Things to do
Horseriding is a great way to experience Nerang's shared trails.
Photo credit: Kim Morris, Queensland Government
Camping and accommodation
Camping
Camping is not permitted in Nerang National Park.
Nearby Springbrook National Park provides the opportunity to camp. Camping permits are required and fees apply.
Other accommodation
There is a range of holiday accommodation in and around the Gold Coast. For more information see the tourism information links.
Shared trails
Walkers, horseriders, and mountain-bike riders can explore the park on shared trails. Another 20 trails are provided specifically for mountain-bike riders .
Shared trails and mountain-bike trails are suitable for bicycles designed for off-road riding. They are not suitable for bicycles designed for smooth road surfaces.
Shared trail give-way code
- Walkers give way to horses.
- Mountain bikers give way to both walkers and horseriders, and alert them when approaching.
- To safely alert horses and not spook them, slow down and talk—hearing a human voice can help horses stay calm when a bike suddenly appears.
Designated mountain-bike trails
Walking and running on designated mountain-bike trails is not recommended—mountain bikes travel at speed from either direction on many narrow, uneven sections. Walkers and runners should only use the shared trails.
Horseriders are not permitted on the designated mountain-bike trails.
There is a huge range of riding opportunities in Nerang National Park
Photo credit: Kirstin Beasley, Queensland Government
Mountain-bike riding
There are 20 designated mountain bike trails in Nerang National Park. Horseriders are not permitted on these designated mountain-bike trails, and it is not recommended to walk or run along them.
Mountain-bike riders also have access to the shared trails in the park.
Note: Some mountain bike trails are designed to be ridden in a one-way direction, others allow two-way access. Check the direction of each trail on the map before commencing your ride. Watch out for other trail users and wildlife.
Hint: Access the mountain bike trail map on your smart phone or device and take it with you on your ride. Look for the QR code that is featured on the entrance signs and at key points around the park.
Choose trails that suit your riding ability using the trail classification system provided. There are easy, intermediate and difficult trails. Some are one-way only. None of the trails are suitable for road bikes.
| Trail | Classification | Distance | Time | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1—Training Wheels | Easy | 350m | 5min | A short loop close to the trailhead for beginners to test their skills. |
| 2— Casuarina Grove circuit | Easy | 2.1km circuit plus optional 1km loop | 20min | Ride through a grove of casuarina trees—the favoured food tree of the vulnerable glossy black-cockatoo. To extend your ride there is the option of diverging to an additional loop that adds another 1km (8min riding time) to your trip. |
| 9—Goanna | Easy | 2.6km | 20min | Travel through eucalypt forest and dry rainforest, crossing numerous small creeks. Expect a mostly easy and enjoyable ride with a few minor challenges. |
| 14—Goanna Loop | Easy | 2.5km | 20min | A mostly easy loop where you can test your cornering skills while traveling through open eucalypt forest. |
| 21—Casuarina Explorer Short Loop | Easy | 1.7km | 15min | One way trail—refer to map . Mastered the Casuarina Grove circuit? Now check out the short explorer loop to build up your skills before tackling the long loop—branch off the longer loop to stay lower in the valley. |
| 22—Casuarina Explorer Long Loop | Easy | 3.5km | 40min | One way trail—refer to map . Keep going past the short loop and climb your way out of the valley before enjoying the flow of your ride back down again. |
| 3—Petes | Intermediate | 2.2km | 15min | Climb your way further into the park along this intermediate ride. Keep an eye out for lace monitors taking refuge on the trunks of the stringybark trees. This trail is also a great final ride back to the car park due to its slight and consistent downhill grade. |
| 4—Rocky Horror | Intermediate | 2.5km | 20min | Experience the true rough terrain of Nerang National Park along this trail as you dive down into the steep gullies and climb back out again. See how the vegetation changes as you approach the creek lines. |
| 5—Three Hills | Intermediate | 2.7km | 20min | Starting at the junction of Centre Road and Castle Hill break, the Three Hills trail winds through open forest of grey gum and tallowwood, habitat for the regionally-vulnerable koala. Riders will navigate a mix of natural rock areas, fast and flowing trail, technical features, and a couple of very short but tough pinch climbs. A moderate level of fitness is recommended. |
| 10—Barneys | Intermediate | 520m | 5min | A short trail on a relatively steep slope that will test your skills. Negotiate rock-gardens, log drops and flowing corners to complete this trail. |
| 11—Exit | Intermediate | 920m | 10min | A more direct route to leave ‘Happy Valley’ than the meandering ‘Goanna’ trail. |
| 12—Happy Valley | Intermediate | 2.3km | 20min | Travel through open eucalypt and casuarina forest with numerous small creek crossings. |
| 15—Wombats | Intermediate | 1.5km | 15min | Wombats provides an alternative climbing trail to ‘Elevator’ or an alternative descending trail to ‘B+Bs’. |
| 16—Wombats Connection | Intermediate | 280m | 2min | As the name suggests, Wombats Connection joins ‘Wombats’ and ‘Happy Valley’ trails. |
| 17—B+Bs | Intermediate | 310m | 2min | A descending trail, B+Bs takes you down into ‘Happy Valley’ for a quicker ride back to the trailhead and car park. |
| 18—Baileys | Intermediate | 3.8km | 45min | Following one of the ridgelines through the middle of the park, Baileys links the trails in the eastern section of the park to those further west. |
| 19—Elevator | Intermediate | 1km | 10min | A climbing trail to get you out of the valley and up to ‘Baileys’ or the trails further west. |
| 20—Explosions | Intermediate | 2.7km | 20min | This trail runs close to the quarry where explosions can occasionally be heard on blasting days. |
| 6—GC2018 Loop 1 | Difficult | 1.2km return | 10min | One way trail—refer to map. Starting from the trail head, get some air and test your skills on this jump-style trail specifically designed for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. The loop is completed by returning up the shared trail to do it all again. |
| 7—GC2018 Loop 2 | Difficult | 1.3km return | 25min | One way trail—refer to map. Test your fitness and technical climbing limits on this physically demanding trail. This loop was designed for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games to test the strongest riders in the world. |
| 8—GC2018 Loop 3 | Difficult | 1.5km return | 25min | One way trail—refer to map. Climb up a meandering trail before heading down a roller coaster full of humps, bumps, jumps and berms. |
| 13—Taipan | Difficult | 1.2km | 15min | One way trail—refer to map. A high-speed descending trail with technical features, rock slabs and jumps—for the skilled thrill-seekers only! |
Ride safely and responsibly
Ride safely
- Always wear a helmet and other safety gear.
- Only ride on trails that suit your riding abilities.
- Pay attention to trail grades and safety signs.
- Watch out for other trail users, fallen trees and wildlife.
- Never ride if you see smoke in the forest; bushfires can spread quickly.
- Slow down and warn others when approaching. Follow the give-way code.
- Ride according to trail conditions.
Help keep trails in good condition and stop erosion:
- Avoid riding on soft, wet and muddy tracks.
- Don’t ride during or immediately after wet weather.
- Avoid skidding and sliding downhill and around turns.
- Stay on marked trails.
- Don’t shortcut or form new tracks.
- Respect areas closed to riding—ride on open trails only.
Ride lightly
- Come in clean—remove seeds and wash soil and mud from your clothes and shoes, and your bike (particularly its tyres).
- Take your rubbish with you when you leave.
- Remember everything is protected—do not take or disturb plants and animals.
Horseriders
- Protect water quality—only allow horses to cross natural watercourses at designated crossing points on the trail.
- Minimise soil erosion and compaction—tether horses at hitching posts or resting areas only for short periods.
- Avoid spreading weeds—ensure horses’ coats, hooves and equipment are free of seeds before entering the park.
- Minimise damage to vegetation—do not allow horses to graze on any vegetation while in the area.
Picnic and day-use areas
There are no picnic or day-use areas within Nerang National Park.
Viewing wildlife
The national park provides quality habitat for endangered species such as koala and southern greater glider, vulnerable species such as powerful owl, glossy black-cockatoo and tusked frog, and locally-significant species such as short-beaked echidna.
- There are currently no park alerts for this park.