The typical Gold Coast holiday involves lots of sun, sand, sea and surf. Sometimes it’s good to have a change of pace, and that’s when it’s time to head for the beautiful 206km stretch of Great Dividing Range known as the Gold Coast hinterland (aka “the green behind the gold”). Just 30 minutes drive from the coast lies the elevated plateaus of Mt Tamborine and the Lamington National Park , a 100,000 hectare World Heritage region of magnificent panoramic views , rainforests, an extensive network of National Parl walking trails , the scent of native vegetation and silence broken only by birdsong and cascading water .

This tranquil setting is a must-see destination for all Gold Coast visitors and is an extremely popular day trip destination . Exploring the hinterland can be the reason for making a Gold Coast car rental part of your holiday , but there are numerous bus companies and tour operators with scheduled day trips throughout the region.  

Quaint villages dot the landscape and are home to a population of creatives, many of whom sell their wares in arts and crafts shops and local markets. Roadside cafes and tea houses flank the narrow roads and the perennial afternoon tea favourite of tea and scones will usually get most visitors to stop . The lush , rolling pastures have supported many generations of farmers and the region still supports a thriving community of banana plantations, dairy farming and beef production. 

With the development of new, hardy grape cultivars and the trend for producing wine in areas that were once unsuitable, the hinterland has seen the emergence of a boutique wine industry. Wine tours are now an established part of the hinterland scene and wine tasting, celler door sales and vineyard restaurants now compete for the tourist dollar. There are harvest festivals, theme dinners , musical events and visiting chef promotions throughout the year. If you fancy a spot or three of wine tasting without the problem of the drive afterwards , then book one of the number of available wine route tours .

One of the recommended driving routes involves a circuit starting at Coolangatta,  south to Murwillumbah and then swinging north through Crystal Creek, Chillingham, Numinbah, Natural Bridge, Nerang, Mudgeeraba and then back to the coast.

Another popular route involves taking a detour from Nerang, then head west through Tamborine National Parks taking in Wilson’s Lookout, Thunderbird Park and Cedar Creek Falls before rejoining the highway at Beenleigh.

Down on the coast, almost all Gold Coast accommodation is self catering, apartment style lodgings in high rise builings that hug the shore line . On the hinterland plateau, the style changes to lodge style suites focusing on peace and tranquility mixed with an interaction with your surroundings and a spot of pampering thrown in. Binna Burra Mountain Lodge, O’Reilleys Rainforest Retreat and Ruffles Lodge are some of the most popular accommodation providers in the region. Of course there are other styles of accommodation ranging from budget camp sites to upmarket villas.

So there you have it…. a brief introduction to what makes the Gold Coast hinterland special and a few reasons why it definitely needs to be part of your Gold Coast holiday plans.