Beyond the beaches, the Gold Coast is one of Australia's most biodiverse corners — coastal national parks where whales pass metres from the headland, valleys of ancient rainforest, and a cave that glows in the dark. Our small-group nature adventures take you there with expert naturalist guides, from $119 per person.
Most visitors never learn that Burleigh Heads — the same suburb famous for its point break and cafés — wraps around a genuine national park, where the Oceanway winds through pandanus and tumbled basalt to lookouts where humpback whales cruise past between June and November. Twenty minutes inland, Currumbin Valley's rock pools sit beneath rainforest that has held its ground since the days of the Gondwana supercontinent.
Our nature adventures connect these places into guided days and evenings — walking distance kept easy, wildlife-spotting led by naturalists who know where to look, and all the driving handled by us in our own air-conditioned fleet.
Every adventure includes your naturalist guide, national park access and return transport from a central Gold Coast meeting point.
The Burleigh Head National Park Oceanway walk with whale-watching lookouts in season, Currumbin Valley's rock pools and rainforest, and guided wildlife spotting — koalas, water dragons, sea eagles and the valley's birdlife — with a relaxed picnic stop between.
An evening ascent into Springbrook National Park to the Natural Bridge cave, where thousands of glow worms light the dark above a waterfall that pours through the cave roof. Includes a night-walk introduction to the rainforest after dark — frogs, owls and, in season, fireflies.
The complete wild Gold Coast in one day: the coastal national park and its lookouts in the morning, Currumbin Valley through midday, then up into the hinterland for World Heritage rainforest and waterfall time before returning along the scenic route at golden hour.
The Gold Coast region records more than 400 bird species, and its parks shelter an extraordinary cross-section of Australian wildlife. Sightings are never guaranteed — this is the wild, not an enclosure — but our guides know the seasons, the trees and the tide lines.
Whale season begins: humpbacks stream north past Burleigh headland, often close enough to hear them breach. Clear skies, crisp mornings and the best visibility of the year on the coastal lookouts.
Whales return south with calves in tow, wildflowers open through the heath, and the valley birdlife hits peak activity. Arguably the finest all-round season for the Coastal & Wildlife Discovery.
Warm, humid nights bring the glow worm colony to its brightest, waterfalls run at full voice after rain, and the rock pools of Currumbin Valley earn their keep. Pack swimmers on the day tours.
Over fifty years of Queensland touring as part of the Waggie Group, alongside Brisbane Hire Bus, Sunshine Coast Bus Lines and Cooee Coach Charters — still run the way we started: personally.
We operate our own modern, air-conditioned vehicles from our own depot. The vehicle, the driver and the standard of your day are ours from pickup to drop-off.
Guides who live in this region and read it fluently — the tide lines, the flowering seasons, which tree the koala favours this month. Genuine conversation, not a script.
Wildlife doesn't perform for crowds. Small groups mean quieter tracks, better sightings, and time to actually stop and look.
What wildlife can I see on a Gold Coast nature adventure?
The Gold Coast's coastal parks and hinterland fringe are home to koalas, kangaroos and wallabies, echidnas, water dragons, sea eagles and brush turkeys, with over 400 bird species recorded across the region. Between June and November, humpback whales pass close to Burleigh headland on their migration. Wildlife is wild — sightings vary by day and season — but our naturalist guides know where and when to look.
When can I see the glow worms?
The colony at Natural Bridge in Springbrook National Park glows year-round, viewed on guided evening tours after dark. Summer evenings tend to offer the strongest displays. The cave is a short walk from the car park on a formed track, suitable for most fitness levels. Torches and camera flashes cannot be used inside the cave — the colony's survival depends on darkness.
Are the tours suitable for children?
Yes — the Coastal & Wildlife Discovery and the Glow Worm Night Adventure are both family-friendly with easy walking. Children under 5 travel free and child pricing applies for ages 5–17. The Land & Sea Full-Day Adventure suits active families with children aged 8+. Tell us the ages when booking and we'll plan the day accordingly.
Is transport included?
Yes. Return transport from a central Gold Coast meeting point is included on every adventure in our own modern, air-conditioned vehicles, along with national park access and your naturalist guide for the duration.
What should I bring?
Comfortable enclosed walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and a refillable water bottle. For the night adventure, a light jacket — hinterland evenings run 5–10°C cooler than the coast. Binoculars are worth packing for birdlife and, in season, whales. Swimmers for the rock pools on the day tours.
Can I book a private nature adventure?
Yes — all three adventures can run privately for families, photography groups, school groups and special occasions, tailored to your interests. Email contact@cooeetours.com.au or call 0409 661 342 for a private quote, or see our private charters page.
Acknowledgement of Country. Cooee Tours acknowledges the Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples, Traditional Custodians of the Gold Coast lands and waters where these adventures travel, and the Wangerriburra and Mununjali peoples of the hinterland ranges. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and acknowledge the continuing cultural and spiritual connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to these coasts, forests and waterways.