The Natural Bridge, Springbrook NP

This weekend we headed down to the Gold Coast Hinterland to the Natural Bridge, an unusual waterfall structure formed millions of years ago in this protected World Heritage area of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.

If you’ve heard locals referring to an area called the Natural Arch, this is the same as the Natural Bridge and is the name we knew this area by when we first visited some 14 years ago.  The two names still seem to be used interchangeably but its now officially the Natural Bridge.

We weren’t far into the track before we first heard the rushing water, we’d stopped at the Hinze Dam on the way up and knew it was spilling water over the wall which is great news as the Natural Bridge is fed from the Nerang river.  We knew it would be a spectacular flow once we got down to the river and waterfall.

To protect the area the 1km loop track is now paved along the full course and barriers and handrails have been installed to stop people straying off the path.  This is for visitor safety to prevent accidents with many people visiting after dark and to protect the glowworms and other wildlife that live in the area.  If you are looking for one of Australia’s many walks in fully natural surrounds and solitude this isn’t it but I would still recommend seeing the Natural Bridge, it’s beautiful and unique.

A short distance into the track you choose whether to go clockwise or anti-clockwise.  The track is paved and only 1km long so it isn’t difficult for most people but you are walking to the base of a waterfall so you’ll go down and up hill along the way.  If you go clockwise you will go down the steps and up the slope, anti-clockwise is the reverse.  I went anti-clockwise because I always prefer to climb than descend steps, particularly uneven ones.

A little further down the path and it branches again, follow it first to the left. This will take you to a lookout over the hole at the top of the cave with the rapidly flowing river spilling into it.  You can no longer walk across the Natural Bridge so back track up the path and continue on to the left.

Your Natural Bridge experience will vary with the season, while the water flows all year round it will be more dramatic after wet weather or when the dam is spilling.  The natural forest around the area is always good for spotting local wildlife including large goanna like the one below but we find bird life is more varied and prolific during the late autumn and winter.  

Dawn will always get you the best bird sightings if you can get up that early.  The fresh fragrance is wonderful after the rain and is one of my favourite times to be in the Australian rainforest.  It’ll be less busy then and with the path being paved you don’t even need to worry about having to clean the mud off your walking shoes.  

In mid-summer the track offers a welcome shaded walk but it can feel quite humid with the level of moisture in the air, the rainforest here get’s a lot of it’s rain in the summer wet season.  In summer you’ll also notice that the area is alive with an almost deafening chorus of crickets.

Further along the track you’ll cross a bridge over the flowing waters then reach a viewing platform where you can see the river flowing into the hole over the cave from the other side.  With all the light reflection from the water and darker heavy forest surrounding it getting the light balance right in a photograph can be challenging and often one side or the other will give better results.  Particularly if like me it was your second trip out with a new camera and you accidentally flicked the wrong lever early in the walk and didn’t notice.  Oops.  Thank goodness for Lightroom and Photoshop, the photo’s aren’t good but at least they give you some idea of what to expect.

Climb up a few steps from the viewing platform then begin a gradual decent down to the cave.  Inside the cave if you go to the far end and look up for a while you’ll see micro-bats flying around in the day time, you’ll need to give your eyes time to adjust to the light, but they are so adorable.  In the evening after sunset if you came down here you’d see the glow worms lit up.  It’s the largest colony in Australia and well worth checking out.  If you’re not confident driving out there in the dark there are tours run most nights from the coast.

To protect the unique wildlife in and around the cave visitors are asked to stay on the tracks and avoid flash photography or torches because they can disrupt the natural eating and resting cycles of the glow worms.  You are also asked to not smoke as they are super sensitive to it and it only takes a very small amount of smoke to kill them.

There are several great viewing and photography points in and around the cave.  From here you follow the track back across a bridge downstream and begin the short climb back up the hill to the carpark.

Swimming isn’t allowed at the Natural Bridge but if seeing the river has made you want to take a refreshing dip there’s a Forest Park Rest Area a few minutes back down the road.  If you walk past the picnic area and follow the path at the back it’ll take you down to the river and a great swimming hole.  Even better is that hardly anyone goes there so you can have it all to yourself most of the time.

History of the Natural Bridge

Becoming a World Heritage area isn’t easy, it takes millions of years.  It started with the eruption of Mt Warning 23 million years ago which resulted in layers of volcanic rock forming.  A swiftly flowing stream through the Niminbah Valley dropped over a waterfall at the location of the Natural Bridge.  Over time a softer layer of volcanic rock at the base of the waterfall was cut away by the force of the falling water forming a cavern.  At the same time a deep pool formed at the top of the waterfall resulting in currents of circulating water that in time eroded through the rock layer forming a hole.  The water now plunges through that hole into the cavern below before continuing it’s flow onward.

Getting to the Natural Bridge

The Springbrook National Park and Natural bridge is a about 1.5 hours drive from central Brisbane or 50 minutes from the popular Gold Coast beach of Surfers Paradise.  If you’re travelling down from Brisbane consider combining a visit with other popular locations including the Hinze Dam, Binna Burra, other walks in the Springbrook National Park or some time on the Gold Coast beaches.  You’ll also find that the local cafes make a great cup of coffee and delicious home-made treats.

There are toilet facilities, information boards, carparking and limited picnic space at the Natural bridge.  No fees or charges apply to use the park although fines may apply under the Nature Conservation Act for failing to stay within the clearly marked area.

Additional picnic facilities and river swimming are available within minutes of the Natural Bridge at a public park and the forest park rest area.

Other great spots to visit in the Gold Coast Hinterland

• Not far away is the Purling Brook falls, if it’s a hot day take your swimsuit as you can cool off in the waterhole here
• Twin Falls is one of our favourite short walks and it’s also close by in the Springbrook National Park
• The Lamington National Park has some fantastic walking tracks of all lengths that are worth checking out.
• If you are headed to Mt Tamborine then don’t forget to include the Witches Falls

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