The Gold Coast and Hinterland

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On Monday, 5th Feb we took our chance to drive down to Springbrook and see the last 3 water towers we hadn't yet visited (that we could sensibly get to).   It was a 6 hour marathon roundtrip but well worth it - we had a lovely day.

Springbrook

We knew it would be a beautiful drive as it was an hour further on than Tamborine and in the middle of the Gold Coast Hinterland.  Sadly the spectacular waterfalls were all a good hike away from the car parks so we knew we wouldn't be able to see any of them but we were after the water tower and the "best of all lookouts".  With a name like that you just had to go.  We also weren't staying overnight to see the glow worms at Natural Bridge - I bet that is an awesome sight too.  



The first lookout we came to was Hardy's Lookout.  You had to park further up the road and then walk back along the single track.  You could just make out the Gold Coast in the distance with the tall buildings in Broadbeach standing out.


The drive up the mountain was lovely, especially as we drove along a lake which had dead trees in it for miles and really reminded me of Magic the Gathering Swamp cards.


We continued up the mountain to Springbrook when we drove past a couple of painted water towers we didn't know about.  They were scenes of the emergency services working in the area.  David managed to turn the car around so I could naturally take my pictures.


We then found the one we were looking for. 


As we drove up to the "big" lookout we stopped at Hardy's Lookout which was a little overgrown along with a stop at he community centre which had a lovely mural and memorial at it.


So on to the lookout - it was a bit of a trek through rainforest again but "yes" it was worth it.  David also got a great shot of the moon which we could see, I guess because we were so high up.



Now it was time to head back down the mountain and head out to the water tower at The Spit - a very thin peninsular at the top of the Gold Coast.


Sadly the actual water tower wasn't great from an art perspective but the area was lovely and we found a fish market at the bottom of Southport which did amazing fish and chips.  I don't think we will be having fish and chips for tea when we get home as they will never be able to live up to the variety of fish we have had out here.  Not to mention the fact that you get calamari, scallops and prawns with them as well.  Also our last water tower on the way home at Pine Ridge, although prettier, was at the side of the main highway on a bank so you could not stop to get pictures - hence I have put them both together.


What a lovely day both with weather and scenery.  Even David felt it was worth the 6 hour drive.







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