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A Family-Friendly Road Trip to Discover the Gold Coast Hinterland
Written by Siri Smith
Queensland’s open roads call for adventure and in the brand-new Land Rover Discovery, a road trip through the lush Gold Coast Hinterland has never been easier.
On the second leg of their Queensland discovery road trip, Natalie Bassingthwaite and her daughter Harper take the brand-new Land Rover Discovery from the beachfront to the verdant hinterland. With creeks to cross and waterfalls to chase, Nat and Harper put the Land Rover Discovery’s unmatched versatility to the test as they see a whole new side to the Gold Coast.
Continue reading to discover how Nat and Harper enjoyed their family-friendly road trip in the Gold Coast Hinterland.
Stop 1: Pre-Departure Fuel
Begin your journey with a peaceful sunrise walk at Philip Park, Main Beach. Then head back to Imperial Hotel Gold Coast (formerly the Palazzo Versace) to fuel up at the breakfast buffet before hopping into the Land Rover Discovery. The car’s excellent fuel economy means you should only need to fill up the tank once, a bonus for any road trip no matter the destination.
Stop 2: Cedar Creek Falls
Cedar Creek Falls is a postcard-perfect area for a refreshing morning dip (keep swim shoes, beach towels and any extra changes of clothes in the car boot; remember to bring along a plastic bag to put any wet clothes in to) and feels worlds away despite being only a short drive from the city. “I’ve never seen Cedar Creek Falls,” admits Nat. “It’s so close to where we live.”
Stop 3: Lunch at St Bernards Hotel
Feeling peckish after your swim? Your next destination, St Bernards Hotel, is more than memorable thanks to its picturesque setting. It also happens to be Tamborine’s oldest pub, and is located off the main tourist track on an ancient volcanic escarpment. A friendly (and furry) welcome awaits courtesy of the hotel’s two resident St Bernards dogs, Syrah and Cooper – be sure to say hello!
The most coveted perch for lunch is out on the deck, where you can tuck into a classic pub meal with gorgeous views over Tamborine Valley. “It’s like Italy,” says Nat. “Eating such yummy food and looking over that view – it was the best.”
Stop 4: Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk
Head back out onto the winding mountain roads in the Land Rover Discovery for your afternoon adventure at the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk. Explore from a new vantage point as you wander the 1.5km of forest trails, elevate steel walkways and a cantilever bridge that soars 30 metres above the creek and rainforest below.
Stop 4: Mumma Duck’s Sweets & Treats
And because no road trip – with family or otherwise – is complete without something sweet, make the 10-minute drive from the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk to Mumma Duck’s Sweets & Treats for housemade gelato, sorbet and gourmet fudge.
Stop 5: German Cuckoo Clock Nest
As the day winds down, find yourself at one of the quirkiest shops in the Gold Coast Hinterland: the German Cuckoo Clock Nest. This unique store is packed with intricate, hand-carved cuckoo clocks and Bavarian-inspired souvenirs – a slice of Europe in Queensland!
Stop 5: Sunset in the Glass House Mountains
For a perfect end to the day, swap the Gold Coast Hinterland for the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and drive to the Glass House Mountains to catch a stunning sunset. “We decided to end at the Glass House Mountains and then just stand there and witness this amazing, amazing sunset,” says Nat. “It was just really special.” Wild Horse Mountain Lookout is one of the most popular vantage points – the views at the top are your reward for the steeper climb. Give yourself plenty of time here to soak in the stunning outlooks and even plan ahead by packing a rug, food and drinks (storing everything safely in the Land Rover Discovery’s handy compartments) for an end-of-day picnic – the perfect way to end your family-friendly road trip of the Gold Coast Hinterland.
This article was produced in collaboration with Land Rover Discovery. Nat travelled in the 24MY Discovery R-Dynamic HSE P360. Explore Land Rover Discovery.
To see Nat and Harper’s road trip in action, check out the full episode. Plus, check out how Nat and Harper spent a perfect day out on the Gold Coast in the first part of their road trip, or venture north to see their day trip to North Stradbroke Island from Brisbane.
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