One of the most alluring part of the Gold Coast Hinterland is Mount Tamborine. Located just about an hour drive from Brisbane and 40 minutes from the Gold Coast, a perfect destination for a weekend getaway with its natural wonders, gastro experiences, art galleries and beautiful scenery.
Tamborine Mountain offers view both to the skyline of Surfers Paradise and the Scenic Rim, has incredible waterfalls and rainforest walks, yet there are other alluring sights here. The town is also a foodie-paradise - swish restaurants, boutique wineries, cafés and pubs, locally grown organic veggies, avocados, kiwifruits and macadamia nuts, award-winning cheeses and delicious fudge all over!
FUN FACT: Did you know that the Scenic Rim region is considered to have the most fertile land in Queensland?
Let's see the top 5 experiences that you can have here, that is not the national park.
1. Explore the Gallery Walk at Eagle Heights
If you visit only one place in the town, this should be it. The walk is the tourist hub of the town, and easy to see why: it's packed with intriguing shops, cozy B&Bs, historic pubs, cafés, boutique wineries, weekend markets, antique stores, art galleries and award-winning restaurants. Look for authentic German clocks and watches at German Cuckoo Clock Nest or opal jewelry at Australia Outback Opals.
2. Shop at the Local Markets
There are regular markets at Tamborine Mountain each month. Tamborine Mountain Local Producers Market is held every Sunday from 7-12.00 at Mount Tamborine Showground in the Green Shed. You'll find organically grown fresh veggies & fruit, flowers, herbs & plants, preserves, nuts and honey. The Tamborine Mountain Country Markets take place on the second Sunday of each month from 7.30-13.30 at Tamborine Mountain Showgrounds. The market area is quite large with lots of stalls, a wide range of products, fresh food, plants and coffee. This is a great place to look for art & crafts, fashion and free entertainment with special fun area for kids. Tamborine Mountain School Markets are held on the last Sunday of each month from 7.00-13.00 at the car park across from the school. You'll find a variety of locally made products like cookies, soaps, collectables and vintage items - a perfect place to get unique souvenirs!
TOP TIP: Try the Dutch pancakes (proffertjes) and the German sausages with mustard (Knackwurst) at the Country Market!
3. Find Local Art and Antiques
Hilltop on Tamborine offers both contemporary and traditional art works, while Tamborine Mountain Arts Collective holds an Open Studio event each year to bring together local artists and showcase their work. For some authentic landscape, check out the work of the 'Father of Australian Outback Art' at Arthur Hamblin Art Gallery. If you want more than paintings, visit the Mountain Dreams Gallery & Studio where Maki Horanai's unique creations are displayed. She paints on canvas and wood but works with ceramics and mixed media as well. If you like antiquing, step into Jodi's Antiques Plus and dwell in the past with her lovely vintage products.
4. Take a sip of Fresh Coffee at Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation
You're addicted to coffee just like we are? Visit Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation, the mountain's only coffee plantation and lose yourself in the world of coffee. Take a Crop-to-Cup tour and experience coffee making first-hand, participate in a course on sustainable farming or do a sensory training to know how to identify different coffee flavours. You might get hungry after walking through the over 600 coffee trees, try something from the menu of Coffee House & Restaurant. If you want to spend more time in this enchanting place, take part in a culinary event with guest chefs or book your private event here.
If tea is more your tipple, Tea and Niceties serve steaming cups of their signature loose leaf teas nearby in Eagle Heights. Take it to another level with the high tea or scoff some scones beside a backdrop of rainforest at the café.
5. Relish in Gourmet Delights
Mount Tamborine is well known for its local gourmet specialties that definitely worth tasting! Choose from a great variety of quality cheese from Witches Chase Cheese Company, step into heaven at Chocolates on Gallery Walk, let the 40 different fudge melt in your mouth at Granny Mac’s Fudge Store and Café or try the "Adults Only" version in Fudge Heaven not so far from here.
6. Enjoy some of Queensland's finest Beverages
If you like wine, you'll definitely will love Mt. Tamborine! Wineries here are popular wedding venues and easy to see why: a charming winery, picturesque ground and lush rainforests make a very romantic atmosphere. Try the area's first winery Mount Tamborine Winery, marvel at the purpose-built glow worm caves at Cedar Creek Estate Vineyard & Winery, visit the cellar of Heritage Estate Winery, take a farm tour at Albert River Wines or enjoy a wine tasting at Witches Falls Winery.
But not just wines are excellent here! Try different locally manufactured liqueurs, cocktails, schnapps, vodkas, gin and more at the award-winning Tamborine Mountain Distillery. The Elizabethan Tudor-styled building is located on MacDonnell Road, But if you can't come by, online orders are available as well. A selection of 4 drinks in the Tasting Room costs 5 AUD/person. If you want more, book your experience here and visit the distillery museum too.
FUN FACT: This establishment is the third oldest distillery in Queensland.
If you're more like a beer enthusiast, don't worry, there's a treat for you here as well! Fortitude Brewing Co. offers a great range of good quality beer with unique tastes. Come with your mates for a tasting paddle or relax in the beer garden with live music on weekends. The place gives home to Witches Chase Cheese Co. as well, so you can combine your two favourites: beer and cheese.
7. Try Eco-friendly Cosmetics at Jasmin Organics
Jasmin Organics Skincare Farm and Factory is Australia's purest organic skincare farm and factory. The eco-friendly company offers tours to learn about the farm, manufacturing facilities and the skincare making process. Sample the products in the retail shop.
8. Relax at a Spa
Ripple Mt. Tamborine Massage is a mobile day spa and beauty salon, offering different massages, manicure & pedicure and spa treatments. They operate in Gold Coast and all Gold Coast Hinterland, bringing the spa into your home or hotel. Find the details and prices here. If you prefer the bit more traditional spa feeling with baths and body wrapping, ease yourself at Getaway Day Spa on West Road.
These are our top picks, hope you find this guide helpful for your trip to Tamborine Mountain. If you want to know more about this amazing place, check out our other post about the natural wonders of Tamborine Mountain!
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