A GREEN OASIS OF SERENITY
THE Gold Coast’s rainforests are one of our best kept secrets, mainly because so much of our tourism is beach focused.
For example, I learned about Apple Tree Park at Springbrook for the first time this week. Yes, I’d been to Purlingbrook Falls before. No, I didn’t know there was a massive walk so close by.
Or I had conveniently forgotten. (See last week’s story about the best local walk for lazy people.)
In any case, this little gem is truly somewhere to get away from it all and just soak up our amazing greenery.
Fresh air, birds twittering and if you’re lucky, cicadas singing. Keep an eye out for wallabies pottering around and kookaburras resting in the trees as well.
Just a few kilometres from the Pine Creek and Springbrook Rd intersection, the park not only connects to the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk which is 54 kilometres long, it also has a few shorter trails for those wanting to stretch their legs or maintain their fitness.
For the more adventurous, one of the trails will connect you with Woonoongoora Walkers camp. It’s a 1.9km trek and can be steep.
Oh, and there are also 900 steps to tackle, but you are rewarded with great views so it’s worth it, right?
But if you just want to relax and meander, the humble park has some barbecue facilities, a picnic shelter, taps and toilets.
If you do decide to go for a wander on one of the shorter trails, remember it’s not a round trip and you’ll need to take the same route back to your car.
Happy walking!