A new era for an iconic destination – Cedar Creek Lodges has rebranded to Tamborine Mountain Glades
Since 1999, Cedar Creek Lodges – located just under an hour from Brisbane and the Gold Coast – has welcomed over five million guests, set the scene for more than 2000 ‘I do’s’ and collected an impressive array of awards. Bob and Judi Minnikin, with their combined experience in business and tourism, transformed what was once a struggling property into a thriving nature-based tourism experience, now home to Australia’s premier adventure playground and a variety of accommodation options.
The journey was not without its challenges. “Thirty years ago, I was persuaded to join a consortium that bought Thunderbird Park, and with an appalling lack of due diligence, we became part owners,” Bob recalls with a laugh, kind of. Looking back, he revealed the property was heavily mortgaged and losing money. But the couple were determined to turn things around. “We dug in, worked bloody hard and got it done,” Bob said.
Welcoming over 200,000 visitors per year, Cedar Creek Lodges and Thunderbird Park have become beloved destinations. Now, as they turn the page on Tamborine Mountain Glades, the Minnikins are embracing a new chapter.
“We wanted to build a place people visited and returned year after year, somewhere people were drawn to, to walk, listen to nature, take their adrenaline up a notch, create forever memories with family and friends, or to start their own love stories,” Judi said. “We knew at the time it was a first, and our vision was new, but we were determined to realise it.”
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“Our range of accommodation, wedding and conference facilities, restaurant, and art gallery has grown to a standard that the old brand did not reflect,” Judi explains. “The new brand does, and under this banner, we excitedly look forward to new accommodations coming online,” Judi said.
One of the latest additions is The Vistas, a collection of 20 luxe suites designed for those seeking both comfort and style. These new offerings, alongside existing rooms, lodges and glamping tents, ensure that Tamborine Mountain Glades caters to every type of traveller, from those seeking adventure to those craving tranquillity. Later this year, Tamborine Mountain Glades will welcome SOL Elements, a Japanese-inspired retreat that is set to open this summer on the peninsular of Lake Waterlily.
For those with little humans in tow, Tamborine Mountain Glades offers a host of exciting activities for kids, including the Dig IT park, where children can operate mini-excavators, and the TreeTop Challenge featuring Australia’s largest high ropes adventure park complete with 180 tree-top activities and 18 ziplines.
From a tired resort losing money, Bob and Judi have turned Tamborine Mountain Glades into a world-class tourist destination that employs over 130 employees. The future, it seems, looks very bright indeed.
Take a peek at the new-look Tamborine Mountain Glades.