Tamborine National Park

Half-day and full-day tours combine a visit to Tamborine National Park with other popular activities nearby, such as a glowworm-cave tour, Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, or shopping for unique arts and crafts at Gallery Walk. Foodies and beer and wine lovers will enjoy trying locally made wine, craft beers, cheese, and chocolate.

The main areas to visit in the national park are Cedar Creek, Joalah, the Knoll, MacDonald Park, Palm Grove, and Witches Falls. Popular activities include walking the many well-marked trails, bird-watching, and enjoying the natural wonder of the rain forest, eucalypt forest, lush waterfalls, and numerous cliffs, gorges, and lookouts.

• Tamborine National Park is a must-visit for nature lovers and adventure seekers.

• Wear sturdy shoes, especially if planning to hike around the park.

• It’s a good idea to bring sun protection, water, and insect repellent.

• Camping is not allowed within the national park.

• Bring your own water and trash bags to pack out your waste; there are no water facilities or trash cans within the national park.

Tamborine National Park is located in the Gold Coast Hinterlands, about 18 miles (30 kilometers) northwest of the Gold Coast and 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Brisbane. To drive there from Brisbane, take the Beenleigh North exit (exit 34) on the M1 highway; from the Gold Coast, take the Oxenford exit (exit 57).

Tamborine National Park can be visited any time of year, but the national park is at its most lush during the Australian summer (January to March). Visit during October and March for the butterfly season. Winter (June through August) temperatures can dip to freezing levels.

Tamborine National Park is home to 65% of all floral species and 85% of all fauna species in the Scenic Rim area. Wildlife includes the rare Albert’s lyrebird, brush turkeys, shining burrawang, lorikeets, eastern whipbirds, platypus, and glowworms.