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Day 1:
Lyrebird Circuit
Meet your guides in the hotel foyer
at the Meriton Suites Broadbeach on the Gold Coast at 7.30am or drive to
Canungra to meet us. Today we will head to Binna Burra in Lamington National
Park to start our walking adventure. We believe our walk today is one of the
best in this area and the most botanically diverse with beautiful wildflowers
all year round. Winding through rainforest, eucalypt forest and open
heathlands, passing panoramic lookouts, this walk takes you to the remote
eastern escarpment for great views into the Numinbah Valley. Standing here you
feel like you are on the edge of the world with mist racing up from valleys
below. It’s not uncommon to hear the song of lyrebirds reverberating around the
hills as you descend through this stunning rainforest. We also offer an
exceptional side trip to the spectacular Upper Ballanjui Falls. (2.5kms extra)
for those keen for the extra challenge. Tonight we stay at the charming
mountain retreat of Binna Burra Lodge. Guests will stay in the luxurious Sky
Lodges with stunning views. Enjoy a hearty dinner in the Clifftop Dining Room
accompanied with wine.
As we have two guides easier
options walks are available or 5-6kms
Day 2:
Daves Creek Circuit
Enjoy an early buffet breakfast
in the Retreat’s main dining room. Today we walk through one of favourite walks
in South East Queensland. Branching off the Border track, you’ll
wind through an amazing variety of forests types. From lush rainforest to
towering eucalypts, and sparse mallee woodland to colourful montane heath,
Daves Creek circuit is a botanical delight.
Enjoy magnificent views of
Springbrook, Mount Hobwee, the Araucaria lookout and Numinbah Valley. Stop in
the cool shade for lunch at Picnic Creek or beside a trickling waterfall. Have your
camera ready because the falls have spectacular displays of delicate wind
spray. Keep an eye out for Surprise Rock—a volcanic dyke made of hardy
trachyte, which is able to withstand erosion.
This park is part of the
Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, famed for its ongoing
geological processes, evolutionary history, and diversity (especially of rare,
threatened and endemic species).
Day 3:
Border trail
After a hearty breakfast in the
Cliff Top Dining Room, we head out on our adventure. Today’s one-way walk on
the famous Border Track is absolutely gorgeous, though the track is a lengthy
21.4kms the effort is definitely worth it! This beautiful and captivating walk
weaves its way through deep and lush rainforest with amazing views overlooking
Lamington National Park and the Gold Coast. You will be taken back from
the beauty of the foliage, the calling of the birds and the sheer tranquillity
of the rainforest. Cross small streams and discover misty forests of
2000-year-old Antarctic beech trees. The views are out of this world,
especially in the latter part of the walk where you are looking over the Tweed
Valley and Mt Warning. The track follows sections of Roberts and Rowland’s
original survey route! We walk directly from the trail into our accommodation
at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. This superb mountain lodge is a place to
connect with nature. Enjoy dinner in the main dining room feature a wonderful a
la carte dining, accompanied with regional wines.
Day 4:
Green Mountain – Moran Falls – winery
Enjoy an early buffet breakfast
in the Retreat’s main dining room. Today we walk to Moran Falls and Python Rock
Lookout. Walk through forests of lichen dappled coachwood and through
fern-filled gullies. We eventually reach a magic spot for spectacular views
over Moran Falls, where we stop to take a photo of this stunning waterfalls set
amongst a backdrop of lush greenery. This idyllic location was the home of the
bark hut, the first home of the O’Reilley brothers. We head to Python Rock
through the amazing rainforest, a great track for bird watching with
superb panoramic views. Apart from the lush rainforest, another feature
of this walk is a large number of leaf-tailed geckos you’re likely to encounter
along the track. This small gecko is endemic to the Gondwana Rainforests of
Australia. After our walk, we visit a local vineyard for a celebratory lunch
and wine tasting a remarkable way to finish our adventure. Afterwards, we head
back to Broadbeach, dropping off those who drove to their cars in Canungra. You
will arrive at Broadbeach at at approximately 5.00pm. Note we can drop off our
guests to Coolangatta (Gold Coast) airport if required.
