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Located approximately 60 kilometres south of Queensland’s capital city of Brisbane, Tamborine Mountain is a volcanic plateau set within Australia’s Gold Coast hinterland.

The many attractions of Mount Tamborine include beautiful views on both sides of the range and the many craft and antique shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants of the area's villages, which attract countless tourists each season.

The latest attraction to entice visitors to the mountain is the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk and Eco Centre. Set on 30 acres of magnificent rainforest, the Centre provides an eco-adventure that will take you along elevated walkways, past butterfly lookouts and waterfalls, to an amazing cantilevered 40-metre structure set 30-metres above the valley. This stroller-friendly walk is self-paced and takes approximately an hour – once back at the Centre visitors can browse the Gift Shop, enjoy lunch at the Birdwing Cafe or visit the Rainforest Eco Gallery. The latter has an array of rainforest fauna and flora information including displays and an aquarium containing a variety of Australian freshwater fish.

The Tamborine region is renowned for its fine wineries and one in particular has an added attraction that draws thousands of tourists every year. The Cedar Creek Estate Winery, set on a 22-acre lakeside property, is popular with local and overseas visitors due to its magical Glow-Worm Caves. The caves consist of two cavern-like concrete structures linked by a tunnel. Inside, thousands of Glow-Worms radiate their unmistakable luminescent light as expert guides provide informative commentary on guided tours. After the tour, visitors can enjoy a delicious lunch overlooking the Wild Duck Lake, taste the winery’s specialty wines such as Chambourcin and Verdelho or take a stroll in the grounds along the Rainforest Walk.

If you enjoy walking, drop in at the Mount Tamborine Visitors’ Centre situated in Doughty Park on Main Western Road and enquire about the various Tamborine National Park walking circuits. From one-hour strolls to six hour hiking marathons for the hardy, there are several walking tracks leading through magnificent subtropical rainforest and past awe-inspiring waterfalls, many of which have picnic and BBQ areas peppered along the way.

There are also some amazing lookouts on Tamborine Mountain offering stunning views over the Gold Coast or to the West over the Hinterland.

Those visitors that have energy to burn can plan an action packed day at Tamborine Mountain’s Adventure Parc. The Parc stretches through many hectares of forest between bush and subtropical rainforest with almost 1,000 towering trees that stretch 18 metres above the ground. There are 68 elevated challenges, spread over 8 exciting flying-foxes and over four courses of varying difficulty.

The Park’s literature warns visitors to allow at least three hours to live out that Indiana Jones fantasy! This is a popular destination for corporate team-building groups, teenagers and active people of any age. For your protection, height and weight restrictions apply and all safety equipment is provided; just bring along closed in sports shoes and a sense of adventure.

As a tourism destination Tamborine Mountain is exceptional and a world-away from the glitzy, high-rise buzz of the Gold Coast. Those of you who take pleasure in nature will find ‘The Mountain’ irresistible and if you appreciate peace and tranquillity, then the Witches Falls Cottages are the ideal Tamborine accommodation for you.

These romantic, self-contained lodges are located in a natural rainforest setting – here you can wake to the sounds of whip birds, lorikeets and kookaburras and star gaze through the glass ceiling above your spa bath before retiring. So when it comes to Tamborine accomodation, the most spellbinding place to stay is at the Witches Falls Cottages, we look forward to relaxing you soon.

When it comes to naturally stunning destinations worlwide, Australia’s Mount Tamborine area ranks very highly and for good reason.

Located approximately 60 kilometres south of the state of Queensland’s capital city of Brisbane, Tamborine Mountain is a volcanic plateau set within Australia’s Gold Coast hinterland.

The area is the result of an outpouring of lava from nearby Mount Warning and this geological phenomenon created a plateau approximately 8 km long by 5 km wide that now sits 600 metres above sea level.

The many attractions of the Mount Tamborine area include beautiful views that can be enjoyed on both sides of the range and the many craft and antique shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants which attract thousands of tourists every season.

Tamborine Mountain is famous for its National Parks. The Tamborine National Park covers eleven square kilometres of the mountain’s plateau and foothills and its oldest section, the Witches Falls, was first declared in 1908, making it Queensland’s oldest National Park. Over the years, additional reserves have been declared & today Tamborine National Park comprises 13 sections of land.

So why should you – quite literally – ‘take a hike’? Well, first of all, the Tamborine National Park overall has much to offer walkers including sundappled picnic areas (many with BBQs), breath-taking lookouts and waterfalls, cliffs and gorges, sparkling rock pools and shady woodlands. The Park is also home to an amazing 85 percent of all fauna species and 65 percent of all flora species in the Gold Coast City area.

Now that they are part of Tamborine’s National Parks, these rainforest areas with Piccabeen palm groves, wet Eucalypt forests, sky scraping flooded gums and open areas of bracken and ferns, are all protected. This protection extends to cover its fauna too, including the rare Albert’s Lyrebird and one of the world’s largest skinks; the glossy, black and very generously proportioned Land Mullet. Richmond Birdwing Butterflies, whose males are a dazzling iridescent green and Noisy Pittas, birds that hop on the rainforest floor in search of leeches and snails, both migrate seasonally to the park, making this an extremely significant area in terms of conservation.

Many believe that the Witches Falls section of Tamborine’s National Park is one of the most captivating to walk. Its 3.1 km circuit begins from the picnic area on Main Western Road. This lawned rest area has electric barbecues, picnic tables, toilets and is surrounded by soaring eucalypts.

The Witches Falls Circuit snakes down a steep incline through closed-in forest into a rainforest area that features cycad groves. Cycads are the most ancient plants on earth that still exist today and are known, through fossil findings, to have lived in the Permian era – over 200 million years ago – even before dinosaurs roamed the earth. Although once abundant across the planet, cycads are greatly reduced now in both numbers and distribution and much international attention is being drawn to protect these plants that are believed to be nearing extinction.

While en route to the waterfalls you will come across shimmering lagoons, palm groves and enormous strangler figs. After the rains, the lagoons fill with water and thrive with various species of frogs and insects. The Witches Falls waterfalls only flow after recent rain and can be viewed by taking a short 200m detour from the circuit to a lookout platform. The track then returns through the rainforest and ends behind the local cemetery.

For your own safety, walk only in daylight hours and wear sturdy shoes, a hat, protective clothing and sunscreen. Take along a mobile phone and drinking water as creek water may contain organisms that can cause illness. At a usual walking pace, 3km takes about an hour. If you are walking with young children however or if plan to take photographs or bird watch along the way, do allow extra time.

When it comes to Tambourine accommodation, the most spellbinding place to stay is at the Witches Falls Cottages , a retreat that consist of many private cottages tucked away in one of the Mountain’s most secluded and peaceful locations and just a few steps away from the Witches Falls’ circuit’s start point.

When traveling to an unfamiliar location it can be a difficult decision about where to stay. What are the things you should consider when deciding the type of accommodation to book.

As you know, chain hotels tend to be the larger, “cookie cutter” type of accommodations. Although, even if you choose a chain hotel, they are not necessarily company-run. There are many “chains” that are actually individual franchises. Most often, franchise-type hotes are required to meet some basic company standards to remain part of the chain. The key concept here being “minimum standards”. That means that not all locations in this chain are necessarily as good (clean, maintained, etc.) as others.

Often travelers will pick a chain hotel in an unfamiliar city so they feel like they’ll know what to expect – no surprises. We did just that on our first trip to Belize. We reserved accommodations at a well-known chain hotel for our first two nights in Belize City. It was a mistake. We left after only one night for several reasons (not very clean, air conditioning didn’t work, etc.) and found, with the help of a guide book, the most wonderful B&B – the Fort Street Guesthouse. It was like we stepped into an old movie – four poster beds, mosquito netting, amazing ambience, terrific owners (they mailed us a Christmas card for years after our visit) and interesting guests. It made our visit to Belize City memorable.

So, let’s lay out the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision.

Chain Hotel Accommodations
Pros
You know what to expect (this is true most of the time but not always)
Web-enabled reservations system (frequently)
Accepts most credit cards
Generous cancellation policies (often)

Cons
Tends to be a more commonplace experience
Frequently a sterile type ambience
More expensive (not always true, but remember the adage “You get what you pay for.”)

Independently Owned Accommodations
Pros
Unique types of accommodations (even things like treehouses or caves)
More of a cultural flavor
Can be low-cost (but not always)
A more personal experience with well-informed local advice
Can be part of the adventure

Cons
Not always sure what you’re getting
Language barriers
Booking difficulties (often don’t have an online reservations system)
Upfront deposits (smaller places need to charge some, or all, of the costs upfront)
Unable to accept credit cards (smaller properties often can’t accept credit cards)
Cancellation Fees & Policies (frequently there are no refunds, unless they can re-book the accommodations, if you cancel less than a certain amount of time in advance.)

In a lot of countries there are agencies that rate independently owned accommodations, particularly Bed and Breakfast establishments. It’s a good idea to see if the property you’re looking at belongs to an association or has been rated by a tourism agency.

With advanced planning you can make your vacation a memorable experience. Even if some things go wrong, hey, it’s all part of the experience!

Located approximately 60 kilometres south of Queensland’s capital city of Brisbane, Tamborine Mountain is a volcanic plateau set within Australia’s Gold Coast hinterland.

An outpouring of lava from nearby Mount Warning – many millenia ago – created Tamborine Mountain’s lush, forested plateau which is approximately 8 km long by 5 km wide and now sits 600 metres above sea level.

The many attractions of the Mount Tamborine area and its picturesque villages include craft and antique shops, cafes and restaurants and numerous galleries which attract thousands of tourists every season.

The area is also known for its award-winning wineries with many offering tours, free tastings and affordable meals in beautiful surroundings. If you enjoy walking, nine National Parks within the region await you. Shady walking tracks lead through stunning subtropical rainforest and past breathtaking waterfalls, natural swimming holes and rock pools. Sun dappled picnic and BBQ areas pepper the way and spectacular lookouts offer stunning views towards the ocean as well as to the West over the hinterland.

The Rainforest Discovery Skywalk is the latest Tamborine Mountain attraction and was completed in early 2009. Set on 30 acres of magnificent rainforest and alongside a tumbling creek, the Skywalk consists of an eco walking trail that leads to a 40m-long platform set 30m above the rainforest canopy. A short drive away, another popular attraction are the Glow-worm Caves that offer guided underground sightseeing tours through two spectacular man made caves filled with thousands of glow worms.

The rich volcanic soil of the area supports a diversity of horticulture which can be enjoyed on nature walks as well as by visiting the local Botanic Gardens. The bounty of many residents’ gardens is also on display at several roadside stalls that abound with kiwi fruit, rhubarb, avocados and macadamia nuts quaintly displayed around an ‘Honesty Box’.

This small plateau is also rich in animal and bird life. Platypus, green tree frogs, scrub turkeys, wallabies and of course koalas form part of the Mountain’s varied range of wildlife and in the morning, the calls of lorikeets, kookaburras and lyrebirds can be heard.

The state of Queensland is known as Australia’s Sunshine State and on Tamborine Mountain, you can enjoy abundant sunshine year-round but without the heat and humidity that the more northerly parts of Queensland often endure.

The beaches, shopping malls, theme parks and many other Gold Coast attractions are a comfortable 40-minute drive from Mount Tamborine while Brisbane is one hour away, making the Mountain the ideal ‘base-camp’ location from which to explore south-east Queensland.

The nearest international airport is Brisbane, however national travellers often land at Coolangatta (Gold Coast) airport, a mere 45-minute drive from Tamborine Mountain.

Whether you are parents-to-be seeking a tranquil Babymoon destination, a newly engaged couple looking for that perfect Honeymoon location or if you are simply looking for the best Mount Tamborine accommodation you will delight in the serene privacy of Mount Tamborine’s Witches Falls Cottages.

Witches Falls Cottages offer an idyllic retreat to nature and consist of private cottages tucked away along rainforest pathways in one of Tamborine Mountain’s and perhaps even Australia’s most secluded and peaceful locations.

Located approximately 60 kilometres south of Queensland’s capital city of Brisbane, Tamborine Mountain is a volcanic plateau set within Australia’s Gold Coast hinterland.

An outpouring of lava from nearby Mount Warning – many millenia ago – created Tamborine Mountain’s lush, forested plateau which is approximately 8 km long by 5 km wide and now sits 600 metres above sea level.

The many attractions of the Mount Tamborine area and its picturesque villages include craft and antique shops, cafes and restaurants and numerous galleries which attract thousands of tourists every season.

The area is also known for its award-winning wineries with many offering tours, free tastings and affordable meals in beautiful surroundings. If you enjoy walking, nine National Parks within the region await you. Shady walking tracks lead through stunning subtropical rainforest and past breathtaking waterfalls, natural swimming holes and rock pools. Sun dappled picnic, BBQ and rest areas pepper the way and spectacular lookouts offer stunning views towards the ocean as well as to the West over the hinterland.

The Rainforest Discovery Skywalk is the latest Tamborine Mountain attraction and was completed in early 2009. Set on 30-acres of awe-inspiring rainforest and alongside a tumbling creek, the Skywalk consists of an eco walking trail that leads to a 40m-long platform set 30m above the rainforest canopy. A short drive away, another popular attraction are the Glow-worm Caves that offer guided underground sightseeing tours through two spectacular man made caves filled with thousands of glow worms.

The rich volcanic soil of the area supports a diversity of horticulture which can be enjoyed on nature walks as well as by visiting the local Botanic Gardens. The bounty of many residents’ gardens is also on display at several roadside stalls that abound with kiwi fruit, rhubarb, avocados and macadamia nuts quaintly displayed around an ‘Honesty Box’.

This small plateau also thrives with animal and bird life. Platypus, green tree frogs, scrub turkeys, wallabies and of course koalas form part of the Mountain’s varied range of wildlife and in the morning, the calls of lorikeets, kookaburras and lyrebirds can be heard.

The state of Queensland is known as Australia’s Sunshine State and on Tamborine Mountain, you can enjoy abundant sunshine year-round but without the heat and humidity that the more northerly parts of Queensland often endure.

The surfing beaches, shopping malls, theme parks (including Warner Brothers and Sea World) plus many other Gold Coast attractions are a comfortable 40-minute drive from Mount Tamborine while Brisbane is one hour away, making the Mountain the ideal ‘base-camp’ location from which to explore south-east Queensland.

The nearest international airport is Brisbane’s, however national travellers often opt for Coolangatta (Gold Coast) airport, a mere 45-minute drive from Tamborine Mountain.

Whether you are parents-to-be seeking a tranquil Babymoon destination, a newly engaged couple looking for that perfect Honeymoon location or if you are simply looking for the best Bed and Breakfast Tamborine you will delight in the serene privacy of Mount Tamborine’s Witches Falls Cottages.

Witches Falls Cottages offer an idyllic retreat to nature and consist of very private cottages tucked away along rainforest pathways in one of Tamborine Mountain’s and perhaps even Australia’s most secluded and peaceful locations.