{"id":8877,"date":"2025-05-19T00:14:45","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T14:14:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/?p=8877"},"modified":"2025-05-19T00:14:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-18T14:14:47","slug":"gold-coast-hinterland-escape-think-outside-the-square-when-next-visiting-the-gold-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/gold-coast-hinterland-escape-think-outside-the-square-when-next-visiting-the-gold-coast\/","title":{"rendered":"Gold Coast Hinterland Escape: Think outside the square when next visiting the Gold Coast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Words by Dorian Mode Photography by Lydia Thorpe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gold Coast. Say those words, and you instantly conjure images of high\u2013rises, crowded beaches, and glitzy nightlife. It\u2019s all surfboards and theme parks, right? But seniors, venture a little further inland and you\u2019ll find another side to this holiday hotspot \u2013 a lush hinterland that\u2019s more the \u201cgreen behind the gold\u201d. Think rainforests, funky hippie villages, and just enough wineries to have you walking sideways down Gallery Walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We set up camp at the Mercure Gold Coast Resort in Carrara. Geographically, it\u2019s smack bang in the middle of the Gold Coast, making it the perfect base to pivot between the beachy glitter strip and the serene hinterland. The resort itself is surrounded by a golf course and driving range, which is great if you\u2019re a golfer. Us? Not golfers. But we enjoy a nice view over the greens as we sip on a glass of wine. And what\u2019s more, the Mercure has one of the best value hotel restaurants we\u2019ve come across but more on that later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The morning starts with a drive up to Mount Tamborine, just 30 minutes away. Unlike the trek from Bondi to Katoomba, this hinterland escape is right at your doorstep (both beach and hinterland are each a little over 15 mins away). The road winds through lush greenery, and soon you\u2019re in a different world \u2013 cool mountain air, misty views, and charming villages that feel like something out of a fairy tale (if that fairy tale involved scented candles and wine tastings).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our first stop is the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, a raised walkway through the treetops. It\u2019s a bit pricey for what it is, but the views are worth it. Heavy tropical rain adds an extra layer of atmosphere, and as we walk through the mist, it\u2019s easy to forget that we\u2019re just a short drive from the beachside chaos of Surfers Paradise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main draw of Mount Tamborine is Gallery Walk \u2013 a stretch of quirky shops, cafes, and art galleries that\u2019s a bit hippie, a bit posh, and thoroughly charming. It\u2019s all wine tastings, tie\u2013dye, and oddball shops like the Hinterland Hemp Emporium and the German Cuckoo Clock Nest (yes, really). One standout is Castle Glen, a bizarre Scottish\u2013style castle selling liqueurs in every colour of the rainbow. Want lavender gin? They\u2019ve got it. How about pineapple tequila? Sure, why not. It\u2019s the Gold Coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a more outdoorsy adventure, there are some fantastic hiking trails in the area. Take a gentle hike and it will lead to the Bearded Dragon Hotel, a pub that\u2019s perfect for seniors \u2013 flat paths, a welcoming atmosphere, and cold beer waiting at the end. This is my kind of hike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Nothing says Gold Coast like sun lounges by a lagoon in a shopping centre. Pacific Fair \u2013 part retail therapy, part resort, and peak Gold Coast fabulousness<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
A taste of the Mercure\u2019s excellent restaurant offerings \u2013 fine dining without the flashy price tag<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Looking back at the glitter strip from the hinterland \u2013 a reminder that beyond the bling lies the Gold Coast\u2019s hidden treasure<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We also stumble upon a hidden gem: the Mount Tamborine Botanic Gardens. I do love a public garden. Maintained by a dedicated group of senior volunteers, these gardens are an oasis of calm. It\u2019s the kind of place where you can sit quietly, surrounded by lush greenery, and feel like you\u2019re a world away from the hustle of the Gold Coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back at the Mercure, after a lazy swim in the resort pool, we head to the restaurant for dinner. And here\u2019s the surprise: the food is killer, and the prices are even better. Not a single bottle of wine on the menu costs more than $50, and happy hour runs from 3 to 5pm with house spirits, wine, and beer at bargain prices. We tuck into grilled barramundi and a bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for a fraction of what you\u2019d pay elsewhere. Eating out on the Gold Coast in general, we\u2019ve discovered, is surprisingly cheap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next day, we head back into the hinterland for a visit to the Tamborine Mountain Distillery, Australia\u2019s smallest operating pot still distillery. It\u2019s tucked away off the main road, and stepping inside feels like entering a whimsical world of artisan spirits and quirky concoctions. We also visit Peddly Picnics, where you can grab a gourmet hamper and ride off into the mist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, and here\u2019s where I out myself, I love a shopping centre. So we also stop at Pacific Fair on our way back to the coast \u2013 because no trip to the Gold Coast is complete without a little retail therapy. This is not just any shopping centre. It\u2019s a sprawling complex with a lagoon at its centre, complete with sun lounges. It\u2019s peak Gold Coast: flashy, fabulous, and a little bit ridiculous. But you can\u2019t help but love it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psst! Public transport on the Gold Coast is another pleasant surprise. The Premier has introduced 50c fares for public transport across Queensland, and the best part? It applies to everyone \u2013 locals and visitors alike. It\u2019s a fantastic way to explore the region without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the tram crawls through the gut of the glitter strip on the way to the airport, we glance back at the hills \u2013 a quiet reminder that beyond the bling lies the Gold Coast\u2019s true treasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

fact box<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Autumn\/Winter Stay and Save at Mercure Gold Coast Resort
Deal: Save up to 25% when you book early and stay three or more nights this winter.
Location: Mercure Gold Coast Resort \u2013 the perfect base to explore the Gold Coast\u2019s beaches, hinterland, and attractions.
Booking: Visit www.mercuregoldcoastresort.com.au to book your stay.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

HANDY WEBSITES & LINKS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mercure Gold Coast Resort: www.mercuregoldcoastresort.com.au<\/a>
Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk: www.rainforestskywalk.com.au<\/a>
Gallery Walk, Mount Tamborine: www.tamborinemtncc.org.au\/gallery-walk\/<\/a>
Castle Glen Australia: www.castleglenaustralia.com.au<\/a>
Mount Tamborine Botanic Gardens: www.tmbotanicgardens.org.au<\/a>
Tamborine Mountain Distillery: www.tamborinemountaindistillery.com<\/a>
Pacific Fair Shopping Centre: www.pacificfair.com.au<\/a>
Translink \u2013 Gold Coast Public Transport: www.translink.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Words by Dorian Mode Photography by Lydia Thorpe The Gold Coast. Say those words, and you instantly conjure images of high\u2013rises, crowded beaches, and glitzy nightlife. It\u2019s all surfboards and…","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8882,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-8877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-events"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/05\/hero-shot-Drone1.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/feed\/podcast\/coffee-with-a-coastie","embedCode":"

Gold Coast Hinterland Escape: Think outside the square when next visiting the Gold Coast<\/a><\/blockquote>