Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
some run tours from Brisbane. Another option is to pay A$15 (US$9.75) for the
day to ride the
Tamborine Trolley Co.
buses (
&
07/5545 2782
), modeled on
early-20th-century trams, which run on a 25km (16-mile) circuit linking four
wineries, a distillery, pub, cafes, restaurants, antiques shops, markets, galleries,
hang-gliding lookouts, and rainforest walks. The circuit takes an hour and you
can hop on and off as you like. Owner/operator Sue Netherway will organize
transport to Mt. Tamborine on request. She also runs a food and wine tour, with
pick-ups at the Gold Coast, every Thursday and an antiques tour on Fridays.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Head to the
Gold Coast Tourism Bureau
(see
“Visitor Information” in the “The Gold Coast” section, earlier in this chapter)
to stock up on information and tourist maps before you head out. Brisbane
Marketing (See “Visitor Information” in chapter 5) also has information. Once
you arrive, the
Tamborine Mountain Information Centre
is in Doughety
Park, where Geissmann Drive becomes Main Western Road in North Tam-
borine (
&
07/5545 3200
). It's open daily from 10:30am to 3:30pm.
EXPLORING THE MOUNTAIN
With a map at hand, you are well equipped to drive around Mt. Tamborine's
roads to admire the wonderful views over the valleys and to poke around the
shops. New Age candles, homemade soaps, maple-pecan fudge, framed tropical
watercolors, German cuckoo clocks, and Aussie antiques are some of the things
you can buy in the many stores. The best place to shop is the quaint strip of gal-
leries, cafes, and shops known as Gallery Walk on Long Road, between North
Tamborine and Eagle Heights. Eagle Heights has few shops but great views back
toward the coast. North Tamborine is mainly a commercial center where you
still find the odd nice gallery or two. Mt. Tamborine itself is mainly residential.
Allow time to walk some of the trails that wind through forest throughout the
villages. Most are reasonably short and easy. The Mt. Tamborine Information
Centre has maps marking them.
WHERE TO STAY
Tamborine Mountain Bed & Breakfast
Tony and Pam Lambert's restful
timber home has stunning 180-degree views to the ocean from the breakfast bal-
cony. Laze by the open fire in the timber-lined living room, or out on the lovely
veranda where rainbow lorikeets, kookaburras, and crimson rosellas flit about
over the bird feeders. The ferny gardens have four purpose-built rustic timber
rooms, each individually decorated in cottage style and linked to the house by
covered walkways. The rooms are heated in winter. No smoking indoors.
19-23 Witherby Crescent, Eagle Heights, QLD 4721.
&
07/5545 3595.
Fax 07/5545 3322. www.tmbb.com.
au. 4 units (all with shower only). A$127 (US$83) double mid-week; A$149 (US$97) double at weekends.
Rates include continental breakfast Mon-Fri and full breakfast at weekends. MC, V. Free parking. No children
under 12. In room: A/C, TV/VCR, small fridge, coffeemaker, iron.
LAMINGTON NATIONAL PARK
70km (43 miles) W of Gold Coast; 115km (71 miles) S of Brisbane
Subtropical rainforest, 2,000-year-old, moss-covered Antarctic beech trees, giant
strangler figs, and misty mountain air characterize Lamington's high narrow
ridges and plunging valleys. Its great stretches of dense rainforest make it one of
the most important subtropical parks in southeast Queensland, and one of the
loveliest. The park has 160km (99 miles) of walking trails that track through
thick forest, past ferny waterfalls, and along mountain ridges with soaring views
across green valleys. The trails vary in difficulty and length, from 1km (.5-mile)
