After spending 72 hours from Monday - Thursday in a citywide snap lockdown because of a small COVID outbreak, we were super happy when the QLD Premier announced on Thursday morning that the lockdown would end and everyone was free to travel for the Easter long weekend.
We had been planning to spend the weekend glamping in the Scenic Rim and wasted no time packing the car, ready to head off bright and early on Friday morning. This is what we got up to:
Mt Tamborine Lookouts
We were super keen to get out of the house, so we decided to leave early and spend some time at the beautiful Mount Tamborine lookouts enjoying the sunshine and generally just being outside. We spent some time at Hangliders Hill and the Rotary Lookout, both on Main Western Road, which are just a couple of our favourite spots.
Mount Tamborine has a lot of lookouts, all of them with stunning views either across the Gold Coast and out to the ocean or across the countryside, which was very green given the recent rain,
Find out more about all the lookouts you can visit here: https://www.discovertamborine.com/tamborine-national-park/lookouts/
Three Little Pigs Bar & Bistro
We didn't have breakfast on Friday because we knew we going to be having a big lunch at the Three Little Pigs Bistro, also at Mount Tamborine. Three Little Pigs has been the top-rated restaurant in the area for years, so you will definitely need to make a booking at least a few days or so in advance if you want to eat here.
If you couldn't guess by the name, this restaurant is famous for its pork belly and it definitely does not disappoint. We both really enjoyed our giant slab of Pork Belly and the service was top notch. They also have a bunch of seafood and vegetarian options for those who would prefer not to devour a giant piece of meat. Everything that came out looked super delicious and we would definitely come back here.
Pro tip: the meals are HUGE, there is no need for starters or sides!
Check out Three Little Pigs here: https://www.three-little-pigs.com.au/
Tuckers Retreat
Tuckers Retreat markets itself as a “Luxury Glamping” destination. It is located a 7-minute drive from the heart of Canungra, in the Scenic Rim, an easy 60-minute drive from the Gold Coast or an 80-minute drive from Brisbane.
Tuckers Retreat is adults only and only has two Glamping tents on the property, meaning there is a maximum of 4 people staying at any one time. The hosts are pretty "hands off" and will text you all the details you need to gain entry the day before you arrive but are only a phone call away if you need them for anything.
Each “tent“ has a very comfortable king-size bed, a kitchenette with a bar fridge, kettle, toaster and microwave and a full ensuite bathroom. There is also a TV, handy luggage storage and plenty of powerpoints to keep your devices charged as well a fan for the warmer months and a heater for when it gets a bit chilly.
Each tent also boasts a large deck that has a table and chairs, a 3 seat outdoor lounge and coffee table, a sun lounger and a 6 person hydrotherapy spa.
There is also a common area between the two tents that has a full-size BBQ with gas cooktops, a ping pong table, a six-seater table and chairs and plenty of games to keep you entertained. just behind the common area is a fire pit where you can build a fire at night (Tuckers Retreat supply enough firewood to get you started). Don't forget your marshmallows!
The stargazing was also fantastic, so bring a picnic blanket and spend some time under the stars. You might even get to see a shooting star or two!
Pro tip: The retreat doesn't seem to raise its prices around peak holiday times (like Easter long weekend) so if you book far enough in advance you can get yourself a great deal on a long weekend away!
You can check out Tuckers Retreat here: https://www.tuckersretreat.com.au/
Sarabah Estate Vineyard
We decided to bypass O'Reilly's vineyard on this trip, as we have been there a few times (you can read about it here) and instead went to check out Sarabah Estate Vineyard.
When we arrived, we were told that the bistro was fully booked and that the only tables available were located outside. This was OK with us and we ordered some (very overpriced) scones and some coffees. There was a big menu available and some of the meals and cheese platters looked nice, but we were still pretty full from breakfast and were happy to just chill out and enjoy the surroundings.
The scones were super gross - literally the worst scones we have ever tasted. We both took one bite and decided that was enough, which if you know us is a big deal - we aren't very fussy! I have no idea what they did to make them taste so bad, but honestly whoever made them needs a stern talking to! The coffees were pretty average too.
The grounds of the vineyard were really nice and there were a lot of nice places to have a picnic and overall this place has good potential, it just needs some better management (and definitely a better scone recipe). Also, they were meant to have alpacas, but they were nowhere to be found, so they lost points there too :(
If you have time when you are here you should still check this place out, but if you need to decide between O'Reillys and this place then there is no contest - O'Reillys wins any day of the week.
The rain was starting to set in at this point, so we decided to head back into Canungra and find some lunch before heading back to Tuckers Retreat for a relaxing afternoon.
See more about Sarabah Estate Vineyard here https://www.sarabahestate.com.au/
Ginga Ninja Sushi Cafe & Bar
Trusty TripAdvisor told me that the number 1 place for lunch in Canungra was at Ginga Ninja Sushi Bar. They have recently had a renovation and the place looks great. There was also parking right at the front door, which was a big win as it was very busy in town.
We ordered the Karaage Chicken Bites & Ninja fries to share (both delicious) and Noel got the Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl while I got the Sweet Chilli Panko prawn rice bowl, again both delicious. The staff were friendly and the food and drinks came out quickly. We would definitely recommend this place.
Check out Ginga Ninja here: https://www.facebook.com/ginjaninjasushicafe/
The Rains Are ' Ere!!
This is what 500kms worth of wet weather heading directly towards you looks like!! It is also what we woke up to on Sunday morning!
We went for a bit of a drive to see what we could see, but it became very obvious very quickly that our plans for the day were thoroughly washed out by the very wet weather. Instead, we headed back towards Tuckers Retreat and enjoyed a day of taking it easy, playing games, watching movies, taking naps and soaking in the spa.
We saw a number of campers/caravanners packing up early to head home due to the weather but because of the great set up at Tuckers Retreat, the wet weather simply allowed us to enjoy more of the great facilities it offers.
Other things to do
Assuming you don't come on a weekend where everything is cancelled because of the weather, here is a bunch of stuff you might like to check out:
Sunday Markets
There are many different markets that run at different times of the month. The one that we were going to visit got cancelled at the last minute, so I can't give you any insider info on what it was like, but I bet it would be great,
You can check out what will be on when you are visiting here: https://visittamborinemountain.com.au/markets-on-the-mountain/
Mt Tamborine Botanic Gardens
The botanic gardens at the top of Mt Tamborine are one of its best-kept secrets. Grab yourself a picnic lunch from the markets or a local bakery, bring a blanket and enjoy a long, lazy lunch in nature!
Check out the Botanical Gardens here: https://tmbotanicgardens.org.au/
Tamborine Skywalk
The Tamborine Skywalk looks like a fantastic way to explore the beautiful rainforest canopies and check out some stunning views. The 1.5km of well-maintained tracks and lead through the rainforest and get you up to 30 metres off the rainforest floor for a true birds-eye view of what is going on
Check out the Skywalk opening times and prices here: https://skywalktamborine.com/
Go chasing waterfalls
Mount Tamborine has many beautiful walks that lead to waterfalls and terrific views. There is something for every fitness level.
Check out your options here: https://visittamborinemountain.com.au/waterfalls/
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