Free to do,  Nature play

Sooty Owl’s Creekside Trail, Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens

Sooty Owl's Creekside Trail
Sooty Owl's Creekside Trail
Sooty Owl's Creekside Trail
Sooty Owl's Creekside Trail
Sooty Owl's Creekside Trail
Sooty Owl's Creekside Trail
Sooty Owl's Creekside Trail
Sooty Owl's Creekside Trail
Sooty Owl's Creekside Trail
Sooty Owl's Creekside Trail
Sooty Owl's Creekside Trail
Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens
Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens
Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens
Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens
Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens

The Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens is a hidden oasis, tucked away from the busy Gallery Walk and unfortunately, often missed by tourists. Spread over 11 hectares, there are numerous garden areas and walks, but one that is winning the hearts of Gold Coast kids is Sooty Owl’s Creekside Trail.

A family-friendly discovery trail, Sooty Owl’s Creekside trail will intrigue, surprise and educate children and adults alike. Follow a rustic path that leads through a Creekside gully, past a crooked water mill and an owl cubby house, over a number of bridges and alongside lots of hidden creatures to be spotted. The Thong Gong sits in the middle of this special space, where visitors can create musical tunes that may even call the birds! A beautiful King Parrot landed on our pipes as we were playing, what a treat!

Greater Sooty Owls are nocturnal and roost in large tree hollows, caves and in dense foliage during daylight hours. They’re rarely seen or heard, but found in areas with deep gullies in moist forests with smooth-barked gum trees and tree ferns. The Creekside trail teaches visitors about this natural space through many informative signs and installations.

Remember to look up, look down and look all around!

After exploring Sooty Owl’s Creekside Trail, why not venture through the other garden areas or have a picnic by the lake. The grounds are absolutely breathtaking, and the Tamborine Mountain Garden Club volunteers have done an incredible job establishing and maintaining this beautiful oasis for all to enjoy. Entry is free, but donations in the coin boxes at the entry are greatly appreciated.

Need to know:

  • Website: https://tmbotanicgardens.org.au/
  • Address: 25 Forsythia Dr, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
  • Opening hours: Daylight hours all year round
  • Cost: Free, donations greatly appreciated                                                                                         
  • Toilets available
  • Some areas are pram friendly, the Sooty Owl’s Creekside Walk has a few small stairs in it that could be manoeuvred over with a pram