From Cedar Creek Falls and Tamborine Mountain to whale watching, wildlife encounters, and world-class surf breaks — the Gold Coast delivers extraordinary experiences on both coast and in the hinterland.
The Gold Coast is one of Australia's most diverse destinations — a place where 57 kilometres of golden surf beaches meet ancient, World Heritage-listed rainforest within the same hour's drive. Beyond the famous surf breaks of Surfers Paradise and the coastal strip's theme parks and nightlife, the city's lush green hinterland holds some of Queensland's most spectacular natural treasures.
Cooee Tours specialises in taking visitors beyond the postcard — into Tamborine National Park, Lamington's subtropical rainforest, the cliffside lookouts of Springbrook, and the translucent rock pools of Cedar Creek Falls. Our expert local guides bring expert knowledge of the region's ecology, history, and hidden gems that most visitors miss. Whether you're after a half-day hinterland walk, a full-day wildlife safari, a whale watching cruise, or a multi-day Gold Coast package, we have the perfect experience.
Hot and humid, perfect for beaches and waterfalls. Hinterland is lush and green — waterfall flows are at their most impressive after rainfall.
Ideal conditions for hinterland walks and outdoor tours. Humidity drops, temperatures are perfect, and trails are quieter.
Peak whale watching season on the east coast. Mild, dry days of 21–24 °C. Best time for hinterland day trips and golf. Minimal rain.
Warm-up season — excellent for wildlife, wildflowers, and outdoor adventures. Water temperatures rising. Whale watching continues to November.
The Gold Coast stretches across a remarkable range of landscapes. Explore the area that suits your interests.
One of the Gold Coast Hinterland's most beloved natural attractions — a 15–20 metre cascading waterfall with crystal-clear rock pools, tucked inside Tamborine National Park.
Tucked away at the base of Tamborine Mountain, Cedar Creek Falls is one of the Gold Coast's most treasured natural secrets. A 15–20 metre cascade tumbles over ancient rock into a series of crystal-clear swimming rock pools, surrounded by subtropical rainforest and towering eucalyptus. As you descend into the gorge, the vegetation shifts from dry eucalypt forest to lush, fern-filled rainforest — home to Australian brush-turkeys, eastern water dragons, and a chorus of native birdlife.
There are two distinct experiences at Cedar Creek Falls: the easy lookout walk suitable for all ages, and the swim walk to the rock pools below. Day trippers come to swim, picnic, and simply breathe in the cool mountain air — a perfect counterpoint to the beaches below.
From ancient rainforest and swimming holes to whale watching and wildlife encounters — the Gold Coast's best experiences, handpicked by our local guides.
Perched 550 metres above the Gold Coast, Tamborine Mountain is the hinterland's most popular village destination. Gallery Walk's 60+ boutiques, artisan galleries, distilleries, and cheese shops make it perfect for a leisurely browse, while the mountain's national parks offer excellent walking tracks.
One of Australia's most celebrated wildlife sanctuaries, Currumbin sits just off the Gold Coast Highway at Currumbin Beach. Hand-feed wild rainbow lorikeets in their flocks at the famous morning feeding sessions, cuddle a koala, and get close to kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and Tasmanian devils.
Part of the UNESCO Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area, Springbrook's rugged volcanic plateau is a natural wonderland of forested gorges, dramatic cliff lookouts, and cascading waterfalls. The unique Natural Bridge — a rock arch through which a waterfall plunges into a cave inhabited by glowworms — is one of Queensland's most extraordinary sights.
Each year between June and November, thousands of humpback whales migrate along the Gold Coast as part of their annual journey between Antarctica and the warm breeding waters of the Coral Sea. The Gold Coast offers world-class whale watching in calm, sheltered waters just minutes offshore — whale sightings are virtually guaranteed in peak season.
Part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area, Lamington is one of Queensland's most spectacular national parks. The Green Mountains section hosts O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat — legendary for wild bird feeding encounters with rosellas, king parrots, and Regent bowerbirds landing directly on your hand — and the famous Tree Top Canopy Walk elevated 15 metres above the forest floor.
The Gold Coast's 57 km of beaches range from the iconic surf breaks of Surfers Paradise and Burleigh Heads to the calm, creek-fed shallows of Tallebudgera Creek — a local secret perfect for families and paddleboarding. Cooee Tours offers guided surf lessons, jet ski tours, kayaking on the Broadwater, and coastal kayaking.
The Gold Coast Hinterland's subtropical rainforests are part of the UNESCO-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.
Handcrafted Gold Coast experiences from a half-day hinterland escape to a multi-day coast and hinterland immersion.
"Cedar Creek Falls was worth every bit of the drive. The water was crystal clear and freezing cold — exactly what you need on a hot Queensland day. Our guide knew every inch of the mountain and pointed out wildlife we'd never have spotted ourselves. Absolutely loved it."
"We saw three humpback whales within the first 20 minutes of the cruise — one breached completely out of the water right next to the boat. Incredible. The marine biologist commentary made the experience so much richer. Best thing we did on the Gold Coast, no contest."
"The 3-day Coast & Hinterland package was perfect for our family. The kids' favourite was Currumbin — feeding the lorikeets was absolute chaos in the best possible way. And then Cedar Creek Falls the next morning completely blew them away. Brilliant itinerary."
Everything you need to know before visiting the Gold Coast with Cooee Tours.
Cedar Creek Falls is approximately 50 km from the Gold Coast city centre — around a 1-hour drive via Tamborine Mountain Road. Turn onto Cedar Creek Falls Road (signposted), just past the information bay on the left. The official car park is small and fills quickly on weekends and summer holidays. If it's full, park at Thunderbird Park (Cnr Tamborine Mountain Rd & Cedar Creek Falls Rd) — it's a flat, scenic 15–20 minute walk to the falls entrance. Cooee Tours handles all transport and parking on our guided tours.
Yes — Cedar Creek Falls has several natural freshwater rock pools that are popular for swimming in the warmer months (October–April). The walk to the rock pools is 1.1 km return (Grade 3, involves a series of stairs). Swimming is best enjoyed after moderate rainfall when the falls are flowing well. Avoid swimming immediately after very heavy rain, as debris and strong current make conditions dangerous. Cliff jumping at the falls is strictly prohibited — please respect this rule for your safety.
Partially, yes. The lookout walk (500m return, Grade 1) is flat sealed bitumen from the car park and is fully accessible for prams, strollers, and assisted wheelchair access — the lookout offers spectacular canyon and waterfall views without any steps. The onward walk to the swimming rock pools (Grade 3) involves stairs and is suitable for older children and adults with moderate fitness. There are free BBQ facilities, picnic tables, and toilets near the car park.
The Gold Coast is genuinely a year-round destination. Winter (June–August) is the most comfortable for land-based touring — mild, dry, 21–24 °C days with minimal humidity — and is also peak whale watching season. Spring (September–November) brings warm weather and beautiful hinterland conditions. Summer (December–February) is great for beaches and swimming holes but can be humid. Avoid school holiday peak weeks if possible, as popular spots like Cedar Creek Falls become very busy.
We offer a full range of Gold Coast guided experiences: Cedar Creek Falls and Tamborine Mountain day tours, Lamington National Park walks, Springbrook National Park tours, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary visits, whale watching cruises (June–November), hinterland wine and distillery tours, surf lessons, and multi-day Gold Coast packages combining coast, hinterland, and wildlife. All tours feature expert local guides, small groups, and return transport from your Gold Coast accommodation.
The Gold Coast has outstanding free attractions: Cedar Creek Falls and its rock pools (free entry, Tamborine National Park), Surfers Paradise beach and foreshore, Burleigh Heads National Park coastal walks, Tallebudgera Creek swimming area, the Natural Bridge in Springbrook National Park (free to walk to), Curtis Falls walk on Tamborine Mountain, the Broadbeach esplanade, and Currumbin beach. Note that parking at popular natural sites like Cedar Creek Falls can be limited on weekends.
Absolutely — we offer family-friendly options across all our Gold Coast tours. Cedar Creek Falls lookout walk is perfect for all ages including young children in prams. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is beloved by families. Our family nature packages are designed to be engaging and educational for children aged 5 and above. Whale watching cruises have no minimum age and children love the experience. Contact us before booking to discuss your children's ages so we can recommend the best itinerary.
The Tamborine Mountain Glow Worm Caves at Cedar Creek Estate Winery are a unique daytime glow worm experience — unlike most glow worm tours which take place at night in the rainforest, this controlled, darkened cave environment can be visited any time of the day. Thousands of Arachnocampa flindersensis glow worms illuminate the cave ceiling. It's fully accessible, suitable for all ages, and conveniently combined with a Cedar Creek Estate Winery tasting. It's about 5 minutes drive from Cedar Creek Falls itself.
From Cedar Creek Falls and rainforest walks to whale watching and wildlife encounters — let our local experts show you the Gold Coast you'd never find on your own.