About Springers Welcome to 'springers' and an experience we hope is one of serenity, relaxation and education . Springers is located high up on Springbrook Mountain in the hinterland to the west of the Gold Coast South East Queensland, Australia.  Our property is at an altitude of approximately 900 metres. It is bordering on areas of world heritage listed rainforest and many of the forested areas on our property are pristine, never been logged or farmed areas. We purchased this haven in 1990 and have worked towards enhancing the property with replantings and restoration to as much natural beauty as possible while exploring natural and existing clearings for the slow and careful addition of a few romantic chalets and a little restaurant. It's still far from complete but it is already offering unforgettable experiences while educating in a fun and proactive way about this special part of the world. The water you are drinking comes from 180 feet below a solid 150 feet of basalt and laboratory tests show it to be of commercially exportable quality meeting the standards of Japan for bottled springwater. A little more expensive than tankwater from the roof but the quality is sparkling and delicious. The water is from the Fernvale/Nerang strata and is estimated as being millions of years old. Our logo and registered trademark is that of the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly, which can be seen on the property in season laying its eggs on the leaves of the Aristolochia Laheyana vine , the natural food of its caterpillar. This butterfly is on the endangered lists. As well as the Aristolochia Laheyana vines growing naturally on the property we have been actively planting more vines to hopefully ensure its survival. Aristolochia Praevenosa vines (the caterpillars other choice of food) are available from the double helix club and local native nurseries all doing their part to assist the procreation of this beautiful species. We keep neither cats nor dogs as household pets now. Not that we don't like them-in fact some of our cherished memories are those of our dogs. Yet the native fauna roams free on our property and that is, for us a precious gift in itself , only marred if a straying cat or dog invades, and if that happens the effect lasts for weeks. Our wastewater and sewerage are secondarily treated in a treatment plant further into the property, designed and frequently serviced to Local Authority standards to ensure all discharge will not affect the natural environment or waterways. The cost of such plants are high yet they ensure the protection of our natural heritage and we consider this part of our responsibility not only as a facility but as residents of this area. We have experimented with several tree regeneration programs over the years, from clearing little patches of lantana or raspberry and planting indigenous species, to what we have found to be most successful, that of selective plantings of seedlings we grow ourselves from seeds collected on the property and planted in natural openings in groundcover. We have also found that natural regeneration works well and can be supplemented with selected removal of some tenacious weed pests to give the primary regrowth like bleeding heart and lomatia , a better chance to shade out the understory and thus reduce the growth of lantana and raspberry that need reasonable sunlight to flourish. Secondary species naturally germinate this way and we have found Toona Australis, (red cedar), Acmenia ingens (red apple) and Castanospora alphandi (brown tamarind) sending thin tall saplings reaching for the developing overstory. BIRDLIFE The birdlife is wide and varied, from the curious strutting of the scrub turkeys whose incubator nests of rotting vegetation produce little chicks like strange little grey balls of fluff in early summer, to the brilliant and startling flash of yellow and black of the Regent bower bird in full mating plumage in spring, and the unusual cries of catbirds riflebirds and whipbirds that float through the rainforest throughout the day. Stand still for five minutes and the trees will slowly come alive again with the movement of tiny birds. We have set up some small water features around the restaurant and chalets, and while these compliment the visual appeal, they also create a valuable source of water for birds and animals to drink. The frolicking of tiny birds enjoying a bath at dusk or dawn is a constant delight to those with the patience to stand quietly for a few minutes. The tables in the restaurant are handmade from slabs of rosewood or rose mahogany, milled with a portable saw from a log, kept from rotting in the forest by falling on huge rocks. By carrying the saw to the log, the slabs were cut and carried out by hand and there was no damage to the rainforest. Of course the labour to do this is much greater than commercially viable but it suited our purpose, and supplied us with some irreplaceable beauty that otherwise would have been lost. We look forwards to offering you warm cheerful hospitality to ensure your stay with us is one of relaxation, while allowing you the privacy and serenity you seek.