Tamborine National Park is a protected area split between the City of Gold Coast and the Scenic Rim Region in South East Queensland, Australia, by road south of Brisbane.
It covers on the plateau of Tamborine Mountain and around its foothills. The plateau is long, wide and rises to an altitude of . The elevation of the plateau keeps the temperature down a little in summer although December to April is also the wettest time to visit. Winter is drier but also cooler.
The protected area is scattered across 14 separate reserves which make up the National Park, interspersed with villages. There are a number of picnic areas as well as scenic drives and many bushwalks to lookouts, gorges, cliffs, waterfalls, rainforest areas, wet eucalypt forest, open forest and woodlands.
Wildlife in the park includes Lyrebirds, the elusive platypus, brush-turkeys, lorikeets, eastern whipbirds and satin bowerbirds. The significance of the park is underscored by the fact that it provides habitat for 85% of all fauna species and 65% of all flora species in the Scenic Rim Regional Council area. Camping is not permitted in any part of the park. A range of small-scale cottages, bed-and-breakfast style accommodation, hotels and motels is available.
The main areas to visit in the park are Joalah, Cedar Creek, The Knoll, MacDonald Park, Niche's Corner, Palm Grove and Witches Falls. All have picnic facilities and walking tracks. All but Cedar Creek have information centres; most have toilets and some have barbecues.
Witches Falls
thumb|upright|left|[[Eucalyptus grandis|Flooded gums, 2010]]
thumb|Cedar Creek Falls, 2011
The Witches Falls section, on the eastern side of Mount Tamborine village, became Queensland's first national park in 1908.
Cedar Creek
Heading north from North Tamborine, via Tamborine Mountain Road, there is a turnoff into Cedar Creek Falls Road. One of the most delightful walks in the whole Tamborine area is the Cedar Creek Circuit (3.2 km) which explores the creek's various cascades, rock pools and plant communities, such as open and dry rainforest and hoop pines. The falls tumble (gently rather than spectacularly) down into a gully. The Rock Scree Walk intersects with the circuit walk, for a potential detour.
Niches Corner
Located approximately north of the Knoll and main section of Tamborine Mountain, Niches corner sits looking towards the Gold Coast and delivers expansive views. One of the best walks in the whole Tamborine area is the Niches Lookout Circuit () which explores the Niches Corners various cascades, rock pools and plant communities, such as open and dry rainforest and hoop pines.
See also
- Protected areas of Queensland