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gold coast: general info
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Date: April 2006
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland Australia
Even if you normally prefer beaches to birdlife, one of the world's most spectacular sub-tropical rainforest hinterlands is just 30 minutes from Surfers Paradise.
Sitting around the communal table at Binna Burra Mountain Lodge, listening
to my fellow diners from the US
and Germany, it
was clear just what they thought of the Gold
Coast Hinterland. I was in well travelled company who were - and this is the
only appropriate word for it - gushing about just how abundantly blessed by nature
this region was.
This enthusiasm for pristine air, ancient rainforests, waterfalls and mountains vistas is definitely catching. After a weekend, I felt recharged, relaxed and revived by the natural beauty that is right on our doorstep, just 90 minutes drive from Brisbane.
The Gold Coast Hinterland covers a vast region from Tamborine and Springbrook Mountains west to Kooralbyn Valley and Rathdowney. We stayed at Binna Burra Mountain Lodge which, with O'Reilly's Rainforest Guesthouse, shares a tradition of warm, country hospitality with guests from all over the world.
Each night, over long, relaxed meals we'd plan our next day with the help of a guide who dropped by to run through the options, including bird watching, spotlighting and naturalist-guided wildlife and rainforest walks through the surrounding World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park's 160km of walking tracks.
We stayed in the original mountain cabins built in 1933, and refurbished as cosy Acacia cabins with private balconies and bathrooms where you could soak away the day's exertions. The Casuarina cabins share an amenity block. Kids will love the discovery forest, a unique eco-adventure playground. There's also the Echidna Club for children.
There are plenty of B&B (Bed and Breakfast) guesthouses and farm stays to choose
from. A couple that caught my eye for next time are The Cottages at North
Tamborine, set in beautifully landscaped gardens and, for a five-star romantic
getaway - the well-named Forget-Me-Not Cottages which are scattered for
privacy amongst 20 hectares of grazing property on the Springbrook Plateau.
Don't miss Tamborine Mountain's Gallery Walk, a strip of arts and craft galleries, antique shops, cafes and tea shops. Look out for the Curtis Falls sign, and take the half kilometre track down to the falls and rockpool.
A enjoyable day out is to follow the Gold Coast Hinterland Wine Trail which links up some fabulous boutique wineries and cellar door outlets between Tamborine, Canungra and Springbrook. The Tamborine Mountain Distillery is a tiny operation producing liqueurs from local fruits which have beaten some of the world's biggest names in international competitions.
Country markets are held at the Mount Tamborine showgrounds every second Sunday.
Nestled between Lamington National Park and the coastline, Springbrook National Park is one of the best kept secrets in the hinterland. Here you'll find 2,000-year-old Antarctic beech trees and the Gold Coast's largest waterfall, the Purling Brook Falls, a great place to stop and take in the panoramic views. The 4km walk to reach the falls takes you under a cliff face, and includes some stairs and up hill walking. A great spot for a picnic is the Goomoolahra Falls picnic ground at the southern end of Springbrook Road.
As the months warm up, let yourself be tempted by a rainforest retreat which truly is the envy of our international visitors.
For more information:
Binna Burra Mountain Lodge
Tel +61 7 5533 3622
The Cottages
Tel +61 7 5545 2574
Forget-Me-Not Cottages
Tel +61 7 5533 5150
Gold Coast Tourism
Tel +61 7 5592 2699
- By Sue Fuller
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