discover THE

Escape to the lush valleys and World Heritage-listed National Parks of ’s …

WORDS: Karen Bleakley

hen can we go digging for thundereggs?” eight-year- old Lincoln asks eagerly as we pull into the car park at Thunderbird Park at . “Do you know there was a volcano near here a long time ago? Do you think it could erupt again?” Thunderbird Park’s picturesque bushland setting is an outdoor adventurer’s dream. Located 66 kilometres “Wfrom , the 112-hectare activity park set beside Cedar Creek in the Gold Coast Hinterland offers a range of outdoor attractions for all ages, from mini golf to tree top high ropes and horse riding to laser skirmish, not to mention the thunderegg mine, which is the perfect place for geology-mad kids to indulge in their love of volcanos. TRAIL RIDING Mount Tamborine is set in the third oldest National

Park in the world, and its volcanic history is Main image: Sunset views from fascinating for adults and kids alike. O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat mage: mage: I 30 & NZ | December 2018 www.getmedownunder.com www.getmedownunder.com Australia & NZ | December 2018 31 Images: Tamborine Mountain Rainforest Skywalk; Horse Riding Hinterland, Thunderbird Park trail ride through the rainforest with Horse Riding Horse with Riding the rainforest through ride trail a do to booked Iare and sons my First, yet. just mine volcanic pickrock little with in the axes thunderegg visit. hinterland of our part first the for staying we are where Tamborine, Mount to up right west, south- the in Lismore south-east, the in Bay Byron volcano’s coversfrom footprint stretching an area the therefore cooling, before wide and far travelled years. active whichfor remained million three enormous – the – an to rise gave process This coast. east onthe formed ago, years a number of volcanoshotspots 23 million north. drifting started and off split Australia as we know country the and ago, years the brokeland apart million 200 Around Pangaea. as known supercontinent –the landmass 32 Thunderbird Park’s picturesque It’s not time to go fossicking for round lumps of of lumps round for fossicking go to It’s time not overpassed theAs country one of the earth’s ofwas a ago, single years the earth Millions

bushland setting is an outdoor Australia & NZ &NZ Australia adventurer’s dream adventurer’s | 2018 December horse horse riding through Mountain views; below: Clockwise from Curtis Falls Curtis mount their rides; boys and Karen the rainforest; the Tamborine do it again?” do and dismount give our horses a pat. we“When can back to the across the grass westables. are riding trees. the in birdsong the of serenity Creek, along beside clip-clop Cedar enjoying the in confidenceas we and gaining fun they are having canopy.rainforest Ion seecan their byfaces the grins the of shade cool the under we walk as branches tree around steering and slopes down and up going to The theboys getfollowing instructor. quickly used horse. they’vetime is thethe– reins first this been on a nervous as we’re about how given instructions to hold our ride. to The horses for lookboys ourstart trail to introduced Iare and boys twin eight-year-old our brothers on proper trek. their first I herwhile take two around oldertheto grass walk going is who daughter five-year-old fearless our Eva, asks instructor riding the ride?” rein lead your for and ready ponies tosaddled go. rowof a find to paddock the at We arrive Hinterland. Before we know it, the half hour ride is over and over and is ride hour half the it, we know Before We mount and our setrides offintothe forest, adventure, her watches Matt husband my While agrin. with “A replies she one!” big “Do you want to go on a big horse or ponya little “That was awesome!”“That Reuben exclaims weas www.getmedownunder.com open on his machine. The kids watch in fascination as openas watchon Themachine. kids his in fascination cut to rocks best the picks and counter onthe buckets shop empties pleasedour ourSam with feeling haul. outpieces promising of rounded rock weas go. pulling ondigging, keep to there stay then and colour chipping away at the rock. We look for the green start and areas own our in down We settle mine. at thelevel first so weofdigging the begin started, to thethe walk open can’t Themine. kids wait to get we leave. as us reminds place,” Sam you’re know right the you’ll in and stonepatterned whichinside shows the layers of ash. reveal to machine onthe open cut be can eggs Larger rock. volcanic of lumps spherical are Thundereggs us what we for are looking when digging. welcomesSam us and gives us a presentation to show MINING FOR THUNDEREGGS the excited to three thekids mine. thunderegg onthem. land birds colourful of swarms so arms out hold their and food bird of handfuls take kids The underway. is feeding lorikeet www.getmedownunder.com After a couple of hours, we walk back to the mine mine the to back we walk hours, of acouple After We atake bucket and picka little each and set off on you dig as colour green the for look to “Remember take finally we fill, their had have birds the When the as just café the in We Matt Eva and meet

digging at the mine the at digging stone inside; patterned reveal cut-open eggs thunderegg mining; explains about below: Clockwise from A guide Australia & NZ &NZ Australia

n n n n n attractions attractions family5 fun Thunderbird Thunderbird Park entranceThe to at Canungra Valley Vineyard Valley Canungra at A couple enjoy a creekside picnic     prices from A$49 (£26). (£26). A$49 from prices with hamper, barbeque or picnic breakfast, Remember to pre-order your drink. and food delicious and scenery stunning play, outdoor enjoy nature, to families – it’s tasting more wine than a day out for canungra-valley-vineyards ( Vineyard Valley Canungra tub. bath wooden big the involves that pool. to theTry choose infinity treatment a across views stunning in taking while unwind lost-world-day-spa World ( Spa Lost O’Reilly’s apicnic. for a lovely spot are and donation coin agold with daily open They’re in between and activities. unwind org.au The Botanic Gardens ( Gardens Botanic The A$10 (£5). costing passes family with 3pm to region. You on visit can weekends from 10am of the into the history glimpse fascinating (  Centre The Heritage Tamborine Mountain place and takes daily. is free bird feeding The daily top challenges. and tree (£46), skirmish A$86 laser golf, mini costs pass a family –where mine open the in from A$50 for(£25), fossicking thundereggs – starting prices with riding horseback trail Options include and interests. ages for all com ( Park Thunderbird www.tmheritagecentre.com.au ) offers a wide range of outdoor activities activities of outdoor range wide a ) offers ) are an ideal spot to get back to nature nature to back get to spot ideal an ) are | December 2018 December discover www.thunderbirdpark. ) is the ultimate place to to place ultimate the ) is tmbotanicgardens. oreillys.com.au/ oreillys.com.au/ ) is about so much much so about ) is

THE SCENIC RIM RIM SCENIC THE ) provides a 33 discover THE SCENIC RIM

he cuts them open and returns with the eggs split in air is cool. I hold a match to the ready-laid fire and Further up the road is the German Cuckoo Clock sharing a snapshot of what life was like for the early half showing the patterns within. watch the flames lick the logs. We huddle together Nest – a cuckoo clock shop housed in a traditional settlers. We leave with three happy, dusty children carrying enjoying the novelty of the fire and the cosiness of the Bavarian chalet. Started by German owners who were With the kids still full of energy, we take the easy bags full of heavy rocks. cabin lit by flickering firelight. passionate about their culture, the shop is lined with walk to Curtis Falls. We tramp through the eucalypt Exhausted from our day’s adventures, we are so We find the cabin’s wooden box of board games and hundreds of cuckoo clocks of all shapes and sizes. forest beneath towering gum trees. From the viewing pleased to be staying on site at the Cedar Creek that is our night sorted – no need for TVs or A little way up the road is Castle Glen Tamborine platform we get a view of the tumbling waterfall that electronics. This is true disconnection. Mountain Cellars – a shop selling rows and rows of is fed by Cedar Creek into the rock pools below. delicious wines and rich liqueurs in pretty bottles Our final stop of the day is the Botanic Gardens. GALLERY WALK produced by Castle Glen Australia. The range of We share a picnic on the banks of the lake before We find our lodge in the trees Next morning, we devour an incredible cooked wines, fortified wines, liqueurs, beers and spirits are meandering around the different gardens gazing at the right beside the banks of Cedar breakfast in the sunny Rainforest Restaurant before all 100 per cent natural, chemical free and tropical plants, looking for wildlife and playing Pooh heading to the nearby Gallery Walk. preservative free. sticks on the little bridges. Creek – it is utterly peaceful Boasting over 60 arts, craft and gift shops, the “Why not try some of our chocolate liqueur?” asks bustling street of quaint stores attracts thousands of the lady behind the counter. It feels like an ideal ANCIENT RAINFORESTS Lodges. We check in and find our lodge in the trees visitors every year. choice on this chilly morning. I begin with the Next morning, a 45-minute drive takes us to our next right beside the banks of Cedar Creek. It is utterly Below: The family We begin in a shop we know Eva will love – Flights smooth chocolate mocha and follow it up with the destination: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat at nearby peaceful and our busy lives feel a world away. with their pickaxes of Fancy. This place is a fairy-lovers dream with divine chocolate caramel. Below: Sunset . at the mine; and views at Moonlight After washing off all of the dirt from our mining (below right) Eva in rooms dedicated to all things fairy princess. There is a When we’re shopped out, we leave Gallery Walk Crag at O’Reilly’s While I hit the resort’s Lost World Spa to have efforts, and grabbing a takeaway pizza, we light the the Frozen-themed Frozen-themed room and an ocean room (complete behind and stop by the Heritage Centre for a peek Rainforest Retreat; some relaxing ‘me-time’, Matt takes the kids into the room at the Flights and (bottom) a cabin’s log fire. Queensland may be much warmer of Fancy shop on with mermaids), not to mention trees decked with into the history of the region. This small historic vintage shop at the incredible infinity pool that looks out over the than the UK, but it is almost winter and the mountain Gallery Walk fairy doors and endless strings of fairy lights. village includes buildings dating back to the 1930s, Heritage Centre rainforest and valley.

FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES in Mount Tamborine n E njoy 30 acres of pristine rainforest beside Cedar Creek on the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk (www. rainforestskywalk.com.au) where family passes start from A$44 (£23). Take the self- guided walk along the mix of forest trails and steel bridges, plus experience the 40-metre cantilever bridge that is 30 Above: The Tamborine metres above the creek. Rainforest Skywalk

n You can see glow worms in their natural habitat on a tour at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, but if you have toddlers that would struggle on a night time rainforest walk, the Glow Worm Caves (www.glowwormcavetamborinemountain. com.au) offers a chance to get up-close with the insects in this purpose-built, accessible attraction that is open during the day. Family passes start from A$18 (£9).

KarenBleakley; KarenWheeler; O’Reilly’sRainforest Retreat The Glow Worm Caves at Tamborine Mountain mages: mages: I

34 Australia & NZ | December 2018 www.getmedownunder.com www.getmedownunder.com Australia & NZ | December 2018 35 discover THE SCENIC RIM

The relaxation room balcony overlooks the pool, so Above: The historic I sit in my fluffy robe on a day bed sipping water. homestead at O’Reilly’s Canungra Where to stay Every now and again, I duck inside to spend some Valley Vineyards time in the steam room while I wait for my massage. n Lodges at Cedar Creek Lodges (www. When the time comes, I’m led into the spa room cedarcreeklodges.com.au) at Thunderbird which has the most incredible hand-crafted round Park have two bedrooms and can sleep up to wooden bath tub set into the window overlooking five people with a rollaway bed. Prices start the rainforest. I make a mental note to book in a from A$349 (£187) per night for two adults longer spa experience next time. (including breakfast) and A$39 (£20) per night As my worries are rubbed away with fragrant oils, for each additional guest. Matt and the kids explore the resort walking tracks. n O ’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat (oreillys.com.au) We meet back at our villa to jump in the warm, offers hotel-style rooms from A$149 (£80) and bubbling spa bath on the deck outside our villa as the one-bedroom self-contained villas from sun goes down. A$280 (£150) per night (with a minimum two night stay). Villas with spas on the deck WINE AND WILDLIFE overlooking the rainforest are also available. The final day of our trip has arrived, but it’s not over yet. On the way back to Brisbane, we stop at Canungra Valley Vineyards. I taste some of the wines at the cellar door and buy a few bottles to take home while Matt takes the kids for a run around the grass. There are families scattered with picnic blankets around the river banks, and people taking fluffy alpacas for a walk! The vineyard is set in an idyllic location beside the creek. We spot eels and turtles but, no matter how hard we look, we can’t see the resident platypus. “We have to come back here because we NEED to see the platypus,” Lincoln squeals at me. Accommodation at

O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards; Cedar Creek Lodges We don’t need any persuading – the Gold Coast Cedar Creek Lodges Hinterland is a destination that has all of our hearts mages: mages: I and we will definitely return soon.

36 Australia & NZ | December 2018 www.getmedownunder.com