national park near gold coast

Looking for a national park near the Gold Coast? Lucky you: the hinterland is basically Mother Nature’s theme park, minus the queues and $12 soft drinks.

Try Lamington National Park, about 70–80 km inland, for rainforest walks around O’Reilly and Binna Burra that make city stress evaporate faster than a servo pie. Springbrook National Park sits roughly 35–45 km away with the Natural Bridge and Purling Brook Falls doing their best postcard impressions. If you want something closer, Burleigh Head National Park hugs the coast just south of Surfers, while Nerang National Park is a stone’s throw for trail runners and mountain bikers. Tamborine National Park is another solid option around 40–50 km away, delivering waterfall strolls, glow worms, and enough cafes to justify the hike.