Need a break from the city? A local shares what to do and where to stay in the breathtaking Gold Coast Hinterland.
Less than an hour’s drive from the bright lights of Surfers Paradise is the other side of the Gold Coast — the green behind the gold. Host to two national parks within the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, the Gold Coast Hinterland is a rich amalgam of rolling hills and picturesque walking trails woven with charming towns, local wildlife, and foodie gems.
Whichever way you slice it, this leafy paradise is a dream, best experienced per your personal traveller style. Whether you’re a loved-up couple, tied to the kids or simply a nature-lover yearning for soulful outdoor immersion, these Gold Coast Hinterland itineraries are nothing short of magical.
For families
About 30 minutes away from the Gold Coast’s best beaches, a lush playground begins to weave, hypnotising adventure-seeking families. Whether you’re happy to escape for just a day or can swing an overnight stay, children of all ages (including those at heart) will thrive amid this region’s endless greenery.
THINGS TO DO
Kick off your adventure with a visit to the Historic Rivermill, just off the Coomera River and smack bang on that 30-minute drive time mark from Surfers Paradise. While it was once best known as a wedding venue, the Hinterland attraction offers a weekend beginners’ horse-riding experience for the whole family (kids need to be six and over), helping kids fulfil their My Little Pony dreams. If it’s just you and your experienced youngster, the team also run a ‘Farm Horse Ride + Picnic For Two’ package, offering besties a one-hour riding experience complete with gourmet sandwiches and a charcuterie board.
About half an hour beyond is the action-packed Thunderbird Park. A one-stop shop offering its own mini excavator park, Dig IT, laser skirmish, mini golf, one of the country’s highest and fastest ziplines, crystal panning, TreeTop ropes courses, pickleball, rockpools and even more, this place is non-stop fun no matter how many times you visit.
The action continues at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, filled with activity to blow their mismatched cotton socks off. Located in the heart of the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, the Gold Coast Hinterland boredom smasher offers wildlife shows, glow worm caves, e-bike tours, a 180-metre-long flying fox and more. For parents – an often-forgotten element of the term family-friendly – the Lost World Spa offers a blissful break from the mayhem. The usual selection of treatments is available, but for an adult-themed indulgence, try the Vinotherapy Ritual. Because who hasn’t always wanted to soak in a bath full of wine?
WHERE TO STAY
There are convenient options at O’Reilly’s including studio, two-bedroom and three-bedroom villas that can sleep up to nine guests. Whether you’re fronting a mesmerising valley or subtropical rainforest, each stay is contemporary yet homely, with many featuring spacious decks with spa baths. There’s also a campsite if you’re a camping family. Sealing the deal is the on-site cafe, restaurant, and bar which nails homemade pizza, plus in-room dining. Self-caterers should grab supplies at the FoodWorks in Canungra on the way through.
Alternatively, Thunderbird Park sits within Tamborine Mountain Glades which offers another stack of accommodation including some of the best Gold Coast glamping (fit for up to five guests in some of their alarmingly spacious bell tents) multi-bedroom cabins, camping with an ultra-plush amenities block and boutique hotel-style rooms overlooking a small creek and sharing an awesome communal fire pit. It’s a great pick if you’re keen to sit motionless after an adrenaline-charged day at Thunderbird.
For couples
Misty mountains, slow, winding roads and a firm focus on quality dining. Reconnecting with your other half or escaping for a googly-eyed new romance is a dream in the Gold Coast Hinterland, where remote luxury and stellar culinary indulgences run rife.
THINGS TO DO
Besides trailing some of the Gold Coast’s best nature hikes, there’s also the endlessly fabulous town of Mount Tamborine to thoroughly lean into. After a quality caffeine hit at Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation (which also offers a site tour if you’re a geek for beans), get your steps in at the nearby Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk where sturdy pathways soar you above beautiful treetop canopies.
From here, drop into the ultra-hip North Stores and burgeoning village life of north Tamborine (we’ll get to the more touristy Gallery Walk shortly), where you can sample on-site distilled amaro at Loborn Tasting Bar (say hello to owner and distiller Tom who meticulously handcrafts the good stuff) before shaking it into one of the best Negronis you’ll taste in town. Line your stomach a few doors down at Picnic Real Food Bar, where legendary duo Brenda and her team dish up homemade, seasonally charged dishes and top-shelf coffee. There’s also Outland Demin, a ceramic studio and a bespoke florist within the North Stores’ collective of cool.
Kick the party onto Saint Marthe for lunch, just across the road and quickly gaining a reputation for some of the region’s most exceptional fine dining. The French bistro nails authentic flavours with finessed technique, all while charming the pants off diners via genuine, heart-led hospitality.
It’s unthinkable to visit Mount Tamborine without popping into the Gallery Walk, ideal for hand-in-hand meandering through chocolate, cheese, gifts and sweets stores. Highlights include the homemade bread at Franquette, a lovely French patisserie and bakery, and the Tamborine Mountain Distillery for its famous tasting room that whips together more than 80 cocktails.
Chase a perfect Mount Tamborine afternoon with a glass of vino at Witches Falls Winery, Queensland’s first-ever winery. If you prefer beer, the team also run Boxer Brewery Co., home to an outstanding tap room with its self-dubbed ‘frost trail’ — an in-built freezer strip sitting on the bar that keeps your cold one cold no matter how long the game captivates you. Pure genius.
Next, grab an Uber and brace yourself for one of the most exceptional dining experiences of all: The Paddock Restaurant at Beechmont Estate. From the mountainous views outside floor-to-ceiling windows, to the endlessly attentive service, this place is a special occasion kind of treat. Catch the sunset, get stuck in and finish with more drinks by the fireplace. Struggling to move after all the indulgence? Beechmont’s luxury retreats provide an all-too tempting place to rest woozy heads.
WHERE TO STAY
January 2025 saw O’Reilly’s unveil its plush accommodation, the boutique Pat’s Farm, encompassing six private chalets. The eco-friendly stays offer sophisticated farm life experiences so they’re well worth considering if you book early enough to catch availability.
An Australian Traveller favourite, however, is The Tamborine, an Instagram-friendly boutique hotel drenched in creature comforts. From the soothing, expertly executed colour palette of nature-inspired hues, a heavenly outdoor swimming pool, and jaw-dropping views across the region, to the fire pits overlooking it all and a private spa treatment room, this is Hinterland hibernation at its most exquisite.
For nature lovers
As well as a fascinating diversity of plants to observe, there’s no shortage of wildlife sightings within the Gold Coast Hinterland. Chase waterfalls, uncover spectacular views and sleep under the stars — this corner of the country is filled with serious splendour.
THINGS TO DO
The Gold Coast Hinterland is your proverbial oyster, especially if your boots were made for walking. The huge array of bush walks throughout this serene bushland overwhelms, even if you’re accustomed to the area.
From the short-but-sweet one-kilometre Natural Bridge Circuit in Springbrook National Park that comes alive with the tiny green lights of thousands of nocturnal glow-worms, to the renowned two-day Stinson Walk that retraces steps to the Stinson Memorial crash site, the diversity is astounding. If you’re an experienced hiker, consider the epic three-day Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk, a 54-kilometre stretch that links the Lamington and Springbrook plateaus via the Numinbah Valley, filled with extraordinary flora and fauna.
WHERE TO STAY
Who said camping is your only connection to nature? Nestled in World-Heritage-listed Springbrook National Park, The Mouses Rainforest Retreat offers enchanting chalets from which you can hear the song of native birds and the call of nocturnal animals, all while surrounded by towering bush box trees.
You’re so close to nature that, at night, possums typically visit each chalet to be hand-fed. The chalets themselves are incredible with a spa bath looking out over your surroundings, while some even come with a private outdoor hot tub so you can soak it all in while enveloped in luxury.
Originally written by Jemma Fletcher with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams
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