Tambourine Mountain full of great activities...and delicious gin
It’s a place where locally distilled, award-winning True Blue Gin, Butter Whiskey or Choc ‘n’ Chilli Liqueur can be sipped while listening to the famous Whipbirds of the ancient rainforest, before taking a spectacular Skywalk 30m above the valley, tasting local wine and cheeses in the vineyard and then having a choice of waterfalls … to chase!
It’s also home to possibly the best sausage rolls in the country, Queensland’s first national park and views that tell millions of years of stories.
This is Tamborine Mountain. Often called the green island in the sky, it is just an hour from Brisbane and the Gold Coast in the famous Scenic Rim, named by travel bible The Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 regions in the world to visit in 2022.
And right now, it's tamborine time; so grab your camera, your appetite and your sense of adventure and make for the mountain ... here’s just a few ideas for what is a perfect day trip, or a longer linger!
THE CAULDRON DISTILLERY at 89-123 Hartley Road is the newest experience on Tamborine Mountain. At home in the Hartley Road Winery Precinct, Cauldron Estate is seven glorious hectares of established vineyards and lush green meadows perfect for picnics, lawn games and sips. www.cauldrondistillery.com.au
The Cauldron’s True Blue Gin is a sipper’s salvation. Featuring three outstanding Australian native botanicals in Strawberry Gum leaves, Finger Lime (native to Tamborine) and Aniseed Myrtle, the blue colour came from steeping Butterfly Pea Flower leaves after distillation, while their newest Gin nods to the Mediterranean, featuring figs, olive leaf, coriander, orange and sage. It’s dry, savoury, and perfect for a Queensland summer.
Darren Stewart, Head Distiller said: “There is never a bad time to enjoy a quality Gin, but with the growth and talent of local distilleries there are now Gins that perfectly match the season at hand. Just as you eat local produce seasonally, now you can drink local, seasonal Gin!”
CEDAR CREEK LODGES has a new luxe accommodation offer – The Courtyard Spa at Wallaby Lodge. Featuring a vaulted ceiling, private bush courtyard, a couples bathroom, oval bed, luxe linen and of course, local produce on a platter at any time, this experience is great for babymoons, honeymoons and romantic and quiet time away for couples.
PICNIC REAL FOOD BAR at 46 Main St is the brainchild of famed Queensland foodie Brenda Fawdon. This is the home of possibly the country’s best sausage rolls (try the Tommerup Pork, apple and fennel!). A cool fact is they have a closed-loop sustainability system that turns the kitchen waste into compost to minimise garbage and nourish the soil.
THE TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN SCARECROW FESTIVAL happens next weekend, October 29th and 30th, with over 100 scarecrows popping up all over town. There'll be a parade, live music, and a scarecrow competition.
THE SCENIC RIM FARM GATE TRAIL is on next Sunday 30th October. Fill your esky with locally sourced products from local farmers and producers while exploring. Download the map here!
TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY at 10 Macdonnell Road is Australia’s MOST awarded distillery and liquor brand this century! Yep, they have a HUGE mantelpiece!
WITCHES FALLS at 79 Main Western Road is a perfect place to wander the vineyard, sip famed wines, share a local produce platter and talk to the winemakers. Sunset Sips are held until 7pm every Friday and Saturday night and there’s Food Trucks on Sundays .
TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN COFFEE PLANTATION at 64 Alpine Terrace is an all local coffee experience – grown, roasted and blended on the mountain.
TAMBORINE RAINFOREST SKYWALK at 333 Geissmann Dr is an eco-adventure favourite. It’s a unique and thrilling way to explore the beautiful rainforest canopies.
DO GO CHASING WATERFALLS!! For a guaranteed waterfall, follow the 1.1km track to Curtis Falls, or pack a picnic and follow the trail to Cedar Creek Falls to peer up at the 15-20m waterfall. There’s the 3.1km Witches Falls Circuit, which has incredible views. The walk to Cameron Falls takes about half an hour each way and is worth it!
THUNDERBIRD PARK AT CEDAR CREEK is home to zip lines, walks and more waterfalls! It’s here that sun-drenched gum trees burst through sunlight, bush flowers and brush box thrive, iron barks and forest red gums tower over hiking trails. Fossick in the world’s largest thunderegg mine at Thunderbird Park and take the Treetop Challenge – there’s over 100 to choose from!
HANG GLIDE OVER THE SCENIC RIM Get a bird’s-eye view over the beautiful Scenic Rim with SEQ Hang Gliding, using the purest form of free flight. No cockpit, no engine – just you and nature.
PICNIC on the MOUNTAIN Watch the paragliders, the clouds and appreciate life! Robert Sowter Park at Main Western Rd is a great spot to sit with magnificent views.
GLOW WORMS! Take a tour through the rainforest and into the famous GLOW WORM caves and see thousands of them glowing at Cedar Creek Winery.
ART ON THE MOUNTAIN Tamborine time means taking in some of the mountain’s great art galleries. Try the Arthur Hamblin Art Gallery, or visit the Mountain Dreams Studio to view unique creations by Maki Horanai and Hilltop on Tamborine for contemporary and traditional art from local and other artists.
FUN FACT: Witches Falls at Tamborine Mountain was declared a national park in the Government Gazette on 28 March 1908, becoming the first national park in Queensland—30 years after Collins first heard of the concept in the United States – that would be, Yellowstone National Park of course!
Photo: Luke Marsden
