072 Tamborine Mountain

A cool escape from the hot and frenetic Gold Coast, Tamborine Mountain is a set of three towns, Mt Tamborine, North Tamborine and Eagle Heights.
A cool escape from the hot and frenetic Gold Coast, Tamborine Mountain is a set of three towns, Mt Tamborine, North Tamborine and Eagle Heights. It’s a quaint little oasis perched 560m above sea level on the top of the ranges, from where it can look down its nose on its rowdy neighbour, the GC.

The first national park in Qld was established here in 1908 and has managed to preserve much of the lush subtropical rainforest. This attracts a large group of natural history enthusiasts enjoying the excellent bush walks. There are also a number of very upmarket rainforest retreats perfect for romantic escapes (AT’s pick is Songbirds).

Mt Tamborine is usually known for its Devonshire teas and doilies, however it’s also blossoming as a gastronomic destination. The well-known Witches Chase Cheese Company has recently moved in with the Mt Tamborine Brewery in North Tamborine. The Tamborine Mountain Distillery regularly wins awards for their absinthe and spirits and all visitors leave with a well-oiled grin. There are also several wineries on and around the mountain. he “Gallery Walk” along Long Rd in Eagle Heights is a quirky, made-for-tourists strip, but it’s neither offensive nor boring – a good example is the German Cuckoo Clock shop. (Try saying that after visiting the distillery.)

Where? // 30km (40mins) northwest of the GC, 75kms (1.5hrs) south of Brisbane.

Did you know? // Tamborine is definitely not famous for tambourines. The name is an adaptation of the local Aboriginal word for the wild lime trees that flourish in the rainforest.