Editing Springbrook National Park

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                   = protected
| name                   = Springbrook National Park
| state                  = qld
| iucn_category          = II
| image                  = IMAG0310.jpg
| caption                = The peaks of Springbrook form the north-eastern remains of the eroded [[Mount Warning]] caldera. [[Mount Cougal]] and the Gold Coast urban strip can also be seen.
| image_alt              =
| coordinates            = {{coord|28|08|24|S|153|16|27|E|display=inline,title}}
| relief                 = 1
| map_alt                = 
| nearest_town_or_city   = {{QLDcity|Mudgeeraba}}
| area                   = 61.56
| area_footnotes         =
| established            = 1990
| established_footnotes  =
| visitation_num         =
| visitation_year        =
| visitation_footnotes   =
| managing_authorities   = Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
| url                    = https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook
}}
The '''Springbrook National Park''' is a [[state park|protected]] [[national park]] that is located in the [[Gold Coast hinterland]] of [[Queensland]], [[Australia]]. The {{convert|6197|ha|adj=on}} park is situated on the [[McPherson Range]], near [[Springbrook, Queensland|Springbrook]], approximately {{convert|100|km}} south of [[Brisbane, Australia|Brisbane]]. The park is part of the Shield Volcano Group of the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage]]{{endash}}listed [[Gondwana Rainforests of Australia]].

In December 1994, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee officially extended the area now known as the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area over the [[Scenic Rim]] (including Main Range, Mount Barney, Lamington, and Springbrook National Parks, and Goomburra Forest Reserve) and the rainforests of northern New South Wales. In 2007 the areas of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia were added to the [[Australian National Heritage List]].<ref name=anhl>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105135|title=Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, Lismore, NSW, Australia|work=Australian Heritage Database: [[Department of the Environment (Australia)|Department of the Environment]]|date=2014|access-date=7 September 2014|publisher=[[Australian Government]]}}</ref> The park is part of the Scenic Rim [[Important Bird Area]], identified as such by [[BirdLife International]] because of its importance in the conservation of several species of [[threatened]] birds.<ref name=bli>{{cite web|publisher=[[BirdLife International]]|date=2011|work=Important Bird Areas factsheet|title=Scenic Rim|url=http://www.birdlife.org|access-date=3 October 2011 }}</ref>

In 2009 as part of the [[Q150]] celebrations, the Springbrook National Park was announced as one of the [[Q150 Icons]] of Queensland for its role as a "Natural attraction".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|title=PREMIER UNVEILS QUEENSLAND'S 150 ICONS|last=Bligh|first=Anna|author-link=Anna Bligh|date=10 June 2009|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524033717/http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|archive-date=24 May 2017|access-date=24 May 2017}}</ref>

The park was the location for the discovery of the rare [[Eucryphia jinksii]] species of subtropical tree.<ref name="lflf">{{cite news |last=Forbes |first=Tom |date=22 December 2018 |title=Less-famous living fossil: Botanist fine with 'iconic' Wollemi Pine overshadowing his own rare tree find |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-22/living-fossil-discovery-overshadowed-by-the-famous-wollemi-pine/10615860 |work=ABC News |access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref>

==Mount Cougal section==
[[File:Rosin's Lookout Beechmont Queensland.jpg|thumb|left|Springbrook Plateau to the left of [[Numinbah Valley]] and [[Lamington National Park]].]]
The Mount Cougal section of the park is located about {{convert|20|km|mi}} inland from [[Currumbin]]. It was begun in 1938 with {{convert|142|ha}} set aside, and additions over time brought it to {{convert|811|ha}} and in 1990 it was amalgamated with the Springbrook National Park.<ref name=mc/> The section is named for Mount Cougal which is in the park, located just on the Queensland side of the border with [[New South Wales]]. The mountain has two peaks, called the East Peak and West Peak, rising {{convert|694|m}} above sea level.<ref name=mc/>

The local [[Yugambeh people|Yugambeh]] Aboriginal peoples call the peaks Ningeroongun and Barrajanda. They tell of a legendary hunter called Gwayla who had two prized hunting dogs ([[dingo]]s). They were killed and they were buried under the twin peaks, and from then on the peaks were known by their names.<ref name=mc/>

The only tracks or facilities in this section of the park are at Cougal's Cascades which are the headwaters of the [[Currumbin Creek]]. A road leads into a carpark and picnic ground, and from there a walking track goes up the creek cascades. There are no official tracks up Mount Cougal itself<ref name=mc/> But there are informal trails from the NSW side of the border that would lead you up to the east peak of mt cougal <ref>{{Cite web |last=All |first=Trails |date=2025 |title=Mt Cougal from the border fence (NSW) |url=https://www.alltrails.com/trail/australia/new-south-wales/mount-cougal |website=Alltrails}}</ref> 

In 1943 a bush sawmill was established near the creek, producing timber for packing crates for the local [[banana]] growers<ref name="xqnp">{{cite book |title=Explore Queensland's National Parks |year=2008 |publisher=Explore Australia Publishing |location=Prahran, Victoria |isbn=978-1-74117-245-4 |pages=36–37 }}</ref> when other timber supplies were being directed towards [[World War II]]. The easily milled timbers of the [[Eucalyptus grandis|flooded gum]] and [[blue fig]] were taken, and later various other timbers. It ceased operations in 1955 due to an especially wet winter. A small display of some of the sawmill parts was restored in 1986 at the end of the walking track.<ref name=mc>{{cite report|title=Visitor Information sheet|work=[[Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service]]|date=April 1999}}</ref>

==Natural Bridge section==
[[File:Natural Bridge Panorama.jpg|thumb|400px|Waterfall running through the Natural Bridge during summer.]]
The Natural Bridge is a naturally formed rock arch over Cave Creek, a tributary of the [[Nerang River]]. It was formed from a waterfall that undercut a cave beneath the waterfall and dug a pothole on top, until the two joined and the creek flowed through the cave, leaving an arch across the front.<ref>[http://www.goldcoastcity.com.au/t_standard.aspx?pid=1060 Natural Bridge page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823175856/http://www.goldcoastcity.com.au/t_standard.aspx?pid=1060 |date=23 August 2006 }} (Gold Coast City Council)</ref>

The bridge is in the territory of the local [[Kombumerri clan|Kombumerri]] aboriginal people (a family group of the [[Yugambeh language]] peoples). The first Europeans to find it is said to be timber cutters Alexander (Sandy) Duncan and Din Guinea.
[[File:Blue Glow Worm in Springbrook National Park.jpg|thumb|''[[Arachnocampa flava]] in one of the caves in the national park'']]
The cave is home to a colony of glowworms (larvae of the insect ''[[Arachnocampa flava]]'') and commercial operators lead night tours into the cave. The ‘light’ seen is produced within the glowworm's body. It is the reaction of four chemicals that produces the cold light or bioluminescence—meaning ‘living light’. Glowworms generate this bioluminescence to lure their prey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/culture.html|title=Nature, culture and history|website=Department of Environment And Science|date=26 June 2006 }}</ref> Swimming is no longer permitted to protect the glowworm habitat. This applies to the area bounded by the walking track/circuit. Downstream access to the creek is allowed but the pools are too shallow for swimming. Access to this section of the park is from Nerang-Murwillumbah Road.

==Springbrook Plateau section==
Several waterfalls may be seen along relatively short tracks in the Springbrook Plateau section. The return circuit walk that begins at either the Tallanbana or Goomoolahra picnic areas passes Twin Falls, Rainbow Falls, [[Goomoolahra Falls]], Kadjagooma Falls, Ngarri-dhum Falls, Gooroolba Falls, Poonyahra Falls, Poondahra Falls, and Blackfellow Falls. The Gwongorella picnic area is the access point for walks to [[Purlingbrook Falls]] and [[Tanninaba Falls]].

In all four sections of Springbrook National Park (Springbrook Plateau, [[#Natural Bridge section|Natural Bridge]], Numinbah, and [[Mount Cougal]]) visitors can picnic, study nature and enjoy a wide range of walks in a natural environment. Springbrook Plateau section has several lookouts and viewing points. Access to the plateau and park is by a sealed road from [[Nerang, Queensland|Nerang]] via the [[Numinbah Valley]] or by road from [[Mudgeeraba, Queensland|Mudgeeraba]].<ref name="naq"/>
[[File:Stinkhorn Springbrook.jpg|thumb|left|Stinkhorn ([[Aseroë rubra]])]]
At between {{convert|600|and|1000|m}} above sea level,<ref name="xqnp"/> Springbrook Plateau can be quite cool even in summer. The area averages more than {{convert|3000|mm}} of rain a year,<ref name="discover"/> most of which falls between December and March. Natural Bridge section receives most of its annual rainfall, {{convert|2500|mm}}, during the hot, humid summer. This is also the location where the UK television programme ''[[I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series)|I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here!]]'' has been filmed.
[[File:Twin_Falls_Lookout.jpg|thumb|Twin Falls Waterfall seen from the start of the Twin Falls Circuit trail]]
[[File:Twin_Falls_Waterfall.jpg|thumb|Bottom of the Twin Falls Circuit]]

==Environment==

===Landforms===
The southern cliffs in Springbrook and [[Lamington National Park]] are part of the remnants of the northern rim of the huge, ancient [[Tweed Volcano]]. The Springbrook National Park comprises four reserves on and around the plateau: Springbrook Plateau section along the crest of the plateau; Mount Cougal section to the east; and Natural Bridge and Numinbah sections to the west. The cliffs are resistant, volcanic based [[rhyolite]].<ref name="naq">{{cite book |title=Natural Areas of Queensland |last=Shilton |first=Peter |year=2005 |publisher=Goldpress |location=Mount Gravatt, Queensland |isbn=0-9758275-0-2 |pages=186–190}}</ref> Rock overhangs are common and massive rock falls sometimes dislodge house-sized rocks.<ref name="naq"/>

The national park preserves rainforest and eucalypt forests in the cliff-lined headwaters of rivers and creeks flowing to the Gold Coast, in particular, the Nerang River on the plateau's west and Little Nerang River to the east, both of which have eroded less resistant rock.<ref name="naq"/> Where the waterways flow over the escarpment, 16 waterfalls have developed.<ref name="naq"/>

===Flora===
[[File:Springbrook beetle on leaf 1.jpg|thumb|left|Beetle on a leaf near Goomoolahra Falls]]
The flora is highly diverse due to the high rainfall and variety of volcanic soil types. [[Subtropical rainforest]] dominated by [[Argyrodendron actinophyllum|black]] and [[Argyrodendron trifoliolatum|white booyong]] ''[[Argyrodendron]]'' spp. is prominent on [[basaltic]] soils while warm [[temperate rainforest]] that is dominated by [[Ceratopetalum apetalum|coachwood]], occurs on the poorer [[rhyolitic]] soils. [[Lophostemon confertus|Giant brush box]] are found to the east of the plateau and [[Eucalyptus grandis|flooded gums]] may also be found in areas of basalt soils.<ref name="naq"/> One small stand of cool temperate rainforest, dominated by [[Nothofagus moorei|Antarctic beech]], is located at the [[Numinbah Nature Reserve|Best of All Lookout]] just over the border in New South Wales. Some of the beech trees are 3,000 years old.<ref name="xqnp"/> Remarkably the [[Eucryphia jinksii|Springbrook leatherwood]], a tree which grows to 25&nbsp;m in height and is found only in warm temperate rainforest on Springbrook, was not discovered until 1993, by local botanist David Jinks.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Forbes |first1=Tom |title=The living fossil discovery overshadowed by the 'iconic' Wollemi Pine |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-22/living-fossil-discovery-overshadowed-by-the-famous-wollemi-pine/10615860 |access-date=22 December 2018 |work=ABC News |date=22 December 2018 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Other more fire-prone areas support open forests dominated by [[Eucalyptus campanulata|New England blackbutt]] and [[Eucalyptus oreades|Blue Mountains ash]].<ref name="naq"/> [[Xanthorrhoea|Grasstrees]] are commonly seen in the park.<ref name="naq"/> Rock outcrops support areas of montane heath or shrubland dominated by species such as ''Leptospermum variable'', ''[[Banksia spinulosa]]'' and ''[[Prostanthera phylicifolia]]''. These heath areas are best appreciated in spring when most of the wildflowers bloom.

===Fauna===
[[File:Litoria pearsoniana 1.JPG|thumb|right|Pearson's tree frog]]
The park is a good location for the sighting of nocturnal animals such as the [[mountain brushtail possum]], the [[ringtail possum]], and the [[sugar glider]].<ref name="epa1">{{cite web |url=http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/culture.html |title=Springbrook National Park — Nature, culture and history |access-date=2009-07-12 |date=2009-04-29 |publisher=The State of Queensland |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324204205/http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/culture.html |archive-date=24 March 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Due to [[land clearing in Australia|land clearing]] in the hinterland district, Springbrook National Park has become a haven for birds.<ref name="discover">{{cite book |title=Discover Australia's National Parks |author=Hema Maps |year=1997 |publisher=[[Random House]] Australia |location=[[Milsons Point, New South Wales]] |isbn=1-875992-47-2 |pages=200}}</ref> In total the park provides habitat for more than a hundred different bird species,<ref name="xqnp"/> including the [[yellow-tailed black cockatoo]], [[rufous fantail]], [[satin bowerbird]], [[whipbird]], and the [[Albert's lyrebird]].<ref name="discover"/>

Long-finned eels are commonly found in the pools of the plateau and there are numerous reptiles such as the [[land mullet]] which is the world's largest species of [[skink]], [[lace monitor]], and amphibious species like the orange-eyed treefrog, and [[great barred frog]].<ref name="epa1"/> The rare [[Richmond birdwing butterfly]], blue spiny crayfish, and glow-worms, the larvae of the [[Arachnocampa flava|fungus fly]], are found in the park. [[Red-necked pademelon]]s and [[koala]]s can also be seen.

==Recreation==
Bush camping is not permitted.<ref name="snpcain">{{cite web |url=http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/camping.html |title=Springbrook National Park: Camping information |date=18 December 2015 |publisher=Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing |access-date=30 January 2016 }}</ref> There is one camping area in Carricks Road.<ref name="snpcain"/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Queensland|environment}}
* [[Protected areas of Queensland]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}{{Wikivoyage|Numinbah_Valley}}
* [http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/index.html Springbrook National Park] at Queensland Government Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing / Parks.
* [http://www.abc.net.au/science/slab/glowworm/default.htm The Lure of Glow Worms] by Wendy Pyper at the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|Australian Broadcasting Commission]]

{{South East Queensland}}
{{National Parks of Queensland}}
{{Gold Coast Landmarks}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National parks of South East Queensland]]
[[Category:Forests of Queensland]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1990]]
[[Category:Gondwana Rainforests of Australia]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Queensland]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions on the Gold Coast, Queensland]]
[[Category:Natural arches]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Springbrook, Queensland]]
[[Category:Places with bioluminescence]]
[[Category:Sclerophyll forests]]
[[Category:Q150 Icons]]