Guest Info.

Thank you for booking Springbrook Cockatoos Cabin. I hope you enjoy your stay. You can contact me, Jacqui, between 8am and 8pm (or later in an emergency) via AirBnb if you have any questions.

It’s about a 30 minute drive between either Nerang or Mudgeeraba (suburbs on the Gold Coast) to Springbrook township. Alternatively, the ‘back’ road can head south to Murwillimbah instead of north to Nerang.

The heritage listed ‘front’ road from Mudgeeraba is not recommended for anyone who gets car-sick. The back road (via Nerang) passes by Hinze Dam. 

Both roads (via Nerang or Mudgeeraba) take approximately 1.5 hours from the centre of Brisbane if there are no traffic delays. If the highway is congested, it’s best to hop off it earlier at Nerang.

If you are arriving at night, know that there are no street lights on our one-lane street, and no signage to the house (only a house number on a letterbox). Once you drive up to the house, sensor lights should come on to light your way. (Please don’t turn on or off any overhead switches outside the locked room that is in front of the carpark. They do not turn on any lights inside that room but they will turn off the sensor light.)

If you accidentally drive past the driveway (on your right), you can turn around at the end of the road. However, you won’t be able to turn into the driveway when coming from the other direction (the angle is too tight) so you will have to turn around again to approach as before.

The key will be in a keybox on a post at the bottom of the stairs. The code for the box, and the property address, will be sent to you via AirBnb a day or two before your stay. (The code is changed regularly.)

Springbrook can be cold (often 5 to 10*C cooler than the Gold Coast) and wet, and there are no major shops. Here are some suggestions of things you may want to bring:

• Warm indoor slippers, extra socks or ugg boots in Winter for inside the house or out on the deck.
• Waterproof hiking boots or gumboots, or an extra set of dry shoes. (Open toe shoes could mean muddy toes &/or leeches.)
• Raincoat &/or umbrella, even if the forecast is fine.
• Insect spray. 
• ‘Tick Off’ if ticks concern you. Tweezers are in the first aid kit. “Freeze it, don’t squeeze it.”
• Pocket salt if leeches concern you.
• Long snake bite bandages if snakes concern you. (Snake bites are very, very rare. Most snakes, if seen here, are pythons, which are not poisonous – but in Australia it’s always good to be prepared.)
• Firewood, kindling and lighter. Some firewood is provided at the cabin but more would be needed for multiple nights. Nearby Echo Valley Farm usually sells firewood on the side of the road for a small price.
• The usual suspects: water bottle, hat, snacks, sunscreen, extra jumper, yoga mat, favourite book, well-loved guitar, phone charger, toothbrush and a sense of adventure!

The following are provided:

• Paper towels, dish detergent, tea towels, bathroom towels, bedding, extra blankets, alfoil, baking paper, rubbish bags, shampoo, conditioner, soap, toilet paper, cooking oil, salt & pepper, balsamic vinegar, black tea, rooibos tea, peppermint tea, coffee, sugar (but no milk), a bucket of firewood and some fire starters (but if it is a cold time of year, you will need more).

IMPORTANT:

• Refuel before heading up the mountain. There are no fuel stations after Nerang (back road) or Mudgeeraba (front road), which are each 30 minutes away.
• Bring enough groceries as there is no major store on the mountain.

Be aware that there is no major supermarket but there is a General Store at 10 Forestry Rd. 

Sometimes there are roadside food stalls selling jams, herbs, garlic, firewood, and so on. For current stall locations, check the most recent local paper (Springbrook Voices) on the bookshelf inside the house.

There are currently no places to dine at night but if you fancy a bite during the day, you could visit:

• Dancing Waters Cafe (a 10 to 15 minute walk along Purlingbrook Track – head right from the house and it is located near the entrance to the Purlingbrook car park)
• The Fudge Shop – including Chappy’s Warung Indonesian food cart on weekends. It is also a 10 to 15 minute walk away. Head up the road back onto the main street, and  then up to the corner with Lyrebird Ridge Road
• English Gardens Cafe (opposite Goomoolahra Falls lookout) – your best bet for ample indoor seating. This is at the furthest end of Springbrook township.

If keen on dinner options, you could plan a day trip to Binna Burra for some of their hikes, then stop at The Paddock at Beechmont on your way back. Otherwise, Mudgeeraba offers the widest variety of cuisines some 30 minutes’ drive away.

The waste transfer centre is where you will need to take all rubbish when you leave the house (from the kitchen, bathrooms and recyclables bucket located at the bottom of the pantry). It is on Carricks Rd, directly opposite the community hall.

Springbrook has an active community that discourages single-use plastic water bottles and encourages weed eradication. For details on the local water mining issue by the likes of Coca Cola, watch the video on this petition page:  change.org/gondwanawater.

Not far from the house is the Springbrook Observatory for star-gazing. (See ‘useful links’ at the bottom of the home page for ticket information.)

The Community Hall often has events such as dance, yoga and music. The hall can be hired too (see the community link at the bottom of the home page).

Around the hall are a tennis court, playground, skate park with basketball hoop and public toilets. Tennis racquets are kept at the top of the walk-in-robe at the house.

Sometimes there is a weekend market held beside the Fudge Shop (check the Springbrook or Fudge Shop Facebook pages for dates –  or ask at the Fudge Shop directly because it isn’t far from the hosue).

Unpowered boats (e.g. kayaks and paddleboards) can access Hinze Dam via the Western Ramp. Keep in mind that this area is remote and swimming is not allowed.

Experienced rockclimbers can check routes on Pages Pinnacle via The Crag website. (The link is at the bottom of the home page.)

If birdwatching is your thing, you might want to check out recent sightings via the eBird website. (The link for Purlingbrook is at the bottom of the home page.) You can find more information about birds via the menu at the top of this page.

A folder inside the house will provide information, such as how to operate the reverse-cycle air conditioner or TV. Things you may like to know upfront are:

• There is a security camera under the house.
• All water is rainwater. It is safe to drink, running through 2 particle filters and 1 UV filter, but it may still have a slightly earthy taste or colour. If this bothers you, you could add fresh mint leaves or limes to flavour the water.
• Although the house faces a National Park, there are neighbours on either side so please be mindful of our peaceful street and avoid loud party noises, especially late at night.
• No pets are allowed. The property isn’t fully fenced and a resident bush turkey dutifully attends to his nest (a large mound of leaves) in the backyard. We also have endemic lizards and other visitors so pets are not welcome.
• The kitchen stove and oven will not work unless the hob switch is turned on. This is located on a wall behind the stove. Please turn it off when leaving the house (if you remember) because the dials on the stovetop are easy to turn on by accident.
• The toilets are the modern, flushable types but they are off-grid, meaning that they empty into a septic tank where microbes break down your waste and return nutrients to the forest. Please do not flush tampons and wet wipes etc. as they can break the system.
• Please remove all rubbish at the end of your stay, and empty your things from the fridge and pantry. The recycle bin is at the bottom of the pantry, and the refuse station is opposite the community hall.
• Unless previously agreed, check-in is at 2pm and check-out is 10am.
• There is no laundry so please bring extra clothes if staying for a week or consider a stop at a laundromat if necessary.
• You can cancel your booking anytime before 5 days in advance for a full refund (less any AirBnb charges). After that, no refund applies except in the most extenuating of circumstances.
• There is no wifi or subscription TV but there are free-to-air TV channels and a selection of DVDs, books and board games. 
• While there is no cable to the house (hence no cable TV or internet), mobile phone coverage is reasonable except for Vodafone.
• There is a hook to hold open the gate if you don’t want to keep closing it while at the house.
• The mattresses are on the firm side. Obviously we can’t accommodate all individuals’ preferred sleeping habits so if it is important to you to have a soft mattress, you may want to consider taking a foam mattress topper (or you’re welcome to cancel before the normal non-cancellation period of 5 days). Our mattresses are labelled ‘medium-firm’ by Sealy.
• If the microwave is child-locked (showing the symbol of a key), to unlock it, press the ‘stop’ button 3 times in a row.
• In the unlikely event that a major storm causes a local power outage, there is a bucket near the tap under the front steps so one can still flush toilets. Obviously nobody wants a  holiday without electricity to cook etc. so if the outage is not brief, please contact me to discuss options.
• In the middle of winter, if using the oil burners in each bedroom, it’s best to turn those on by mid-afternoon so they have time to slowly warm the space. Their levels needn’t be above 2 or 3 (else you will be parched by the morning). If they don’t look to be working (no light comes on), just check that the timer setting isn’t on. Also, please don’t use the reverse air conditioner in the main room while keeping doors wide open. That’s a simple consideration for fossil fuel usage. Thank you.

Below is a summary of our favourite local hikes. For links to maps and other walks, please see the ‘Other Links’ section at the bottom of the home page.

Purlingbrook Falls (1.5 to 2 hours return) & Warringa Pool (+30 mins return)

Diagonally across the road from the house (slightly uphill) is a small clearing. At the end of the clearing are two logs, indicating access to Purlingbrook Track. Turn left to go down to the bottom of the waterfall or right to go to Tannanaba Lookout and the town centre. This track is a circuit with a sustained downhill and a sustained uphill. There are some steep edges, especially along the top of the escarpment, so it is not the best walk for young children who are known to be runners. From the bottom of the falls, there is a track (not the one that crosses the bridge) to Warringa Pool, which some believe to be the best swimming hole on the mountain.

Twin Falls (1.5 to 2 hours for the circuit or 50 mins return to the base of the waterfall)

This is our favourite walk with kids. We recommend you start early to avoid day trippers or do it midweek. Parking can be difficult on weekends. Begin at the Canyon Parade lookout and head south. Keep to your left at every fork. You will pass through some rocks and should end up walking behind the waterfall. You can then cross the causeway to walk back up the way you came, or you can continue on to do the full circuit. Be aware that you may have to pass under a tiny waterfall later on, so a small umbrella could be useful if there’s been recent rain. The best time to do this walk is straight after heavy rain, when the hillside is roaring with the sound of rushing water.

Warrie Circuit (4 to 5 hours)

This is a good one for those wanting a longer hike but you will need good knees for the hike out (2 hours+ uphill) and should not start after 11am. Begin via the Twin Falls walk but go right at the fork after you walk through your first ‘rock tunnel’. Highly recommended but not advised for kids due to some narrow edges.

Waterfall Creek Circuit (3.5 to 4 hours)

This is a lesser known walk so check current conditions and advice via the All Trails website. (The track may be overgrown or flooded.) There are several creek crossings so expect wet shoes or take waders. Walk in an anti-clockwise direction if you prefer to get your feet wet after you’ve done the uphill section. This walk has a mix of eucalypt and rain forests. Possible wildlife include black cockatoos and kangaroos.

The Best Of All Lookouts (15 minutes return)

A smooth and easy path, relatively flat, takes you to a small platform with views looking East South-East. This is a high point on the plateau so it can get wonderfully atmospheric during cloudy conditions. The walk passes by two ancient Antarctic Beech trees (2000-3000 years old). Being such a short but interesting walk, this is probably the busiest one on the mountain so it’s best done at the very start or end of the day. Driving to this walk from the house during dawn and dusk will probably mean driving past numerous pademelons (small cousins of kangaroos). Please drive slowly as they sometimes dart across the road unexpectedly.

Goomoolahra Falls (5 minutes)

This area includes a fabulous picnic spot (with fixed BBQs near a stream) and a stunning view at the top of a waterfall looking East North-East. Toilets are nearby and a cafe (English Gardens) is across the road. 

Pages Pinnacle (2 hours)

For this walk, drive down the mountain to park at the bottom of Pine Creek Rd (where you should see other cars parked). It’s about a 10 minute drive from the house. This walk has a steep climb on a wider track, so it isn’t as shaded as other walks on this list. It is also in more open forest (not rainforest). The view from the top looks over Hinze Dam. Rock-climbers use this walk for access. Check The Crag website if you’re a climber.

Natural Bridge (20 minutes)

In nearby Numinbah Valley (approximately 20 minutes drive away) is this short walk. It takes you to Natural Bridge, where a platypus is sometimes seen swimming beneath the waterfall. It is prohibited to swim here. The roof above the waterfall has glow worms so the best time to visit is just before dusk.

Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk (multiple days)

This walk links O’Reillys to Binna Burra and Binna Burra to Springbrook, finishing on the Purlingbrook Falls track in front of the house. Binna Burra is a 1-hour scenic drive from Springbrook but be aware that the Binna Burra road is sometimes in need of repair and that means road closures at certain times of the day (not usually on weekends though). Check the internet if possible. A map of the drive is below. It shows O’Reilly’s (in the SW corner), Binna Burra and Springbrook.

In an emergency where you need the police, ambulance or fire brigade, call 000.

A fire extinguisher and fire blanket are kept in the bottom drawer (under the cutlery drawer) in the kitchen.

In that same drawer is a first aid kit. No medicines can be provided but there are bandages in case of snake bite.

In the unlikely event of a snake bite, try to take a photo (or a mental note) of the snake to tell medics later. Do not move the patient unless necessary. Wrap the area firmly to slow blood flow. Wrap it well. Tear clothing for additional bandages if necessary. Keep the patient calm and still, lying down, and call for help.

Leeches can be common after sustained rainfall, especially if you are wearing open-toed shoes and sit next to water. Salt usually makes them drop off. Otherwise pull them off. If a leech has been on you for a while, your blood will flow freely but there should be no pain and they do not have poison so they are actually quite harmless; just annoying.

Ticks can also be an annoyance but unlike leeches, they can inject a toxin. There is some debate about whether those toxins contribute to Lymes Disease or Mammalian Meat Allergy. Either way, their toxin is strong for very small children or pets. Even adults will feel unwell if the tick is not found for some days. Ticks are unlikely unless you have strayed off the path to walk in thick bush, such as when clearing weeds. They sometimes make their way up to the scalp so check all over your body. If you find one, DO NOT try to pull it off. This will make the tick burrow further and inject toxins. Find a chemist that sells ‘Tick Off’ or ‘Wart Off’ to freeze-kill it. Alternatively, you could try putting tea tree oil or Lycoclear (scabies cream) on it. Once it is dead, use tweezers to extract it.

While this section sounds scary, I’ve personally never had a leech nor a tick at Springbrook and neither have I seen a poisonous snake (only a lazy python).

Occasionally there may be a spider at the house. Cover it with a glass cup and then slip a piece of paper between the cup and wall to catch and remove it. Alternatively, try and usher it out with a broom.

During hikes, please tell children not to brush their hands against plants on the side of the path. That’s because there could be some painful ones, including:

• stinging nettle
• gympie gympie
• lawyer cane