Jump in the car: the ultimate LGBTQIA+ Gold Coast Hinterland day trip

While many people flock to the Gold Coast for a day spent on the sand and in the sea, beyond the beach there is a lush landscape just waiting to be explored. The Gold Coast Hinterland, bursting with towering trees, picturesque lookouts, and thundering waterfalls, is comprised of five distinctive areas (the Tweed Range, Nimmel Range, Tamborine Mountain, Numinbah Valley, and the McPherson Range). Just a short drive along postcard perfect country roads, it makes for a glorious day trip.  

So buckle up and come along as we take you through the ideal LGBTQIA+ friendly Gold Coast Hinterland road trip.

8am: Fuel up with breakfast by the coast

The key to any good road trip is to start your morning off with the right nutrients – and that means both food, and of course, coffee. Thankfully on the Gold Coast coastline there are an abundance of ferociously fabulous breakfast spots.

Some of the best LGBTQIA+ friendly breakfast spots on the Gold Coast include Cardamom Pod in Southport, famous for its entirely vegetarian menu, Classic Café House in Surfers Paradise, known affectionately for its laid-back atmosphere, and The Milkman’s Daughter in Mermaid Beach, who are also vegetarian and conscious about the ingredients they use in their menu. Now, the final choice is over to you!

10am: Take in Tamborine Mountain

After breakfast, it’s time to travel to your first hinterland hotspot – Tamborine Mountain. Weave your way up the scenic, tree-lined Tamborine Oxenford Road until you reach the Tamborine Mountain’s quaint township. From here, you can decide whether today is going to be an adventurous one, or leaning more on the relaxing side.

For example, you could take in the 30-metre-high Tamborine Forest Skywalk; explore the naturally occurring Glow Worm Caves; hike down one of the many walking tracks (like the Curtis Falls walking track or the Witches Falls walking track); responsibly enjoy a glass of wine at the Witches Falls Winery; or set down a blanket at Laheys Picnic Park? The choice truly is yours!

12pm: Views for days at Advancetown

After Tamborine Mountain, it’s time to take a short 30-minute drive through Mount Nathan to Advancetown. Here, Hinze Dam – with its views of both the mountain and spillway – awaits. It is also here that you can sit down and enjoy a smooth cup of coffee and a cheeky slice of cake at View Café, all before setting off on a short walk through Waterside Park, where you can see the dam and its views from a variety of spectacular angles.

2pm: Enjoy a late lunch

Now that you’ve had a coffee and a short break, it’s time to find a lunch spot. Considering your next stop is in Springbrook, the homely Polly's Country Kitchen is the perfect place to recharge. Here, you can enjoy their iconic Australian menu, complete with burgers, fish and chips and their popular, just-like-mum-would-make, ‘spag bol’.

3pm: Stretch your legs at Springbrook National Park

Next stop: Springbrook National Park. After enjoying lunch, it’s time to admire a little more of the views that the Gold Coast Hinterland has to offer. On your way to Springbrook, take a moment and look east at Wunburra Lookout. With views of the entire Gold Coast, you’ll sure to be in awe.

Once you reach Springbrook, it’s time to explore some waterfalls, the first of which is Purling Brook Falls. To get there, take a short 30-minute walk and you’ll find yourself surrounded by lush green shrubbery at the base of a towering waterfall. Meander your way back to the car, and it’s time to discover even more sensational waterfalls – Twin Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Goomoolahra (Bilbrough) Falls. This trinity of waterfalls are within walking distance of each other, so while you’re wandering among ferns and brush box trees, you can ogle at three different waterfalls all at once…whoever said that waterfalls aren’t worth chasing, certainly hasn’t experience the Gold Coast hinterland!

The scenic drive back from Springbrook will take just under an hour, so it’s time to head back to the Gold Coast and get ready for dinner. Or if you’ve fallen in love with the area (easy to do), you can extend your stay with a night at The Mouses House, a dreamy rainforest retreat.

5pm: Head back to the beach

After a day chock-full of exploring, roaming, eating and coffee devouring, it’s now time to reset, freshen up and get ready for a delectable dinner in the gastronomical glory that is the Gold Coast! Be sure to savour those Hinterland views on your way back to the coast.

7pm: Treat yourself to a tasty dinner

The Gold Coast is renowned for its eating and drinking late-night economy, with options aplenty on almost every corner!

Narrowing it down to just a few of our absolute favourites, you simply must decide between Gold Coast institutions such as the famed pizzeria known as Pink Monkey, the Asian fusion mainstay Light Years, or the renowned burger joint Ze Pickle…or making a roving dinner out of it and try all three?

Well, there you have it, our guide to a self-drive mini gay getaway in the Gold Coast Hinterland – now all that’s left to do is fuel up the car and hit the road!