Mt Cougal a Great Gold Coast Hinterland Bush Walk
There are a few websites that mention this Gold Coast Hinterland bush walk, but the details are a little sketchy. Our first attempt to locate this bush walk we went down Garden of Eden Road after visiting Arthur Freeman Lookout. The road comes to an abrupt end and you are confronted with a track that clearly is not accessible to the public and one behind a locked gate, with an abandoned vehicle shrouded in undergrowth. (There is no visible signage from the outside of the gate)
However after more research and comments left on my blog by Sam from Currumbin Beach who left detailed directions on how to find the start of this bush walk I am pleased to say it was discovered. (If I had been a little more adventurous and climbed the gate I could have saved sometime.)
- Gene and Jill ready for bush walking
How to access ‘The Cougals’?
My companions on this bush walk were my ‘fit’ eighty four year old Father and my son Gene. Travelling from the Gold Coast, head for Currumbin then Currumbin Creek Road turn left at Tomewin Mountain Road this sign comes up fairly quickly so watch out for it. Follow Tomewin Mountain Road passed Arthur Freeman Lookout through the NSW tick gates to The Garden of Eden Road on your right. This is a one lane dirt track but you don’t need a 4WD, continue to the end of the road around 5km and park your vehicle in the small parking area away from the gate and the roadway.
There is a sign!
Climb over the locked timber gate, and immediately turn left and follow the track up the hill, the doubled strand barbed wire
- The only signage
fence is on your left and will remain in sight for most of your journey. (You will then see ‘The Cougals sign’ on the fence from this side) The fence hugs the border between Queensland and New South Wales. Straight away you are climbing and there is thick undergrowth and loose rocks so take care. The ground was damp and slippery and I should imagine given the terrain it would be much the same throughout the year, I am only glad its winter, you apparently can get attacked by leeches in the warmer months given the lush vegetation. If you are accustomed to using a walking pole you will be using one here, instinctively you start looking for some kind of support to help you with the gradually climb. It wasn’t long before we found sticks or should I say tree
- You are climbing straight away
branches to give us support.
A Sugarcane Forrest
After climbing, the trail levelled off and we stumbled on a unique sight, there stretched before us was wild sugarcane growing in large clumps and forming a dense forest like structure for quite some distance; you could almost believe you were standing in the middle of a sugarcane field down on the coastal plains of Murwillumbah.
- Sugar cane forest on this Gold Coast bush walk
Continuing along the ridge the area opens out to grasslands with spectacular 360 degree views.
Currumbin Valley is stretched out before you right down to the sea, Mount Warning melting into the blue haze and Condong Sugar Mill on the Tweed River bellowing out smoke in the cool morning air in the distance, certainly a sight to behold.
- Views of Mount Warning
Straight in front of you is the reason for your journey Cougal Twin Peaks, waiting to be conquered yet again by enthusiastic bush walkers.
- Mount Cougal Twin Peaks ahead
My fit Dad
It’s a great spot to stop and recuperate after your first climb and prepare yourself for the big one. There is history attached to this location, formation of the twin peaks of Mount Cougal—’Ningeroongun and Barrajanda’ was named after two hunting dogs read the whole account.
Watch out for Hazards
From here on just keep the fence on your left and don’t wander off the trail. The terrain is constantly changing; at times you think it could be someone’s garden with staghorns strategically placed on towering trees and clumps of
- Huge trees tower above you
wild ferns at their base and of course the tell tail sign of seeded plants that have been carried by the wind or birds are ever present even in this wild location.
There is no continuous ascent as you might think, just as you believe you are climbing the trail and getting closer to your destination it quickly descends. The rainforest canopy is very dense in some sections and when the wind drops there is total silence only the occasional twig or palm frond falling through the tree canopy or so we thought! Come to think about it we never actually saw any falling only heard movements through the trees and some of those sounds were low on the forest floor! All jokes aside this is rugged country and ‘no walk in the park’ as we are about to find out in a big way.
Take your time and stop for breaks
We stopped quite a bit, it is hard going when you are concentrating on your steps and making sure you place your feet on firm ground. The trail is littered with vines, fallen trees that
Mt Cougal rugged country
have died or collapsed by termite infestation or maybe have been struck by lightning, we became used to climbing over them. In some locations they have taken the barbed wire fence down so you are crisscrossing over the barbed wire fencing lying across the trail so take care. However the fallen trees were handy to sit on with during our many breaks to munch on treats, we did stop a fair bit I think some of it was psychological this was a lot harder then we expected.
Stairway to Heaven
Nearing our final destination the twin peaks of Mount Cougal, the trail starts to narrow notably the barbed wire fence is ever present to guide us on our course. We start to climb in earnest now with little to hang onto other then the chicken wire on the lower part of the fence, it is tempting to grab onto but best left alone. The trail in front of us resembles a
It's very steep here, I am in the upper part of the photo
staircase, entwined with a maze of tree roots, like a scene from ‘Lord of the Rings’ however it’s very presents signal the prize of completion. Up to this point my father had successfully negotiated all the challenges, fallen trees, and changes in the terrain without any drama. This section before us will require the most exertion and the look of horror on his face signalled clearly that today we will not all be completing our journey. We continued to climb but now the trail ahead looks almost vertical like a ladder, a living root mosaic. Moving forward for all of us wasn’t an option. So close but yet so far! The summit was so close around 10minutes.
Decided to go it alone a big mistake!
So we decided I would keep climbing till I reached the rocky outcrop were the trail veered to the right. I quickly disappeared into the tree canopy and reached the rocky outcrop, but alas couldn’t go on without my companions. So I carefully headed back down the trail and this is where things took a nasty turn. I was within a metre of my companions and lost my footing grabbed the first thing within reach which was ‘our guide’ the barbed wire fence…remember I mention the doubled barded wire fence, I found
Watch out for the barbed wire fence
out how much that hurts if the first strand doesn’t get you the second one will.Our first aid kit had already been raided by one of our party, bandages used for blisters, so bandaids and tissues were my only choice. With a 9cm gash running from my palm to the finger a big chunk out of the other finger and a pieced thumb nail it didn’t look too good. That finished any hope of finishing our journey today. I think against the concern for my plight I believe I may have seen a glimmer of relief! (I could be mistaken) A couple of pieces of chocolate to qualm the shock of the ordeal and I was ready to head back. It never ceases to amaze me how quick the return journey is, our round trip took us over 4 hours and we didn’t make the summit. So make sure you start early in the day to allow plenty of time for stops.
Only for experienced bush walkers
This bush walk is a real adventure
What an adventure this is a great walk/hike and one we will be completing again soon. Will let you know the outcome soon. A final note this walk should only be attempted by experienced bush walkers and make sure you take plenty of bandages in your first aid kit.
Below are some useful links to enrich and prepare you for your impending experience on this beautiful Gold Coast Hinterland bush walk.
See you on my next walk…at the top!
