Numinbah Valley: Scenic Drive from Nerang to the NSW Border

Numinbah Valley is the scenic hinterland drive from Nerang to the Queensland-New South Wales border, along the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road past Hinze Dam, farmland, forested ranges and Natural Bridge. It is about 40 km and about 45 minutes without stops, and you can turn it into a half day or a full day.

The valley is a quiet rural locality of about 200 people on the upper Nerang River, with Springbrook plateau to the east and Lamington National Park to the west. Most visitors drive it for the views and stop at Natural Bridge, so this guide puts the stops in the order you reach them.

The Numinbah Valley drive, stop by stop

From Nerang, the road is State Route 97, the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road. It runs south-west through Advancetown, then follows the western side of Advancetown Lake, the water held back by Hinze Dam. After the lake it crosses the Nerang River and follows it south through the valley.

The road is sealed for its whole length, but it climbs and has steep stretches near the border, so leave time and keep your speed down.

1. Hinze Dam

Hinze Dam is the first big stop, about 20 minutes from Nerang. There are picnic parks with barbecues, toilets, walking trails around the lakeside parks and boating on the lake. Swimming and camping are not allowed. It is a good place for a picnic before the climb. See Hinze Dam for hours and rules.

2. Along the valley floor

South of the lake the road runs beside the Nerang River through cleared grazing land with forested ranges on both sides. A little way into the valley, the Pine Creek Road junction leaves the valley road for the Gold Coast to Springbrook road, which is one way up to the plateau. You can take it and come back down, or carry on to Natural Bridge.

The Numinbah Valley School of Arts is on the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road. It was built in 1925 and opened in 1926 as a community-built hall, and it is on the Queensland Heritage Register. It is a landmark to see from the road, not a visitor attraction with set hours.

3. Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge is the best-known stop in the valley, about 38 km and about 45 minutes from Nerang. A 1 km circuit through rainforest leads to a rock arch where a waterfall pours into a cave, and the cave has a glow-worm colony you can see after dark. There is a car park, a picnic area and a public toilet. Swimming in the creek and the cave is prohibited, and access to the creek bank is too. It is a national park, so leave the dog at home. See Natural Bridge Springbrook.

4. The border

A few kilometres past Natural Bridge the road leaves the river, climbs a ridge and reaches the Queensland-NSW border at about 405 m above sea level. The road carries on in New South Wales as Numinbah Road towards Murwillumbah, about 28 km from Natural Bridge. Most day trippers turn around here or at Natural Bridge.

Springbrook from the valley

The valley is also a back way into Springbrook National Park, whose Natural Bridge and Numinbah sections sit on this road. On the plateau, the walk to Best of All Lookout is about 600 m return, with views to Mount Warning (Wollumbin) and the northern New South Wales ranges. Springbrook is a national park, so dogs are not allowed there.

Walks near the Numinbah Valley road

The Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk crosses the valley between O’Reilly’s in Lamington National Park and Springbrook. It is a multi-day bushwalk for prepared walkers, and Lamington National Park is the other end. For a short stretch of your legs on this drive, the Natural Bridge circuit is the easy one, and Hinze Dam has walking trails around its lakeside parks.

A little history

Timber cutters explored the valley for red cedar in 1845, and bullocks hauled the logs to Nerang. Settlers arrived in the 1860s, a sawmill ran from 1909 until 1944, and after that dairying and other farming took over. A school opened in 1927, and the heritage-listed School of Arts hall dates from the same era.

Planning your visit

• How long: about 45 minutes one way without stops; allow a half day with Hinze Dam and Natural Bridge, or a full day if you add Springbrook.
• Best time: a clear day for the views; after dark if you want the Natural Bridge glow-worms (brighter in the warmer months).
• What to bring: water, a hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes for the Natural Bridge steps and a torch if you stay for the glow-worms.
• Cost: free to drive. No entry fee is listed at Natural Bridge or Hinze Dam.
• Dogs: not allowed at Natural Bridge or Springbrook National Park. Hinze Dam allows leashed dogs only in its marked dog on leash areas.
• Accessibility: the stops have steps and uneven ground in places; check the individual pages before you go.

Getting there and parking

Leave the Pacific Motorway at Nerang (exit 69) and follow the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road south. Nerang is about 55 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD (about 70 km, without traffic), and Natural Bridge is about 95 minutes (about 108 km).

Parking is at each stop. The Natural Bridge car park can fill on busy weekends, and Hinze Dam’s recreation areas close at set hours. No bus along the valley road was confirmed, so plan on driving. Check the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30 if you want to confirm.

For road conditions and closures, see QLDTraffic. Details can change, so check the stops’ official pages before you go.

Nearby

• Hinze Dam – picnics, barbecues and walking trails at the start of the valley.
• Natural Bridge Springbrook – the rock arch and glow-worm cave halfway along the drive.
• Springbrook National Park – waterfalls and lookouts on the plateau above.
• Best of All Lookout – a short rainforest walk to a big view.
• Purling Brook Falls – a waterfall walk on the Springbrook plateau.
• Lamington National Park – the rainforest plateau on the other side of the valley.

Browse more scenic drives or Gold Coast Hinterland days out.

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