Springbrook & Tamborine: Glow Worm Cave, Curtis Falls & Gallery Walk

Summary

Rainforest walks, glow worm caves and local art in Springbrook and Tamborine

You’ll walk shaded trails beneath ancient trees at Springbrook and Tamborine, spot birds or maybe a shy pademelon, taste fudge on quirky Gallery Walk, and see glow worms light up their cave even during daylight hours. With a small group and local guide handling all logistics from Brisbane, it’s an easy way to feel part of these rainforests for a day.

What’s the experience like?

“You ever hear a kookaburra laugh right above your head? I nearly dropped my water bottle. We’d just started down the Curtis Falls track in Joalah when our guide, Steve, paused to point out a rainbow lorikeet — but it was the flash of red from a king parrot that got everyone’s attention. The air smelled like wet bark and something sweet I couldn’t place. Someone behind me whispered about pademelons (tiny wallabies), and for a second I thought I saw one dart between ferns. Maybe wishful thinking.”

The day trip from Brisbane felt longer than it looked on the map — in a good way. There’s this moment at Hinze Dam where you can just stand and watch black swans gliding past pelicans, all of it so quiet except for the wind. Steve told us koalas sometimes nap up in the eucalyptus trees here but we only spotted lorikeets (again). Then Tamborine Mountain: Gallery Walk is like someone mashed up an art fair with a lolly shop and threw in wine tastings for good measure. I tried fudge that tasted vaguely of lavender? Not sure if I’d go back for seconds but hey, when in Queensland.

I didn’t expect to see glow worms during daylight — turns out the Cedar Creek Glow Worm Cave is set up to trick them (and us) into thinking it’s night inside. Our local guide flicked on her torch and suddenly there they were, tiny blue-green dots everywhere along the rock walls. It was oddly quiet; nobody wanted to talk over them. Kind of magical, honestly. And then Springbrook’s Natural Bridge walk — all mossy boulders and filtered light until you reach the cave where water tumbles through an opening above your head. I kept stopping just to listen to everything at once: birds, water, even our own footsteps.

Funny how tired you get after a day like this — not bad-tired though. More like full-tired? The kind where you keep replaying little moments on the drive back to Brisbane: someone laughing about hang gliders launching off cliffs, or that first cool breath under the rainforest canopy. If you’re after something real — not just ticking off sights — this Springbrook & Tamborine day trip sticks with you longer than you’d think.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Springbrook and Tamborine Rainforests

• Walk Curtis Falls at Joalah National Park
• Spot birds and pademelons
• Visit Cedar Creek Glow Worm caves
• Free time at Gallery Walk
• View hang gliders at Tamborine Mountain
• Walk Natural Bridge rainforest trail
• Visit Hinze Dam wildlife park

Top questions

How long does the Springbrook & Tamborine day trip take?

This is a full-day tour departing from Brisbane with several stops including Springbrook Natural Bridge, Tamborine’s Curtis Falls walk, Gallery Walk free time, Hinze Dam and Glow Worm Cave.

Are glow worms visible during daytime on this tour?

Yes — the Cedar Creek Glow Worm Cave is specially designed so visitors can see thousands of glow worms even during daylight hours.

Is lunch included on this tour?

No set lunch is included; you get free time at Gallery Walk to choose from various cafes or shops for lunch at your own expense.

What wildlife might I see on this tour?

You could spot rainbow lorikeets, king parrots, kookaburras, rosellas and possibly pademelons (small wallabies), plus other native birds around Hinze Dam.

How many people are on each tour group?

The group size is capped at 21 participants for a more personal experience with your guide.

Is hotel pickup provided from Brisbane?

The tour includes pickup from central Brisbane locations; check with your provider for specific pickup points.

Are there any fitness requirements?

You should have moderate fitness as there are several rainforest walks involved (like Curtis Falls and Natural Bridge).

Does the tour run if it rains?

Yes — tours operate in all weather conditions so bring appropriate clothing and comfortable closed-toe shoes.

What’s included

Your day includes air-conditioned minivan transport from Brisbane with bottled water provided along the way, entry fees covered for Springbrook’s Natural Bridge walk and Cedar Creek Glow Worm Cave guided visit, plus plenty of free time at Gallery Walk for lunch or shopping before heading back in comfort with your small group and local guide.