Springbrook National Park is on Yugambeh Country. I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this area and their connection to Country, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.
The Gold Coast Hinterland boasts a number of spectacular national parks full of rainforests, waterfalls, rocky plateaus, winding creeks and valleys, and abundant wildlife.
Pick any of the national parks, from Lamington, Tamborine to Springbrook, and you’re going to have an awesome time hiking and camping.
CAMPING AT SPRINGBROOK NATIONAL PARK
There’s plenty of commercial camping or Hipcamps around the Gold Coast hinterland but we really love staying in national parks.
Springbrook National Park is only about an hour from the Gold Coast, making it a very popular spot for escaping the urban sprawl. There’s only one spot where you can camp on the plateau, and that’s at The Settlement camping area.
GETTING TO THE SETTLEMENT
Getting to The Settlement is straightforward and easily done in a 2WD. You just need to know which road to take depending on whether you’re towing or not.
The plateau is roughly a 45-minute drive from Mudgeeraba or about 1.5 hours from Brisbane, with the roads climbing steeply up the range. Both roads are sealed but Springbrook Road is windy, steep and narrow, and has tight turns. If you’re towing, take Pine Creek Road via Nerang instead—it’s slightly longer but a much wider road.
Once you’re up on the plateau, finding the camping area is incredibly easy—just follow the signs to Purling Brook Falls. The Settlement is only a bit beyond that.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE SETTLEMENT
Springbrook (Settlement) Camping Area At a Glance
Pros: Easily accessible (2WD); clean, hybrid compost toilets; small campground with individual sites (vehicle-based camping); most sites have shady areas; close to Purling Brook Falls and walking tracks; BBQ shelter with access to municipal water
Cons: Busy and on the backpacker trail (since it’s so close to the Gold Coast); no tables; first come first serve basis (can’t pre-book specific sites); Sites 1-3 quite slope-y
Costs: $7.50 pp/pn (2026); Pre-bookings required via the QNP Booking Service
It’s a small campground with only 11 individual sites along a single, fully sealed access road. The ground varies from grassy patches to compact dirt, and some sites are fairly slope-y—especially the first three as you enter the loop.
When we camped here in late January, it was a little too popular for our liking. But being so close to the Gold Coast, you can’t really expect to have a spot like this all to yourself. One thing that is a bit weird about camping here is just how close the campground sits to the surrounding residential areas and housing.
THE QPWS BOOKING DILEMMA
As with all national parks in Queensland, you need to pre-book your campsite at Springbrook before you arrive.
However, you can no longer choose a specific site number when booking. I’m not sure why QPWS has done that, and I’m not really a fan. If I have to pre-book my camp spot, I’d prefer to lock in a specific one. That way, we can rock up whenever we want instead of being stuck with whatever leftover slope is available.
Because everyone is camping fairly close together here, it pays to be a considerate neighbour—maybe brush up on your Leave No Trace principles—so the small loop stays enjoyable for everyone.
FACILITIES & WEATHER
There are no showers at Springbrook and only hybrid compost toilets but I found them very clean and not smelly—always a bonus! There is also a shared BBQ shelter with access to municipal water.
Since the campground sits high on the Springbrook plateau, it’s notably cooler up here than down in the valley. The mid-20Cs temperatures were really pleasant for January camping. Another massive positive is the lack of mozzies up here. The rainforest isn’t far away but we didn’t notice a single mozzie in the campground (and believe me, we notice if they’re there).
ACCESS TO WALKING TRACKS
What’s really nice about The Settlement is that the impressive Purling Brook Falls trailhead, including the 4km loop walk, is right across the road. It’s super nice to not have to hop back into the car just to do a short hike. There are plenty of other walks in Springbrook, but you will need to drive 10 to 15 minutes further up the plateau to access them.
Because the campground serves as the official endpoint for the 3-day Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk, the adjacent day-use carpark can get quite busy with cars waiting for hikers to finish.
Planning your day on the plateau? Check out my popular guide to the best walking tracks and waterfalls at Springbrook National Park to plan your camping weekend away.
READY TO GO CAMPING?
The Settlement is situated right at the western edge of the national park.
Since Springbrook has only been a national park for some 25 years, there’s “suburbia” just around the corner. So as you lie in your tent at night, you can hear dogs barking and cars coming home. It’s not a big deal, you just don’t feel very remote here.
If you need more peace and quiet and are keen to explore some rugged, granite landscapes, check out my Girraween National Park camping guide. Or if you prefer a cooler climate on a more secluded plateau, the Bunya Mountains are another great spot that’s 2WD-accessible.
For a broader look at the best spots in the region, have a look at my 17 favourite camping spots in southeast Queensland.
Happy camping,
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