About All Tours Wine ToursWinery from Gold Coast ToursFrom Gold Coast ToursFrom Brisbane ToursGlow Worm Caves ToursRainforest Skywalk Tours Directions Hours & Fees Guides
Find Tours 
Rising 525 meters above the hinterland, this 23-million-year-old basalt plateau holds 14 separate rainforest reserves. Walk past piccabeen palms to the rock pools at Curtis Falls, or look for near-threatened Albert's lyrebirds in the wet eucalypt forest.
Find Guided ToursMount Tamborine is an 8-kilometer-long basalt plateau rising 525 meters above the Scenic Rim hinterland, roughly halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The name covers both the locality and Tamborine National Park. The park doesn't sit inside a single boundary. Instead, it fractures into 14 separate reserves spread across 11.60 square kilometers, with villages like North Tamborine and Eagle Heights filling the gaps between protected forests.
Lava flows from the ancient Tweed Volcano formed this landscape 23 million years ago. It's the most northerly remnant of those eruptions. Millennia of erosion cut through the rock to carve sheer cliffs, basalt columns, and deep gorges, leaving exposed faces where Curtis Falls and Cedar Creek cascade into rock pools.
Long before European village settlement began in 1888, the mountain belonged to the Wangerriburra people. The name Tamborine traces back to a Yugambeh word for the wild finger lime trees that once grew heavily across the plateau. By 1908, the state government stepped in to protect the Witches Falls section, making it the first declared national park in Queensland.
Today, those protected slopes hold an outsized share of the region's biology. About 85 percent of all animal species and 65 percent of plant species found in the Gold Coast area live on the mountain. Wet eucalypt forests of tall flooded gums transition into subtropical rainforests crowded with piccabeen palms and massive strangler figs. You'll find the near-threatened Albert's lyrebird scratching through the leaf litter and the Richmond birdwing butterfly moving through the canopy.
Discover the full history and cultural significance on our About page.
Cedar Creek Estate built a cave specifically for native Arachnocampa flava glow-worms. A 30-minute guided walk uses red torchlight to reveal thousands of them lighting up the dark. That means you get a rare bioluminescence sighting without a midnight trek.
Elevated steel bridges cut right through the trees at Eagle Heights. The 45-minute self-guided route starts on a flat 300-meter accessible walkway before heading out over a deep gorge and creek. You look down on the canopy rather than staring up from the dirt.
Declared in 1908, this 3-kilometer loop drops down a steep escarpment into dense closed forest. You pass massive strangler figs, seasonal lagoons, and cycad groves before reaching the falls. It is a strenuous hike. Bring sturdy boots for the uneven slopes.
Water spills over 23-million-year-old volcanic basalt into a series of rock pools at Cedar Creek. The short track to the lookout is paved for assisted wheelchairs. Skip the swimming. Submerged objects and slippery rocks make the water genuinely dangerous.
Compare tours starting at $58.75, with options for Brisbane or Gold Coast pickups and free cancellation up to 24 hours.
Swipe to see more
Free Cancellation 8h 
Free Cancellation 9h 30min 
Free Cancellation 8h 
Free Cancellation 3h Free Cancellation 8h 
Free Cancellation 8h 
Free Cancellation 8h 
Free Cancellation Free Cancellation 8h Free Cancellation 8h Free Cancellation 
Free Cancellation 8h Free Cancellation 8h 
Free Cancellation Free Cancellation 8h Free Cancellation Free Cancellation 8h Free Cancellation 8h 
Free Cancellation 8h 
Free Cancellation Free Cancellation 9h 30min Free Cancellation 8h 
Free Cancellation 3h 30min Free Cancellation 8h Free Cancellation 8h Free Cancellation 8h 
Free Cancellation 8h 
Free Cancellation Winter between June and August is the top choice for visiting Mount Tamborine, offering dry, 17°C days perfect for hiking. Avoid the December to April wet season, when heavy rain closes tracks and summer school holidays fill the car parks.
A solid window before the wet season hits in December. You miss the summer school holiday crowds and avoid the slippery trails and closed rock pools of the wetter months.
The wettest and busiest stretch. Temperatures hit 25°C alongside high humidity. Heavy rain makes creek crossings dangerous, and school holidays pack the small car parks, especially around Cedar Creek.
March and April still catch the heavy rains that drop 1,500mm on the mountain annually. Expect boggy trails and temporary closures at rock pools until things dry out in May.
Mild, sunny days peak around 17°C. This dry window avoids the plateau's heavy rains, making the steep tracks safe for walking. Nights drop below 10°C, so pack a warm layer.
Most of Tamborine National Park stays open 24 hours a day, though you should stick to daylight walking. The Cedar Creek section is the strict exception. A locked gate enforces nightly closures here. From October 1 through March 31, you can enter between 6am and 8pm. Winter hours (April 1 to September 30) cut access at 6pm. The Rainforest Skywalk operates daily, opening at 9:30am and locking the gates at 5pm, with final ticket sales cutting off at 4pm.
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Tamborine National Park Entry | Free |
| Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens | Free (donations accepted) |
| Thunderbird Park General Entry | Free (pay per specific activity) |
| Skywalk - Adult (18+) | $21.50 |
| Skywalk - Child (6-17) | $10.50 |
| Skywalk - Child (0-5) | Free |
| Skywalk - Senior/Student/YHA | $18.00 |
| Skywalk - Family (2 adults, 1 child) | $48.50 |
| Skywalk - Family (2 adults, 2 children) | $54.00 |
| Skywalk - Extra Child | $5.50 |
| Glow Worm Caves (Standard Tour) | ~$56.00 |
General visits to the national park require no permits. You only need a Commercial Activity Permit from the Queensland Government if you plan to film, run a tour, or host an organised event.
For complete schedules and ticket prices, visit our Hours & Fees page.
Driving yourself is the only direct way onto the plateau, as public buses stop at the base. If you lack a car, you'll need to book a hop-on hop-off tour or catch a taxi from the Nerang transit centre.
📍 Tamborine Mountain, Scenic Rim hinterland, South East Queensland
The 80km drive south from the CBD takes the Pacific Motorway (M1) to the Oxenford-Tamborine Road, or goes via Beenleigh and Tamborine Village. Expect steep, narrow roads on the final ascent. Leave the caravan behind. Queensland Parks explicitly warns that the routes up from Canungra and Nerang are unsuitable for buses, trailers, or trucks.
Heading up from Southport covers 36km via the Pacific Highway and Oxenford-Tamborine Road. Drivers leaving Nerang take the Nerang-Beaudesert Road for a 28km trip. The western approach from Canungra is an 8km climb up Tamborine Mountain Road. Standard cars handle these grades easily. Heavy vehicles will struggle on the tight bends.
Travelers without vehicles usually rely on day tours from operators like Pineapple Tours. These buses pick up from CBD or hotel locations in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. They run a continuous loop between the plateau's main stops, including the wineries, the Skywalk, and the glow worm caves. You get unlimited stops throughout the day.
TransLink does not operate a direct bus onto the mountain, so public transit users must catch the line 740 bus to the Nerang Bicentennial Centre. From there, you'll need a taxi or Uber for the final climb. Direct rideshares from Surfers Paradise bypass the bus entirely. Uber estimates this 34km direct trip at 41 minutes.
For detailed transport options and routes, visit our Directions page.
Leave the thongs and dress shoes at home. National park tracks and steps get slick, particularly after rain. Pack a warm layer and a raincoat, too. At 525 metres elevation, the mountain runs cooler than the coast, averaging 17°C in winter.
You won't find drinking taps inside the national park. Pack enough water for your whole group before hitting the trails. Never drink from the creeks. Heavy rain flushes harmful bacteria downstream, making the natural water unsafe for human consumption.
The Cedar Creek car park is small and fills fast on summer weekends. Don't risk dumping your car on the shoulder. Police regularly issue infringement notices for illegal parking along Cedar Creek Falls Road. Also, lock your car—theft happens at trailheads.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service provides zero rubbish bins across the entire national park. Bring a spare bag for your waste. You'll need to carry out every food scrap, wrapper, and empty bottle. Don't leave trash sitting on picnic tables.
Swimming at Cedar Creek and Curtis Falls is dangerous and officially discouraged. Submerged objects, slippery rocks, and sudden water level changes create real drowning risks. People have died or suffered serious injuries here. Keep kids away from the edges and never jump in.
The access roads up from Nerang and Canungra are steep and narrow. They aren't suitable for caravans, trailers, or heavy vehicles. Take the Oxenford-Tamborine Road instead. Without a car, skip the complicated bus-and-taxi combo and book a hop-on hop-off day tour.
This adventure park sits right beside the Cedar Creek Falls track. You can tackle zip-lines and rope courses in the rainforest, then catch the accessible bird-feeding sessions at 2pm.
Walk through a purpose-built cave under red torchlight to see thousands of native glowing larvae. Afterward, you can sample six wines for $16 or check out the native frog exhibit.
Swap the cool hinterland for the high-rise strip of Surfers Paradise. It makes an easy half-day trip if you want surf beaches, theme parks, and nightlife.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Mount Tamborine — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Planning advice, comparisons, and practical tips.
A steel walkway lifts you into the rainforest canopy at Eagle Heights, then drops you onto a cantilever bridge hanging 30 metres above Cedar Creek.…
Tamborine Mountain rises 525 metres above the Gold Coast hinterland, a basalt plateau laid down by lava flows from the ancient Tweed Volcano around…
Mount Tamborine's accommodation runs from ten private treehouses tucked into five hectares of rainforest to a camp site charging around $13 a night.…
Four named waterfalls are worth planning a walk around on Tamborine Mountain: Curtis Falls, Cedar Creek Falls, Cameron Falls and Witches Falls. A…
The national park itself is completely free and doesn't require a permit. You'll only pay for private attractions, like the Rainforest Skywalk ($21.50 for adults) or the Glow Worm Caves (around $56).
There's no direct bus to the plateau. You can catch the TransLink 740 bus to Nerang and take a taxi the rest of the way, which costs about $70 one way. Most visitors without a car book a hop-on hop-off tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast instead, starting around $99.
Most walking tracks stay open 24 hours, though rangers recommend hiking only in daylight. The exception is Cedar Creek, which sits behind a locked gate that closes at 6pm from April to September, and 8pm from October to March.
You can't. Swimming in these rock pools is dangerous due to slippery rocks and changing water levels that have caused serious injuries and deaths. Entry beyond the viewing platforms at Curtis Falls and the Cedar Creek restricted area is strictly prohibited.
Bring your own drinking water and a rubbish bag, since the park provides neither. Wear sturdy, ankle-supporting closed shoes to handle slippery tracks, and pack a raincoat and warm layer. The 525-meter elevation keeps the plateau noticeably cooler than the coast, averaging 17°C in winter.
You will find partial access at a few sites. The short track to the Cedar Creek Falls lookout accommodates assisted wheelchairs, as do the picnic areas at The Knoll and Witches Falls. You can also roll through the first 300 meters of the Rainforest Skywalk.
Go in winter, between June and August, for clear, dry days around 17°C. Avoid the December to April wet season if possible. The mountain gets 1,500mm of rain a year mostly in those months, which floods creek crossings and forces track closures.
No, domestic pets are banned everywhere in Tamborine National Park. You'll need to leave your dog at home.
Browse verified tours with free cancellation and instant confirmation.
Find Tours