is advisable to take a water bottle and even in summer a light jacket may be required as it is often cool due to the overhanging trees of the rainforest. There are picnic tables and toilets available just next to the car park at Natural Bridge.

Lamington National Park– Binna Burra section

The Surfers Paradise Skyline from Beechmont

The Binna Burra section of Lamington National Park is a beautiful mountain wilderness area full of walking tracks and waterfalls. From easy 20-minute scenic walks to three- or four-day treks, Binna Burra has a lot to offer.

Binna Burra is just over an hour’s drive from the Gold Coast. It’s a beautifully scenic drive passing through the small villages of Lower Beechmont and Beechmont. There are several spots along the way that afford spectacular views of the Surfers Paradise skyline, so make sure you keep an eye out for places to stop.

The Rosins Conservation Lookout is another fantastic spot to stop and take some photos as it looks out over almost the entire Numinbah Valley. The view is amazing and when conditions are right, you’ll be able to see hang-gliders launch from the lookout. There is also a picnic area and toilets are available.

Rosins Lookout

Binna Burra itself has plenty to offer, and it’s worth staying overnight. There’s camping available in the Rainforest Campsites, where there are a variety of tent sites, a limited number of powered and unpowered van sites as well as safari tents.

If you are looking for something a little more upmarket there are also Mountain Lodges and Sky Lodges. The Sky Lodges in particular are very luxurious and contain spa baths and open fires and balconies to take in the amazing views from. Again there are plenty of picnic and barbecue facilities available or you can eat at either The Lamington Teahouse, which has amazing views or the Clifftop Dining Room at the Rainforest Lodge.

Lamington National Park – O’Reilly’s

A section of the amazing Tree Top Walk at O’Reilly’s

Located in the Green Mountain section of the Lamington National Park is O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, better known to locals and visitors as O’Reilly’s.

O’Reilly’s is located about an hour and a half’s drive west of the Gold Coast, but you may like to allow a little longer as the road is narrow and single lane in some places and very steep and windy. But once you come out at O’Reilly’s, you will see that it is all worth it.

There are three luxury accommodation options available at O’Reilly’s or you can camp in the adjacent Green Mountains camping area, which has tent and campervan sites available but is not suitable for caravans or motorhomes.

There are several short walks from O’Reilly’s ranging in distance from 800 metres to over 4 kilometres. A must-do walk while at O’Reilly’s is the Rainforest Tree Top Walk, which is an 800-metre-long walk consisting of boardwalks and tree-top suspension bridges, some of which are 16 metres above the ground. For those not worried by heights, there is a viewing platform 30 metres up a tree that you have to climb up to get to, and this is usually a favourite with the kids.

If you are looking for places to stop on your way into or out of O’Reilly’s take a detour to Kamarun Lookout, which is about 10 kilometres before O’Reilly’s. The views are stunning and on a clear day you are able to see the sand dunes on Moreton Island – pretty amazing!

You can find Melissa writing about other places to visit in Australia on her website, Camper Trailer Travels

Author Archives: Explore Australia

Top 5 coastal walks in New South Wales

Top 5 cool camping spots in Victoria and New South Wales

Top 5 camping spots to take a novice camper

Discover 7 of Australia’s more unknown national parks

Discover the Gold Coast hinterland’s national parks

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