The typical Gold Coast holiday is nearly always going to involve lots of sun, sand, sea and surf. Sometimes it’s good to have a change of pace, and that’s the time to head for the magical 206km stretch of Great Dividing Range known as the Gold Coast hinterland (aka “the green behind the gold”). Just 30 minutes drive inland from the coast lies the elevated plateaus of Mt Tamborine and the Lamington National Park , a 100,000 hectare World Heritage listed region of magnificent panoramic views , rainforests, an extensive network of hiking trails , the scent of native vegetation and silence broken only by cascading water and birdsong .
This peaceful setting is a must see destination for all Gold Coast visitors and is a very popular day trip destination . Exploring the hinterland can be the reason for making a Gold Coast car rental part of your holiday plans , but if not, there are numerous bus companies and tour operators with scheduled trips throughout the region.
Peaceful villages dot the landscape and are home to a population of creatives, many of whom sell their wares in arts and crafts shops and local markets. Roadside cafes and tea houses flank the narrow lanes and the ever popular favourite of tea and scones will usually entice most visitors to stop . The lush , rolling pastures have supported agriculture for generations and the region still supports a thriving farming community of banana plantations, dairy farming and beef production.
With the arrival of new, hardy grape cultivars and the modern trend for producing wine in areas that were once unsuitable, the hinterland has seen the emergence of a boutique wine industry. Wine route tours are now part of the hinterland scene and wine tasting, celler door sales and vineyard restaurants now compete for the tourist dollar. There are harvest festivals, dinners , musical events and visiting chef promotions throughout the year. If you fancy a spot or three of wine tasting without the worries of the drive home , then book one of the number of available tours .
One of the popular driving routes is to take the circuit from Coolangatta, south to Murwillumbah and then swing north through Crystal Creek, Chillingham, Numinbah, Natural Bridge, Nerang, Mudgeeraba and then back to the coast.
Another popular route involves taking a detour from Nerang, then head west through Tamborine National Parks taking in Wilson’s Lookout, Thunderbird Park and Cedar Creek Falls before rejoining the highway at Beenleigh.
On the coast, nearly all Gold Coast accommodation is self catering, apartment style lodgings in high rise builings that follow the shore line . On the hinterland plateau, the style changes to lodge style suites providing peaceful tranquility with an appreciation of your surroundings plus a spot of pampering thrown in. Binna Burra Mountain Lodge, O’Reilleys Rainforest Retreat and Ruffles Lodge are a few of the more popular accommodation providers in the region. Of course there are other types of speciality accommodation ranging from budget camp sites to upmarket villas.
So there you have it…. a brief introduction to some of the reasons that make the Gold Coast hinterland special and a few reasons why it definitely needs to be part of your Gold Coast holiday plans.
