48 Hours in Mount Tamborine

How does taking a tree change - just for the weekend - sound?

Nestled into 114 hectares of subtropical rainforest and woodlands next to Tamborine National Park, Cedar Creek Lodges boasts a range of accommodations for all travellers, but The Woodlands glamping will put you straight into holiday mode. Surrounded by nature and babbling Canungra Creek, all the luxuries are at your fingertips, from a king bed and balcony among the trees to an open-air ensuite to shower under the stars.

Glamping not your thing? Check out where to stay in Tamborine Mountain for more cottages, spas and retreats. 

Dinner: Get a taste of Tamborine

While tomorrow is all about meeting local flavours and producers, kick off your 48 hours in Mount Tamborine with a decadent dinner.

Don't want to wander far from your luxury tent in the trees? Pop over to Rainforest Restaurant right here in Thunderbird Park where the forest and festoon lights set the scene for a locally-fuelled contemporary menu, right down to the liqueurs. 

Elsewhere around Tamborine, devour pierogi and traditional fare at The Polish Place; authentic Japanese at Leaf; handmade pasta at Villa Alessandra or woodfired pizza and rustic Italian at Belvedere Restaurant. 

Saturday

AM: Get to know Tamborine Mountain

A stone's throw from the village centre, Curtis Falls is an enchanting and easy walk that leads to a waterfall. The eucalypt forest bursting with crows nest, staghorn ferns and strangler figs is a walk you won’t forget. You’ll receive your first glimpse of the falls in the form of a raging torrent or gentle curtain of water tumbling over basalt columns (whichever one you encounter depends on the season). Find a spot to sit down and enjoy watching turtles, fish and eels swim while you breathe in the fresh air.

Next on the list of things to do in Tamborine Mountain is a frolic through the Botanic Gardens. This sprawling parkland, maintained by volunteers of the Tamborine Mountain Garden Club, has beauty around every corner. Marvel at the park centrepiece (a lake complete with lilies, ducks and quaint bridges) before wandering through the seven themed gardens.

Lunch: Beers and cheese

If you’re a lover of these two delicacies, then a visit to Fortitude Brewing and Witches Chase Cheese Co. is in order.

This venue, with a cheesery out front and a brewery out back, was created after the owners saw a gap in the market. No places combined their two favorite things, beer and cheese, so, wanting to change this, they designed a venue to celebrate both.

It’s not just beer and cheese though (although you could certainly sustain yourself on this alone), there’s other tasty gourmet foods on the menu. The brewery has pub staples such as pizzas and fish and chips, and you can choose from the core range of craft beers or single batch Noisy Minor experimental drops. 

PM: Visit the third-oldest distillery in Queensland

The origin story of Tamborine Mountain Distillery resembles that of many other successful distilleries—it was somewhat of an accident.

Originally set up by the Ward family to use the fruits and plants from their own orchard, the business quickly grew and outstripped the orchard. A quarter of a century later, the Wards now operate Australia’s most awarded distillery and liquor brand in the new millennium.

Tamborine Mountain Distillery produces liqueurs, vodkas, schnapps, eaux-de-vies, rums, gins and more; each of which take on modern Australian flavours (think lemon myrtle, eucalyptus and macadamia). Enjoy sampling them in the Tasting Room. Groups of less than six can arrive for a tasting anytime during opening hours. If your crew consists of 6-15 people, you’ll have to book ahead.

As part of the tasting, you’ll get a tour of the neighbouring museum, which showcases the original workings of the very first distillery.

PM: Time for a little wine

You’ve done beer, you’ve done spirits, now all that’s missing in this boozy pyramid is wine, so set your sights on Witches Falls Winery. This is the only working winery on the mountain, sourcing grapes from the Granite Belt to keep things local.

The chief vintner infuses his Spanish background into his wines with blends like Syrah, Monastrell and Garnacha.

Taste your way through the cellar door, or nab a picnic table and build your own cheese board from the selection of locally-made cheeses available.

Sunday

AM: Breakfast and a view

Sunday breakfast at a vineyard sounds like a pretty special way to close out 48 hours in Mount Tamborine - but how about arriving from the air?

Meet the expert crew of Hot Air Balloon Gold Coast near Canungra and watch the sun rise from well above the tree line, with views out across the hinterland. You'll then touch down at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards for one of the more memorable breakfasts of your life, with a little sparkling wine - of course!

Afternoon: Embark on the Rainforest Skywalk

Don't leave the area without another chance to get above the trees. The Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk is a 45-minute eco-adventure of epic proportions. Traverse through forest floor trails, high-tech steel bridges, and a cantilever bridge that soars 30 metres above the creek and rainforest below.

Hop over to the neighbouring Cedar Creek Falls when you’re done to cool off before heading home.

If you’re looking for more things to do in the Gold Coast hinterland, head here.