Natural Bridge is an easily accessible part of Springbrook National Park and worthy of a visit for anyone coming through southeast Queensland. There’s no way that photos can properly share the beauty of being immersed in a subtropical rainforest, but I’ve recorded some for our own memories.
Four-year-old Delaney and I accompanied another family on a visit to Natural Bridge which is located on the back road that leads from Murwillumbah to Nerang. My other girls opted to stay at the community with their friends, but we enjoyed our leisurely walk around the World-Heritage-listed circuit.
At the start of the kilometre-long walk, Delaney greets the forest with a single hug. The air is noticeably cooler within the rainforest, and one of our party returns to their vehicle for a jacket before we continue on our way.
The roots of these ancient trees reach down as the vines entwine the trunk on the way up.
Lana stops to decipher the maps that are pegged along different stages of the walk. Probably because of our continuous use of maps in our travels, Lana already has an awareness of what the signs mean.
The rainforest is a delight to wander through. We stop often to trace the paths of the vines into the canopy and to examine the colourful fungi sprouting from the floor litter.
During our visit, Cave Creek which feeds into the Nerang River is quite low. I'd love to come back when the water is higher!
The walkway through the rainforest to the creek is well-formed with proper steps. By choosing to make the circuit in a clockwise direction, we've managed to skip most of the uphill steps.
The natural arch was formed by the Cave Creek eating away at the rock. Visitors to the park are now prohibited to swim in the pool.
The cave underneath the rock is home to enough glowworms that tour operators bring visitors here after dark. I've made a mental note to bring the girls here one night!
The waterfall is magical, but, again, I wish to see this when the creek is in flood.
Only a few specimen trees are labelled, but I always appreciate reading the signs on the ones that are. My girls like to stop and read all the signs, so when we go through a national park that has lots of informative signs, we gain much more from the experience.
An upper pool of Cave Creek is tranquil in the shade.
A stand of hoop pine trees line the path on the way up. This indigenous species only grows naturally in a few locations in Australia.
Although I’m disappointed that not all four of my girls came along to explore this short rainforest walk with me, I feel confident that I can lure them here with talk of glowworms and the novelty of a night excursion. Natural Bridge is set in an exceptionally beautiful part of southeast Queensland even the drive there is spectacular! Those who love rainforest walks and lush scenery should definitely make a point of coming here.
