Springbrook National Park
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox Australian place The Springbrook National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Gold Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. The Template:Convert park is situated on the McPherson Range, near Springbrook, approximately Template:Convert south of Brisbane. The park is part of the Shield Volcano Group of the UNESCO World HeritageTemplate:Endashlisted 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The park was the location for the discovery of the rare Eucryphia jinksii species of subtropical tree.<ref name="lflf">Template:Cite news</ref>
Mount Cougal sectionEdit
The Mount Cougal section of the park is located about Template:Convert inland from Currumbin. It was begun in 1938 with Template:Convert set aside, and additions over time brought it to Template:Convert 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 Template:Convert above sea level.<ref name=mc/>
The local Yugambeh Aboriginal peoples call the peaks Ningeroongun and Barrajanda. They tell of a legendary hunter called Gwayla who had two prized hunting dogs (dingos). 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 1943 a bush sawmill was established near the creek, producing timber for packing crates for the local banana growers<ref name="xqnp">Template:Cite book</ref> when other timber supplies were being directed towards World War II. The easily milled timbers of the 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>Template:Cite report</ref>
Natural Bridge sectionEdit
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>Natural Bridge page Template:Webarchive (Gold Coast City Council)</ref>
The bridge is in the territory of the local 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.
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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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 sectionEdit
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, 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 via the Numinbah Valley or by road from Mudgeeraba.<ref name="naq"/>
At between Template:Convert above sea level,<ref name="xqnp"/> Springbrook Plateau can be quite cool even in summer. The area averages more than Template:Convert of rain a year,<ref name="discover"/> most of which falls between December and March. Natural Bridge section receives most of its annual rainfall, Template:Convert, during the hot, humid summer. This is also the location where the UK television programme I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here! has been filmed.
EnvironmentEdit
LandformsEdit
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">Template:Cite book</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"/>
FloraEdit
The flora is highly diverse due to the high rainfall and variety of volcanic soil types. Subtropical rainforest dominated by black and white booyong Argyrodendron spp. is prominent on basaltic soils while warm temperate rainforest that is dominated by coachwood, occurs on the poorer rhyolitic soils. Giant brush box are found to the east of the plateau and flooded gums may also be found in areas of basalt soils.<ref name="naq"/> One small stand of cool temperate rainforest, dominated by Antarctic beech, is located at the 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 Springbrook leatherwood, a tree which grows to 25 m in height and is found only in warm temperate rainforest on Springbrook, was not discovered until 1993, by local botanist David Jinks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Other more fire-prone areas support open forests dominated by New England blackbutt and Blue Mountains ash.<ref name="naq"/> 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.
FaunaEdit
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">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Due to land clearing in the hinterland district, Springbrook National Park has become a haven for birds.<ref name="discover">Template:Cite book</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 fungus fly, are found in the park. Red-necked pademelons and koalas can also be seen.
RecreationEdit
Bush camping is not permitted.<ref name="snpcain">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> There is one camping area in Carricks Road.<ref name="snpcain"/>
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Sister projectTemplate:Wikivoyage
- Springbrook National Park at Queensland Government Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing / Parks.
- The Lure of Glow Worms by Wendy Pyper at the Australian Broadcasting Commission
Template:South East Queensland Template:National Parks of Queensland Template:Gold Coast Landmarks Template:Authority control