Visit the Gold Coast HinterlandDay Trips, Rainforest Walks & Scenic Drives
Leave the beaches behind for a day and head into the Gold Coast Hinterland, where mountain roads lead to World Heritage-listed rainforest, waterfalls, walking tracks, lookouts and small mountain communities. Tamborine Mountain, Springbrook and Lamington National Park all offer very different ways to experience the green side of the Gold Coast.
The Hinterland begins surprisingly close to the coastal strip, but it isn't one single destination. Tamborine Mountain is ideal for a mixed day of rainforest, food, wineries and browsing; Springbrook is known for waterfalls and lookouts; while Lamington National Park offers a deeper rainforest and bushwalking experience.
If you're looking for a broader overview of attractions, wineries, walks and places to explore, see our Gold Coast Hinterland destination guide. This page will help you decide where to go, how to get there and what kind of Hinterland trip suits you.
Which Part of the Gold Coast Hinterland Should You Visit?
| Area | Best For | What You'll Find |
|---|---|---|
| Tamborine Mountain | First-time visitors, couples, food and easy sightseeing | Rainforest walks, Gallery Walk, wineries, lookouts, waterfalls and Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk |
| Springbrook | Waterfalls, short walks and dramatic scenery | Purling Brook Falls, Twin Falls, rainforest, lookouts and Natural Bridge |
| Lamington National Park | Bushwalking and a fuller rainforest day | Ancient rainforest, longer walking tracks, Binna Burra and Green Mountains/O'Reilly's |
| Numinbah Valley | Scenic driving and rural landscapes | Mountain scenery, farmland and access towards Natural Bridge |
| Canungra & Beechmont | Country towns and access to Lamington | Cafes, rural scenery, vineyards and mountain drives |
Tamborine Mountain
Tamborine Mountain is one of the easiest Hinterland destinations to turn into a day trip because it combines nature with food, shopping and attractions.
You can take a short rainforest walk to places such as Curtis Falls, browse the shops, galleries and cafes around Gallery Walk, stop at local wineries and distilleries or experience the rainforest canopy at Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk.
It's a particularly good choice if your group wants to experience the Hinterland without spending the whole day hiking.
Explore our Tamborine Mountain guide.
Springbrook National Park
Choose Springbrook if waterfalls, rainforest and lookouts are the priority.
Springbrook National Park forms part of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia and includes some of the Hinterland's best-known natural attractions, including Purling Brook Falls, Twin Falls and the Natural Bridge section.
There are both short lookout walks and longer circuits, so check the walking distance and grade before choosing a track. Mountain weather and track conditions can also be very different from conditions on the coast.
Natural Bridge is particularly popular during the day for its rainforest and waterfall, while its glow-worm colony attracts visitors after dark. Swimming within the restricted Natural Bridge area is prohibited.
Lamington National Park & O'Reilly's
Lamington National Park is a better choice if you want to spend most of the day surrounded by rainforest.
The park has two main visitor areas — Green Mountains, where O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat is located, and Binna Burra. They are reached by different mountain roads, so it's better to choose one as the focus of your day rather than treating them as neighbouring stops.
Walking options range from shorter rainforest tracks to much longer hikes. O'Reilly's Tree Top Walk is another popular way to experience the rainforest canopy.
See our Lamington National Park and O'Reilly's guide or browse more Gold Coast Hinterland bushwalks.
Take a Gold Coast Hinterland Scenic Drive
Part of the appeal of the Hinterland is the journey itself. Mountain roads wind through forest, valleys, farmland and small communities, with lookouts and places to stop along the way.
Instead of trying to cover Tamborine Mountain, Springbrook and Lamington in one day, choose one main area and allow time to stop, walk and explore. The distances can look short on a map, but Hinterland roads are often winding and travel can take longer than expected.
Explore our Gold Coast scenic drives for more ideas.
Gold Coast Hinterland Tours
You don't necessarily need to drive yourself. Guided Hinterland tours are useful if you want someone else to manage the mountain roads, parking and itinerary.
Tours can focus on Tamborine Mountain, Springbrook and Natural Bridge, Lamington National Park, wineries or a combination of Hinterland highlights.
Browse Gold Coast Hinterland Tours
Rainforest Walks & Waterfalls
Walking is one of the best ways to experience the Gold Coast Hinterland, whether you only have time for a short rainforest track or want to spend several hours hiking.
Springbrook and Lamington national parks offer everything from short walks to lookouts and waterfalls through to longer, more demanding tracks. The Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk also connects Lamington and Springbrook through the Numinbah Valley for experienced walkers planning a multi-day trip.
Track conditions can change following storms, heavy rain, maintenance or other events, so check current Queensland Parks alerts before leaving the coast rather than relying on an old itinerary.
See our Hinterland bushwalking guide for more walking ideas.
Food, Wine & Local Produce
A Hinterland trip doesn't have to revolve around hiking. Tamborine Mountain, Canungra and the surrounding countryside have wineries, cafes, restaurants, distilleries and producers that make it easy to build a day around food and local produce.
If wine tasting is part of your plans, consider joining an organised tour so nobody in your group needs to drive the winding mountain roads afterwards.
Stay in the Gold Coast Hinterland
If one day isn't enough, staying overnight gives you considerably more freedom to explore.
Gold Coast Hinterland accommodation ranges from rainforest retreats and mountain cottages to guesthouses, apartments and luxury stays.
An overnight stay is particularly worthwhile if you want to combine several walks, enjoy dinner or wine tasting without driving back to the coast, or explore more than one Hinterland district at a relaxed pace.
Stay in the Gold Coast Hinterland
Explore Hinterland accommodation for a weekend escape or longer Gold Coast stay.
View Hinterland Accommodation
How to Get to the Gold Coast Hinterland
A car gives you the most flexibility because the Hinterland's national parks, villages and attractions are spread across several mountain areas.
Roads into Springbrook and Lamington can be steep, narrow and winding, so allow more travel time than the distance alone might suggest. Take extra care in rain, fog or low light and check road and park conditions before travelling.
If you don't want to drive, a guided Hinterland tour is generally the simplest alternative.
Can You Visit the Hinterland as a Day Trip?
Yes. The Hinterland is close enough to the coastal Gold Coast for an easy day trip, but the best approach is to choose one main area rather than trying to see everything.
Choose Tamborine Mountain if you want a mix of rainforest, food, shops and attractions.
Choose Springbrook if waterfalls and lookouts are the priority.
Choose Lamington if you want to spend most of the day walking through rainforest.
If you have two or three days, staying overnight makes it much easier to experience several parts of the Hinterland without spending most of your time driving.
Gold Coast Hinterland FAQs
What is the Gold Coast Hinterland?
The Gold Coast Hinterland is the mountainous region west of the coastal Gold Coast. It includes areas such as Tamborine Mountain, Springbrook, Lamington National Park, Numinbah Valley, Beechmont and Canungra, with rainforest, waterfalls, walking tracks, farmland and mountain communities.
How far is the Gold Coast Hinterland from the beach?
Some Hinterland areas can be reached from the coastal Gold Coast in around half an hour, while destinations deeper in the mountains take longer. Travel time depends heavily on your starting point and the mountain area you're visiting.
What is the best part of the Gold Coast Hinterland to visit?
Tamborine Mountain is a good first choice if you want food, attractions and shorter walks. Springbrook suits waterfalls and scenic lookouts, while Lamington National Park is better for visitors who want a more substantial rainforest and bushwalking experience.
Do you need a car to visit the Gold Coast Hinterland?
A car is the easiest way to explore independently because attractions are spread across several mountain districts. If you don't want to drive, guided Hinterland tours are available from the Gold Coast.
What should I take on a Hinterland day trip?
Take comfortable footwear, water, sun and rain protection and an extra layer, as mountain conditions can be cooler or wetter than the coast. If you're heading into a national park, check current park alerts and your chosen walking track before leaving.
Can you stay overnight in the Gold Coast Hinterland?
Yes. There are rainforest retreats, cottages, guesthouses and other Hinterland accommodation options around Tamborine Mountain, Lamington, Springbrook and surrounding areas.
Explore More of the Gold Coast Hinterland
For detailed attractions, wineries, activities and places to visit, continue to our main Gold Coast Hinterland guide. You can also explore Hinterland bushwalking trails, scenic drives or browse guided tours below.
The region has a number of great places to stay. Choose to stay away from the beach scene when you stay at Gold Coast Hinterland. There's a wonderful range of guest houses, bed and breakfasts, luxury rainforest apartments and eco villas. See our picks for the best accommodation providers and book your accommodation online. The Gold Coast Hinterland is truly one of Gold Coast’s best kept - not so secret - secret
Learn MoreThis Hinterland is a beautiful green backdrop to the golden sands of the coastal strip and offers visitors a myriad of activities to enjoy. Stay in quaint B&B's, join a winery tour, explore the many natural wonders and bunker down for a good cup of tea (or pint) at one of the many scenic restaurants, cafes and pubs. The Hinterland truley is a change of pace with tranquil mountain views and a calmer atmosphere.
Learn MoreMount Tamborine or Tamborine Mountain is under 30 minutes from the Gold Coast beaches yet it looks and feels just like a quaint, mountain-top village. Enjoy the tea shops, cake stalls, brewery and specialist cheese shop and wander through the scenic township. Take in the clean mountain air while you visit the many unique attractions the area has to offer like the Glow Worm Caves, Treetop Challenge and Canyon Flyer.
Learn MoreAdventure joins nature at Cedar Creek Lodges at Thunderbird Park on Tamborine Mountain. Thunderbird Park is perfect for a family day out or school holiday experience. This 112-hectares rainforest property is ideal for day trips and longer holidays. There's so much to do here with mini golf, laser shooting games, fossicking for ancient Thundereggs, horse riding and so much more. You won't want to come for just one day.
Learn MoreSitting pretty on the Lamington Plateau of the McPherson Range is 20,600 hectares of subtropical rainforest. The area was saved from logging and farming back in 1915. The area is known the whole state over for its waterfalls, rock formations, walking tracks, ancient flora and elusive fauna. The park was declared 4 years after the O'Reilly family settled in the area and since then the family has welcomed visitors to their isolated mountain home.
Learn MoreWith beautiful weather pretty much all year round, visiting Natural Attractions and Farms on the Gold Coast are popular with both tourists and locals. You can book a tour which will take you to one of the beautiful wonders up in the Hinterland or visit a 'working' farm to get a feel for the Aussie lifestyle. To experience some of this beauty first, we recommend trying out some of these great farm tours and natural attractions!
Learn MoreEnjoy this beautiful region on foot and trek through the rainforest, under waterfalls and the ancient rock formations which wildlife, such as the mysterious glow worm, call home. With hundreds of square kilometres of bushland, stretching from Mt Tamborine in the north, down south to the NSW border, the number of treks you can do is really only limited to the amount of time you have and the thickness of the tread on your boots.
Learn MoreDriving through the winding mountain-side roads of the Hinterland can be an awe-inspiring and thrilling adventure as you make your way from one National Park to the next, stopping at all the country towns, lookouts and roadside stalls. If you like the view of the world from behind a windscreen or you appreciate the winding mountain roads then you simply must get out and do a scenic drive. Here's a few options!
Learn MoreAs one of Queensland's fastest growing wine regions, the Gold Coast hinterland is making its mark. With a range of wineries located at Mount Tamborine, Mount Nathan, Canungra, Scenic Rim and Lamington, you can fill a couple of days visiting them all. Go on a day trip to the major wineries so you can enjoy a few tasty drops and some delicious food and views at the cellar doors whilst being driven around in comfort.
Learn MoreThese Gold Coast hinterland tours will let you experience this untouched gem that provides a refreshing, natural break from the normal expectations of glitz and glamour that is just waiting to be explored! Behind the Gold Coast's amazing beaches, city skyline and meandering waterways lies an impressive range of rolling hills, temperate rainforests and hinterland mountains. Check out our list of picks of Hinterland Tours.
Book OnlineImages courtesy Tourism & Events Queensland, Tourism Australia, Destination Gold Coast & Getty Images
