Gold Coast Hikes: 12 Best Walks from the Beach to the Hinterland

Published 26 October 2026

Rainforest walking track in the Gold Coast hinterland, Queensland

Photo: Sam Mulherin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Gold Coast isn't just beaches. In less than an hour you can go from a headland walk with whale views to a Gondwana rainforest summit. This guide covers the best Gold Coast hikes across three zones: coast, city bushland and hinterland. There's an easy option, a half-day option and a full-day challenge in each.

All distances, grades and times come from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and City of Gold Coast pages, checked on 25 October 2026. Looking for waterfalls? We're covering those in a separate guide, so this list focuses on headlands, lookouts, wetlands and rainforest circuits.

Gold Coast hikes at a glance

#	Hike	Area	Distance	Grade / time	Best for
1	Burleigh Head NP trail (Oceanview track)	Burleigh Heads	1.2 km one way	Grade 2, 30 min	Whale watching (winter–spring)
2	Rainforest circuit, Burleigh	Burleigh Heads	2.3 km return	Grade 3, 45 min	Tumgun Lookout
3	Tallebudgera Creek walk	Burleigh Head NP	Short	Easy	A creekside add-on
4	Coolangatta scenic trail	Point Danger, Coolangatta	Varies	Easy, sealed paths	Border views
5	Melaleuca boardwalk	Coombabah Lakelands	1.2 km loop (Wallaby Circuit)	Flat	Koalas and birds
6	Koala track	Coombabah Lakelands	Links to 16 km+ of trails	Flat	Kangaroos at dusk
7	Best of All lookout track	Springbrook NP	600 m return	Grade 2, 30 min	Big view, short walk
8	Warrie circuit	Springbrook NP	14 km return	Grade 4, 5–6 hr	A full-day gorge hike
9	Sandy Creek circuit	Tamborine NP, The Knoll	2.6 km circuit	Grade 4, 1 hr	Rainforest and a valley view
10	Tullawallal circuit	Lamington NP, Binna Burra	5 km circuit	Grade 3, 1 hr 30 min	Antarctic beech forest
11	Caves track	Lamington NP, Binna Burra	7 km return	Grade 4, 2 hr	Coomera Valley views
12	Python Rock track	Lamington NP, Green Mountains	3.1 km return	Grade 3, 1 hr	Castle Crag views

Sources: QPWS park pages for Burleigh Head, Springbrook, Tamborine and Lamington national parks; City of Gold Coast pages for Coombabah Lakelands, Point Danger and the Gold Coast Oceanway. Grades follow the QPWS system, where Grade 1 is easiest and Grade 5 is hardest.

Coastal hikes on the Gold Coast

1–3. Burleigh Head National Park

Burleigh is the Gold Coast's signature headland walk. According to QPWS's Burleigh Head things to do page, the Oceanview track follows the coast around the rocky headland from Tallebudgera Creek to the southern edge of Burleigh Heads township. It's 1.2 km one way (Grade 2, about 30 minutes) and wheelchair accessible with assistance. Along the way you'll see tumbled six-sided basalt columns formed from a Tweed Volcano lava flow.

The Rainforest circuit (Grade 3, 2.3 km return, about 45 minutes) is mostly easy, with a steep section near Tumgun Lookout. QPWS calls the lookout a great vantage point for humpback whales during the winter and spring migration.

Important: QPWS closes part of the Oceanview track before, during and after severe weather because of rockfall risk. When we checked, a wet-weather closure was listed for 22–28 October 2026. Access to the boulder fields, including Cannon Rock, isn't permitted, and penalties apply.

4. Coolangatta and Point Danger

The Gold Coast Oceanway is a 36 km coastal pathway from the NSW border to the Seaway. The City of Gold Coast suggests starting at Point Danger Lookout, on the QLD/NSW border, where you can watch surfers at Snapper Rocks. According to the City's Point Danger page, the headland has views north to Surfers Paradise and south to Byron Bay. It also has the Centaur Memorial and Walk of Remembrance, and the Captain Cook Memorial and Lighthouse. Our Coolangatta scenic trail quest takes you through this stretch.

City bushland: Coombabah Lakelands

5–6. Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area

This is the Gold Coast's best-kept walking secret. According to the City of Gold Coast, the area covers more than 1,200 hectares of wetland, eucalypt forest, salt marsh and mangroves, with over 16 km of trails. It's Ramsar-listed, and the City says the flat tracks are easy for all ages and fitness levels.

Melaleuca boardwalk: An elevated boardwalk through melaleuca forest, part of the 1.2 km Wallaby Circuit. Look up for koalas.
Koala trail: The City says it's a great place to see koalas in the trees and kangaroos in the grasslands. It links to other trails, including the Jabiru circuit and the Goshawk track.
Bird hide: 800 m from the Shelter Road car park, along a flat path and mangrove boardwalk.

Know before you go: Gates are open 6am to 6pm daily. There are no toilets or drinking water, and it's a dog prohibited area.

Hinterland hikes

7. Best of All lookout, Springbrook

This 600 m return Grade 2 walk takes about 30 minutes. It passes through ancient Antarctic beech forest to a view over northern NSW, dominated by Wollumbin (Mount Warning), according to QPWS's Springbrook walking tracks page. QPWS notes that plateau lookouts are often shrouded by cloud even when the coast is sunny, so pick a clear day.

8. Warrie circuit, Springbrook

This is the Gold Coast's big day hike: 14 km return, Grade 4, 5 to 6 hours. The track's name comes from a word meaning "rushing water". It crosses creeks to the "Meeting of the Waters" and climbs the far side of the gorge. QPWS warns of sheer cliffs, creek crossings that may be impassable after heavy rain, and overgrown sections with fallen trees and rockfalls. Start early.

9. Sandy Creek circuit, Tamborine

This 2.6 km Grade 4 circuit takes about 1 hour through lush rainforest with towering trees. A 100 m side track leads to Cameron Falls lookout, which QPWS says has views to Brisbane's southern suburbs and the D'Aguilar Range on a clear day. The track runs close to cliff edges, so stay behind fences and supervise children. See all Tamborine walks.

10. Tullawallal circuit, Lamington (Binna Burra)

This 5 km Grade 3 circuit takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. QPWS calls it the most accessible cool temperate rainforest in the park, with the northernmost patch of Antarctic beech forest.

11. Caves track, Lamington (Binna Burra)

This 7 km return Grade 4 walk takes about 2 hours, with views across the Darlington Range and down into the Coomera Valley.

12. Python Rock track, Lamington (Green Mountains)

This 3.1 km return Grade 3 walk takes about 1 hour, with views of Morans Falls, Castle Crag and Mount Razorback. Want more? See all Lamington National Park walks.

Safety on Gold Coast hikes

Check alerts: Before every hinterland trip, check QPWS park alerts. When we checked, Lamington had a long-running severe weather damage alert, and the Caves and Gwongoorool tracks were temporarily closed after wet weather.
Check the weather: Use the Bureau of Meteorology. The City of Gold Coast recommends telling someone where you're going, never bushwalking alone, carrying plenty of water and staying on existing tracks.
Dogs: Dogs aren't allowed in national parks or in City conservation areas like Coombabah.
Emergencies: Call 000. QPWS's Walk with care page covers the essentials.

Make every hike count

Active Quests turns Gold Coast trails into GPS check-in quests. Hike the track, check in at the finish and earn ACTIVE Coins. Browse every Gold Coast quest.

Related guides

Browse every trail on our Gold Coast walks and hiking trails hub, or read our full guide to the Twin Falls circuit at Springbrook.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best easy hike on the Gold Coast?

The Oceanview track at Burleigh Head (1.2 km one way, Grade 2) and the flat trails of Coombabah Lakelands are the easiest. In the hinterland, the 600 m Best of All lookout track at Springbrook is short and spectacular.

What is the hardest hike on the Gold Coast?

Of the hikes listed here, the Warrie circuit at Springbrook (14 km, Grade 4, 5–6 hours) is the most demanding. Lamington also has full-day Grade 4 and Grade 5 walks, such as the 16.6 km Illinbah circuit (Grade 5).

Can you see whales from Burleigh Head?

Yes. QPWS says Tumgun Lookout on the Rainforest circuit is a great vantage point for humpback whales during their winter and spring migration.

Are dogs allowed on Gold Coast hikes?

Not in national parks or City of Gold Coast conservation areas such as Coombabah Lakelands. The City lists off-leash dog exercise areas instead.

When is the best time to hike in the Gold Coast hinterland?

Cooler months are more comfortable, and clear days give the best views. QPWS notes that Springbrook's lookouts are often in cloud even when the coast is sunny. Always check park alerts after heavy rain.

Can I camp at Burleigh Head or Tamborine?

No. QPWS says camping isn't permitted in Burleigh Head National Park or Tamborine National Park. There are private campgrounds on Tamborine Mountain. In Lamington, QPWS lists remote bush camps and O'Reilly's Campground at Green Mountains, which you book ahead.

Lace up

From beach headlands to Gondwana rainforest, Gold Coast hikes are worth a weekend each. Track your progress with Active Quests, available on the App Store.