I turned a year older recently — and I couldn’t have imagined a better way to celebrate.
A couple of good old friends, packs loaded with tents, cookers, and all the bits and pieces for a few days off the grid… and we were off, hiking deep into the Gold Coast Hinterland on the Great Walk through Lamington and Springbrook National Parks.
Part of the motivation was to capture the beauty of this place on camera — to film a little for social media, and share some of the magic with you. But really, we did it for the joy of the walk. For the memories made around the campfire. For the silence of the forest and the steady rhythm of boots on the trail — everything we love about walking holidays.
We started in the Green Mountains section of Lamington, climbing gently through subtropical rainforest until we reached the cool temperate zone — where we camped beneath towering Antarctic Beech trees that have stood there for centuries. There’s something unforgettable about waking up in a place like that. Swirling mist. Lyrebirds calling. And views stretching all the way into northern New South Wales.
Over the following days, the landscape changed with every step. From the heights of the ranges, we descended through quiet valleys and farmland, then climbed again to the Springbrook Plateau — all creeks, waterfalls, and breathtaking outlooks.
And yes, there was a birthday cake of sorts: a Freddo Frog with a sparkler, huddled at a chilly campsite, warmed by song, laughter, and the kind of deep contentment you only feel after a day well spent outdoors.
It’s in moments like these that I’m reminded why we do what we do at ParkTours.
Guided walking holidays are our craft — but at heart, it’s about something more. It’s about slowing down, tuning in, and letting nature (and good company) do what it does best: ground us, lift us, and reconnect us with something bigger than ourselves.
Wherever we go — whether it’s the forests of Tasmania, the rugged coastlines of New Zealand, or trails half a world away — the magic is in the journey. The shared stories, the quiet moments, the places that stay with you long after your boots are off.
If you’ve travelled with us before, you’ll know what I mean. And if you haven’t — well, maybe now’s the time to start dreaming.
There are so many places waiting to be explored. And we’d love to walk them with you — one unforgettable walking holiday at a time.
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Because the best journeys are the ones we share.
