When most people think about the Gold Coast, they think about beaches, Surfers Paradise, theme parks and the long stretch of coastline. We discovered a very different side of the Gold Coast during our April 2026 trip to Australia, when we decided to head into the hinterland.

Looking back at the map of our day, we covered quite a bit of ground, starting from the Gold Coast and driving through Nerang towards Springbrook National Park, Purling Brook Falls and Canyon Lookout before making our way back towards the coast. It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable days of our trip.

And having a car was a big part of making the day possible.

You Really Need a Car

If you are planning to explore the Gold Coast hinterland properly, I would strongly recommend hiring a car. Trying to cover these places using public transport or relying on taxis would make the day considerably more difficult, particularly because the attractions are spread out and some of the roads take you deep into the hinterland.

We had hired a Suzuki Jimny, and it turned out to be almost perfect for this trip. It was a rainy day, the roads were winding and we were driving through forested mountain roads for much of the journey. The Jimny handled it comfortably and felt very much at home in that environment.

The drive itself was part of the experience. As we moved away from the Gold Coast, the scenery gradually changed from city and suburbs to dense greenery. The roads became narrower and more winding, and eventually we were surrounded almost entirely by rainforest.

One thing you should keep in mind is that mobile network coverage can be patchy in parts of the hinterland. There were stretches where the phone signal was either weak or unavailable. We had downloaded the maps beforehand, which made things much easier. I would strongly recommend doing the same before heading out.

And this is not a place where you want to blindly follow your phone while hoping the network comes back.

Into the Rainforest

Springbrook National Park feels like another world compared with the Gold Coast.

The rainforest is dense and incredibly green. Huge trees rise above the walking trails, with vines and roots growing around them. Some of the trees are so large that they almost become attractions in themselves.

There is also something very different about walking through a rainforest on a rainy day. Everything looks greener, the rocks and tree trunks are wet, and you can hear water flowing through the forest.

We spent time walking along the trails, and the paths themselves were part of the attraction. Some sections were relatively easy, while others involved quite a few steps and some climbing.

It wasn’t a walk where you simply arrive at a viewpoint, take a photograph and leave. You actually get to experience the forest along the way.

Purling Brook Falls

One of our main stops was Purling Brook Falls.

The waterfall drops dramatically into the gorge below, surrounded by thick rainforest. The viewing areas give you a sense of the scale of the landscape, but photographs don’t quite capture what it feels like standing there.

The trail leading through the forest was equally enjoyable. At several points we were surrounded by nothing but trees, rocks and flowing water.

There were also smaller streams running through the forest, with moss-covered rocks and vegetation everywhere.

The rain actually added to the experience. It wasn’t necessarily the easiest weather for sightseeing, but it made the rainforest feel even more alive.

Canyon Lookout

From Purling Brook Falls, we continued towards Canyon Lookout.

The experience here was completely different. Instead of being surrounded by trees, suddenly the landscape opened up and we were looking across a huge valley covered almost entirely in rainforest.

On a clearer day, the views would probably be even more spectacular. We had a mixture of clouds, mist and sunlight, which gave the mountains a completely different character.

It was one of those places where you don’t really need much else to do. Just standing there and looking across the valley is enough.

Don’t Expect a Lot of Food Options

One practical thing we discovered during the day is that there aren’t many eating options once you get into these areas.

We did eventually find a café where we could stop and have burgers, which was a welcome break after walking around. But you shouldn’t expect a large selection of restaurants, cafés or shops along the route.

If you are spending the whole day exploring the hinterland, carry some food and snacks with you. Something simple to munch on, along with enough water, can make the day much easier.

This is especially useful if you are travelling with children. You don’t want to finish a long walk and then discover that the nearest place serving food is much further away than you expected.

Take the Roads Seriously

The roads through the hinterland are beautiful, but they are also winding, and this isn’t somewhere I would recommend rushing through just to save a few minutes.

There can also be wildlife on or near the roads, particularly in areas surrounded by dense forest. So staying within the speed limits is important, not just because of the rules but because you genuinely need the extra reaction time on these roads.

The combination of curves, wet weather, limited visibility in places and wildlife means that the journey should be treated as part of the experience rather than a race between attractions.

Our Jimny was particularly comfortable in these conditions. The rainy weather, winding roads and forest surroundings actually made it feel like the right vehicle for the day.

A Completely Different Gold Coast

What I enjoyed most about this day was the contrast.

We had started near the Gold Coast, with its beaches, buildings and busy roads. Within a relatively short drive, we were in the middle of a rainforest, walking beside streams and waterfalls.

Then we were standing at a lookout hundreds of metres above a massive green valley.

And later, we were heading back towards the coast again.

That variety is probably one of the things I like most about the Gold Coast. You don’t have to choose between a beach holiday and a nature holiday. You can experience both within the same trip.

Our Route

Our Google Maps timeline gives a good picture of how the day unfolded:

Gold Coast → Nerang → Springbrook National Park → Purling Brook Falls → Canyon Lookout → back towards the Gold Coast

It looks like quite a lot on a map, but the journey didn’t feel rushed because the drive, the walking trails and the stops along the way were all part of the experience.

A Few Things I Would Definitely Do Again

If I were planning this day again, I would still hire a car, download the maps before leaving and carry food and water. I would also leave enough flexibility in the schedule rather than trying to fit too many attractions into one day.

Most importantly, I would treat the drive as part of the trip.

The Gold Coast hinterland isn’t somewhere you should simply drive through while trying to reach the next attraction. The winding roads, dense rainforest, waterfalls, streams and mountain views are what make the journey special.

And if you get a rainy day, don’t immediately assume the day is ruined.

For us, the rain actually made the rainforest experience more memorable.

We ended the day having seen a very different side of the Gold Coast, one that had nothing to do with theme parks or shopping malls.

Just forests, waterfalls, mountains, winding roads and a little Suzuki Jimny happily taking us through all of it.