Spotlight on Thunderbird Park Camping and Activities
The Tree Top Challenge Juniors Course
My five-year-old daughter is frozen to the spot. She looks down at her feet, almost as if willing them to move. They don’t. ‘’You can do it, Trillian!’’ her seven-year-old brother says to her enthusiastically. ‘’Ready, three, two, one … Go!’’ he says.
Her feet still don’t move. I look up at her, holding on to her harness and standing on a purpose-built platform around a large tree around three metres above the ground. They have both been excited to take on the Tree Top Challenge Juniors course at Thunderbird Park for weeks.
After mastering the first three levels, this challenge of stepping from the comfort of the platform onto a climbing wall is tough. Nestled among the treetops, it appears the task at hand might beat her.
‘’C’mon baby girl, you can do this,’’ I think to myself, willing the thought in her direction.
The seconds tick by …
The seconds tick by and we wait, silent, holding our breaths. The course attendant, Kirby, clips his safety harness to the cable and makes his way over to assist. However, she wants to do this on her own. Digging deep, she finds the courage and reaches out her left hand, grabbing hold of one of the bright yellow supports and quickly steps onto a red one with her left foot. I let out my breath in relief.
Credit – Jessica Palmer
With sturdy legs shaking, she moves across the wall with determination, rebutting her brother’s suggestions by yelling, “Stop it, Ripley!’’ in annoyance when he yells out suggestions of which colour support to stand on. Her big brother follows behind and they congratulate each other, harnessed in safely and standing on a platform high among the rainforest trees in the beautiful Mt Tamborine area of the Gold Coast Hinterlands.
Woohoo … They Conquer All of The Challenges!
They conquer the last few challenges and end the course by ziplining back to the starting point. Landing on a net and giggling, there is a new spring of confidence in their step. As a parent, I love seeing this transformation.
The Tree Top Challenge Juniors at Thunderbird Park in the Gold Coast Hinterlands is an amazing experience for kids. Suitable for kids ages 3-7 years, the course has four sections, with the initial two starting low. This gives kids the chance to build confidence before moving on to the more challenging sections.
Completely harnessed in with an overhead cable which remains clipped on the entire time, kids can balance their way across planks, nets, zig-zag bridges and much more between the rainforest trees before zip-lining to the finish line of every challenge.
Check out our YouTube clip of Ripley and Trillian taking on the Junior Tree Top Challenge
Tree Top Challenge Adventures for Older Kids and Adults
‘‘Wouldn’t it be fun if there was one for adults?’’ I said to Kirby. ‘’That looks like heaps of fun!’’
‘’Oh there is, it’s just over there,’’ he says, pointing off to my right through the rainforest. The Adventure Park at Thunderbird Park is designed for the entire family aged 7 years and up. Kirby tells me it’s a lot of fun and I later learn that it’s Australia’s largest high ropes adventure park with over 120 TreeTop activities, including over 10 flying foxes.
No experience is required and the courses range from easy to extreme, traversing through nine acres of bushland and rainforest. Although I don’t have time to tackle this today, nor is the dress I am wearing appropriate for standing above people who may be looking upwards, I vow to come back next holidays to experience it.
Thunderegg Fossicking
After a break for lunch, we make our way over to the Thunderegg Mine and Crystal Panning rock shop. After learning how to successfully fossick for Sapphires in Rubyvale the previous year, I was sure we would all love fossicking for thundereggs.
A thunderegg is a kind of rough looking, roundish rock that when cut into two sections, reveals a hidden star shaped mineral inside. They are a 200 million year old mystery!
It’s thought they are formed by a volcanic upheaval millions of years ago, whereby bubbles formed in the silica-rich rock. As it cooled off, shrinkage of the materials produced a star shaped cavity which was eventually filled with minerals such as jasper, quartz, agate and others.
Image License – Some rights reserved by James St. J
I fail at suppressing a giggle as I imagine myself, hair unkempt, squatting down in the dirt and picking up a thunderegg, likening the image to Gollum in the famous Lord of the Rings ‘’my precious’’ scene.
Worlds Largest Thunderegg Mine!
Thunderbird Park is actually home to the world’s largest thunderegg mine. Finding one is surprisingly easy and the instructions given on where to dig and what to listen for when the pick hits the rock is spot on. Families get to keep what they dig up, providing it fits in the supplied buckets, and both kids and adult pick axes are supplied.
The kids trudge on up to the mine without too much complaint, although obviously tired after the Junior Tree Top Challenge. We all sit down to dig, making use of a hole that someone else has already started. I tell the kids we are digging smart and not hard, but really I am just tired.
‘’Is this a thunderegg,’’ Trillian asks, picking up a rough egg shaped rock. ‘’I have no idea, we don’t know until it’s cut open,’’ I reply. She gives it a little whack with her pickaxe, and satisfied with the ‘’clink’’ sound, tosses it in her bucket. Being the youngest, she is first to run out of steam, preferring to just pick up rocks found on the surface and throw them in her bucket rather than exert any more energy with her pick.
Trudging back, I find myself carrying not just my own, but two extra buckets of rocks, two extra pickaxes and the backpack containing our drinks. As a mum, I’m no stranger to being a pack mule but this was too much. “If I carry them back, I’m keeping them,’’ I say. Strangely enough, they find a burst of energy to carry their own buckets!
Credit – Thunderbird Park
The Staff Cut The Eggs in Half For You!
Tipping our potential thundereggs onto the counter, Quenn, the extremely knowledgeable guy behind the counter, picked out a few he was confident would be good thundereggs and went out back to cut them in half for us. The thundereggs on display are magnificent, ranging in size from golf balls to extremely large watermelons, each with a variety of colours contained within its star shaped core and each polished to perfection, showcasing the wonderful minerals contained within.
I wonder how they managed to cart the larger ones from the mine back to here. Do they just roll them for the downhill parts? Once again, I fail at suppressing a laugh when a memory resurfaces from over 30 years ago of my mother mortified when at the top of an escalator, our watermelon escaped from the bottom tray of the trolley and rolled all the way down to splat at the bottom. I doubt the thunderegg would splat though.
More likely it would act as a bowling ball, creating carnage for the human leg pins on its speedy journey down the hill. On second thoughts, they probably just use a tractor or something.
Returning with our loot, Quenn uncovers six thundereggs with varying colours and minerals and explains how to polish them at home. We bag our remaining uncut treasure to take home with us. Hopefully we can find someone to cut the rest open at home!
Watch our YouTube clip on Thunderegg Fossicking and Crystal Planning at Thunderbird Park
However, before heading calling it quits for the day, we have to try just one more thing!
Mining for Crystals at Thunderbird Park
The kids each grab a bag of sand and head over to the crystal mining area. Water is channelled through long, narrow troughs, allowing you to add a few handfuls of sand to the supplied sieve. You then gently dunk it into the water to wash away the sand and reveal the crystals.
This is a great activity for younger kids as the sandbag is guaranteed to contain crystals, thus avoiding disappointment. Even I am surprised by how many beautiful coloured sparkly gems the kids uncover. Acutely aware of the time, I stare longingly back towards the campgrounds as we head towards the car.
Thunderbird Park Camping
Families can bring their caravan, tent or camper and set up in either a powered or unpowered spacious site. Nestled along the boundary of Tamborine National Park, the campsite is a natural oasis featuring rock pools along Cedar Creek which flows through the property.
Credit – Thunderbird Park
Thunderbird Park camping features a rock-boarded circular fire pit at every van and campsite and comfortable amenity blocks with a great communal camp kitchen. For families staying longer, there are plenty more family-friendly activities on offer at Thunderbird Park.
But first, lets talk about …
Thunderbird Park Glamping and Other Accommodation
Thunderbird Park camping now also features glamping tents! Surrounded by rainforest and overlooking Cedar Creek, these Lotus Tents require no effort. You can even shower under the stars with a next-level ensuite.
The Thunderbird Park Glamping tents feature a King size koala bed, Plasma TV and DVD player, private bathroom with open air shower, single sofa/day bed, dining table and chairs, bar fridge, microwave, kettle, toaster, BBQ, linen and crockery.
Other accommodation options include two bedroom bush lodges and Cedar Creek lodges.
Credit – Thunderbird Park
Other Fun Activities at Thunderbird Park
Swim in the natural rock pools, play mini-golf, join in the daily bird feeding, go on a hike, and play laser skirmish or pickleball. Make sure you spend some time at Thunderbird Park’s newest attraction, Fun Fair. Here you can scoot along the water in pedal boats and water bikes, zoom around on pedal go-karts and let the kids loose in the jumping castles.
A Thunderbird Park camping getaway is ideal for families with active kids or for those who want to encourage their kids to be more active. Thunderbird Park is an active kid’s happy place!
Pssst – If you’re looking for more family fun in the Gold Coast hinterlands, make sure to check out this Alpaca Picnic.
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Gold Coast family holiday resources
Best time to visit the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is really an all-year-round holiday destination. However, it gets pretty busy during the summer school holidays.
December to February sees tropical weather with more chance of rain. Many tout April and May as a great time to visit due to lower rainfall, but I personally find the ocean a bit too chilly at this time.
Where to stay
If staying in Burleigh Heads, Swell Resort is a fantastic option for families with roomy apartment-style offerings. The resort is set close to restaurants, only 100 metres from the beach. This is my top pick for the Gold Coast.
If staying in the Gold Coast Hinterlands, you can’t go past Binna Burra Lodge or O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Both offer a range of accommodations.
If you’re looking for a family resort with everything to occupy the kids, NRMA Treasure Island and Paradise Resort are top choices.
Those seeking luxury will love the Gold Coast Marriott or The Star.
Getting to the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is located one hour south of Brisbane on the East Coast of Australia.
Both domestic and international flights service the Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta. Find a great deal on Trip.com
The Gold Coast is connected by rail to Brisbane’s Roma Street and Central stations. There is also an AirTrain that runs a regular rail service taking around 90 minutes.
Getting around the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast has an extensive bus service with over 60 routes within the city. If venturing to the Gold Coast Hinterlands, hiring a car is an excellent option if you don’t have your own.
