Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk – 6 Days

GROUP-GUIDED

Group-guided

Self-guided

OVERVIEW

This Gold Coast Hinterland area is the largest area of protected subtropical rainforest in the world, with sizeable areas of warm temperate rainforest and nearly all of Australia’s remaining cool temperate rainforest.

We start the trail in the Springbrook National Park, traversing a prehistoric landscape that links the World Heritage-listed Lamington and Springbrook plateaus. We have selected the most scenic Gold Coast walks through this unspoilt rainforest, presenting you with the most beautiful locations to bask, eat lunch and simply just relax.

With two guides to look after you on this Gold Coast walk, there will be the opportunity to shorten some of the walking days if you so desire. The wonderfully unique lodgings make up an essential part of this incomparable journey.

Highlights

Massive Strangler Figs, ancient Antarctic Beech, Red Cedar, Rosewood and Booyong trees
Admire hundreds of different species of palms, vines, ferns and orchids
Pass cascading streams and towering waterfalls on tracks that crisscross creeks
Reach peaks of over 1100m with stunning views
Walk the volcano rim, do the Treetops walk and climb the huge Strangler Fig tower

WALK OVERVIEW

TYPE OF WALK

GROUP GUIDED

TRIP LENGTH

6 DAYS

WALK GRADE

Moderate

PRICE FROM

$ 3195

per person twin/double share

SINGLE OCCUPANCY

$ 995

per person

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Departure Dates

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ITINERARY

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6

DAY 1
FROM GOLD COAST TO SPRINGBROOK NATIONAL PARK AND PURLING BROOK FALLS

This trip starts at the Gold Coast Airport (Coolangatta) at 9:30 am. Travel to Binna Burra stopping in Springbrook National Park along the way. The Gold Coast hikes start with a delightful circuit walk high on the plateau through fragrant forests of New England ash and ancient lepidozamias to spectacular Purling Brook Falls. On the way to Binna Burra, we do shorts walks at various lookouts on the way.

Walking: Easy / 5 km / 2 hrs

Meals: Lunch at a local cafe and three-course buffet dinner at Binna Burra lodge restaurant.

Accommodation: Binna Burra in the Sky Lodges in rooms with ensuites

DAY 2
LONG OR SHORT WALK AT BINNA BURRA

You will have a choice of two circuit walks today of varying difficulties. Both circuits will pass through several vegetation types. Waterfalls are also plentiful today on either circuit choice. Tracks crisscross rainforest creeks for much of the day and pass many waterfalls. But it’s the forest that will leave you spellbound with some of the biggest trees seen anywhere in Australia among other things.

Walking: Moderate / 16 km / 5 hrs / easy option of 11 km available

Meals: Cooked breakfast, lunch on the track and three-course buffet dinner at Binna Burra lodge restaurant

Accommodation: Binna Burra in the Sky Lodges in rooms with ensuites

DAY 3
GOLD COAST HINTERLAND GREAT WALK TO NUMINBAH VALLEY

Today we will walk on the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk and head down into the Numinbah Valley. The track takes you to the remote eastern escarpment for great views into the valley. There’s a good chance that the striking black and yellow Regent Bowerbird will appear. In the evening, Red-necked Pademelons, possums and Sugar Gliders are commonly seen around the lodges.

Walking: Moderate / 19 km / 7 hrs / 11 km easier option available

Meals: Cooked breakfast at Binna Burra restaurant, walkers lunch and three-course buffet at Binna Burra restaurant

Accommodation: Binna Burra in the Sky Lodges in rooms with ensuites

DAY 4
BORDER TRACK WALK BINNA BURRA TO O'REILLY'S

Full day Lamington Traverse. Walk across the rainforest plateau on the Border Track to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat – at 22 km it’s a long way but the route is reasonably flat and the going is easy. The track emerges from the subtropical rainforest at several panoramic escarpment lookouts along the way. The forest is a mysterious melting pot of fauna and flora and largely an untouched environment with new plants being found, classified and named even today. Outstanding bird life like the striking Regent Bowerbird and more than 160 species of other sub-tropical birds will keep everyone engrossed. Many of them are easy to see and unafraid of people.

Walking: Moderate to challenging / 22 km / 7 hrs / shorter walk available

Meals: Cooked breakfast at Binna Burra restaurant, walkers lunch and three-course a la carte dinner prepared by the chefs at O’Reilly’s

Accommodation: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in rooms with ensuites

DAY 5
BOX FOREST WALK AND WALKS AT OREILLY'S

This morning there will be an option to start your day off with a bird walk guided by a local expert. Both Gold Coast walks take us through the lush sub-tropical rainforest with impressive stands of brush box and piccabeen palms. You will find yourself surrounded by the giants of the forest with waterfalls aplenty. Finish the day with a soak in the heated outdoor spa pool. Get up close to a 3000-year-old tree. These ancient Antarctic Beeches provide evidence of Australia’s beginnings when it was connected to the Antarctic as part of the Gondwanaland super-continent. There is even a palm forest in the middle of this rainforest.

Walking: Moderate / 16 km / 6 hrs / shorter option either 5 or 10 km

Meals: Cooked breakfast at O’Reilly’s restaurant, walkers lunch and three-course a la carte dinner prepared by the chefs at O’Reilly’s

Accommodation: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in rooms with ensuites

DAY 6
TREE TOPS WALK BACK TO GOLD COAST

After breakfast, there will be an opportunity to climb the giant fig tree and explore the different levels of the rainforest on the Tree Tops Walk before travelling back to the Gold Coast arriving around 1.00 pm.

Walking: Easy / 2 km / 1 hr

Meals: Cooked breakfast at O’Reilly’s restaurant

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Pack-free walking
25+ years experience
Customised
Eco Travel

Genuine all inclusive pack free walking holiday
Hike the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk
2 engaging, knowledgeable and experienced guides
5 nights’ comfortable ensuite accommodation
Chef prepared cooked breakfasts, two and three-course dinners and comprehensive walkers lunches
All transport from Coolangatta (Gold Coast), including all luggage transport
National Parks admission

ACCOMMODATION & DINING

OVERVIEW

You will be fully supported when walking these Gold Coast hikes staying in two luxurious accommodations. The first is best described as 5-star luxury, the Sky Lodges at Binna Burra. The Sky Lodges have two or three bedrooms (each with their own ensuite bathroom) and large communal living areas which open up to a spacious decking area overlooking the Coomera & Numinbah Valleys. The rooms with the view will be allocated to the bookings that are received first. You can view a floor plan for the three-bedroom Sky Lodge here. Then it’s on to O’Reilly’s where we experience a different kind of luxury, in the form of a much more rustic feel but with similar incredible views

The dinners are three courses prepared by the chef at the lodge and retreat restaurants with a focus on local fresh organic produce. Every day you will wake to a cooked breakfast in the restaurant to ready yourself for the upcoming days’ walk. You’ll lunch at incredible locations. Indeed, the walkers lunches complete the circle ensuring that your appetite is always kept satisfied. Our walkers’ lunches are substantial; we provide you with your own insulated lunch bag, ice pack and a silicone collapsible tub for your convenience. A walkers lunch may include a high protein type salad, a roll or a wrap, a muesli bar, cake or muffin and a piece of fruit. Each day is slightly different. Lunch is always augmented by Auswalk’s famous trail mix.

Alcohol or drinks with meals are not included (except tea/coffee and juice with breakfast).

NIGHTS 1, 2 & 3

BINNA BURRA

You will be staying at Binna Burra Lodge’s award-winning Sky Lodges on the first 3 nights of this walk, and that’s something given that the views of these cosy Studio Apartments are second to none as they literally float above the clouds.

The property is located 800 metres above sea level amidst the subtropical rainforest of Lamington National Park, which affords you the experience of waking up to the misty mountain sunrise from your comfortable king bed. And after each day’s walk, you can prop your tired feet up on the quaint day bed to enjoy the cosy gas fireplace and/or hideaway TV.

Each of their eco-friendly Apartments also have a spacious bathroom with a spa, separate shower and Wallawa amenities, and they are just a stroll from Binna Burra Teahouse. There is also a well-equipped kitchenette and a balcony with quaint seating and a gas barbie. The bed can be a king or a pair of twin beds.
NIGHTS 4 & 5

LAMINGTON

On your last couple of nights, you will stay at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat which is a birding and waterfall paradise that has been welcoming travellers for 95 years. Their cosy serviced accommodation have expansive views overlooking the western McPherson Ranges with queen beds and ensuite bathrooms. These rooms include air conditioning, ceiling fans and fly screens. You can pick up your packed lunches at The Dining after breakfast each day, and when you get back from the trail, you are welcome to unwind at the casual Rainforest Bar with stunning sunset views.

Apart from enjoying their comfy accommodation, you can also have wines from O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards or bliss out at the Lost World Day Spa.

FITNESS GUIDE

It’s well worth investing some time and effort preparing for your walking holiday. The graph shows the average daily distance, elevation and terrain difficulty for your hike. The dotted line indicates the average across all our walks, which will give you a feel for how challenging your walk is compared to all – and the recommended type, and amount, of preparation needed. Of course, you can adapt this according to your existing fitness levels and lifestyle.

The graph and the information below can be used in conjunction with the fitness guide to help you prepare for your walking adventure. Across all walks, average daily distance is 16.8km, average daily elevation is 448m, average terrain difficulty is 5/10.

DISTANCE - ABOVE AVERAGE

Distance training is a major consideration in your overall training program. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan.

Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 17-25 km in a single day. Also include walks on consecutive days to help your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row. Take every opportunity you can to walk. If you have a fitness watch or phone, you should try to reach >15,000 steps every day.

Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

ELEVATION - ~AVERAGE

Elevation training should be a consideration in your overall training program.

Try to include some form of elevation in more than 40% of your walking and prioritise resistance training, whilst incorporating stairs anytime you can. Walking up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand or up and down small hills is incredibly useful. Elevation is often where walkers encounter problems, opposed to distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles to everyday flat walking.

Ensure you can comfortably walk the average elevation per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

UNEVEN TERRAIN

Preparation for hiking on uneven terrain demands a blend of physical and mental readiness.

Begin with balance-enhancing exercises, such as one-legged stands and stability ball workouts, laying a groundwork for stability and coordination. Strengthening the lower body is especially important, achieved through the incorporation of squats, lunges, and step-ups. Gradually increase the complexity of the terrain on which you walk, moving from gravel paths to rocky trails. Cultivate mindfulness during your practice, directing focused attention to both your immediate surroundings and precise foot placement.

The importance of suitable footwear cannot be overstated; prioritise options that offer robust support and reliable grip to navigate varying terrains with confidence. Build endurance through consistent hikes, progressively increasing distance and difficulty.

GENERAL INFO

The Gold Coast walks we have handpicked including the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk are mostly easily passable and for the most part, the tracks are well graded. There are some opportunities for keen walkers to challenge themselves but in the main, the walks are all moderate, bar the Border Track which is moderate to challenging. This trip operates with two knowledgeable engaging guides so we can offer easier and harder walk options along the way.

Pre and post-tour accommodation: There are many good hotels on the Gold Coast, however, we pick up and drop off at one central accommodation, Calypso Plaza, 99 Griffith Street.. The tour starts at the Calypso at 9.00 am or 9.30 am at Coolangatta airport. We arrive at approximately 1.00 pm back to the Gold Coast.

For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice on our FAQ section.

WEATHER

We like the late winter/early spring months as there is low humidity and the temperature is usually very pleasant for walking. See the Bureau of Meteorology for information about temperatures and rainfall ahead of time to ensure proper clothing.

INSURANCE

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.

INFORMATION PACK

For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants or to speak with one of our guides. You can get in touch with us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.

MAP

DEPARTURE DATES

DATES

AVAILABILITY

PRICE
PER PERSON

Single Occupancy

DETAILS
12 Aug 2024

FULL

^from
$3195

SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$995

BOOK NOW
28 Jul 2025

AVAILABLE

^from
$3345

SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$1045

BOOK NOW
4 Aug 2025

AVAILABLE

^from
$3345

SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$1045

BOOK NOW

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Overview