Tamborine Mountain Glades: A rainforest stay with more than camping

A good caravan stop gives you somewhere pleasant to park for the night. A great one gives you a reason to stay a little longer.

At Tamborine Mountain Glades, you can set up camp among the trees, spend the day exploring Tamborine Mountain and finish it with dinner at a rainforest restaurant. And if you feel like trading the van for a room or a glamping tent on another trip, you can do that here too.

Tamborine Mountain Glades brings together caravan and camping sites, other accommodation, dining and nature experiences on one property. Its adventure precinct, Thunderbird Park, adds activities such as thunderegg fossicking and the TreeTop Challenge, making it an appealing stop for RV travellers who want a little more from their time in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Set up camp among the trees

Tamborine Mountain Glades has powered and unpowered campsites, each with a designated fire pit. Campers have access to shared bathroom facilities, including newer bathroom suites with open-air showers, as well as a camp kitchen and laundry. Dogs are welcome at the campground under the property’s pet rules, though they can’t hang out with you when you’re doing the adventure activities.

You can keep the stay simple by pulling up, lighting a fire and enjoying the rainforest setting. Or you can use the campsite as a base for a few days of exploring, knowing there is plenty to do close to your van.

Give yourself a night off camp cooking

One of the pleasures of travelling with a caravan is being able to make dinner wherever you stop. Another is deciding, occasionally, that someone else can do it.

The Rainforest Restaurant & Lounge Bar offers a more leisurely evening than cooking back at camp, with a seasonal menu inspired by the Scenic Rim. It currently serves dinner Wednesday to Saturday, so it is worth planning your stay and booking a table around its opening days. For a more casual meal or coffee, there is also the Terrace Café on the property.

Choose adventure or a slower day

Thunderbird Park is the adventure side of Tamborine Mountain Glades, so you can leave the van set up while you head out for thunderegg fossicking, the TreeTop Challenge or adventure mini golf. You could fill a day with activities, then head back to your site for a quiet evening. Activities are booked separately from accommodation, so check what’s available before you arrive.

There is room for a slower day as well. Guests can explore walking trails and spend time by the creek, while SOL Elements offers a bathhouse experience for adults looking to build some proper downtime into their trip.

You don’t have to bring the caravan every time

Although the campsite is the obvious starting point for many RVDaily readers, it’s only one way to stay at Tamborine Mountain Glades. The property also has glamping tents, self-contained lodges and rooms. This could be handy if you’re travelling with friends who don’t have an RV, or if you want to return for a comfortable weekend away without towing.

For this trip, though, the appeal may be as simple as pulling into a campsite and having a few choices once you get there. Cook over the fire or book dinner. Seek out an adventure or take the day slowly. Tamborine Mountain Glades gives RV travellers the freedom to make the stay their own.

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