Trade in the office hours for the outdoors with a mid-week escape to the Gold Coast hinterland
This article is brought to you by Destination Gold Coast.
We all know the feeling. Come Monday, we drag ourselves to work with a tired mind, body and soul and no amount of oat milk cappuccino can help. By lunchtime, our minds are wandering into the outdoors with all that fresh air and greenery and maybe even waterfalls that we can pose in front of, stand under or just admire. The lightbulb moment slides into your personal DMs – otherwise known as your brain – by late afternoon. Flights are booked, accommodation arranged, your partner or partners in crime are onboard. And the mid-week getaway AKA the ‘Sneeky Mid-Weeky’, has the green light.
Take a cue from that inspiration and immerse yourself in the lush beauty of the Gold Coast Hinterland. There’s a never-ending variety of possibilities to explore, venture out and unearth tranquil hiking paths and breathtaking waterfalls that promise to rejuvenate your spirit. Disconnect from the digital world by activating your out-of-office early and embrace the serenity of Tranquil Tuesday, granting yourself the precious opportunity to recharge. The unique adventures awaiting you in the Hinterland empower you to tailor your midweek escape to your preferences, ensuring a getaway that resonates with your individuality and gives you the gift of being truly present. Amid the midweek majesty, you can fully reconnect with yourself, free from the looming pressures of daily life, allowing nature’s serenity to slow your pace and nourish your soul.
Twin Falls, Springbrook. Image credit: Destination Gold Coast
Green behind the Gold
For this rejuvenating, soul-stirring getaway far away from mouse clicks and spreadsheets and meetings and deadlines, exploring in nature is the best boost imaginable. And being mid-week, you could find yourself enjoying nature’s delights virtually crowd-free.
The Gold Coast Hinterland is a lush oasis, with subtropical rainforests, misty waterfalls, charming villages and fertile farming grounds. Go for a hike, hang out in the tree tops, breathe in all that fresh air and balance that out with stops at cool cafes, and maybe even a winery visit. The choices are endless.
Play on the Tamborine
Instead of walking to the office printer or photocopier, hike through tangles of trees in ancient forests. Make the most of your short escape by getting up early for a sunrise stroll up Tamborine Mountain. There are a number of trails to explore, and several waterfalls to spice up your socials. Check out the watery wonders at Witches Falls, Curtis or Cameron Falls.
Curtis Falls, Tamborine Mountain. Image credit: Destination Gold Coast
Reach for the sky under a blanket of green at the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, an elevated bridge that takes you through ethereal rainforest on what is the longest canopy walk in Southeast Queensland. If you want to stay high, tackle The Treetop Challenge at Thunderbird Park. Unleash your inner Tarzan and take on some of the 85 challenges, from flying foxes to high ropes courses.
The legendary O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat can also elevate your stay with its Tree Top Walk featuring nine suspension bridges and two observation decks to show off this wild canopy with its orchids, ferns and trees and the birdlife flitting around this avian playground. A visit to Morans Falls at sunset is another must. While in this part of the world you can stay at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, and even treat yourself to a massage at the Lost World Spa.
Waterfall view at sunset at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Image credit: Destination Gold Coast
Golden glow
World Heritage-listed Springbrook National Park is another natural wonder, a jewel accessed through the verdant Numinbah Valley. Spreadsheets and Word documents will be a distant memory as you go for a walk through the ancient Gondwana rainforest with Antarctic beech trees dating back over 3000 years. Make your way to the spectacular Natural Bridge, an ethereal hideaway with its waterfall. Sign up for a guided walk to the Natural Bridge at night, to marvel at the magical glow worms that light up this spiritual place.
Springbrook National Park. Image credits: Destination Gold Coast
Stretch your legs and blow out the work cobwebs on one or more of the 160 kilometres of bushwalking trails in Woonoongoora – Lamington National Park. Go easy, or go hard, as you discover caves, creeks, rainforests and soak up the serenity that will make the mundane work week goings on feel like they are a world away.
Stay, play and dine
It’s not just what you do on your ‘sneeky mid-weeky’, it is where you stay, where you dine and where you caffeinate. After all, a good coffee is just as important in the scenic Gold Coast Hinterland as it is in the city.
For accommodation, take your pick of romantic retreats, lodges, chalets, bed and breakfasts and plenty of holiday homes. On Tamborine Mountain, check out Cedar Creek Lodges – a great base for bushwalkers, and fine dining to boot at the Miner’s Lantern Restaurant. Binna Burra is also a wonderful option for adventure seekers, with its hilltop location ensuring striking views. Stay in one of the brand new Tiny Wild Houses atop the idyllic Bellbird clifftop. They are brilliantly decked out and even have fully-equipped kitchenettes. The floor-to-ceiling glass wall brings the outside in so you can make the most of your country stay. If you don’t feel like cooking, treat yourself to dinner at the Binna Burra Tea House, and have your favourite cocktail at The Groom’s Cottage Bushwalker’s Bar.
A fine drop
Toast to your adventurous pursuits and to your cleverness at breaking your work routine, by visiting one of the many wineries on the Gold Coast Hinterland. Consider Cedar Creek Estate with its idyllic setting and tranquil lake views, or have a fine drop at Witches Falls Winery, where you can admire the beautiful gardens, listen to the bird song and taste their small estate wines. Add a grazing platter featuring locally-produced cheeses, patés, relishes, and other nibbles to make the most of the gorgeous location and quiet mid-week setting. Mount Tamborine Vineyard & Winery will please Chardonnay drinkers, while Albert River Wines is a boutique winery in a historic homestead.
Wine tasting at Witches Falls Winery. Image credit: Tourism Australia
Wine not your thing? Never fear, beer lovers are catered for as well. Fortitude Brewing Company crafts session beers from premium ingredients, while The Tamborine Mountain Distillery is a charming distillery nestled within a beautiful English Tudor-style estate, producing a range of fine liqueurs, schnapps and vodkas that have scooped up over 400 awards.
As we all say, YOLO. We only live once so take a break from the routine, get away from the city and let nature be the antidote to your work woes. Being immersed in nature can help improve symptoms of anxiety and stress, and enhance your sense of well-being.
What are you waiting for? Check your calendar, break those chains, and book your ‘Sneeky Mid-Weeky’ escape in the Gold Coast.
This article is brought to you by Destination Gold Coast.
