The road to Tamborine Mountain winds, serpent-like, upwards from the Gold Coast into a lush hinterland, gradually leaving the high rises, busy streets and famous golden beaches behind. Barely 45 minutes later you reach the edge of the rainforest, where the air suddenly cools and the fresh mountain air is enough to have anyone’s shoulders relaxing and mind resetting.
The landscape beneath the rainforest began taking shape around 20 to 23 million years ago, when volcanic activity transformed this part of south-east Queensland into the beautiful place it is today. The ancient volcano is long gone, but its influence remains in the plateau, escarpments and deep valleys that make Tamborine Mountain such an interesting place to explore.
Tamborine Mountain is rich in ancient and more modern history. Many people don’t know for instance, that in 1908, the Witches Falls section of Tamborine National Park became Queensland’s first national park. More protected areas were added over the years, creating a network of rainforest reserves across the plateau and surrounding foothills.
Today, walking into the forest can feel like stepping into another landscape entirely. Huge trees rise from the undergrowth, strangler figs twist their way towards the canopy where birds chatter and frogs croak from burbling creeks and pretty ponds.
The Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk offers a wonderfully relaxing way to experience the rainforest from a different perspective. The 1.5-kilometre circuit begins at ground level before rising into the canopy, with a 40-metre cantilever bridge reaching about 30 metres above the forest floor.
From here, the dense vegetation stretches out below, while the elevated sections bring you closer to the tops of the trees. Back on the ground, the Rainforest Eco Gallery provides an introduction to the rainforest’s plants, animals and insects, and there’s also a cafe where you can enjoy a sweet treat and a cuppa while sitting on a sprawling deck overlooking the rainforest.
Exploring the villages of Tamborine Mountain
Tamborine Mountain’s villages are made for wandering, particularly on weekends when visitors arrive for the markets, cafes and small businesses scattered across the plateau. There are plenty of places to stop for lunch, often with a view that makes lingering over a meal an easy decision.
One of the best-known places to take it all in is St Bernards Hotel, perched on the edge of the mountain with views across Guanaba Gorge towards the northern Gold Coast and, on a clear day, Stradbroke Island and the Pacific Ocean. The pub has been part of mountain life for generations and remains a lively meeting place for visitors and locals. Two resident St. Bernards add to its character, greeting guests as they come and go.
The menu sticks to familiar pub fare including schnitzel, burgers, fish and Caesar salads, and the Guinness pie has developed a following – if you’re partial to a good pie, this is a must-do stop.
If you’d like to linger longer, you can book a suite at Edges By St Bernards, which has incredible views from every room, decks to drink in the vista, and alpine-chalet vibes.
Coffee lovers should head to Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation, where coffee beans are grown and roasted on the delightfully pretty property. Tours offer an insight into the growing and roasting process before you settle down with a coffee and a homemade treat.
The Coffee House also serves brunch and cocktails, making it an easy place to spend more time than you initially planned. Enjoy a mezze plate and a wine, or if you’re passing by around breakfast time, they do an awesome bacon and egg roll (with rocket and smoked relish on a milk bun) and a delicious avo on toast with whipped feta and a sprinkling of zaatar.
Wine and spirits are all a part of the adventure
At Tamborine Mountain Distillery, the Tudor-style building is hard to miss. Inside, visitors can sample a broad range of spirits and liqueurs, including gin, vodka and rum, as well as other house-made creations. The distillery says it has collected more than 300 awards, making its tasting experience a popular stop for visitors exploring the plateau.
Nearby, Witches Falls Winery offers a slower-paced alternative. Tastings run for about an hour and focus on the winery’s wines, with cheese, chutneys and other grazing-board favourites available to accompany them.
There isn’t a restaurant here, and that is part of the appeal. Bring a picnic blanket, settle into the grounds and make an afternoon of it. There is also an artisanal cider tasting for those who want to try something different.
For an entirely different kind of underground experience, Cedar Creek Estate Vineyard and Winery is home to a purpose-built glow worm cave.
The cave was constructed in 2004, with glow worms introduced the following year. It was designed to replicate the conditions of a natural cave and has since become one of the mountain’s more unusual attractions. Guided tours explain how the glow worms live and feed, while visitors can also take photographs and learn more about the cave through the property’s educational material.
If you want to explore more of the rainforest, The Curtis Falls Walking Track is a relatively short rainforest walk, taking around 30 minutes depending on your pace and how often you stop. The track leads through dense vegetation to Curtis Falls, where water drops over the rock face into the pool below.
It is an easy way to get a taste of the national park without committing to a long hike, although the rainforest deserves a little time. Stop occasionally. Look upwards. The canopy is often where some of the most interesting details are hiding.
For a more energetic way to see the forest, TreeTop Challenge at Adrenaline Park takes visitors into the trees on a series of aerial obstacles and zip lines. There are different levels of difficulty, so families and more adventurous adults can choose a course that suits them. It is a very different perspective on the rainforest, particularly when you’re suspended above the ground rather than walking beneath the canopy.
Sol Element Spa and Soakhouse
Sol Element Spa and Soakhouse is designed around the simple pleasure of taking some time out. Set among the greenery of Tamborine Mountain, the spa offers a place to pause after exploring the surrounding rainforest. The Soakhouse is the drawcard, with bathing experiences designed to encourage a slower pace and give visitors time to settle into the surroundings.
Treatments are also available for those wanting to make more of a day of it. Rather than feeling like something you have to squeeze between sightseeing stops, Sol Element works best when you allow yourself a few hours and resist the temptation to rush. It is a fitting way to finish a mountain stay, particularly after spending the day on the walking tracks.
Tamborine Mountain is close enough to the Gold Coast for an easy escape, but once you’re among the rainforest, it feels considerably further away. The mountain doesn’t need a packed itinerary. Pick a walk, find somewhere for lunch, taste something local and leave enough time to simply look around. The landscape has been here for millions of years. There is no particular reason to hurry through it.
If you enjoyed our story on Tamborine Mountain, you might want to read our feature on rooftops bars in Brisbane.
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