The Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park QLD

It is a typical hot Brisbane summer day and you are very tempted to just sit around in the air conditioning avoiding the world sizzling outside. But that doesn’t really appeal to those of us who feel more accomplished when we get outside and explore!

As I have mentioned before, this year I want to make a conscious effort to get outside more and experience some of the beauty just short drive away. Chances are if you live in Brisbane or the Gold Coast you have heard of or already visited The Natural Bridge located in Springbrook National Park. This had been on my long list of places to visit for a while now and a hot summer day seemed perfect for escaping into the rain forest.

The Natural Bridge section of the national park is located about 100km south of Brisbane and is an easy drive down the Pacific Motorway, exiting at Nerang (exit 69) and following the Nerang-Murwillumbah road. As it is a popular destination you will see many signs that will lead you in the right direction. The road is a little winding but the views are spectacular which makes it quite a pleasant day trip.

On the way we chose to make a quick stop at Hinze Dam as my husband and I had not been there either. Hinze Dam is the Gold Coast’s drinking water supply therefore access is restricted to electric and paddle craft only to prevent contamination from petrol powered engines. Next time we will be sure to bring our kayaks!

Continuing on through the dense forest we could feel the outside temperature begin to drop. This was a good idea!

We arrived at around 10am which meant we didn’t have a very early Sunday morning but were still able to beat some of the crowds. The actual walking track is very well maintained and runs as a circuit with a few little bits that take you to different vantage points so you can see the waterfall from all angles. With only a few stairs to manage this track is very suitable for most people.

One of my goals this year was to learn how to properly use my camera and take amazing waterfall photographs like I see often on the Visit Gold Coast and Queensland Instagram pages; you know, the ones where the water looks all soft and mystical? While I found it challenging to manage changing elements in nature I had a great time playing around with different settings and was pretty happy with some of the results! It all comes down to practise, so I guess I’ll just have to keep chasing waterfalls…

What is your favourite waterfall at The Gold Coast?