Gold Coast Hinterland Walks Locals Love

More than 180 members of the Gold Coast Hinterland Walking Club logged sessions on quiet tracks in Lamington National Park during June 2026.

The shift comes as wellness influencers on the coast promote shorter commutes to nature over peak-hour drives to Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach. Local fitness routines now favour these spots for steady elevation gains and shade during the July dry season.

Two trails residents keep to themselves

The first starts at the end of Pine Creek Road in Canungra and follows Toolona Creek for 4.2 kilometres before looping back through rainforest. The second sits inside Nerang National Park off the eastern side of the Pacific Motorway, where a 3.8-kilometre fire trail climbs through eucalypt woodland to a small lookout above the river.

Both routes sit within 25 minutes of central Gold Coast suburbs yet receive none of the signage or shuttle buses that funnel visitors to the main Lamington lookouts. Surf Life Saving clubs in Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach have begun informal Saturday group hikes on these tracks to build off-season endurance.

Numbers behind the local preference

Gold Coast City Council trail counters recorded an average of 420 users per month on the Toolona loop in 2025, compared with 48,000 weekly visitors at Kurrawa Beach during the same period. Entry remains free, though the Canungra trailhead charges $4 for all-day parking in the council lot.

Walkers planning a first visit should download the council’s free Hinterland Tracks app for current track conditions and start before 8am to avoid afternoon heat. Anyone with existing injuries should consult a local medical professional before attempting the steeper sections.