The easiest hinterland day from Royal Palm is Tamborine Mountain, about a 50 minute drive inland from Palm Beach. One mountain, one loop: glow worm caves and rainforest gardens in the morning, a long lunch with a view, then a short waterfall walk before the drive home. Here is how to run the day with kids, stop by stop, without any rushing.
Morning: what should you see first on Tamborine Mountain?
Start at the Tamborine Mountain Glow Worm Caves at Cedar Creek Estate, since the morning light is easy and the tours run 10am to 4pm daily. The purpose-built cave holds thousands of glow worms year round, so unlike a wild creek at night, you are guaranteed to see them. Tours run about 30 minutes on a flat path, cost 29 dollars for adults and 15 dollars for children, and little ones under four are a dollar. Parking is free on the estate grounds, and the same ticket area leads to Frog Hollow and a butterfly walk, which buys you another half hour if the kids are enjoying themselves. Book ahead in the September school holidays, though walk-ins are usually fine on a quiet weekday. Pack a light jacket even in spring, since the mountain sits higher and cooler than the coast, and the cave itself stays cool year round.
Where should a family have lunch on the mountain?
Stay put at Cedar Creek Estate, where the cafe serves lunch from 11am to 3pm right where you have parked. The menu runs from light bites and share plates to hearty mains, and guests keep mentioning the fish tacos and the barramundi as the dishes worth ordering. You can sit on the deck or the veranda with the mountain in view, or move indoors if the weather turns. The adults can add a cellar door tasting of six local wines for 12 dollars while the kids finish dessert. If you would rather browse first, Gallery Walk is a few minutes away with artisan shops and more cafes, but eating where you already are keeps a family day simple. If the kids get restless, the estate grounds have room to move between courses, and you can lock in a cave tour time when you order so the afternoon runs to a plan.
Afternoon: is there an easy rainforest walk for the kids?
Yes, and Curtis Falls is the pick. It is a 1.1 kilometre return loop of about 30 minutes through rainforest to a waterfall and rock pool, with a free car park at the trailhead. The path is shaded and gentle enough for small legs, and it is the one thing not to skip on the mountain. If you have energy left, the free Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens are nearby, with 11 hectares of gardens, a lake for a picnic and the Sooty Owl’s Creekside Trail, a discovery walk dotted with wooden owls, bridges and a little water wheel that keeps children hunting for the next surprise. If time is tight, do the falls and save the gardens for next visit. Bring water and closed shoes for the falls track, as it can be damp underfoot after rain, and the rock pool at the base is a nice spot to let the kids look for water dragons before the walk back up. There are picnic tables near the trailhead if you want to eat before the walk.
The drive: how do you get there and back easily?
Getting up and down is the part worth planning with kids aboard. From Royal Palm, follow the Gold Coast Highway to the M1 and head north, then climb the range via the Oxenford or Nerang road, roughly 45 kilometres and about 50 minutes all up. The final stretch up the mountain is winding, so anyone prone to car sickness should sit up front and go easy on the snacks beforehand. Aim to start the drive home by mid-afternoon so you are off the mountain road well before dark, when the bends and the wildlife make it slower going. Back at Palm Beach, the beach and the pool are waiting to shake off the drive.
FAQs
How long is the drive from Palm Beach to Tamborine Mountain?
About 50 minutes, or roughly 45 kilometres. From Royal Palm you head inland via the M1 and up the mountain range road. The last stretch is winding, so allow a little extra time with kids in the car, and plan to be back off the mountain before dark.
Are the glow worm caves suitable for young children?
Yes. The tour at Cedar Creek Estate runs about 30 minutes on a flat, guided path, and you are guaranteed to see thousands of glow worms. It suits all ages, and little ones are welcome. Bookings are recommended in school holidays, though walk-ins are usually accepted.
Is there an entry fee for the Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens?
No. The Botanic Gardens are free to enter and open every day. There are over 11 hectares of gardens, a lake for a picnic, a Japanese garden and the Sooty Owl’s Creekside Trail for kids. Parking is free, which makes it an easy, low-cost afternoon stop.
Can you really do Tamborine Mountain in a day with kids?
Easily. A morning at the glow worm caves, lunch on the mountain and an afternoon walk at Curtis Falls or the gardens fills a relaxed day without rushing. Leave Royal Palm after breakfast and you will be home for dinner, with the beach still there the next morning.
A day in the hinterland is the perfect counterpoint to a beach holiday, and from Royal Palm it is close enough to do without an early start or a late finish. When you are planning your stay, see what surrounds us and book direct with us for our best rate on a Palm Beach base for your hinterland day.
Image credit: Tamborine Mountain Glow Worm Caves