Summary

The tourism capital of Australia. Although visitors may know the Gold Coast for its beaches and theme parks, locals are known to have an active lifestyle so the council has provided plenty of accessible parks and the GC hinterland also isn't too bad either.

History

The GC used to be a swamp filled with mangroves till all the residential buildings popped up.

Features

What are the standout bushwalking features?

Access

Just 1 hour south of Brisbane or catch a flight to Coolangatta in which case you'll have arrived at the most southern part of the GC.

Maps

Which maps cover the region?

Accommodation

Camping

Other

As the Gold Coast thrives off tourism there are plenty of accomodation options available.

Contact details

City of Gold Coast: https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Home

City of Gold Coast Park Finder: https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Things-to-do/Parks-gardens-reserves/Park-Finder

or CoGC Walks-trails: https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Things-to-do/Walks-trails

Walks in Gold Coast

Easy

1 km return

15 mins

Arthur Earle park walk (Nerang River)

Short smooth walk along the Nerang river to a fishing platform

Hard

9.5 km return

4 hrs

Bally Mountain

Ascend Bally Mountain in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Easy

4.15 km return

1 hr

Boat Harbour, Point Danger and North Tweed Circuit

This return walk travels through the Rainbow Bay, Point Danger, the QLD/NSW border and Duranbah Beach (North Tweed). The entire circuit is paved.

Easy

2 km return

50 mins

Burleigh Ridge Park

Remnant bushland in the suburbs, koala habitat.

Easy

250 m return

20 mins

Currumbin Valley Reserve

A short amble around the Bush Heritage Australia property the Currumbin Valley Reserve previously known as the Griffiths Nature Refuge. The reserve is also home to a memorial garden which serves as the final resting place for people's ashes. The reserve has some informative signage on native trees and provides views of and access to the adjacent Nicoll Scrub National Park.

Easy

3 km return

45 mins

Elanora Wetlands

Elanora Wetlands Habitat is a Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) reserve in the upstream estuarine reaches of Tallebudgera Creek. Adjacent to tidal wetlands, a scenic walking track follows the perimeter of the Water Quality Control Centre (WQCC). There are excellent views of mangroves and saltmarsh vegetation along the track where they form a thin fringe along the creek.

Easy

5 km return

1 hr

Emerald Lakes Wetlands Walk

Walk around the main lake through wetland and along built up area. Water views.

Medium

900 m return

20 mins

Ernest Junction Tunnel

This track follows the remnants of the South Coast Railway. With a short trail walk to the tunnel.

Easy

6 km

2 hrs

Federation Walk

This is an easy 3km walk (6km if you go to the end and back) along a well made path through the sand dunes of The Spit. It's perhaps the closest walk to Surfers Paradise and provides a unique insight into the coastal dune network.
The walk starts at the beach carpark on the opposite side of the road from the entrance to Sea World (you'll need to go around the roundabout to get to the carpark). It's basically a 3km stretch of sand dunes, beach and sheoak trees and the path is made of compacted gravel, so it's easy to walk on. There are a couple of small inclines, but nothing too dramatic. The path ends at the Gold Coast Seaway where, on a clear day, you can get an excellent view south down the beach along the entire stretch of the Gold Coast right down to Coolangatta. You can then turn around and walk 3km back, or have someone pick you up at the end.
Take plenty of water on a hot day because there are only amenities at the start and finish of the walk and parts of the track have no shade.

Hard

5 km return

3 hrs

Hanging Rock Bushwalk

This bushwalk follows the border fence East from the Tomewin border crossing through often overgrown terrain. Initially you head up hill to Mount Boyung Thuga before continuing over the shoulder of Mount Tomewin and then over Mount Talganda Colgon (consult NSW SIX maps rather than Qtopo for accurate mountain positioning). The Hanging Rock formation is a few hundred metres past Mount Talganda Colgon.