Some studies of Cave Creek, Springbrook NK, Qld

[Analog6]

Natural Bridge is one of the most popular parts of 2954ha Springbrook NP, a national park at Springbrook on the McPherson Range in the Gold Coast hinterland of Queensland, (Australia), 96 km south of Brisbane. It is part of the Shield Volcano Group of the World Heritage site Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (formerly known as the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves). In December 1994, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee officially extended the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves Australia (CERRA) World Heritage Area over the Scenic Rim (including Main Range, Mount Barney, Lamington and Springbrook National Parks and Goomburra Forest Reserve) and the rainforests of northern New South Wales. In 2007 the areas of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia were added to the Australian National Heritage List.

The Natural Bridge is a naturally formed rock arch over Cave Creek, a tributary of the Nerang River. It was formed from a waterfall which undercut a cave beneath the waterfall and dug a pothole on top, until the two joined and the creek flowed through the cave, leaving an arch across the front.

The bridge is in the territory of the local Kombumerri aboriginal people (a family group of the Yugambeh language peoples). The first Europeans to find it are said to be timber cutters Alexander (Sandy) Duncan and Din Guinea.

Swimming was once (but is no longer) permitted in the creek and cave in order to protect the glow worm habitat. Jumping from the top is dangerous and against the rules of the park.
The cave is home to a colony of glow worms (larvae of the insect Arachnocampa flava) and commercial operators lead night tours into the cave. The swimming ban also applies to the area bounded by the walking track/circuit. Downstream access to the creek is allowed but the pools are too shallow for swimming.


Cave Creek above Natural Bridge #2 by Photography by Odille, on Flickr


Natural Bridge pano #1 by Photography by Odille, on Flickr



cave ck below natural arch cropped by Photography by Odille, on Flickr


Swirls & Eddies by Photography by Odille, on Flickr

[jube]

Welcome to MoM and thanks for sharing some great photos. I'm sure we'd like to visit the area when we go to visit Qld at some stage in the future. Well done

[Hans]

Great pictures again, Odille. I leafed through your photostream a bit and though you say you're a newbie you are no newbie to photography eh?

Very nice correct exposure and perfect time on these, which gives the perfect feeling to the water movement. Very well done. Cropping and contrast application is great, too.

All in all near perfect execution!

[GinnyStar]

Thanks for sharing, and its adding me in trying to 'translated' an idea to writing!

[Multi-Facets]

(swoons from the beauty) Gawd, those photos are so clear and sharp, it's like I'm there. And the location is sooooooo pretty! I wanna visit it!

[Analog6]

Thanks for the kind comments all. As Hans guessed, I've been at this photo thing for about 50 years this year - Gawd, that makes me feel O L D! I just love doing it and it's nice to share with others too. I was particularly pleased with the results from this excursion with another photographer friend.

[mara]

they are fantastic! You can almost FEEL the slippery rocks beneath your feet

[vyon]

Lovely photos. Mine from above Springbrook across the caldera didn't come out - my first digital camera put a blue line over all the horisons. Rather disappointing when it was a special, sponsored trip, which I couldn't afford to do again. I hope it was cleaner than Purling Brook Falls, when we went there.

[blondmom989]

Really nice.