In My Backyard: Tamborine Mountain
40 Kms drive, give or take a few kilometers, from the Gold Coast is the plateau called Tamborine Mountain which is part of the Scenic Rim, the name given to a group of mountains in South East Queensland.
Some interesting facts about this magnificent mountain are:
- The geological origin of the plateau was the result of lava flow from the Mount Warning volcanic eruption 22 million years ago.
- The name ‘Tamborine’ is of Aboriginal origin and has nothing to do with the musical instrument.
- The plateau produces a rich crop of avocados, kiwifruit, passionfruit, rhubarb, apples and mangoes.
- It is a major tourism destination for people from Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
- There is a distinctive Eastern European influence seen in the construction of houses, shops and restaurants scattering the mountain.
- Tamborine Mountain and the Scenic Rim area are renowned for the diversity and quality of their artists and artisans.
Walking Trails
There is a vast area of rainforested national park areas on the mountain with abundant birdlife and a variety of flora, one of which is the oldest national park in Queensland, Witches Falls National Park. Mt Tamborine Walking tracks are provided in six sections of Tamborine National Park. Most walking tracks are short and can be walked within a few hours. The walks are relatively easy although some tracks have short, steep grades.
- Curtis Falls walk is 1.5 km circuit beside the river through the rainforest, showing lower pools and giant strangler figs. Descending down stairs to a large pool at the base of Curtis Falls.
- MacDonald Rainforest walk is 1.4 Km relatively flat track through the rainforest of strangler figs and Picabeen palm groves.
- Witches Falls track zigzags down through gorgeous palm groves and rainforest with excellent views over the Dividing Range.
Witches Falls, Mt Tamborine - Esme Park is a 1 Km pathway through rainforest to Tamborine Mountain’s 1,000 year old tree.
- Palm Grove is a 2.5 Km circuit track through the rainforest of Strangler Figs and buttressed yellow Carabeens.
Strangler Fig Tree - Cedar Creek Falls is 900m path to the lookout that has views of waterfalls, cascades and rock pools.
Cedar Creek Falls
Must Do Things to Explore
There is lots to do and see on the mountain including:
- Walk amongst the beautiful rainforest canopies of Tamborine Mountain on the Skywalk.
Mt Tamborine Rainforest - Be illuminated by the magical underground adventure of the Glow Worm Caves.
- For a bird’s eye view of the mountain soar the skies on a hot air balloon ride.
A Birds Eye View - Sample some of the local wines at one of Tamborine Mountain’s wineries or tour the Micro Brewery and stay for a refreshing ale afterwards.
Mt Tamborine Winery - Amble down Gallery Walk and visit the many shops and galleries lining the street such as the German Cuckoo Clock Nest, Shons Different & Delightful, the Glass Castle and Flights of Fancy.
German Cuckoo Clock Shop - Follow your nose and delight in some of the fine food that is on offer on the Mountain, such as Granny Macs Fudge Store, Tea and Niceties, Witches Chase Cheese Company or make your own lunch at the Tamborine Cooking School.
One of the many Cafes along Gallery Walk - Take a stroll through the beautiful Botanical Gardens which are nestled in a valley covering 11 hectares with combined plantings of sub-tropical and cool temperate exotic plants and natural sub-tropical rainforest.
Mt Tamborine Botanical Gardens - Saturate your senses at the Mount Tamborine Country Markets. Held at the 6 acre Tamborine Mountain Showgrounds complex on the second Sunday of every month.
During my visit the annual Tamborine Mountain Scarecrow Festival was being held so there were scarecrow displays everywhere.
Tamborine Mountain is a hinterland paradise far enough away from the madding crowd of Brisbane and the Gold Coast, but near enough for a comfortable day trip. The highlights for me were the walks through some of the oldest living rainforest in the world, an encounter with some Lyrebirds in the rainforest and the spectacular views over the Dividing Ranges to the west and the Gold Coast to the east.
Linking up with Travel Photo Thursday
Scotto and I stayed there for our honeymoon and went back for our first year anniversary. I love it. Judith Wright the poet lived there for many years and wrote much of her poetry there.
What a beautiful honeymoon spot. I can imagine why Judith Wright wrote her poetry there. It is just divine. :)
I’ve been on a whistle stop visit and loved it. Your photos have showed me how much we missed and how much I’d like to go back. Yes, it is paradise I reckon :)
Jo you could easily spend a few days here exploring the mountain, tasting the wines, taking in the breathtaking scenery and doing some of the walks. I have had the odd weekend retreat here and really loved it.
This is a gorgeous place. We stayed in a new tall queenslander called Canyon Cottage about 12 years ago. We loved everything about the cottage and tambourine mountain. You are so lucky to have the mountains as your back yard.
Yes I am lucky Jan to have so much beauty surrounding me. My next foray is to Currumbin Valley and Mt Cougal so stay tuned!
Glad I’ve revisited to read again Kathy – it all looks so beautiful and I must get back soon.
Thanks Jo, I thought it was worth re-visiting as Tamborine is such a lovely day trip from the Gold Coast. Much like your gorgeous Margaret River, but on a much smaller scale. :)
I so love Mt Tamborine. A group of friends and I regularly go up there for a girl’s weekend, and it’s so much fun. We’ve enjoyed shopping, dining, bush walking, winery tours and lots more. Another great attraction is Tamborine Cooking School, run by the lovely Terri Taylor. We’ve done many of her cooking classes and I highly recommend them :-)
Thanks for the recommendation of the cooking class Lyndall. I’m sure that is something my group of WINOEs would like to participate in on one of our weekends away. Mt Tamborine is a gorgeous place and we are so lucky that we have it nearby on the Gold Coast. :)
You’re so right Kathy. Be sure to tell Terri at Tamborine Cooking School that I sent you :-)
It is wonderful that both the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast have such wonderful hinterlands. It adds another dimension to a beach holiday. The scarecrows would have been interesting to see.
It certainly does Jan. I love to escape to the hinterland during our long hot summers where the temperature is always a few degrees cooler and the countryside is so lush and green. :)
Whenever I think of Australia images of long beaches and desert come to mind so it’s fascinating to hear that there is also lush rainforest! Those beautiful palms at Gallery Walk, Mt Tamborine are quite unique — they’re feathery and short – like nothing I’ve seen in the Caribbean or Mexico.
We do enjoy the best of both worlds here on the Gold Coast. Stunning beaches and green lush hinterland. I’m not sure what type of palms these are at Gallery Walk – possibly Date Palms. Thanks for dropping by my blog. :)
How lovely and lush with wonderful sounding fruit. And those gigantic trees! It sounds and looks like a very inspiring place to visit! Thanks Kathy.
Tamborine Mountain is a beautiful place for a Sunday Drive or anytime really. It is a nice change to the beaches and tourist strip of the Gold Coast. :)
Tambourine Mountain looks like a wonderful place to visit. But what does Tambourine in the aboriginal dialect mean?
Tamborine Mountain is absolutely gorgeous. The word Tamborine was apparently adapted from the aboriginal word Jambreen. So nothing to do with a musical instrument! :)