11 of the finest Mt Tamborine accommodation picks

Kristie Lau-Adams Kristie Lau-Adams
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Jaw-dropping scenery and rainforest adventures are calling from the finest Mt Tamborine accommodation picks.

Foggy mountaintops and whimsical cottages mightn’t be the first images that come to mind when you think of the Gold Coast, but the city’s tropical hinterland is full of surprises. Mt Tamborine, a 40 to 50-minute drive from the string of epic beaches, is a must-experience if you’re keen to ditch the surf and head for the hills in the quest for something new. Offering delightful Mt Tamborine accommodation mainly for loved-up couples but also for families, the storybook town and its boutique wineries, art galleries and rainforest treks are eternally charming.

1. Hampton Estate Wines

the exterior of Hampton Estate Wines
Hampton Estate Wines is surrounded by a lush floral landscape. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Price: $$

Turn an afternoon of wine tasting into an all-night affair at Hampton Estate Wines , where couples-friendly Mt Tamborine accommodation is offered in the form of eight elegant studio suites. The estate is a popular pit-stop on board a winery tour of the region as the team’s Hampton Lane range of classic and premium whites and reds is far too easy to drink, and there’s also a beautiful restaurant, built inside a converted church, that offers a seasonal set lunch menu on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The suites themselves, inspired by the seaside style of New York’s Hamptons scene, are worth plenty of your time, each fitted with a plush queen bed, fireplace, balcony, modern bathrooms with bathtubs and high ceilings. The Deluxe picks also feature spa baths. In addition to the restaurant, there’s a whisky bar open on Friday evenings, plus you can take your drinks onto a great big lawn where Bocce and Finska can both be played, if you’re game.

2. The Polish Place

Price: $$

For a couple’s escape that’s truly out of the ordinary, The Polish Place pays tribute to the European nation through five cute timber cottages and a much-adored dining space. The Mt Tamborine accommodation, conceptualised by Polish-born Ania Sowter and her husband Phil, feels like a time warp as the owners’ intimate knowledge of Polish hospitality and cuisine transports guests to a foreign world.

The double-storey cottages feature large timber decks offering spectacular vantage points across the region, fireplaces, spa baths within the lounge areas (wild, right?), loft bedrooms, rainfall showers, laundry facilities and kitchenettes stocked with a complimentary breakfast hamper.

If you’re staying more than three nights, they also throw a gourmet picnic hamper into the mix. Timber furniture and country-inspired furnishings create homely stays, made even more comfortable with a 12pm check-out time. And before you leave, be sure to sample the restaurant’s lunch menu from Wednesday to Sunday, featuring Polish classics like roast duck with cherries, pork hock and soul-warming soups.

3. Pethers Rainforest Retreat

a vintage couch with glass panels reflecting lush greenery in the background at Pethers Rainforest Retreat
The glass panels reveal the lush greenery surrounding the property.

Price: $$$

Engulf yourself in nature with one of the 10 luxurious treehouses at Pethers Rainforest Retreat , a boutique Mt Tamborine hotel that offers fairytale accommodation for lovebirds. Five-metre-high glass panelling within the living and dining spaces means its sensational surroundings flow right into the villas, creating the perfect backdrop for lazy afternoons cuddled up by the fireplace.

A soft king bed, spa bath for two, and cosy balconies heighten the romance, plus in-room massages and spa treatments can be arranged, as can a string of adorable gestures including rose petal baths surrounded by candles, celebratory cakes, and bouquets of long-stemmed roses.

There are several dining options on-site, including the award-winning, 11-table a la carte Pethers Rainforest Restaurant, open on Saturday night for dinner, and the less formal Lodge, which offers sharing plates, drinks, and a lovely high tea during lunch hours from Monday to Friday.

4. Mountaintop Queenslander Airbnb

a dining table inside Mountaintop Queenslander Airbnb
Mountaintop Queenslander Airbnb is built for families.

Price: $$$$

It’s the rural escape dreams are made of, an impeccably styled four-bedroom manor situated atop a mountain with not another soul in sight. The Airbnb property , offering serene views across the Great Dividing Range, is even pet-friendly, built on a working farm that provides plenty of space for visiting families.

Beautiful landscaping and French Provincial styling, throwing plenty of quilted fabrics and a palette of white, cream, and grey splashed with fresh blooms, add elegance while two spectacular decks that overlook the misty abyss below, a swimming pool, fireplace, eight-seater dining table, freestanding bathtubs and a gourmet kitchen complete with bifold windows opening out to one of the decks, provide all the comfort.

5. Tamborine Mountain Glades

complete amenities inside the Woodlands Glamping Tent at Cedar Creek Lodges
The tent comes with cosy facilities and entertainment amenities. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Price: $$-$$$

Tend to easily tire of doing nothing? This Mt Tamborine accommodation is situated smack bang in an outdoor activity playground, providing loads of entertainment for adventure-seekers. Offering two large lodges housing with varied room sizes, two, three or four-bedroom self-contained lodges, and some of the region’s most buzzed-about glamping, Tamborine Mountain Glades (formerly Cedar Creek Lodges) sits within Thunderbird Park, 112 hectares of sub-tropical rainforest filled with ziplining, laser skirmish, mini golf, biking, tree top challenges and more.

The self-contained lodges feature country-inspired furnishings, full kitchens, comfortable lounge areas and modern bathrooms, plus fireplaces in some, while the separate rooms span from super minimal with walk-in showers, bar fridges and basic kitchen gear, to luxurious with a courtyard and jacuzzi.

The 11 Woodlands Glamping tents are extra special, as even the most basic option provides a king bed, ensuite with open-air shower, TV, day bed and bar fridge. The most extravagant comes with a private plunge pool and outdoor kitchen. The Rainforest Restaurant & Lounge Bar is on hand to cater for rumbling bellies, plus there’s the Terrace Kiosk for lighter meals and snacks. Spa treatments can also be arranged if you’re staying in one of the spa rooms.

6. Verandah House Country Estate

a look inside the bedroom of Verandah House Country Estate
Verandah House Country Estate shows off a dreamy interior.

Price: $$$$

A boutique Mt Tamborine hotel, playing home to just eight suites, Verandah House Country Estate offers dreamy spaces for couples. Filled with designer interiors and magazine shoot styling, each bespoke room is undeniably beautiful.

Ralph Lauren furnishings are scattered against French oak, plush textures, and elegant artworks, as well as fireplaces, king beds, mini bars stocked with local goodies and a continental breakfast, kitchenettes, and spacious lounge rooms.

Save some downtime for the magnesium mineral pool or perhaps the property’s infrared sauna, stone fire pit or spectacular cedar hot tub overlooking rolling hills. Spa treatments can also be arranged, plus there’s a community kitchen if you want to whip up a full meal, and cafes and restaurants are located a short drive away.

7. The Rustic Greenhouse

a look inside the interior filled with plants at The Rustic Greenhouse
The charming accommodation is full of creature comforts.

Price: $$

If it’s just you and your better half in desperate need of some peace and quiet, The Rustic Greenhouse , an Airbnb in Mt Tamborine, offers a soothing studio oasis.

Snug, yet fitted with creature comforts including a fireplace, deep bathtub within a subway-tiled bathroom that’s closed off from the bed, a deck speckled with lush green plants, a smart TV, coffee machine, complimentary continental breakfast, and free wi-fi, the space is designed for couples to retreat from the outside world and slow down.

But if the quiet life gets too much, hop on one of the complimentary bikes and pedal into Gallery Walk, the main strip of town situated just minutes away, to find all the eateries and galleries you’ll need to get your activity fix.

8. The Tamborine Boutique

Price: $$$

The new boutique accommodation on the block (at least, it will be in December 2024), The Tambourine is a place to relax, recharge and indulge. Placed in the middle of Mount Tamborine’s lush rainforests, this is the new redevelopment of The Tamborine Motel (a historic hacienda-style motel built in 1978). Now owned by Comuna Collective, the thoughtful new design is intended to keep the original bones and pay homage to the original architecture.

When it opens, you’ll find relaxing neutrals in intimate guestrooms, each with its own balcony and incredible views of the surrounding nature.

9. The Escarpment Retreat

a huge couch inside The Escarpment Retreat
Relax in the expansive living space.

Price: $$$

One of the few Mt Tamborine accommodation options catering to both families and couples, The Escarpment Retreat is a gem for plenty more reasons. Set on a 1.6-hectare property with its own fairy tale creek and showstopping views across the city, the retreat consists of couples-only bed and breakfast villas, and the family-friendly, self-contained, three-bedroom Edge House built on a cliff face.

The villas feature sunken living areas, fireplaces, granite kitchenettes, double spa baths and balconies, while the Edge House is the real MVP. An enormous, partially enclosed outdoor deck is fitted with a fireplace, as is the master bedroom which also comes with an ensuite and jacuzzi, and the main lounge room (that’s three fireplaces in total), and there’s a fully equipped kitchen with a wood fire stove and a grocery store conveniently located just a few steps away.

All guests can experience the property’s divine day spa, offering a range of massages and treatments, plus there’s also a private cinema room to be found.

10. Shambala Estate

a romantic bedroom setup inside Shambala Estate
Shambala Estate is perfect for honeymooners.

Price: $$

Don’t be surprised to spy a bride or groom dotting your horizon at Shambala Estate – it’s a hit on the local wedding circuit thanks to its quaint chapel, lush gardens, and grand water features.

The couples-friendly Mt Tamborine accommodation offers four cottages on its 2.2-hectare property, positioned far enough away from each other to feel as though you’re totally alone.

Each self-contained cottage, decorated with soft hues and furnishings, features high ceilings, a private balcony, a double bathtub, a king bed, a fireplace, a fully stocked kitchenette, and a TV. Make the time to wander its tropical rainforest surroundings, where you’ll find trickling ponds, a pebbled bridge, and a picture-perfect gazebo.

11. Mountain Sanctuary B&B

Mountain Sanctuary B&B mt tamborine accommodation
Relax in old-world elegance.

Price: $$

To be close to two National Park entrances and only 500 metres from the area’s popular Gallery Walk shopping precinct, Mountain Sanctuary B&B is the perfect choice.

With just three suites, you’ll never feel crowded. Rooms have an old-world elegance with garden views plus private spas and balconies in every one, while a communal library and fireplace encourage mingling, if you wish. A full continental breakfast is served each morning (which is really quite generous), although there’s also a communal kitchenette if you’d rather do your own thing.

Guests laud the friendly service for being the perfect blend of friendly, helpful and inviting without being overbearing or intrusive. With a beautiful location and forest birds providing the soundtrack, it truly is a getaway.

For more insider tips on the Gold Coast, check out our ultimate travel guide to Gold Coast.

Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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Exploding supernovas & gold fever: discover the past at this outback Qld town

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

    While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

    Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

    Getting there

    car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland
    Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

    You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

    Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

    Best accommodation in Clermont

    Theresa CreekDam in clermont
    Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

    Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

    To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn .

    Things to do in Clermont

    three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting
    Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

    One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters , Four Mile , Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings . To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting . They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

    Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum . Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

    The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

    Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland
    See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

    Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services . Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

    Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs . The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

    Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

    meal at Commercial Hotel
    Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

    Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

    Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

    For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

    Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

    Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.