Classic Australian landscapes in a superb climate make the heights of the Gold Coast hinterland an appealing choice for a relaxation holiday.
The Queensland Gold Coast hinterland’s recent growth in popularity as a place to live has brought with it an increase in sophistication, especially noticeable in Mount Tamborine, an eclectic village set in virgin rainforest high above the Gold Coast’s famous beaches. The sight of macropods bounding across the countryside is a uniquely Australian pleasure, as is the strong fragrances of clean air, flowers, and eucalyptus that make the deepest impressions in this part of the country—that and the fact that, thanks to healthy living and active lifestyles, Gold Coast men and women are among the most beautiful in the country, with unaffected personalities as natural as the hinterland itself.
The Gold Coast hinterland is an area of ancient landscapes and modern convenience located less than an hour from two of Australia’s busiest airports. Despite its proximity to civilisation, the hinterland is worlds away from the busyness of the Gold Coast’s more touristed coastal areas but no less appealing for a relaxing gaycation. Everywhere on Mount Tamborine, there is a feeling of calm; from Felicity’s Vintage, where the merchandise on display is as charming as the fresh scones from the oven are delicious, to Witches Chase dairy farm, where a bit of advance notice can have deliciously pure ice cream custom made in any flavour you wish (well, almost any flavour…), Mount Tamborine has a surprising array of things to see and do amid the dense foliage of several national parks whose boundaries start right in the village.
The areas of interest on Mount Tamborine are spread out. A car is needed, so why not let local expert Jacqueline Burbidge, the highly professional owner of Chez Jacqueline, make you feel at home while taking in the sights on the mountain (and elsewhere) in a spacious Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit? Jackie is one of the many cosmopolitan residents of Mount Tamborine who have chosen to leave the stress of city life behind and live amidst the natural beauty of the rainforest. It’s a lot of fun to slide in and out of the Rolls and visit such places as Mount Tamborine Coffee Plantation, run by ebullient Dutch New Zealander Kees van Rijssen and his wife Maria. Among the many colourful characters inhabiting the area, Kees (pronounced ‘case’) and Maria are endlessly enthusiastic about high-quality coffee and the sweets to accompany them. Another destination worth Rollsing up to is Rainforest Skywalk, an 11-hectare private reserve to observe the rainforest canopy from above thanks to a catwalk built to have a low impact on the natural environment.
Given the size of the village, the culinary arts are surprisingly well represented; perhaps this has to do with so many people leaving the rat race behind but unwilling to sacrifice a taste for the finer things in life. The latest place to make a statement is the gay owned and operated Kitchen Table, where a casual chic vibe is taken to a higher plane.
To enjoy the best breakfasts on the mountain, you have to stay at The Castle, a brand-new addition to the quaint, English-style village Lisson Grove; breakfasts, exquisitely prepared and presented, are brought to your accommodation to be enjoyed in private. After the morning feast, kick back and relax in the private, indoor plunge pool or watch a film on the BluRay projection entertainment system. The Castle is located just across the street from the best vantage point on Mount Tamborine for watching the sun set over the valley to the west.
No visit to Mount Tamborine would be complete without a stop in to see the ever charismatic Michael Ward and his talented wife, Alla, at Tamborine Mountain Distillery. The honour of the front cover of the latest local Yellow Pages confirms that the Wards are local legends, as is the distillery itself, a movie set of a shop clearly meant to be a house of pleasure above all else. From the owners of one of Australia’s few private distilleries to the exquisite flavours of liqueurs they produce, nothing at the distillery is ordinary.
If it is too much imbibing at home you are trying to escape, a purer kind of holiday is found at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, one of Australia’s most exclusive wellness destinations. As at The Castle, the service here is excellent. Gwinganna is a place for detoxification of the body and restoration of wellbeing; among the programs offered throughout the year are Men’s Retreats and Women’s Retreats. Emphasis is on spa therapies, many of which are highly specific and intricate. All food served here is organic, with no compromise on flavour or variety since Gwinganna’s many repeat guests are accustomed to eating well—perhaps too well, which may be one of the reasons they are there in the first place.
Gwinganna, which means ‘lookout’ in the local Aboriginal language, is not a boot-camp where guests are obliged to participate in the many activities available; active guests can do it all, from t’ai chi and walks to see the sunrise over the ocean to yoga and exercise classes. Another option is to do nothing more than simply enjoy the gorgeous views from the ultra-private mountain villas, which have their own infinity pools looking over the virgin rainforest all the way down to the glittering lights of Surfer’s Paradise. Either way, Gwinganna and the Gold Coast hinterland make an indelible impression that stays with you long after the visit is finished.
Rainbow Tourism, a lesbian- and gay-owned travel company, knows the gay Gold Coast like no one else—except perhaps Gold Coast Tourism, which has helpful information online for travel planning. Happily for those of us going east, Jetstar is introducing nonstop flights Perth-Brisbane on 10 December 2010 and Perth-Gold Coast on 4 April 2011, making this very special part of our country more conveniently accessible to Western Australians.
MORE INFORMATION
www.rainbowtourism.com
www.visitgoldcoast.com/mt-tamborine
www.goldrollsroyce.com
www.mtcp.com.au
www.rainforestskywalk.com.au
www.tamborinemountaindistillery.com
www.lissongrove.com.au
www.gwinganna.com
www.jetstar.com
Words by Robert La Bua
Images courtesy of JohnDouglasArt.com et al.
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