This document provides directions for a 4km training route called Kokoda Challenge - Training Route 7 from Nerang-Murwillumbah Road to Beechmont. The route begins at the intersection of Nerang-Murwillumbah Road and a gravel road leading to Hinze Dam and proceeds north on a rough footpath for 3km before turning right onto an old jeep track. The track ascends and descends ridges and creeks before joining a fire trail. The route continues northwest on 4WD tracks, crossing a water gate, before emerging from the forest onto Mirani Street near Beechmont Road.

1. Kokoda Challenge - Training Route 7
Nerang-Murwillumbah Road to Beechmont
Section Length: 4km
DIRECTIONS
Start UBD Ref: Map 46-C15
Start GPS Position: (AGD66 datum) 56 524245E
6891885N Height: 120 metres
Starting Point: Intersection of Nerang-
Murwillumbah Rd and gravel road which leads
down to Hinze Dam (’boat ramp’). This is about
1.7km north of the Nerang River Bridge near the
Numinbah Environmental Centre.
1. From this intersection, cross to the western side of
Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd and continue north behind the
first road barrier until it ends.
Note: The next 3 km of the Challenge is on rough footpad
which is not able to be accessed by vehicle. It is
recommended that people take extra care on this section -
such precautions may include wearing gaiters to reduce
the chance of snake-bite, and avoiding any jogging or
running, especially on stony downhill sections.
2. a) Turn Here: Turn left to enter the forest on the
footpad which starts at the top north end of the road
barrier. After heading north-west up the hill, the pad
veers to the right, past a weed-infested area, with some
mango trees visible 30 metres away on the left. It then
descends to the north to cross a gully, after which it
continues heading generally north on roughly the same
level for the next 400 metres. The it continues north,
descending to the left off the ridgeline to cross a major
gully (Arkinstall’s Gully).
b) The pad then continues north out of the gully, climbing
for a distance of about 400 metres to where an old
indistinct jeep track veers off the ridgeline to the right
(Map Ref 241 933 AGD66).
c) Turn here: Turn right (off the ridgeline) here and follow
the track as it initially contours north, then swings up onto
a new ridgeline which heads east for about 150 metres,
then more north-east for about 300 metres to a point
where it almost overlooks the Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd.
d) From here, the track veers left and descends north-west for a distance of 400 metres into Burns Creek.
E) In the creek bed, head left slightly on the other side to pick up the track out of the creek.
Note: A manned Safety Check will be located on the northern side of this creek on the Challenge weekend (about
20 metres out of the creek bed, there is a faint track off to the right which exits eastward to Nerang-Murwillumbah
Rd about 250 metres away).
F) Ascend out of the creek, ignoring the faint offshoot to the right (mentioned in the note) after 20 metres.
Continue climbing north-west up a long ridge line for 1 km to arrive at the Black Shoot Fire Trail.
3. Turn here: Turn left and continue north-west past the green water tank plus shelter.
IMPORTANT: water is not available to the public from this tank.
4. Continue up the 4WD track, crossing a Gold Coast Water gate. The track continues upward for another
800 metres past the gate. It swings west temporarily below some private property, then turns north-west
again. Near the top, ignore a left branch and continue another 150 metres to emerge from the forest on
Mirani Street near Beechmont Rd.
Finish UBD Ref: Map 46-A8 Finish GPS Position: (AGD66 datum) 56 523035E 6895465N
Height: 430 metres Finishing Point: Near intersection of Mirani St and Beechmont Rd, Beechmont
The Kokoda Challenge values the natural environment and aims for all our activities to have a minimal
impact. Please ensure you practise minimal impact bushwalking doing nothing and leaving nothing that
shows where you have been.
This map and directions are kindly provided by the Gold Coast Bushwalkers Club and are
Accurate only at the time of writing. Thankyou.