Last weekend, we visited the breathtaking Tamborine National Park, located about 1.5 hours from Brisbane in the lush green hills of Mount Tamborine. This subtropical rainforest is known for its ancient trees, waterfalls, and beautiful walking trails. We explored the Palm Grove Circuit, a short but impressive hike through dense rainforest filled with palms, ferns, giant trees, and the sounds of native birds. Along the way, you’ll pass small creeks and may even spot wildlife, including pademelons. In this blog, we’ll take you through this stunning natural area near the Gold Coast in Queensland and show you what other great attractions you can discover in Tamborine National Park.
About Tamborine National Park
Tamborine National Park is located in the Scenic Rim, about 80 km south of Brisbane (approximately a 1.5-hour drive), and consists of several protected areas of subtropical rainforest. The park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia and is renowned for its rich biodiversity. You can find wildlife such as lyrebirds and platypuses, as well as unique plant species including piccabeen palms and giant fig trees. Popular walks include the Palm Grove Circuit and the Curtis Falls Walk. In addition, several lookout points offer stunning views over the Gold Coast and the Pacific Ocean.
How do you get to Tamborine National Park?
From Brisbane, it takes about 1.5 hours to drive to Tamborine National Park via the M1 towards the Gold Coast. Take the exit for Tamborine Mountain and follow the signs to Mount Tamborine. There is no public transport directly into the park itself, so renting a car or booking a tour is the most practical option. The area around Tamborine Mountain can get quite touristy, especially on weekends, but you can usually still find a place to park your car and walk a short distance to the start of your hike.
Palm Grove Circuit
We chose to do the Palm Grove Circuit because we had read positive reviews about it online and because there was a chance to spot pademelons, which we had never seen in the wild before. The Palm Grove Circuit in Tamborine National Park is one of those walks where you immediately step into the rainforest. Towering palms, dense ferns, and sometimes centuries-old trees make you feel incredibly small in comparison. Along the way, there’s a good chance of spotting pademelons, and you’ll hear birds all around you throughout the entire hike.
The trail is easy to follow, with clear signposts and well-marked routes. You walk over short sections of forest floor and encounter very few steep climbs, making it accessible for most people. After rainfall, it can get a bit muddy, so good walking shoes are definitely recommended.
Tip: if you can’t get enough of this beautiful natural area in Queensland, you can easily extend your hike with extra kilometres by following the Jennyns Circuit. This is an additional 4 km walk where you can discover even more of this stunning landscape.
Giant trees
What we found especially impressive about the Palm Grove Circuit were the giant trees you encounter along the way. Walking here you really realise how small you are as a human, and how old and impressive this nature actually is. Be sure to bring a good camera, because the landscape is stunning to capture. And who knows, you might also spot wildlife or unique birds along the way, so having a fast camera with a good lens is definitely a plus.
Pademelons
Tamborine National Park is the ideal place to spot pademelons, especially during a hike on the Palm Grove Circuit. Pademelons are small, shy marsupials related to kangaroos and wallabies. They mainly live in dense forests and rainforests in Australia and New Guinea. They are most active in the early morning and evening and feed on grass, leaves, and shoots. Because of their shy nature, you often catch unexpected glimpses of them in the wild.
During our walk, we quickly noticed that we were completely alone on the trail, meaning the nature was barely disturbed by other hikers. That made the experience even more special: after just about 100 meters, we already saw the first pademelons hopping through the rainforest. Luckily, I already had my camera with a large lens around my neck, so I could capture them quickly. They are incredibly fast, and before you know it, they disappear deeper into the rainforest and out of sight again.
Pademelons have a thick, soft fur that provides them with warmth in the cooler forest environment. They have a short tail and powerful hind legs that help them move around. Interestingly, they often use fixed paths through the undergrowth. They have both natural predators and introduced predators, including birds of prey and foxes, the latter were brought to Australia by European settlers.
Tip: During the walk, pause every now and then and look carefully around you, as there’s a good chance pademelons are nearby. We once found ourselves surprisingly close to one without noticing it right away. There are really more of them than you might think, you just don’t always see them immediately.
Australian Logrunner
In addition to these cute animals, there are also many unique birds to spot in the area. We saw the Australian Logrunner sitting in a tree. This bird is found only in the rainforests of eastern Australia and is known for its shy behaviour and distinctive “scraping” sounds on the forest floor while searching for insects and small invertebrates. The Australian Logrunner often has a warm reddish-brown or chestnut colouring on its chest and throat, giving it a subtle yet beautiful contrast.
During the walk, you’ll encounter plenty more life in the rainforest. Think of colourful insects such as beetles, butterflies, and stick insects that blend perfectly into their surroundings. On some days, you may also see snakes warming themselves or hiding among the leaves. In addition, all kinds of unique mushrooms grow everywhere in various shapes and colours. So make sure to look closely around you to spot even more natural beauty.
What we loved about this walk is how diverse the nature is here. From dense rainforest to open areas with impressive trees, and life all around you. It’s also not an overly busy track, at least when we were there, so you really feel like you’re completely alone in nature. That sense of calm makes it even more special.
Tip: start this walk around lunchtime. When we went, there was no one else on the trail, and only at the end did we see the first hikers just beginning their walk.
The fact that Tamborine National Park is not far from the Gold Coast can be seen from the view below. From the start of the Palm Grove Circuit, you actually get a beautiful view of the Gold Coast skyline.
Curtis Falls
After this beautiful walk, we also decided to make a short stop at Curtis Falls. This is a nice, short walk to a waterfall, but noticeably busier than the Palm Grove Circuit. We also found the trail to be much muddier, especially after rain, so good shoes are really useful here. The waterfall itself is nice to see if you’re already in the area or really want to tick off a waterfall. Otherwise, you can easily skip this stop and spend your time on the quieter trails in the surrounding area.
Tours and activities in Tamborine Mountain
What really stood out to us in Tamborine Mountain and Tamborine National Park is that you won’t get bored here easily. Besides the well-known hikes we’ve highlighted and the beautiful viewpoints, there is still so much more to do and discover in the area. That’s why we’ve put together a personal Top 3 of the most beautiful sights and best tours in Tamborine National Park.
Rainforest, Waterfalls & Skywalk Tour
This tour shows you Tamborine National Park at its very best. You walk through the ancient rainforest, pass beautiful waterfalls, and stroll along the iconic Skywalk among the treetops. It’s one of those places where you’re genuinely left in awe of the nature surrounding you.
Read more about the rainforest, waterfalls & skywalk tour
Glow worm cave night tour
This Glow Worm Cave Tour is truly one of the most unique experiences on Tamborine Mountain. In the evening, you enter a specially protected cave with a guide, where thousands of glow worms literally light up the darkness. It’s quiet, atmospheric, and almost magical to see the tiny lights twinkling on the walls, as if you’re standing beneath a starry sky.
Read more about the glow worm cave night tour
Canyon flyer zipline adventure
For those who want to experience Tamborine Mountain in a more adventurous way, the Canyon Flyer Zipline Adventure is highly recommended. Here, you soar over the rainforest on multiple ziplines, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h, while watching the dense green landscape rush by beneath you.
Read more about the Canyon flyer zipline adventure
More tours and activities in Tamborine National Park can be found on this page.
Staying overnight in Tamborine National Park
If you have a bit more time to spend in Tamborine Mountain and the surrounding national park, it’s definitely worth staying for a night (or even a few). This is when you truly experience the rainforest at its most peaceful: early mornings with mist drifting between the trees, the sound of birds all around you, and walking trails that are much quieter than during the day.
In and around Tamborine, you’ll also find a surprisingly large number of highly rated accommodations on Booking, ranging from atmospheric boutique stays to luxury rainforest retreats. For example, places like The Manor offer a charming and centrally located stay full of character, while Camelot Boutique Accommodation provides peaceful cottages surrounded by greenery. Avocado Sunset Bed & Breakfast is also popular for its views and relaxed atmosphere, and Tamborine Mountain Glades sits right in nature with lodges and glamping options close to the rainforest.
