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Category: Adventure

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Seven Gold Coast hikes (and where to eat afterwards)

The best part of a hike isn’t the view, or even the feeling when you get back to your car – it’s the ‘treat yourself’ meal you refuel with after. If you’ve been looking for your next hike – and the bite to eat you’ll grab afterwards – this is the guide for you.

Pages Pinnacle, Springbrook National Park | 6.1km, allow 3-4 hours

One of the Gold Coast hinterland’s most thrilling hikes, Pages Pinnacle winds through eucalypt forest before hitting a narrow razorback ridge and exposed rock scramble that’ll test even experienced hikers. Its Yugambeh name, kundohikulli, means “rock shaped boat” – and the summit views over Advancetown Lake and the Gold Coast skyline make the white-knuckle climb completely worth it. Bring solid grip shoes.

After you’re done: Boomerang Hills – it’s more than just a golf course. Open daily from 7.30am to 2.30pm, they serve up a delicious menu of breakfast and lunch favourites (and there’s always something fun happening).

www.alltrails.com

Hellfire Pass, Lower Beechmont Conservation Area | 7.9km, allow 3–3.5 hours

The name says it all. This punishing out-and-back climb through the McPherson Ranges is essentially one long steep fire trail to the top – but the forest is beautiful and well-shaded, and views of the Gold Coast skyline await at the summit. No wonder it’s a favourite training ground for Kokoda challengers. Extend the trip with a short detour to Freeman’s Lookout for even bigger views. Bring plenty of water.

After you’re done: Linger in the beauty of the hinterland a little longer at Historic Rivermill, an enchanting escape with an on-site café and animals aplenty.

www.alltrails.com

The Spit via Federation Trail, Federation Walk Coastal Reserve | 8.2km, allow 1.5–2 hours

A refreshing change of pace from the hinterland, this easy, mostly flat trail winds through one of the Gold Coast’s last remaining coastal sand dune systems. With native birdlife, wildflowers, and the sound of the ocean as company, it’s the perfect, peaceful Saturday morning walk. Dogs are welcome on a leash. Go early to beat the heat as shade is limited.

After you’re done: Head to Sparrow Coffee in Main Beach. Their specialty? Really good coffee, with a menu of café classics to keep you satisfied.

www.alltrails.com

Koala Track, Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area | 4.8km, allow 1–1.5 hours

One of the Gold Coast’s best-kept wildlife secrets, this easy, flat trail winds through eucalyptus woodland and marshy wetland that’s teeming with kangaroos, waterbirds and, if you time it right, wild koalas. Arrive around 9am for the best wildlife activity. The track can get boggy after rain, so sturdy shoes and insect repellent are a good idea. A genuinely magical one for all ages.

After you’re done: Refuel at Pi and Pine, a funky café in Helensvale that’s a true hidden gem. You’ll love their unusual menu items and their signature drinks.

www.alltrails.com

Casuarina Grove Circuit via Pete’s and Exit Track, Nerang National Park | 5.8km, allow 1.5–2 hours

A pleasant loop through the bushland of Nerang National Park, not far from the hustle and bustle of the Gold Coast. The trail combines fire trails and dirt tracks with some rocky sections and gentle undulation. You’ll be sharing with mountain bikers, so keep an eye out and give way. Wallabies are regular trail companions, and the varied bush makes for a peaceful, enjoyable outing. Keep the map handy as a few turns are easy to miss.

After you’re done: Head to Cadence Café, a health hub in an oft-forgotten part of the Gold Coast. If it’s closer to lunchtime, hit the nearby the Commercial Hotel for a pub classic.

www.alltrails.com

Hinze Dam, Advancetown | 4.8km, allow 1–1.5 hours

A leisurely stroll across the crest of one of the Gold Coast hinterland’s most impressive structures, with sweeping panoramic views over Advancetown Lake and the Nerang River. The partially paved path is easy underfoot and suitable for all ages – there’s even a café and picnic facilities at the end. Very little shade, so go early on hot days and bring sunscreen.

After you’re done: Check out Yowie and the Goat in Lower Beechmont. The 14-minute drive back into the hinterland is worth it for the ambience.

www.alltrails.com

Witches Falls Circuit, Tamborine National Park | 3.4km, allow 1–1.5 hours

A short but magical loop through Queensland’s oldest national park, where open eucalypt forest gives way to lush sub-tropical rainforest gully filled with strangler figs, piccabeen palms, and the sounds of the bush. The seasonal waterfall is best after rain, and views out to the Great Dividing Range are a worthy reward. Watch for leeches after wet weather – long socks are your friend.

After you’re done: Treat yourself to a takeaway pastry from Franquette, or relax at a table in the tranquil (and aptly-named) Artizen Café.

www.alltrails.com

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A local’s guide to Springbrook National Park

It’s less than an hour from the Gold Coast, but Springbrook National Park feels like another world entirely. Cool air, ancient rainforest, dramatic escarpments and waterfalls that tumble straight into fern filled valleys – it needs to be seen to be believed. Here’s our local’s guide to exploring Springbrook National Park.

The best hikes in Springbrook

Purling Brook Falls Circuit (4km) is a Springbrook classic for good reason. This moderate loop takes you down into the forest, across creeks and behind the waterfall itself, offering constantly changing scenery and a real sense of immersion. It is challenging enough to feel like an adventure, without requiring a full day or specialist gear. For something shorter, just take the Lookout Track – you’ll be rewarded generously.

Twin Falls Circuit (4km) is another standout, especially after rain. The track winds through lush rainforest to two separate waterfalls, with sections that pass behind the cascading water. It is longer and steeper than it looks on paper, which makes it all the more rewarding.

For experienced hikers looking for something more demanding, the Warrie Circuit (14km) offers a true full day adventure. This challenging loop takes you deep into the heart of Springbrook, passing multiple waterfalls, creek crossings and remote stretches of rainforest. This walk is best attempted in good conditions by confident hikers with plenty of water, food and time to spare.

The best waterfalls in Springbrook

There are countless waterfalls in Springbrook National Park, but Purling Brook Falls is the showstopper. Plunging more than 100 metres into the valley, it is impressive from the lookout above and even better from below. After rain, the sound alone makes the walk worthwhile.

Twin Falls delivers double the impact, with two distinct falls framed by dense greenery and shaded walking tracks. It feels particularly magical in the late afternoon when the light filters through the trees.

For something a little less popular, but no less beautiful, Goomoolahra Falls is best seen from the top. It’s a short 250m walk to the lookout, which offers views of the 60m waterfall and rainforest below, as well as bay-views – all the way to Stradbroke and Moreton Islands – on a clear day.

The best views in Springbrook

Best of All Lookout certainly lives up to its name. On a clear day, this short, flat walk leads to sweeping views over northern New South Wales, with ancient Antarctic beech trees lining the track.

Wunburra Lookout is perfect for those who prefer a quick stop with maximum reward. The views stretch across the Gold Coast skyline, offering a reminder of how close yet how far away the city feels.

Goomoolahra Picnic Area and Lookout combines dramatic views with open space to sit, snack and linger, making it an ideal mid-adventure pause.

Where to eat and drink in Springbrook

After exploring, head back through Springbrook village for a well-earned refuel. The Sitting Room Café – part of Rosella’s – is a favourite for cosy lunches, good coffee and a welcoming, community feel.

For something a little more refined, Albert’s on Lyrebird offers a thoughtful, seasonal menu in a beautiful hinterland setting, ideal for lingering over lunch before heading back down the mountain.

And before you leave, a stop at The Fudge Shop Springbrook is practically mandatory – handmade fudge has long been a staple treat of the Gold Coast hinterland, and this is one nostalgic stop that’s well and truly earned after a day on the trails.

A quick safety note…

Springbrook National Park is beautiful, but it is also remote and conditions can change quickly. Always check weather forecasts before you go, wear sturdy footwear, carry enough water and food, and allow more time than you think you will need. After rain, tracks can be slippery and creek crossings higher than expected. Mobile reception is unreliable, so it is best to download maps ahead of time and let someone know your plans, especially if tackling longer hikes like the Warrie Circuit.

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How to stop living for the weekends

Struggling to get back into the swing of things? Us too. That’s why we’re on a mission to make weekdays more fun, so we can stop living for the weekends.

After all, the working week takes up more than 70% of our lives – we may as well enjoy it. And one of the underrated perks of living on the Gold Coast is that even the most ordinary days can feel like a holiday if you let them.

These are simple, realistic ways to make weekdays feel lighter, more social and, dare we say, a little bit fun.

Work somewhere that isn’t your house

If you work remotely, think of your home office as optional. Taking your laptop to a café, library or shared space in a suburb you don’t usually visit can instantly change the feel of the day. Even just one morning out of the house can make emails feel less tedious and help the week feel less same-same. A new local coffee spot never hurts either.

Try a new workout

Weekday workouts don’t need to be intense to be worthwhile. A lunchtime Pilates session, a casual boxing class or a dance group you’ve always been curious about can be easier to fit in midweek, when studios are quieter and expectations are lower. Choosing movement because it sounds enjoyable – not because you feel like you should – makes it far more likely you’ll stick with it.

Lock in a standing midweek plan

Having one regular weekday plan gives the week something to hang its hat on. Trivia nights, bingo, a weekly walk or swim, a community class – it doesn’t need to be big or late. Knowing that one night is already spoken for breaks up the work–home–sleep cycle and gives you something to look forward to before Friday rolls around.

Make Thursday the new Friday

Waiting until the weekend for takeaway, a glass of wine or dinner out can make the week feel unnecessarily long. Shifting that treat to Thursday shortens the mental gap and makes the back half of the week feel much more manageable. Fridays, in turn, feel calmer and less rushed.

Host micro dinner parties

Weekday dinner parties don’t need a theme, a table setting or a spotless house. Invite one or two friends over, cook something simple or make it a bring-a-plate situation. A low-key Tuesday pasta or Wednesday curry night can turn an ordinary evening into something you genuinely look forward to, without the pressure of entertaining.

Romanticise your errands

Errands are unavoidable, but they don’t have to be dull. Try doing them later in the day when the light is softer, walking instead of driving where you can, or pairing them with something you enjoy – a podcast, a takeaway coffee, a scenic detour. On the Gold Coast, even practical tasks can feel pleasant with the right timing.

Create an end-of-day ritual

When you work from home – or have a job that tends to come home with you – the line between work and evening can blur fast. A short walk, a quick swim at the creek, a stop for coffee or a drive somewhere familiar helps mark the end of the day. These small rituals don’t take long, but they make evenings feel intentional, and not like an extension of work.

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How to get more out of your holiday

The difference between a good trip and a great one usually isn’t the destination – it’s how you experience it. Here’s how to get more out of your holiday.

We all know the feeling: you get home from a holiday with a camera roll full of photos… but it somehow all feels like a blur. Good news: with a few small habit changes, you can turn even the most familiar places into something memorable – helping you slow down, connect more deeply and actually remember your time away.

From low-effort rituals to slightly silly group projects, these ideas will help you get more out of your next holiday – without adding anything extra to your itinerary.

Learn phrases from locals

You should always know a few basics when you travel – ‘hello’, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ are a given – but why stop there? One of the easiest ways to connect with a country is to let locals teach you their language, one phrase at a time.

Make it a habit to ask someone new each day – a café server, shop owner or taxi driver – and save each phrase in your Notes app, along with where you learned it and who taught you. Before long, you’ll have a collection of expressions that feel far more personal than anything from a phrasebook.

Already fluent? Ask locals to suggest something you should do the following day instead – an unexpected detour, guaranteed.

Read a book set where you’re going

There’s something seriously magical about reading a story that unfolds in the very place you’re standing. Ideally, choose your book before you leave – or pick one up once you arrive – and let fiction guide you through the streets, landmarks and inner lives of characters who call it home. The more specific the references, the better.

Suddenly, an unassuming park bench or laneway carries extra meaning, tied to scenes you’ve already imagined. It’s an immersive way to learn about a place’s history, culture and rhythms, and it turns downtime on planes, trains or beaches into part of the experience – rather than a break from it.

Make a junk journal

This is your permission slip to stop trying to document your holiday ‘nicely’. Junk journals are messy, personal and slightly chaotic – like scrapbooks, without the artistry.

They’re a place for all the ticket stubs you shoved into pockets, lolly wrappers you forgot to throw out, café receipts with the date circled, or a coin you couldn’t quite bring yourself to spend. Glue it all into a notebook, add a few scribbled notes or half-finished thoughts, and call it done.

The goal isn’t to impress anyone else – it’s to create something that makes you remember how it felt to be there. Years later, this will be the thing you pull off the shelf, not your perfectly curated camera roll.

Film a music video

Yes, it’s silly – that’s kind of the point. Making a holiday music video brings travel back to what it should be: fun. Bad dancing, missed lyrics and questionable camera angles are all part of the charm. It’s a shared project, a guaranteed laugh, and somehow ends up being the one thing everyone actually wants to watch when you get home. All you need to do is lean into the cringe.

Some of the best songs we’ve seen used? ABBA’s ‘Waterloo’, ‘Chelsea Dagger’ by The Fratelli’s and this remix of Drake’s ‘Nice For What’, but honestly Just pick something people know the words to.

Build a travel playlist

If you’ve ever heard a song and been instantly transported back to a specific moment, you already know the power of a travel playlist. Start one before you go, add to it as you travel (a pop song you hear in a cafe, a crooning local musician), and keep it on rotation the whole trip. Then, when you’re home and back in real life, hit play and watch the memories flood back.

Bonus tip: This also works with scent! Wear the same perfume each day, or pick one up while you’re away and use it for the whole trip. One song, one spritz, and suddenly you’re back there – no boarding pass required.

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The best bowls clubs on the Gold Coast

After weeks of long lunches and late nights, we’re all a little over partying – but not ready to become total hermits. Enter the best bowls clubs on the Gold Coast: laid-back, outdoorsy and social without the late nights, they’re the perfect way to see out the rest of summer.

Club Broadbeach

You’ve definitely driven past it, but have you ever kicked your shoes off and hit the green? Barefoot bowls here is $10 per person for two hours, Tuesday to Sunday, with four floodlit championship greens that can host big groups with ease. Add finger food, BBQ options and classic pub drinks, and you’ve got an ideal reunion spot – plus, it’s dog friendly.

www.broadbeachbowlsclub.com.au

Burleigh Bowls

An icon for good reason. Barefoot bowls are $5 on weekdays and $10 Friday to Sunday, with beach views, big greens and a soundtrack of crowd-pleasing hits. Don’t miss ‘Bowls, Beats & Brews’ on the last Sunday of each month, with DJs, cocktails and an outdoor bar.

www.burleighbowls.org.au

Cooly Bowls Club

A laid-back favourite near the border, offering barefoot bowls from 10am daily (except Mondays). It’s $5 for non-members plus a $10 green fee, with easy online bookings. Stick around for live music on Fridays and Sundays, and dinner at on-site Chinese restaurant Feng Shui.

www.coolybowls.com

Club Mermaid

Perfect for first-timers, Club Mermaid keeps things fun and fuss-free with staff on hand to help you get started. Expect natural grass greens, a fully outdoor setup and a classic bowls-club vibe. Bowls cost $7 on weekdays and $10 Friday to Sunday, with themed platters available.

www.clubmermaid.com.au

Tugun Bowls Club

Community-minded and effortlessly cool, Tugun Bowls shines on Sundays with barefoot bowls, rotating street-food trucks and live music. The garden bar pours craft beers, spritzes and cocktails, with bowls priced at $15 per rink. Family-friendly, welcoming and perfect for a relaxed afternoon.

www.tugunbowls.com.au
Club Musgrave

Formerly Musgrave Hill Bowls Club, this Southport institution has been delivering good times for over 60 years. Barefoot bowls are $10 per person across three greens, with a fully licensed clubhouse and regular events like trivia nights and live music making it an easy crowd-pleaser.

www.clubmusgrave.com
Club Helensvale

Modern, polished and group-friendly, Club Helensvale offers tailored catering packages for everything from birthdays to corporate events. Barefoot bowls run at $10 on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons, with bookings essential. As they say themselves: lawn bowls, redefined.

www.clubhelensvale.com.au

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