I won’t try and show you all 36 waterfalls that we saw in the week in the Lamington and Springbrook National Parks behind the Gold Coast but they certainly were impressive. There was a good fall of rain that we sat out on the coast so all the falls were in good flow. We started at Binna Burra with a circuit walk called Dave’s creek (we never did find a creek of this name, in fact not many creeks!) which gave us views down into the valley. The next day we headed off to Coomera Falls which were almost surpassed by the lovely drop of the Yarrabilgong Falls through the lush green growth opposite. I farewelled Ray and set off to complete the 17 kilometre circuit. The first few river crossings had large stepping stones to keep my feet dry but unfortunately the supply of large rocks didn’t keep going and I ended up wading across a few times. I followed on up the Coomera River with a series of falls and side streams also providing more highlights before returning to camp via the border track.
We then headed to Canungra where we left the trailer rather than towing it up the steep narrow road to O’Reilly’s where the campsites were small. We had our packs so that we could complete two walks without having to backtrack. The first day saw us heading for Albert River. We zigzagged gently down the mountainside with each corner giving us a new waterfall to view on Lightning Creek. We only spent a short time on Albert River but it provided a number of pretty falls.
Our campsite was deep in the forest but it was in a saddle and the wind roared through. We tried our best to screen the gas cooker but it took a lot longer than usual to cook. We were near Echo Point Lookout which gave great views towards Mt Warning and the coast so we visited to see it in different lights.
The next morning took us along the edge of the rim and through beautiful, mossy rainforest dominated by Antarctic beech trees. We then descended to Toolona Creek and one waterfall after another. Each one was different from the towering Toolona falls to the pretty Gwongurai Falls tumbling into a leafy green bower. We finally had to leave this creek to return to our starting point.
Springbrook NP is on the other side of the valley so we towed the trailer up the steep road to the excellent campsite. We took a short circuit walk to visit the very powerful Purling Brook Falls and were rewarded with rainbows in the sunshine. Best of All Lookout lived up to it’s name as we again enjoyed a view of Mt Warning and the coast.
We arose in the dark the next morning to capture sunrise only to find we had to clear ice off the windscreen first. It was worth the trip to the lookout and there was still plenty of frost when we returned for breakfast.
Another circuit walk had us again visiting multiple waterfalls as we completed the 17 kilometre Warrie circuit. We must have been going the wrong way as we met many people walking the other way and no-one going our way.
We weren’t waterfalled out yet so managed to visit a couple more on the way home including the well known Natural Bridge. The weather was cold as the clear winter skies gave us frosts as we dashed through New South Wales and home.
Travels with my camera in Oz 