Springbrook National Park: Day Trips and Tours from Brisbane

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Tucked into Australia’s Gold Coast Hinterland, Springbrook National Park is a treasure trove of waterfalls, wildlife and vistas. The park is part of the UNESCO-listed Gondwana Rainforest and hosts biodiversity that’s been compared to the Galapagos Islands. A day trip to Springbrook National Park from Brisbane will steep you in natural beauty.

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Authors

Ioannis Pelegrinis

Lindsay Donaldson

Tucked into Australia’s Gold Coast Hinterland, Springbrook National Park is a treasure trove of waterfalls, wildlife and vistas.

The park is part of the UNESCO-listed Gondwana Rainforest and hosts biodiversity that’s been compared to the Galapagos Islands. A day trip to Springbrook National Park from Brisbane will steep you in natural beauty.

Here's everything you need to know about Springbrook National Park, one of the most captivating day trips from Brisbane.

How to get to Springbrook National Park from Brisbane

Springbrook National Park lies along the border of Queensland and New South Wales, about 100 kilometers south of Brisbane.

From Brisbane to Springbrook National Park by car

Take the M1 south from Brisbane for about 45 minutes until exit 69 to highway 97. Take 97 to highway 99 and follow signs to Springbrook National Park.

Guided tour to Springbrook National Park

Make the best of a day trip to Springbrook National Park from Brisbane by booking a guided tour. Combine the cost of transportation, fees and a knowledgeable driver and guide into one package price.

What is the typical itinerary?

Springbrook National Park tours start with pickup from your hotel in Brisbane. Some tours have you meet your guide at a location in central Brisbane. Enjoy the scenic 1.5-hour drive through the mountainous terrain until you reach the park. Some tours make a stop at Mount Tambourine to visit the town and national park on the way.

Explore Springbrook by car and on foot. Join your guide on hiking trails leading to numerous waterfalls, caves and overlooks that afford you views of mountains and coast. Your guide will be on the lookout for noteworthy plants and animals, while sharing a wealth of knowledge about your surroundings.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Springbrook National Park day tour from Brisbane?

Guided tours to Springbrook National Park

Book a convenient guided tour of Springbrook National Park for easy transportation to the park with the expertise of a guide to lead you to the best spots in the park. Most guided tours include pickup and drop-off at Brisbane hotels.

Day trip to Springbrook National Park plus Tamborine National Park

The driving route from Brisbane to Springbrook National Park passes through Tamborine National Park and a stop here is a lovely addition to a day trip. Spend free time wandering the town of Tamborine and the park’s volcanic terrain before continuing your outing to Springbrook National Park.

Day tour to Springbrook National Park plus Gold Coast hot air balloon ride

Watch the sunrise over the Coral Sea from up to 1,000 meters above the Gold Coast. After views of a lifetime, fuel up for your park visit with a five-star champagne brunch. You will be whisked off to the park for hikes and drives to waterfalls, caves and even the rim of an extinct volcano.

How much does a tour to Springbrook National Park cost?

Day tours to Springbrook National Park from Brisbane cost from US$70 per person to US$130 per person, depending on the duration of the tour. Longer tours include snacks and drinks. Both types of tour include fully guided experiences and door-to-door service from hotels in the Brisbane area.

Trips to Springbrook and Tamborine National Parks cost US$120 per person and include a stop for tea or coffee.

Gold Coast hot air balloon rides and Springbrook National Park tours cost around US$315 per person and include breakfast as well as a guided visit to the park.

What will you see and do on a Springbrook National Park tour?

Waterfalls

There are numerous waterfalls in Springbrook National Park, and joining a guided tour of the park is a surefire way to see the best of them. Top on the list are Purling Brook, Twin Falls and Warringa Pool.

Purling Brook and Twin Falls cascade from rocky perches into pools and can be explored up-close. Walk behind the falls, or cool off in the gentle spray from Purling Brook. Warringa Pool is less dramatic, but its small falls into a tranquil forest basin is an idyllic photo stop.

Wildlife

Southern Queensland’s tropical climate creates prime habitat for a vast array of flora and fauna. Among 2,000-year-old trees, spy more than 1,700 species of flowering plants and 500 types of vertebrate animals. Keep your eyes out for kookaburras, goannas and pademelons, the smaller cousins of wallabies.

Caves

Springbrook National Park’s top destination is Natural Bridge. Inside this cave sits a rock pool fed from a waterfall. Watch the water tumble into the cave from above, and marvel at the otherworldly color of the pool from inside. Nearby are the Cedar Creek Caves which are home to glow worms. Take in their luminescence among stalactites and stalagmites.

When is the best time to visit Springbrook National Park?

A visit to Springbrook National Park can be enjoyable any time of year. During the summer, the park’s mountain location has cooler temperatures than the city and coast.

During the winter, the average daytime temperatures hover around 15 degrees Celsius. Trails are very popular during peak tourist seasons, so get an early start to avoid crowds.