29 March 2023
9 mins Read
High-rise hotels and sizable resorts might offer pretty views, but nothing plunges you into non-stop beauty quite like glamping on the Gold Coast. Lovebirds, adventure seekers and kid-heavy families are all catered for in tented stays that offer instant access to natural wonders, unique foodie experiences and a level of comfort typically reserved for the Gold Coast’s most luxurious accommodation.
Where: Thunderbird Park on Tamborine Mountain
Breathe in the rich, subtropical rainforest air of Tamborine Mountain’s Thunderbird Park, a 112-hectare stretch that encompasses rockpools, walking trails and unique wildlife, with a stay at The Woodlands. Cedar Creek Lodges’ 12 spacious tents, affectionally known as The Woodlands, located about a 50-minute drive from Surfers Paradise, provide varied accommodation for couples and families glamping on the Gold Coast.
The simplest of its spaces offers a king-size bed, flat-screen TV, ensuite with an open-air shower, day bed, dining table, barbecue and bar fridge, while the largest one, the Family Luxe, also throws in an extra king bed, private three-metre plunge pool, sundeck with sun lounges, outdoor barbecue kitchen and fire pit.
Cedar Creek Lodges has all the amenities to keep you entertained. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
Natural textures and tones complement their bush surroundings, but the mood is luxe safari inside as fluffy bedding, carpeted floors and a sleek bathroom fit-out dial up the indulgence. Plus, there’s in-room dining if you opt for one of their Midweek Platters, a gorgeous, jam-packed antipasto plate, or a Farm to Fork Hamper that’s bursting with local produce, including ingredients plucked from Thunderbird Park’s kitchen garden for you to prepare on the barby.
On site, there’s also the Rainforest Restaurant & Lounge Bar offering Japanese-inspired share plates and hearty modern Australian mains, plus a range of activities including ziplining, treetop challenges, crystal panning, mini golf, laser tag and more. Rooms start from $349 per night.
Tuck yourself into a comfy bed inside the tent. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
Where: Binna Burra within Lamington National Park
Soaring high over mountain tops at 800 metres above sea level, Binna Burra Lodge is perfectly poised to take in some of the region’s dreamiest views. Offering basic glamping on the Gold Coast in the way of three styles that sleep up to six guests, the lodge’s Safari Tents are a welcome respite for campers and multi-day hikers in desperate need of somebody else to set up their digs for the night. But while the amenities and lodgings are stripped back to basics, it’s the heavenly sights here that make this place special.
You’ll be ensconced in nature at Binna Burra. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
About an hour’s drive from Burleigh Heads, each tent features a private veranda offering epic views, beds, USB charging ports and dining tables. The largest suite in the bunch offers a private fire pit overlooking the forest. Bathrooms and kitchen facilities are shared, plus you’ll need to either bring your own linen or hire out a set, but the price tag is a winner, offering stays from just $75 per night.
Sip your morning coffee from your private veranda. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
When it’s time to eat, the on-site Binna Burra Tea House offers generous breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Groom’s Cottage & Bushwalker’s Bar provides more casual dining and drinks, and you can also purchase various barbecue packs filled with meat, veg and condiments.
Spend your holidays at Binna Burra Lodge. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
Where: Sirromet Winery in Mount Cotton
This popular winery, located 50 minutes from Surfers Paradise, measures in at a whopping 560 acres, long attracting wine lovers from all over Queensland for its stellar drops. Nowadays, the spotlight shines on its Sanctuary by Sirromet, offering glamping on the Gold Coast via luxurious family-friendly and couples’ pavilions built amid quiet bushland, yet still close to the winery’s cellar door and beautiful Tuscan Terrace a la carte restaurant.
Chill out on your private balcony.
The tented pavilions are roomy, each with private balconies, air conditioning, lounge areas, minibars and ensuites, and they’re stylishly decorated with bursts of warm colour and natural textures. It’s so comfy in there, you’ll forget you’re in a tent. If you can lock down the Laguna Suite, do it. It’s the largest lodging in the group and features a couples’ shower and water views. Prices start from $239 per night.
The luxe lodging tent comes with all the comforts of your home.
Where: Lamington National Park
Switch off and unwind at arguably the most exclusive glamping around the Gold Coast, Nightfall, located 90 minutes inland and on the fringes of Lamington National Park. This is luxury while deeply immersed in astounding natural scenery, with just eight guests being catered for at a time at Nightfall, and you’ll be blown away by how extravagant the tents are.
The glamping tents are equipped with everything you need. (Image: Tourism & Events Queensland)
Ideal for couples, the 62-square-metre structures are fitted with timber flooring, vintage bathtubs, private fireplaces, kitchenettes stacked with snacks, rain-head showers, and an abundance of plush boho-inspired bedding to keep visitors extra toasty in the cooler months.
Inside the luxe tents at Nightfall. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)
The spoils just keep coming as all meals and beverages are catered for. Once the sun begins to sink, pre-dinner drinks are presented as cooks prepare organic meals utilising locally foraged ingredients and fresh produce from Brisbane, in a wood-fired oven. Best of all, the dishes are completely customed to each guest’s particular tastes. Additionally, creek-side spa treatments can be arranged, as can private yoga sessions in the comfort of your tent. Phenomenal. Rates start from $935 per night.
Rejuvenate your mind and body with a relaxing massage by the river. (Image: Tourism & Events Queensland)
Make it a family holiday for the ages with a stay at Paradise Country Farmstay, tented accommodation from the team at Paradise Country, the coast’s much-loved Aussie farm experience. Glamping on the Gold Coast is rarely this kid-indulgent as full access to Paradise Country and its wildlife park is on offer, plus exclusive experiences like egg collecting, cow feeding and milking, campfire complete with marshmallow-topped twigs and unique animal encounters. And the tents themselves, which also cater just for couples, are beautifully appointed via polished timber furniture, deluxe bedding, private balconies, and a refrigerator.
Kids will surely love interacting with the animals on the farm. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
The only catch is a shared bathroom for those staying in the basic Family tents, but the Family Ensuite option comes with its own shower and toilet. There’s also a charming old shed, the Farmhouse Restaurant, dishing up a buffet breakfast, classic pub favourites for lunch and another overflowing buffet for dinner, plus they stage Sunday Sessions with live country music every weekend. The Burrow Café is also on hand for coffee and snacks. Couples’ tents start from $245 including tickets to Paradise Country, and family-friendly options start from $315.
Get a chance to feed farm animals. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
Another top-notch option for families hunting down kid-friendly activities is NRMA Parks & Resorts’ Treasure Island Holiday Resort, offering fun-filled glamping on the Gold Coast. Sure, it’s a holiday park, but a massive splash zone, three playgrounds, four swimming pools with one featuring a waterslide, giant bouncing pillow, daily kids’ club, go-kart and e-bike hire, games arcade, mini golf and the Bear Grylls Survival Academy outdoor experience help it rival Gold Coast’s famed theme parks for thrills.
The tents themselves, which sleep up to four people, are great, offering large front verandas with dining tables and a barbecue, private bathrooms, kitchenette, lounge area and a TV, and it’s extremely tidy and clean. Galleons Bistro, selling pizzas, burgers, and other hearty mains, is located right near the splash zone, so lunch and dinner is a cinch, plus there’s a bar offering a $10 cocktail menu. Sold. Rates start from $137 per night.
Live your best Instagram life thanks to Burleigh Beach Tourist Park’s Vintage Van, an adorable retro-style camper sure to turn the heads of every passer-by. Glamping on the Gold Coast doesn’t get much cosier than this as the tiny stay offers just one double bed, a sink, a bar fridge, a kettle accompanied with tea and coffee and a fan, but it’s all about the quieter things in life when you go glamping, and this quirky stay exudes laid-back cool.
Elsewhere in the park, you’ll find a camp kitchen plus shared barbecue facilities and a recreation room with a TV, but the location is right opposite a patrolled section of Burleigh Beach and just a short stroll from the suburb’s incredible collection of shops, eateries, and bars, so life should be pretty sweet. The Vintage Van is priced from $198 per night.
Tucked high in the hills of the stunning Gold Coast hinterland, Ketchup’s Bank Glamping is a secluded oasis, 90 minutes from the Gold Coast, offering two glorious glamping tents. You’ll feel lightyears away from civilisation as views across the region’s lush rolling hills take your breath away and the sound of birds chirping and spectacular wildlife provide a soulful soundtrack.
Stay in a glam tiny house in the middle of the forest.
Both the Ironbark Luxury and Knapps Premium Luxury tents offer comfortable, stylish lodgings complete with private al fresco kitchens stocked with utensils, plus private campfires, ensuites, internal bar fridges, dishwashers, Wi-Fi, and TVs. Various food hampers and charcuterie boards filled with seasonal produce can be purchased, providing romantics with the perfect accompaniments to sensational sunset gazing. Rates start from $249 per night with a two-night minimum.
Soak up epic sunset views at dusk.
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