The Gold Coast Great Walk is a 54 kilometre hike through a diverse range of natural landscapes in the mountains behind Australia’s Gold Coast.
The Gold Coast Great Walk is split into three sections:
- O’Reilly’s to Binna Burra
- Binna Burra to the Woonoongoora Walkers Camp
- Woonoongoora Walkers Camp to Springbrook.
The Start of the Gold Coast Great Walk
The Gold Coast Great Walk track takes the walker from the O’Reilly's section of the Green Mountains National Park through to the Binna Burra area, and then down into the Numinbah Valley on the walk through to the Springbrook National Park.
The recommended direction to hike the Gold Coast Great Walk is to start at O’Reilly's in the Green Mountains National Park, and walk through to Springbrook, with nights camped at Binna Burra and the Woonoongoora Walkers Camp.
O’Reilly's to Binna Burra Section of the Gold Coast Great Walk
The Gold Coast Great Walk track starts at the main entrance to the rainforest, just beside the O’Reilly’s guesthouse. The track then follows the Border Track to Binna Burra.
This section of the Gold Coast Great Walk is one of the classic bushwalks of South East Queensland. It is 21.4 kilometres long, almost the same distance as a half marathon. This is a through-walk, so for a hiker walking just this section requires a shuttle at the end of the walk. (The guest houses at both O’Reilly's and Binna Burra can arrange this shuttle between both ends of the Border Track.)
However, when hiking the Gold Coast Great Walk, the recommend camping site is at Binna Burra.
The Queensland Government recommends a walking time of seven hours for this track.
The Border Track on the Gold Coast Great Walk
For the first six kilometres, the Border Track winds through rainforest from the O’Reilly's guesthouse to the escarpment which forms the Queensland – New South Wales border. From a few lookouts at the escarpment, views of northern New South Wales, and the inspiring peak of Mt Warning, can be seen.
Just before reaching the escarpment the track passes through a stand of ancient Antarctic Beech trees.
Coomera Gorge Diversion on the Gold Coast Great Walk
The Border Track leaves the escarpment and turns towards Binna Burra. The walker can continue on the main track through to Binna Burra, or a side diversion can be taken through the spectacular Coomera Gorge. This adds minimal extra time and distance on the walk and is worth the effort.
Coomera Gorge is a narrow cleft with a large waterfall carving through the surrounding rainforest.
Bush Camping on the Border Track Between O’Reilly’s and Binna Burra
There is one bush camping spot on this section of track between O’Reilly’s and Binna Burra. This is the Bithongabel lookout. It is on the escarpment with views to the south into New South Wales and the Limpinwood Nature Reserve.
The campground at Binna Burra is privately owned, with amenities, a small café and a guest house if the camping gets a bit rough.
The check-in for the Binna Burra camping ground is at the Binna Burra Mountain Lodge a few hundred metres down the road from where the Border Track leaves the rainforest.
Bruce Iliff - Hello from an Australian freelancer! I’ve been scratching articles together in Australia in a range of subjects for a number of ...
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