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Australia in Focus – Mount Tamborine

Located approximately 60 kilometres south of Queensland’s capital city of Brisbane, Tamborine Mountain is a volcanic plateau set within Australia’s Gold Coast hinterland.

The many attractions of the Mount Tamborine area include beautiful views on both sides of the range and the many craft and antique shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants of the area’s villages, which attract countless tourists each season.

The latest attraction to entice visitors to the mountain is the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk and Eco Centre. Set on 30 acres of magnificent rainforest, the Centre provides an eco-adventure that will take you along elevated walkways, past butterfly lookouts and waterfalls, to an amazing cantilevered 40-metre structure set 30-metres above the valley. This pram-friendly, self-paced walk takes approximately an hour and once back at the Centre visitors can browse the Gift Shop, enjoy lunch at the Birdwing Cafe or visit the Rainforest Eco Gallery. The latter has an array of rainforest fauna and flora information including displays and an aquarium containing a variety of Australian freshwater fish.

The Mount Tamborine region is well known for its fine wineries and one in particular has an added attraction that draws thousands of tourists every year. The Cedar Creek Estate Winery, set on a 22-acre lakeside property, is popular with local and overseas visitors due to its magical Glow-Worm Caves. The caves consist of two cavern-like concrete structures linked by a tunnel. Inside, thousands of glo-worms radiate their unmistakable luminescent light as expert guides provide informative commentary on guided tours. After the tour, visitors can enjoy a delicious lunch overlooking the Wild Duck Lake, taste the winery’s specialty wines such as Chambourcin and Verdelho or take a stroll in the grounds along the Rainforest Walk.

If you enjoy walking, pop into the Mount Tamborine Visitors’ Centre situated in Doughty Park on Main Western Road and enquire about the various Tamborine National Park walking circuits. From one-hour strolls to six hour hiking marathons for the hardy, there are several walking tracks leading through magnificent subtropical rainforest and past awe-inspiring waterfalls, many of which have picnic and BBQ areas peppered along the way.

There are also some amazing lookouts on Tamborine Mountain that offer breath-taking views over the Gold Coast or to the West over the Hinterland.

Those with energy to burn can plan an action packed day at Tamborine Mountain’s Adventure Parc. The Parc stretches through many hectares of forest between bush and subtropical rainforest with almost 1,000 towering trees that stretch 18 metres above the ground. There are 68 elevated challenges, spread over eight exciting flying foxes and over four courses of varying difficulty.

The Park’s literature warns visitors to allow at least three hours to live out that Indiana Jones fantasy! This is a popular destination for corporate team-building groups, teenagers and active people of any age. For your protection, both height and weight restrictions apply. All safety equipment is also provided; just bring along closed in sports shoes and a sense of adventure.

As a tourism destination Tamborine Mountain is exceptional and a world-away from the glitzy, high-rise buzz of the Gold Coast. Those of you who enjoy natture will find ‘The Mountain’ irresistible and if you like peace and tranquillity, then the Witches Falls Cottages are the ideal Tamborine accommodation for you.

These romantic, self-contained chalets are located in a natural rainforest setting where you can wake to the sounds of whip birds, lorikeets and kookaburras and star gaze through the glass ceiling above your spa bath before retiring. So when it comes to Tamborine Mountain accommodation, the most spellbinding place to stay is at the Witches Falls Cottages, we look forward to relaxing you soon.