Major city · Australia
Tamborine Mountain
Go for one night, or as a day trip from Brisbane or the Gold Coast: the rainforest walks, glow-worm cave and Skywalk fit a single day; two nights if you want wineries at an easy pace.
Tamborine Mountain is a green plateau about an hour south of Brisbane and 30–40 minutes inland from the Gold Coast, with short rainforest walks, a glow-worm cave, a treetop Skywalk and a small strip of wineries and cafés along Main Street. It is a compact, cool-weather escape rather than a destination in its own right: most travellers see it in a day, and one night is enough to slow down.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- AUD
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- avoid Dec–Jan (summer heat and holiday crowds), wet-season downpours
- Airports
- BNE · OOL
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Tamborine Mountain000 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance000
- From a mobile112
- Tamborine Mountain Visitor Information Centre+61 7 5545 3200
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Tamborine Mountain, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Australian dollar (AUD, A$).Australia-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelstra has the widest outback coverage; Optus and Vodafone (TPG) are cheaper and fine in cities and along highways.Australia-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe in cities and towns; in remote places use signed drinking taps.Australia-wide
- TippingRestaurants: Not expected; 10% for very good service in a nice restaurant if you wish.Australia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets I. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Australia-wide
- SafetyVery safe for tourists.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets in parks, beaches, shopping centres and petrol stations (servos); the National Public Toilet Map app lists them.Australia-wide
- Emergency numbers000 police, fire, ambulance · 112 From a mobile · +61 7 5545 3200 Tamborine Mountain Visitor Information Centre
- Sundays & holidaysChristmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day morning close most shops; many cafés close by 15:00; country towns close early on Saturday and all Sunday.Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day morning close most shops; many cafés close by 3:00 PM; country towns close early on Saturday and all Sunday.Australia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBNE Brisbane Airport (About 1 h 15 min by car via the M1; the usual gateway.).
- Getting aroundThere is no train to the mountain.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
- Museum or sight ticketGlow Worm Caves entryA$25–35 (≈ US$17–25) (check)
- Budget bedHostel or shared-room bed, a night, per personA$45 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedSelf-contained cottage or B&B double, a night, per roomA$220 (≈ US$150)
- High-end bedSelf-contained cottage or B&B double, a night, per roomA$380 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$90 (≈ US$60) · Mid A$150 (≈ US$100) · High A$250 (≈ US$170)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BNE Brisbane Airport (About 1 h 15 min by car via the M1; the usual gateway.) · OOL Gold Coast Airport (About 50 min–1 h by car; closer if you are already on the coast.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Feb
not flagged
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Mar
not flagged
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Apr
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
May
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Jun
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Jul
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Aug
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Sep
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Oct
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Nov
not flagged
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Dec
Avoid
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Best: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Dec–Jan. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)), coolest Jul (7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C) low), wettest Mar (15 rain days), driest Jul (8). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Tamborine Mountain: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
14 rd
Feb
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
14 rd
Mar
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
15 rd
Apr
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
12 rd
May
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
11 rd
Jun
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
9 rd
Jul
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
8 rd
Aug
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
8 rd
Sep
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
8 rd
Oct
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
10 rd
Nov
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
12 rd
Dec
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
13 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
There is no train to the mountain. A car is the practical way to reach the trailheads, the Skywalk and the wineries, and the roads between them are narrow and winding. A hop-on hop-off trolley runs an all-day loop with more than 15 stops, roughly 10:00–16:00 daily (check the current timetable and fare). Taxis and rideshare are limited, so do not rely on them for the last leg back.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Boonah
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive south via Canungra on the Boonah–Beaudesert road
Scenic Rim farmland town; pair it with a Canungra stop.
Beaudesert
cautionDoor to door: About 40 min
Drive west on the Beaudesert–Tamborine road
Useful for supplies and a look at the Scenic Rim; not a full day on its own.
Door to door: About 45 min–1 h
Drive down the mountain to Oxenford, then the M1
Easy half-day pairing: rainforest in the morning, beach in the afternoon.
Door to door: About 1 h
M1 north, exit 57 for the mountain
The main arrival and departure route; avoid the 16:00–18:00 peak.The main arrival and departure route; avoid the 4:00 PM–6:00 PM peak.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
North Tamborine
Main Street cafés, the visitor centre and most B&Bs; walkable core.
Eagle Heights
Quieter, closer to the Skywalk and the northern walks.
Mount Tamborine (south side)
Wineries and retreats along Main Western Road; you need a car.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- A$90–150 (≈ US$60–100) excl. bed
- Mid
- A$150–250 (≈ US$100–170) excl. bed
- High
- A$250 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Self-contained cottage or B&B double1 × 1 night × A$220 | A$220 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$150 | A$300 |
| Glow Worm Caves entry2 × A$30 · check | A$60 |
| Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk entry2 × A$20 · check | A$40 |
| Hop-on hop-off trolley day pass2 × A$25 · check | A$50 |
| Fuel, Brisbane return1 × A$40 · check | A$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | A$71 |
| Trip total≈ A$391 per person per day, bed included | A$781≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | A$4–6 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Café lunch | A$18–30 (≈ US$12–20) |
| Cellar-door tastingOften waived with a bottle purchase. | A$10–20 (≈ US$7–14) |
| Glow Worm Caves entry | A$25–35 (≈ US$17–25) (check) |
| Skywalk entry | A$15–25 (≈ US$10–17) (check) |
| National park walks | Free |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Roads are steep, narrow and unlit at night, with wildlife on the verges after dusk: drive slowly and avoid arriving after dark if you can.
- Weather changes fast on the plateau; carry a light rain layer even on a clear morning.
- Cell coverage is patchy in the gullies and on some walking tracks.
- Book glow-worm cave and Skywalk tickets ahead in school holidays; both are timed-entry attractions.
- Bushwalking tracks are short but can be slippery after rain; wear shoes with grip.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 000
- From a mobile
- 112
- Tamborine Mountain Visitor Information Centre
- +61 7 5545 3200
Pocket card
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Tamborine MountainTamborine Mountain
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
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Can you take me to this address, please?To this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance000
- From a mobile112
- Visitor Information Centre+61 7 5545 3200
Embassy
No embassies on the mountain; consulates-general are in Brisbane and Sydney.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Brisbane → Tamborine Mountain by car: about 1 h via the M1, exit 57 (check)
- Gold Coast → Tamborine Mountain by car: about 45 min–1 h (check)
- Hop-on hop-off trolley day pass: about A$25 (≈ US$17) (check)
Say or show
- Thanks — Thank you
- Where's the start of the walk? — Where is the trailhead?
- Card OK? — Can I pay by card?
- Is the walk open today? — Is the track open?
Tipping is not expected in Australia.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Tamborine Mountain. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Dec–Jan (summer heat and holiday crowds), wet-season downpours · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for BNE and OOL: drive times, last sensible arrival before dark, rideshare fallback.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: North Tamborine village, Cedar Creek Estate, the Skywalk, and the Main Western Road wineries.
- Place pages with verified opening hours (glow-worm cave, Skywalk, visitor centre) and eat pages with last orders.
- Wet-weather and school-holiday fixtures so gates A–D can go green.