Review: The Tamborine Boutique Hotel combines retro charm and nature

Its not only the gorgeous pool that's attracting guests to this masterfully revamped ’70s hotel - there's nature at the front door.

Open since December, The Tamborine Boutique Hotel is a bougie retreat, setting a new benchmark for accommodation around Queensland’s Tamborine National Park.

Perched on the mountain escarpment, the classic hacienda-style motel, originally built in 1978, has been redeveloped with a striking white stucco facade and sweeping curved arches. Contemporary whitewashed elegance merges seamlessly with nostalgic charm, offering a uniquely refined escape.

Mountain views from The Tamborine Boutique Hotel.

Location

Tucked between Brisbane’s urban sprawl and the Gold Coast’s frenetic energy, Tamborine Mountain has been the region’s secret sanctuary since the early 1900s, thanks to its rainforest microclimate.

The former Mt Tamborine Motel has been revamped as The Tamborine Boutique Hotel. Picture Brigette Dye

The arrival

A long drive leading up an incline to The Tamborine gives ample opportunity to realise just what an effective revamp can achieve. At the hotel’s heart lies The Hub, an expansive communal space and social centrepiece where guests are welcomed with a “Friends of The Tamborine” card, unlocking exclusive offers at participating businesses, such as a complimentary tasting at Witches Falls Winery.'

Guest room at The Tamborine Boutique Hotel.

The room

The Tamborine’s 23 thoughtfully designed rooms (two accessible), have private balconies or terraces to maximise panoramic views. Birdsong echoes through the mist-shrouded rainforest at dawn, and daylight reveals a rolling carpet of lush green grass stretching to the escarpment edge. As night falls, towering gums, lit from below, stand silhouetted against a vast, shadowy expanse of World Heritage-listed rainforest.

Pared-back interiors take inspiration from the natural surroundings, with raw timber chairs and bedside tables fashioned from tree stumps, blending rustic charm with refined simplicity. Plush beds, bespoke pottery, and indulgent Leif bathroom products create a cocoon of luxury. It’s easy to slip into the snug robe, settle on the balcony with a steaming cup of artisan organic tea, and let the misty views transport you to tranquillity.

Thoughtful touches, like bedside charging points and seamless connectivity to the wall-mounted TV, blend comfort with convenience. While the room sizes echo the original design, the bathrooms have been reimagined with expanded functionality. A long vanity offers ample space for your bathroom essentials, while bronze fixtures elevate the experience.

The Tamborine offers a bar snack and pizza menu.

Food and drinks

The Tamborine doesn’t serve lunch or dinner, but a bar menu offers casual bites, from marinated olives and barbecue corn ribs to wood-fired pizzas. At 5pm daily is “Peacock O’Clock” – a delightful nod to Andrew, the resident peacock – when aperitifs are hosted in The Hub. The breakfast buffet, included in the tariff, is also served here. The Hub’s “pantry” brims with regional produce – raw bush honey, marmalade, wine, craft beers and artisanal cocktails – to buy and take home.

Hotel owners Gina McNamara and Nina Aberdeen have also put together “The Guide”, their pick of Tamborine Mountain’s cafes, restaurants, wineries, distilleries, shops and hiking trails.

For lunch, the Picnic Real Food Bar, where everything is made in-house from local produce, offers a true taste of the mountain. It’s conveniently next to boutique distillery Loborn, where you can sample amaro made from Australian native botanicals.

Saint Marthe Brasserie, a local favourite, is ideal for dining on affordable French-inspired cuisine around a central stone fireplace. Choose from dishes such as steak tartare, house-made chips, confit duck, or a Gruyère cheese soufflé. For breakfast, Franquette French patisserie on Tamborine’s Gallery Walk is a haven for pastry lovers.

The pool is a key focal point at The Tamborine Boutique Hotel.

Extras

Maintained at a blissful 27C year-round, the magnesium swimming pool and spa are irresistible. Fringed by deep green umbrellas and sleek white sun lounges, this elegant oasis invites relaxation.

What’s hot

Sipping on The Tamborine’s signature Mountain Negroni made with locally distilled Loborn amaro.

What’s not

The colour-coordinated hairdryer adds a stylish touch, but it could use a little more power. And if you’re hunting for an iron, you’ll find it in the shared walkway cupboard, along with board games, a first-aid kit, and an enticing selection of books.

The Tamborine Boutique Hotel features beautiful views of the Tamborine National Park.

The verdict: 8.5/10

This mountain retreat masterfully blends retro charm, sustainability and luxurious comfort, offering a serene escape that reconnects you with nature and lives up to its promise.

The writer was a guest of The Tamborine. Rates start at $390 a night for a two-night stay from Sunday to Thursday.

Originally published as Review: The Tamborine Boutique Hotel combines retro charm and nature