Embracing Tamborine
Mike Yardley visits ancient Gondwana rainforests at Tamborine Mountain
NEED A DETOX FROM the Gold Coast’s theme park thrills? Just a 40 minute drive away, savour the green-drenched embrace of Tamborine Mountain, which is not only Queensland’s oldest national park, but the third oldest in the world.
The abundance of walking trails envelope you in Australia’s ancient Gondwana rainforests, a canopied world of filtered light and dappled greens brimming with palms, strangler figs, epiphytes and curling vines.
I ventured to the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, a glorious way to bask in the brilliance of the forest finery. Established by the Moore family 13 years ago, elevated steel walkways zip you through the upper canopy of the forest, combined with trails through the forest floor. Accentuating the experience, a 40-metre long cantilever bridge that juts out into the heart of the forest, 30 metres above Cedar Creek.
The lookout vividly illustrates how nature is locked in a constant tug of war between the giant flooded gum trees of the eucalypt forest and the sub-tropical rainforest. Strangler figs are the rainforest’s front-line soldiers, leading the charge against the invasive gums, by growing on top of them and strangling them.
If you’re up for some wine tasting, you’ll be charmed by Witches Falls Winery. Jon and Kim Heslop’s inaugural vintage was in 2004 and Witches Falls is now one of Queensland’s largest wine producers, with all products made on-site at Tamborine Mountain. Traditional techniques are combined with some of the most modern and advanced practices to produce wines of exceptional quality, character and consistency.
I enjoyed a comprehensive wine tasting, costing just $10 a head, and consisting of six pours from their menu. (A separate artisanal cider tasting is also available.)
Don’t miss their Wild Fermentation range, like Wild Ferment Grenache, a wonderfully red and intense red, with added complexity.
In deference to the climate, some interesting varietals that are more heat and drought resistant, like Negroamaro,
Touriga and Tinta Barroca now enrich their range.
For a complete palette change, pop into Tamborine Mountain Distillery, an iconic powerhouse of fine liqueurs and spirits, which has seen them scoop over 300 national and international awards since opening nearly 30 years ago. They are Australia’s most decorated distillery this century.
Given the boom in boutique distilleries, these guys were light years ahead of the curve, where production methods are steeped in tradition.
Utilising a range of specialised copper pots and reflux stills to create their sublime range of spirits and tinctures, you can now go behind the scenes of this working craft distillery to see first-hand the production process.
The jovial distillery boss, Gordon Chalmers, happily shares his passion and pride in the distillery. The wickedly inventive flavour range seemingly knows no bounds, from Ginger Vodka and Turkish Delight Liqueur to Pineapple Rum and Davidson Plum Gin.
Their Limoncello Liqueur is particularly zesty and Gordon remarked that most Limoncellos only contain 3 per cent lemon juice. Tamborine Mountain Distillery ramps that up to a staggering 36 per cent!
I also enjoyed Yuzucello Liqueur. Yuzu citrus fruit tastes like a cross between a mandarin and a grapefruit.
Another must-do is the Polish Place, a legendary guesthouse and restaurant that Phil and Ania Sowter established nearly 40 years ago. Designed to share a slice of
Ania’s homeland, the restaurant was bustling when I popped in for lunch.
The signature dish, roast duck for two, is made the traditional Polish way, stuffed with Granny Smith apples and served with red cabbage, fried apple and cherry sauce.
I also wrapped my laughing gear around the Polish potato pancakes with sour cream. Sinfully good, the pancakes resemble a ball of soft curly fries. Be sure to leave room for Ania’s divine Apricot and Almond Cake.
Then there are the 50 Polish Vodkas to size up! Beautifully furnished with Polish de´ cor, the delightful waiting staff are immaculately attired in traditional Polish dress, while the stunning rainforest views.
Unlike me, be sure to actively shoo away the local rainbow lorikeets to avoid a mob attack of your table!
I flew to the Gold Coast non-stop from Auckland with the low-fares leader, Jetstar. With their Price Beat Guarantee, if you find a better fare online, they’ll beat it by 10 per cent — and that includes Jetstar flights you find on other websites. www.jetstar.com