Top 10 Things to Do in Tamborine Mountain

Summary

Heading to Tamborine Mountain for a holiday? Make the most of your visit and see the best that the mountain has to offer by checking out our top ten things to do on Mt Tamborine. Plus, we have plenty of other important information to help you plan your trip to this beautiful mountain retreat in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Top 10 Things to Do in Tamborine Mountain

 

Heading to Tamborine Mountain for a holiday? Make the most of your visit and see the best that the mountain has to offer by checking out our top ten things to do on Mt Tamborine. Plus, we have plenty of other important information to help you plan your trip to this beautiful mountain retreat in the Gold Coast hinterland.

 

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Top 10 Things to Do in Mt Tamborine

1. Stock up on homemade jams and all things artsy-craftsy at Gallery Walk in Eagle Heights
2. Sample schnapps, liqueurs and other spirits from the Tamborine Mountain Distillery
3. Take a rainforest walk above the treetops at the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk
4. Take in the waterfalls at Witches Falls and Cedar Creek Falls 
5. Watch the luminous glow worms on a tour of the Glow Worm Caves at Cedar Creek Estate
6. Explore a few of the dozen walking tracks in Tamborine Mountain National Park
7. Sample different wines and beers at the top distillery and brewery in Mt Tamborine
8. Indulge in home-grown produce and award-winning cheeses and fudges at the Mt Tamborine markets
9. Take an adventure tour at Thunderbird Park in Tamborine Mountain
10. Dine on locally produced food and wine at some of the best restaurants in Mount Tamborine

 

 

Gallery Walk Mt Tamborine

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Shopping sits high on the list of things to do in Mt Tamborine and it doesn’t get any better than at the many art and craft shops that dot the streets of Mt Tamborine. New Age candles, homemade soaps, maple-pecan fudge, tropical watercolors, German cuckoo clocks, and Aussie antiques are some of the things you can buy in the many stores on Mt Tamborine. However, the best place to shop on the mountain is the quaint strip of galleries, cafes, and shops known as Gallery Walk on Long Road, between North Tamborine and Eagle Heights. Here, you can stock up on homemade jams and all things artsy-craftsy.

 

 

Mt Tamborine Markets

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If you enjoy shopping then you’ll want to visit one of the Mt Tamborine markets that come alive on the weekends. If you’re after locally grown fruits and vegetables, and organic products, head over to the Green Shed Produce Market held every Sunday at The Showground from 7am to noon. For all things artsy-craftsy, nothing beats the 200 or so stalls at the Tamborine Mountain Country Markets which are filled with unique pieces of arts, crafts, clothing and jewellery. The markets are held at the 6 acre Tamborine Mountain Showgrounds complex on the second Sunday of every month between 8am to 2pm. If you’re a foodie, you can’t miss the Tamborine Mountain School Markets held on the last Sunday of each month between 8am and 2pm at the corner of Curtis and Long Road. Renowned for some of the best burgers in town, here you can enjoy a walking breakfast with pancakes, or a burger, bacon and egg roll from the canteen, washed down with a hot coffee or tea.

 

 

Mt Tamborine Walks

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One of Mount Tamborine’s many attractions is its idyllic vistas over the valleys which can be appreciated while driving around Mount Tamborine’s roads or walking along the many hiking tracks in the mountain. When driving around Mt Tamborine gets tiring, stop and stretch your legs on one of the many walking tracks in the national park.

Tamborine Mountain is home to Queensland’s oldest national park, Tamborine Mountain National Park, 13 sections of land that stretch across the 8km plateau. Perched on the northernmost tip of the 60km long McPherson Range, Mount Tamborine has attractive rainforests and numerous walking tracks which offer visitors scenic views of tumbling cascades and great lookouts over the Gold Coast hinterland. Some of the best spots in Mount Tamborine National Park are Witches Falls, Curtis Falls, Cedar Creek Falls, Cameron Falls and the Knoll.

To get to Tamborine Mountain, turn off the Pacific Highway at Oxenford or Nerang. The visitor information centre is located in North Tamborine.

Below are some of the most popular walking tracks in Tamborine Mountain National Park.

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1. Cedar Creek Falls Mt Tamborine

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The Cedar Creek Falls section of Mt Tamborine consists of two walking tracks – one to the lookout at the top and the other to the rock pools below. Near the start of the track are two large picnic areas surrounded by tall eucalypt forest. Access to this section is via Cedar Creek Falls Road.

The Cedar Creek Falls track to the lookout is 500m return and takes about 15 minutes walking time. The walking track leads to the Cedar Creek Falls lookout where you can admire the views of the gorge, waterfalls and rock pools.

The track to the lookout is suitable for stollers and assisted wheelchair access. Access is not permitted to the area immediately above the waterfall and sections of the gorge, including some of the rock pools

The Cedar Creek Falls track to the rock pools is 900m return and takes about 30 minutes walking time. From the Cedar Creek Falls lookout, you descend through eucalypt forest and dry rainforest to the rock pools below. Swimming is allowed in permitted rock pools.

This section from the lookout to the rock pools is not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs.

 

2. Curtis Falls Mt Tamborine

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Curtis Falls in Mt Tamborine National Park is an enchanting walk that begins in wet eucalypt forest beneath towering flooded gums and leads to the beautiful Curtis Falls. Beautiful crows nest and staghorn ferns can be seen in the canopy above the lush rainforest. The rock pool and surrounding basalt rock face provide important glow-worm habitat.

Unfortunately, access to the Curtis Falls rock pool and surrounding area is not permitted for the safety of visitors and the protection of glow-worm and platypus populations. Allow about 30 minutes walking time for the 1.1 km return walk.

 

3. Witches Falls Mt Tamborine

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The Witches Falls section of Mt Tamborine consists of two walking tracks – the 3.1 km Witches Falls circuit that takes 1 hr and the 1.5 km one way Witches Chase track that takes 1 to 2 hours. Access is via Main Western Road.

The Witches Falls circuit starts just beyond the commemorative shelter and zigzags down the mountain side pass a signed landslip area through an open forest of banksia trees and into rainforest with giant strangler figs. This circuit passes seasonal lagoons surrounded by piccabeen palm groves before reaching Witches Falls. After heavy rain the lagoons fill with water and spring to life with a variety of insect and frog species. The waterfall only flows after recent rain and is best viewed from the lookout platform, accessed via a 200 m detour from the main circuit.

While not recommended to walk this circuit in wet weather, the Witches Falls lookout can still be accessed during wet conditions via the northern half of the circuit.

The Witches Chase track branches off the Witches Falls circuit. This track leads to Witches Chase off Beacon Road, passing Witches Falls lookout and on through rainforest with large red cedar trees and eucalypt forest. Return is along the same track which rejoins the Witches Falls circuit.

 

 

Mt Tamborine Waterfalls

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While walking in Tamborine Mountain National Park, you will no doubt encounter some of the best waterfalls in the region including Witches Falls, Curtis Falls, Cedar Creek Falls and Cameron Falls which can be seen along the many walking tracks in the park. The waterfalls in Mt Tamborine create beautiful rock pools, some of which can be accessed for swimming; however, check the signs nearby for permission to do so. The best time to view the waterfalls in Mt Tamborine is after recent rains when the falls actually flow; they are best viewed from the lookout platforms which can usually be accessed via a detour from the main walking track.

 

 

Glow Worm Caves Mt Tamborine

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The glow worm caves on Mt Tamborine are another prominent attraction that should be on your itinerary. Located at Cedar Creek Estate, these spectacular man-made caves consist of two large chambers interlinked by tunnels. The first chamber, known as the Cathedral Cave, is the “presentation cave”, where you will be shown an audiovisual display on glow-worms and the construction of the caves. This chamber is complete with very realistic formations, such as stalagmites and stalactites, water features and flow stone. From this stunning cave, you will be guided through the magical “glow worm cave”, filled with thousands of glowing glow-worms. It is truly a magical experience not to be missed.

The Glow Worm Caves are opened daily from 10am to 4pm except for Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Visit Cedar Creek Estate for more information.

 

 

Tamborine Gardens

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If you love walking through gardens, looking at beautiful flowers and sitting by a lake, you must visit Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens. Set on 11 hectares of beautiful mountain side, the garden has been described as ‘The Jewel in the Crown of the Scenic Rim’.

Nestled snugly in Tamborine Mountain’s majestic natural rainforest, the Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens feature colourful and diverse range of exotic and native flora. The Gardens are divided into themed areas including the Japanese garden, Rose garden, Bromeliad garden, Wisteria covered pergolas, Perennial / cottage garden, and features such as the lake with its quaint stone bridge and water lilies. Bring a picnic and sit by the glorious lake which is the centrepiece of the Gardens, browse through the tranquil Japanese garden, take a tropical rainforest walk and enjoy the many other delights on offer at this stunning attraction.

Open 24 hours a day, the free Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens is located at Forsythia Drive.

 

 

Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk

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One of the Tamborine Mountain’s latest attractions is the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, which attempts to emulate the success of other elevated forest walkways such as those in The Otways in Victoria, and in Tahune Forest, Tasmania. Set in 11 hectares (27 acres) of privately owned rainforest, the 1.5km (1-mile) rainforest walk includes about 300m (984 ft.) of steel bridges through the rainforest canopy, combined with a 40m-long (131-ft.) cantilever soaring 30m (98 ft.) over the creek below. The Skywalk is a unique and thrilling way to experience and explore Mount Tamborine’s beautiful rainforest canopies and its many inhabitants from a unique viewpoint high above the forest floor.

Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk is accessed from 333 Geissmann Drive, North Tamborine, and is open daily (except Christmas Day) from 9am to 4pm. The walk takes about 45 to 50 minutes and and begins and ends at the main centre. There is an associated interpretative centre, gift shop, café, toilets and parking at the main centre.

 

 

Tamborine Mountain Distillery

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Your itinerary should include the Tamborine Mountain Distillery, an award-winning boutique distiller manufacturing high quality liqueurs, schnapps, vodka and eaux-de-vie from organically grown fruits. Their liqueur chocolates are also divine. Started in 1993 by Michael Ward and his wife, Tamborine Mountain Distillery is the most awarded distillery and liquor brand in Australia in the New Millennium, having won over 300 international awards for its liqueur brands.

Tamborine Mountain Distillery is located on 87-91 Beacon Road in North Tamborine. The shop is open from 10am to 3pm Monday to Saturday; it is closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Years Day.

 

 

Mt Tamborine Brewery

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Similar to Tamborine Mountain Distillery, Mt Tamborine Brewery is an award-winning brewery perched on top of Tamborine Mountain. The brewery is a great place not just to sample the beers produced here but also to learn about how beer is made. In addition to the brewery, there is also a lovely restaurant on site. The brewery itself is situated in an open and airy premise which makes it a pleasure to dine on the sumptuous selection of fresh meats and seafood available at the restaurant. The restaurant serves buffet breakfasts on weekends, and lunch and dinner from 12pm Friday to Tuesday. On Friday and Saturday nights, Mt Tamborine Brewery puts on live music so you can dance away till the wee hours of the morning.

Mt Tamborine Brewery is located at 165-185 Long Road, near Gallery Walk in Eagle Heights.

 

 

Mt Tamborine Winery

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If you plan to visit the glow worm caves at Cedar Creek Estate, you must visit Cedar Creek Estate Vineyard and Winery, the best winery in Mt Tamborine. Cedar Creek Estate is famous for its Chambourcin and Verdelho varieties which are some of Queensland’s finest wines. Moreover, the estate is located on rolling hills with superb scenery that you notice as soon as you drive into the winery. In addition to a cellar door, the estate has a lovely restaurant overlooking Wild Duck Lake as well as provides access to rainforests and the glow worm caves. Located on Hartley Road in North Tamborine, Cedar Creek Estate is open daily from 10am to 4pm.

Visit Cedar Creek Estate for more information.

 

 

Mount Tamborine Restaurants

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Mount Tamborine boasts some of the finest restaurants in the Gold Coast hinterland. Dine on delicious local produce cooked to perfection in a setting with fabulous views. Below are some of the best places to dine on Mount Tamborine; their accommodation options are also the best in town.

 

1. Songbirds Mt Tamborine

Songbirds is a hidden gem in Mt Tamborine and it is worth spending the money to stay in its luxurious accommodation and dine at its superb restaurant. It is located on Tamborine Mountain Road in North Tamborine.

Songbirds Rainforest Retreat has six luxurious Southeast Asian-inspired villas set on 20 hectares of rainforest and tropical gardens. Each villa has a double spa bath with rainforest views, and you can book private massage, meditation or yoga sessions. The open-plan Asian-theme continues in the award-winning restaurant, Songbirds in the Forest where rainforest birdsong is the perfect backdrop to a romantic lunch. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner from Thursday to Saturday.

See Songbirds Mt Tamborine for more information.

 

2. The Polish Place Mt Tamborine

With the only west-facing chalet accommodation, the Polish Place in Mt Tamborine offers spectacular sunset views from its clifftop perch. The European-style timber chalets are a bit dated but the spa in the lounge is a novel touch. Down a few vodkas before ordering a tongue-twisting dish of Polish tucker at the café, from where you can settle back and admire the sunset. The café is open for lunch daily and dinner Friday and Saturday. The Polish Place is located at 333 Main Western Road on Tamborine Mountain.

See Polish Place for more information.

 

3. St Bernards Mt Tamborine

St Bernards Hotel is a rustic old mountain pub with lofty ceilings, and is one of the most atmospheric spots in the hinterland. The back deck has commanding views of the gorge, and the nosh is good pub grub. Located at 101 Alpine Terrace on Mt Tamborine, St Bernards Hotel is open daily for lunch and dinner.

 

 

Where is Mt Tamborine Located?

Mt Tamborine is located in the Gold Coast hinterland which is situated inland from the Gold Coast in Queensland, Eastern Australia. In terms of distance, it is 82 km south of Brisbane and 36 km northwest of the Gold Coast.

 

Mt Tamborine Map

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Tell us what you think. What are you looking forward to visiting on Tamborine Mountain? If you’ve been before, what was the best thing you did on the mountain?

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