The Tamborine Boutique Hotel: A Hinterland haven with heart

A splash of California calls from deep within the Gold Coast Hinterland.

There’s no shortage of Palm Springs design interpretation in the Sunshine State. Resort-style homes, and globally acclaimed hotels, have completely remodelled the urban meccas and sandy stretches of Queensland in recent years. But a modernist masterpiece in the thick of its balmy subtropical bush? The Tamborine Boutique Hotel is here to change the game.

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Enveloped in dewy rainforest and an array of native wildlife (stay alert for the roaming peacock and chuckling kookaburras), the intimate 23-room build is a rainforest retreat done with decadence. An outdoor mineral pool and spa dotted with 16 sun lounges, a dramatic double-height foyer that invites more fine wine swilling than EFTPOS authorisation fiddling, rooms filled with handmade ceramics and plush linens — it’s lavish while wholly embracing its natural surroundings.

Let’s explore everything to know to help you plan a restorative rainforest escape.

Location

Views of the Tamborine Mountains — Phenomenal views greet guests from every angle. (Image: Supplied)

The twittering of birds and scent of sappy blooms will lead you along a winding road (no matter where you’re ascending from) to the otherworldly Gold Coast Hinterland town of Tamborine Mountain. Located within the Scenic Rim, which flows with thriving World Heritage-listed rainforest, the former volcano has erupted (figuratively) into an artisanal village of retail boutiques, cafes, craft distilleries and wineries.

The Tamborine Boutique Hotel is found on Alpine Terrace, which also houses Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation and a string of roadside avocado huts and fruit stalls. It’s a legitimate fairytale setting — and that’s before you step inside.

Style and character

Foyer of The Tamborine Hotel — The spacious foyer invites guests to linger over drinks or a game. (Image: Supplied)

A contemporary reimagining of a quintessential 1980s Hacienda-style motel, The Tamborine Boutique Hotel honours its heritage bones while introducing ample coastal cool (we’re a drive from the Gold Coast, after all). A consistent colour palette of eucalyptus green, milk chocolate and eggshell white stay true to the mountain’s rich forestry while instilling clear-minded serenity.

The symphony of Zen extends to the hotel’s external material choices as Zaneti’s famed aluminium-based outdoor furniture, white side tables and waxy green plant life melt into the backdrop. It’s Instagram-delicious, all while paying tribute to the incredible rainforest real estate it occupies.

The hotel’s foyer (or central hub, as the team likes to call it) is a standout, splashed with 50 shades of beachside bliss and a breathtaking dried flower display hanging from the ceiling. Long timber tables, natural rattan cane webbing pendant lights, white painted brick and a scattering of MCM House-sourced pieces inspire ultimate restored-beach-shack dreams.

This team’s design flair is flawless, so it’s no surprise it’s led by Gina McNamara, who developed the stunning Cassis Red Hill in the Mornington Peninsula, and her best friend Nina Aberdeen, a former lawyer based in Victoria. Renowned design guru David Whiting, who played an integral part in Cassis Red Hill, also lends his creative genius.

Facilities

A woman sits on the ledge of the pool at the Tamborine Hotel — The stunning mineral pool. (Image: Sabine Bannard)

The headliner is that glistening mineral pool, an enormous original dig-out that’s been lovingly retiled and teamed with sleek white sun lounges and olive-green market umbrellas. The pool’s spacious spa, which rises just above ground level, is the place to be as mosaic tiles and an underwater seat create a covetable spot to laze the afternoon away.

If you’re staying in one of the ground floor rooms, there are private terraces with outdoor seating that lead onto the grassy mountain viewing area. If you’re on level one, private balconies offer a tranquil vantage point.

Elsewhere, fire pits should dot that spectacular grassy mound in the coming months (hopefully in time for winter), and there’s a filtered water station located on the ground level that offers both chilled and ambient varieties.

Rooms

Stepping into any one of the rooms, you’re immediately floored by those phenomenal regional views. Maybe it’s the ocean you’ll spy, or the dramatic cliff face poking out among the trees, or the tiny houses that highlight the sheer expanse of what’s on show — your glass doors are a portal into unadulterated awe.

It’s about then that you’ll realise there’s not a single piece of art on your walls (or in the wider hotel, in fact). The Tamborine Boutique Hotel allows its main attraction to dazzle without interruption.

A muted palette of timber, caramel, grey and white cover everything from the curtains and sheer drapes to the bathroom. Even the vanity kits and tissue boxes fall into line as no detail is unattended. Ceramic wall sconces from Robert Gordon and tea cups from POTTER by Sam Gordon (whose ridiculously beautiful handiwork fills fine dining institutions like Sydney’s Saint Peter and Melbourne’s Stokehouse St Kilda) add texture, while brushed brass tapware from Faucet Strommen dial up timeless chic.

As for the beds, we can confirm they’re fluffy, soft and pillowed to crisp white sheet perfection. King sizes ensure you’ll barely feel your significant other while a wall-mounted smart TV, tea and coffee essentials, a Dometic bar fridge, Leif amenities (the body wash is as thick as honey), white waffle robes and cosy enclosed slippers facilitate your creature comforts.

Views of the mountains at The Tamborine Hotel — Rooms are designed to bring the outside. (Image: Supplied)

Food and drink

The bar at The Tamborine Hotel — Gather in the foyer at ‘Peacock O’Clock’. (Image: Supplied)

While there’s no restaurant on-site, The Tamborine Boutique Hotel features a small kitchen right by the central hub that’s stocked with fresh produce to create a beautiful continental breakfast spread and afternoon bar snacks.

Combing the mountain for its finest culinary spoils, the team sources goodies from local stalwarts including Main St. Provedore Eatery & Espresso and Tommerup’s Dairy Farm, while embracing peak seasonal ingredients from local growers.

Pizza and other items from the menu at The Tamborine Hotel — The small bar menu features snacks and heartier eats. (Image: Supplied)

The bar menu also utilises native flavours including lemon myrtle, which douses its marinated olives, bush honey, which dusts its roasted nuts, and wattle seed, used to season its crispy chicken bites. Pick something heartier, such as the woodfired salami pizza or green chilli prawns with roast garlic, to refuel you after a morning spent dipping in and out of that heavenly pool.

At 5pm every evening, head down to the central hub again where ‘Peacock O’Clock’ provides guests with a complimentary beverage and the chance to make new like-minded friends. What’s being poured, you wonder? Bubbles, chablis and rosé from France, as well as whites and reds from best-loved Victorian regions and a sensational orange wine from the nearby Witches Falls Winery.

Local mountain brands including Boxer Brewing Co., Cauldron Distillery and Eighth Day Cider, produced by the Witches Falls crew, also fill the bar menu.

‘Peacock O’Clock’ drinks are being poured at Tamborine Hotel — Evening drinks kick off at 5pm. (Image: Supplied)

Accessibility

Two ground-level rooms located right by the pool are wheelchair-friendly and customised to comply with guests’ access needs. Without compromising on the hotel’s high-luxe standard, spacious showers with seats, toilets fitted with handrails, ample mobility floorspace and the ability to turn double beds into two singles, create serious comfort.

There is also a side gate for guests with access needs to seamlessly enter the pool.

Accessible bathrooms at the Tamborine Hotel — Bathrooms are built with accessibility in mind. (Image: Supplied)

Family friendly?

While children would undoubtedly love the opportunity to explore these luscious grounds, The Tamborine Boutique Hotel is geared towards couples looking for a chance to unwind on their own.

Details

Best for: Unplugging and reconnecting to the greatest of outdoors.

Address: 99 Alpine Terrace, Tamborine Mountain

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.

Tamborine Boutique Hotel: A Hinterland haven with heart