A new hinterland hideaway within easy reach of Brisbane has opened after a multimillion-dollar rebrand.
Should you be looking for an excuse to ditch the desk and make a dash for the mountains (aren’t we all?), let me steer you towards Peppers Clear Mountain.
The Moreton Bay retreat, formerly Mercure Clear Mountain, has just emerged from a multimillion-dollar renovation and rebrand – and is now welcoming guests into its 51 fully refurbished rooms. The transformation has given the long-standing mountain accommodation a fresh lease on life, with refined interiors designed to make the most of the enviable outlooks.
Located a zippy 35-minute drive from Brisbane, the hotel is set on 20 hectares of picturesque hinterland among Queensland’s native flora and fauna. Guests are promised views across Lake Samsonvale and the Glass House Mountains – a striking cluster of dramatic volcanic peaks dating back some 25 million years. Add in a treetop pool, on-site vineyard and revamped restaurant, and there’s plenty to get excited about.
A Moreton Bay milestone
Peppers Clear Mountain is set on 20 hectares of hinterland.
Peppers Clear Mountain is part of the Accor network and, as Moreton Bay’s first five-star hotel, marks a significant moment for the region. The multimillion-dollar transformation was announced in August 2025 and, now complete, is bringing an elevated level of hospitality to an area that has long been better known for day trips than weekend stays.
Tourism and Events Moreton Bay CEO Luke Edwards says the hotel will help change the way people see the region.
“Moreton Bay has traditionally been somewhere Brisbane visitors know well for a day trip, but increasingly we’re seeing the region evolve into a destination where people want to stay, slow down and explore."
The news follows several recent tourism developments in the wider Moreton Bay region, including the announcement of the new Tangalooma Dunes Cabana Club coming to Moreton Island.
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Hotel highlights
The hotel's revamp included the lobby area.
The rooms have been brought up to a premium standard.
Rooms feature a courtyard or private balcony.
With room rates starting from $309 per night, Peppers Clear Mountain makes a convincing case for swapping city for bush for the weekend – without having to break the bank.
The renovation was delivered in partnership with Sydney-based hospitality design and construction firm Dezign, delivering refreshed interiors that lean into a palette of muted greens and warm woods.
Across all 51 rooms, private balconies or courtyards make the most of the surrounding landscape, while artwork depicting native flora provides a subtle sense of place. In the refreshed lobby, tartan carpet, plum-hued lounge seating and natural stone add to the considered feel. And a new billiard room makes for a relaxed place to engage in some friendly competition.
A central fireplace and lounge area connects to the restaurant and bar.
Also new is The Glasshouse Restaurant. The new-look dining destination boasts gorgeous hinterland views, with a new statement fireplace, contemporary bar, relaxed lounge areas and two private dining rooms giving the space a distinctly grown-up feel. A new Chef’s Garden will supply seasonal produce for the kitchen.
The pool area features new decking and elevated lounges.
Outdoors, the treetop pool cradled by bushland is now finished with new decking, glass balustrades and comfortable loungers. The revamp also included improvements to the Serenity Lawn and upgraded connections between the Pavilion and on-site vineyard.
And for those looking to unwind and indulge, the hotel’s day spa remains a guest favourite.
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Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or hunting down Sydney's cosiest cafes.
There’s more to discover in this buzzing city beyond its thrilling theme parks and pretty beaches.
One of the world’s most celebrated coastal destinations, the Gold Coast has long drawn in visitors with its endless stretches of golden sand and thrilling theme parks. And while these iconic drawcards deliver time and time again, there’s much more to discover in this idyllic pocket of the world.
Luxury enthusiasts are catered for with fabulous five-star retreats, foodies can delight their taste buds with the freshest produce, and nature lovers can lose themselves in a world of ancient rainforest.
If you’re in need of a weekend away to recharge, you’re well looked after with the suite of five-star beachfront hotels. And with the country’s first Andaz hotel opening later this year in Broadbeach and a glamorous Ritz-Carlton on the way, a new era of luxury is being ushered in.
Many of these hotels, like The Langham (Chuan Spa) and the Mondrian Gold Coast (CIEL Spa), feature world-class day spas in sumptuous settings, offering treatments spanning massages, facials, body wraps, and hand and foot therapies from some of the world’s best therapists.
It would also be remiss when on the Gold Coast not to take to the sparkling waters, and the most stylish way to do so is by chartering a yacht, of course. Set sail on your own private haven from Crystal Blue Yacht Charters or Sailing in Paradise, spending your days lounging on deck, discovering secluded coves only accessible by boat and dipping in crystalline waters.
2. Escape to the Hinterland
Hike through Springbrook National Park to enjoy incredible views. (Credit: Reuben Nutt)
You’d be forgiven for not being able to pull yourself away from the Gold Coast’s sparkling coastline, but just a 30-minute drive inland, the Hinterland spoils visitors with a lush landscape that brings an instant sense of calm.
In the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, an ancient oasis of over 500 waterfalls and over 160 kilometres of bushwalking trails are waiting to be discovered, soundtracked by the calls of rare rainforest songbirds. And in the ancient Springbrook National Park, you can witness a dazzling light show from one of the largest glow worm colonies in the world. And walk beneath towering Antarctic Beech Trees.
The Hinterland’s fertile volcanic soil and subtropical climate make it a growers’ paradise, and gourmands can relish the best of the region’s bounty at restaurants like Paddock at Beechmont Estate. This casual fine-dining destination offers a paddock-to-plate experience in the truest sense, with produce harvested onsite and sourced from local farms. It might also surprise you to learn that there are fabulous wineries in the region as well, including the must-visit Witches Falls Winery, which produces world-class wild-ferment drops.
3. Taste the best of the dining scene
Treat yourself at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. (Credit: Jesse Lindemann)
The culinary scene on the Gold Coast exceeds expectations thanks to its location and gastronomic talent. Ultra-fresh seafood, abundant hinterland produce and inventive brews star on menus, making it a haven for foodies.
Start your day on a delicious note with the smell of fresh pastries and some of the best coffee in the city at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. Or sit in the classic Queenslander at Paddock Bakery to tuck into their elevated take on ‘egg and soldiers’, with toasted sourdough, organic labna, parsley and bacon bits.
Rick Shores is a must-visit lunch or sunset dinner spot in Burleigh Heads, loved for its front-row vistas of the ocean and succulent Pan-Asian flavours – the Fried Moreton Bay Bug Roll with its delicate sweet meat and toasted brioche bun has a cult following. The team’s second venue, Norté, is another culinary triumph, serving Latin American bites in an ultra-sleek space.
For a more relaxed affair, sit outside at the award-winning Burleigh Brewing Co and sip your way through a tasting padel of inventive lagers and ales while tapping your feet to live music.
4. Recover with wellness & relaxation
Enjoy a total reset surrounded by rainforest at Eden Retreat.
The Gold Coast knows a thing or two when it comes to pampering and relaxation, and those seeking some R&R or to banish their worries can do so at the multitude of bathhouses, day spas and secluded hinterland retreats peppered across the city.
One of the most coveted spots to unwind and experience the tranquillity of Japanese bathing culture is at SOL Elements, Australia’s first floating bathhouse snuggled in the rainforests of Mt Tamborine. Also located in the hinterland is Eden Retreat, a luxury health retreat on a 400-acre property designed to reconnect you with nature via daily wellness classes and contemporary lodges overlooking the rainforest.
Back in the city, Soak Bathhouse is a local favourite for contrast therapy with its open-air hot spas, mineral baths, cold plunges, cedar sauna and steam room. If a massage or facial is more your calling, book into Spa by JW at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa. Let the professionals soothe overworked muscles and rejuvenate skin in a heavenly setting.
And who could forget the city’s untamed side? Seek out natural swimming spots like the dreamy Araluen swimming hole hidden away in the Tallebudgera Valley, and the lower section of Currumbin Creek, a pristine tidal estuary with lagoon-like waters.
