Eco-Adventure Precinct Planned for Coast Hinterland

A sprawling eco-adventure development planned for the Gold Coast hinterland would transform pioneering farmland into a world-class, nature-based tourism attraction.

The proposal is earmarked for a 103ha site fronting Nerang-Murwillumbah Road in Numinbah Valley—about 40km south-west of Surfers Paradise.

To be known as Numinbah Escape, it would comprise outdoor sport and recreation uses including zip lining, mountain biking, canyoning, bushwalking, rock climbing, abseiling, public park and picnic areas.

Accommodation options would include 20 glamping tents, 19 “high-end” eco-cabins “to connect with nature in a comfortable and luxurious setting”, an eco-lodge for large groups such as school camps and corporate getaways and 34 caravan sites “orientated to capatlise on the scenic views”.

As well, the eco-adventure precinct would feature a cafe offering food and beverages made from locally sourced, organic and sustainable ingredients, a function/conference facility and training centre.

The application filed with the Gold Coast City Council by an entity linked to family-run eco-tourism business TreeTop Challenge, which acquired the site last year, said the development would have “minimal disturbance to the natural environment”. 

“Numinbah Escape is aimed at a holistic at-one-with-nature approach where visitors can enjoy facilities over multiple days with overnight accommodation …[and] is a detour from the usual very high adrenaline offerings currently at other locations where users will be encouraged to slow down and enjoy the natural settings and be active outdoors,” it said.

According to the planning documents, the development would be staged across the site, which will continue to be a working cattle farm in conjunction with the proposed eco-tourism uses.

The development proposes one-storey buildings and structures with a site cover of only 0.24 per cent to “protect the site’s landscape, scenic and natural amenity”.

Dating back to the 1930s, the site was first settled and established as a banana plantation and over the ensuing years has also been used for logging, mining and other agricultural purposes. Rock quarried from the property was used to build the Southport Seaway in the 1980s.

Rehabilitation of the natural landscape on the “historically very degraded” site would be undertaken as part of the proposed development.

“The proposal has aimed in all aspects to enhance the natural beauty and retain scenic and social amenity … [ensuring] natural resources on site are sustainably managed for current and future generations,” the submitted documents said.

Numinbah Escape also would “provide direct economic benefit to the Gold Coast and Queensland via visitors to the attraction as well as local employment and supply chain flow on effects”.

It was anticipated the proposed development would generate 40 to 50 equivalent full time jobs within 2 to 3 years of its establishment and up to an additional 6778 visitors in the area.

Another key feature of the proposal was the opportunity for it to used as an accredited registered training facility for outdoor sport, recreation and environmental tourism. Currently staff in the industry must travel interstate to receive on-site training. 

“Having this facility on-site and somewhat ancillary to the nature-based tourism and outdoor sport and recreation uses is a huge benefit to the local economy and eco-adventure tourism industry for the Gold Coast as well as wider Queensland,” the application said.