Tamborine Mountain’s creative escape awaits at Muddy Matcha.
Tamborine Mountain’s creative escape awaits at Muddy Matcha.
Getting stuck in the mud isn’t so bad when matcha is part of the deal. Perched along Tamborine Mountain’s Gallery Walk, Clay Temple Co. and Muddy Matcha have teamed up to create a dreamy double act where ceramics and ceremonial tea swirl together for a perfect day out.
The creative collaboration is the handiwork of couple Dyllan Joyce and Janel Eldridge, who have quite literally moulded their passions into one beautiful mountain sanctuary. It’s equal parts pottery studio and matcha bar, a space where getting your hands dirty is a must and your reward is a perfectly whisked cup of green goodness.
The story began, fittingly, on a date. While visiting Tamborine Mountain, the pair spotted a space for lease and the wheels (pottery wheels, that is) started turning. For Dyllan, the opportunity felt fated. Having worked as a pottery teacher in the city, he had dreamt of opening his own studio and the mountain’s creative community felt like the perfect place to fire up that idea.
Dyllan’s path to pottery has been anything but one-note. With a background spanning building, music, teaching and art design (not to mention previously running the sourdough bakery Perfect Loaf!) he’s no stranger to crafting things by hand. Learning construction alongside his father and brother taught him how to shape spaces as well as clay, a skill that comes in handy inside the cosy studio.
Nestled in the oldest part of Tamborine Mountain, the space may be small, but it’s packed with personality. Natural textures, earthy tones and clever design nod to the elements that inspire Dyllan’s work.
Inside Clay Temple Co., students settle in at the wheel to experience the meditative art of pottery. But once the clay has been thrown and creativity is flowing, it’s time to pop next door for the other half of the experience: Muddy Matcha.
While Clay Temple Co. has been opened for a few years, Muddy Matcha has just joined the fold. This is where Janel’s passion comes into play inspired by her Japanese grandfather and shaped by her upbringing in the Philippines.
Every cup of matcha is hand-whisked using organic tea sourced from Uji in Kyoto, widely regarded as the spiritual home of high-quality matcha. The result is smooth, earthy and beautifully balanced sips that pair surprisingly well with pottery-fuelled fun.
Ordering your drink is almost as creative as throwing a bowl. Choose a base – matcha, hojicha, cold brew, chai or cocoa – then customise it with flavours like strawberry, Tokyo banana or salted caramel and black sesame. Pick your sweetness, your milk, and maybe finish with a fluffy honey cloud on top.
In a clever twist for mountain wanderers, drinks can even be canned on the spot so you can take them with you to explore Tamborine’s boutiques, rainforest walks and lookout points.
Or just grab a seat outside the studio and soak up the good vibes. Trust us, matcha tastes even better after making something of your own.
Where: Shop 2-3 / 161 Long Road Tamborine Mountain
When: Clay Temple: Wed–Sun 9am–5pm Muddy Matcha: Sat–Mon 9am–3pm
Instagram:@muddy.matcha
Words by Lisette Drew
Images by Carly King
Peddly Picnics is the new way to explore the magic of Tamborine Mountain.
We love a road trip, but driving around can often make you feel like you’re missing out on secret spots. That’s where Peddly Picnics rolls in, the ultimate sipping, snacking and cycling experience that lets you explore the Scenic Rim at a slightly slower pace.
Set against the lush surrounds of Tamborine Mountain, this brand-new, eco-friendly adventure combines fresh air and foodie fun with a modern, electric bike-powered twist. It’s the perfect day out for couples, friends, families and even your four-legged friend (yes, pups are welcome if they fit in the basket!).
Here’s how it works: book your experience instore or on the Peddly Picnic website, pick up your e-bike and picnic basket from their shop in Tamborine, and set off on a self-guided trail that loops through the mountain’s most celebrated cellar doors, distilleries, cafes, and farm-to-table eateries. Think of it as a progressive picnic on two wheels, with spectacular Scenic Rim views along the way.
And because no one wants to cycle on an empty stomach, the stops are seriously worth braking for.
Kick things off at Picnic Real Food Bar, a wholesome haven from chef Brenda Fawdon, where organic produce and closed-loop sustainability are the order of the day (literally – your scraps are composted back into the soil!).
Just a quick pedal away, Loborn Distillery offers a modern Australian take on amaro, the iconic Italian aperitif. Learn about their sips and soak in the mountain magic.
For wine and beer fans, roll on to Witches Falls Winery and Boxer Brewing Co for a double delight of wild ferment wines on one side, crisp lagers and ciders on the other.
Cauldron Distillery stirs the pot. Set across seven scenic hectares, it’s home to award-winning gins and brand-new agave spirits, best enjoyed with woodfired pizza on the sprawling lawn.
Then coast down to Saint Marthe Brasserie for a French feast before swapping your wine glass for a coffee cup at the Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation, where beans are grown, roasted and brewed right where you sip them.
Of course, no Peddly Picnic is complete without a little nature time. Park your bikes at Curtis Falls Track for a short rainforest walk to one of the region’s prettiest waterfalls or take in the views from Robert Sowter Park Lookout, the perfect place to lay out your picnic and watch paragliders drift over the rim.
If you’re anything like us, you’ll want a rest after all the sipping, snacking and cycling. With new accommodation, boutique stays, cabins and glamping spots popping up across the mountain, you might just be tempted to make a weekend of it. Tamborine Mountain is a few degrees cooler than the coast, making it the ideal summer escape.
So if you’re craving a day that’s equal parts adventure and indulgence, get geared up for a trip to Tamborine Mountain.
To book your ride, head to peddlypicnics.com.au.
Where: 43 Main St, Tamborine Mountain
When: 8.30am – 4pm Thursday – Sunday, 9am – 1pm Monday
Words by Lisette Drew
STORY SPONSORED BY PEDDLY PICNICS
Get the first look at SOL Elements, Australia’s first ‘floating’ elemental bathhouse.
Wellness can feel like a complicated chemistry experiment these days. Ten thousand steps here, three litres of water there, a sprinkle of meditation, a dash of manifestation and namaste – you’re suddenly an enlightened guru!
But what if you could skip the juggling act and find your zen in one place?
Big ask, we know, but we’ve found it (and you’re welcome). SOL Elements in Tamborine Mountain is your one-stop sanctuary for self-care, and it officially opens this week!
Four years in the making, husband-and-wife duo Russell and Shae Raven have poured heart, soul and an extraordinary amount of detail into this “floating” elemental bathhouse. Designed in collaboration with Design Artisan Co, SOL sits on the lake’s edge – home to turtles, ducks and curious native birdlife – with a circular exterior that appears to hover over the water.
Look closer and you’ll see layers of meaning in every angle. Beneath its curves lies a sacred geometry hexadecagon (that’s a 16-sided shape, for those of us who had to Google it), symbolising the bridge between earth and the divine.
Inside, a Yin Yang Zen Garden blooms around an Eastern Red Bud tree – a nod to the balance of masculine and feminine energy – and Yakisugi (traditional Japanese burnt wood) clads the space, each piece personally hand-burnt by Russell under the guidance of Japanese master craftsman Kenji Nishishita. This is a bathhouse with soul and serious design cred.
Inspired by the four elements – earth, air, fire, and water – SOL is all about unplugging from constant notifications and reconnecting with nature. And yes, phones are off the menu here (cue the collective sigh of relief).
Just 50 minutes from both the Gold Coast and Brisbane, this lush mountain escape is cocooned in rainforest and waterfalls. The soundtrack? Birds, breeze and water – no Spotify required.
From the moment you step inside, you’re guided on an immersive, soul-deep journey. Here’s the low-down:
Communal Bathhouse
Your SOL adventure starts in the Earth Suite and Botanical Scrub Bar – a lush living wall framing a four-metre ironbark slab topped with 111 hand-carved bowls. This is where you create your own luxe body scrub, choosing from ingredients like Australian sea salt, chamomile flowers, hibiscus, spirulina and rose petals – a sensory warm-up before your soak.
Then, it’s time to glide between three outdoor magnesium thermal pools (a toasty 38°C), two bracing 12°C cold plunges, a cedar wood sauna with glass-fronted lake views, a “silent” botanical steam room, and a glowing Himalayan salt cave. Float past the submerged outdoor firepit, tucked just below water level for a dreamy “fire on water” moment. With a cap of 30 guests at a time, it’s intimate, peaceful and worlds away from the hustle.
Elemental Secluded Suites
Need a little “do not disturb” moment? Retreat to one of two secluded suites (yes, one is dog-friendly) with your own mineral bath on the balcony, indoor infrared sauna, ice bath, panoramic lake views, and a private Earth Lab for exclusive scrubs and volcanic clay masks. There’s even a wellness mini-bar stocked with herbal teas by Cloud Hidden (including a cooling white tea called Resonance and a focus-boosting red tea called Transcendence) plus signature “spatinis.”
Float Caves
For a full mental reboot, sink into a magnesium float cave – infused with a powerful blend of Epsom and Dead Sea salts for next-level buoyancy. No noise, no phones, just you, water and bliss.
Massage & Treatments
Finally, drift into the Alchemy Spa where rituals by Synthesis Organics are designed to elevate your elemental journey. There are six bespoke treatments, including the two-hour Signature SOL Transcendence Ritual (energy cleansing, crystal hot stones, facial techniques and a restorative scalp treatment) and the Earthing Immersion – a hot stone and sound journey using stones respectfully gathered with permission from Indigenous Elders across Australia, each with its own connection to the land’s ancient energy.
This isn’t just a bathhouse. It’s an experience built with intention in every detail – from the burnt timber cladding to the bronze fixtures, from the lake-level firepit to the herbal tea station. And now, it’s yours to sink into.
Where: Tamborine Mountain Glades, Cedar Creek Falls Rd & Tamborine Mountain Rd, Tamborine Mountain
When: Monday to Thursday, 8am – 8pm, Friday to Sunday, 8am – 10pm
Words by Lisette Drew
Retreat Yo’ Self.
Need a moment to pause? How about a full factory reset? From serene hinterland hideaways to eco-luxe rainforest sanctuaries and beachfront yoga havens, the Gold Coast region is packed with wellness retreats designed to refresh your mind, body, and soul.
Whether you’re craving silent reflection, a deep detox, yoga and breathwork, or indulgent spa treatments, these retreats offer a range of multi-day, overnight, and day experiences with stunning locations. Each destination combines mindful practices, holistic therapies, and nature immersion to help you reset, restore, and reconnect.
Set high on a private hinterland ridge and wrapped in 200 hectares of untouched bushland, this award-winning wellness retreat is all about a total reset. Guests can embrace a range of holistic wellness therapies, including massage and organic facials; eastern therapies such as acupuncture and ayurvedic aromatherapy; naturopathy; psychology; insightful experiences such as reiki and astrology; equine therapy; functional movement, and more. They offer a range of targeted experiences, from silent and burnout retreats to gut health and longevity retreats ranging from 2 to 6 days.
Our pick: A 3-night Silent Retreat combining yin-based movement, massage, chef-prepared organic meals, journalling, mindfulness practices, and breathwork
Where: 192 Syndicate Rd, Tallebudgera Valley
Tucked into subtropical rainforest just minutes from Currumbin Creek, this eco-luxe sanctuary blends nature immersion with next-level wellbeing. Expect world-class wellness facilities and therapies, including cryotherapy, float therapy, infrared and Finnish saunas, cold plunges, yoga and pilates classes, and access to 380 acres of tranquil rainforest surrounds, which is equal parts breathtaking and healing. Stay for the weekend or up to 2 weeks; we will take the latter option.
Our pick: A Taste of Eden: 2 nights’ luxurious accommodation, exclusive use of premium facilities, up to 8 daily wellness classes to enjoy.
Where: 1815 Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin Valley
A hidden hinterland escape where spa indulgence meets mountain serenity, and yes, you can stay the night (or three). Alongside magnesium spa pools, saunas, massages and infinity-style valley views, On Eagle Wings also offers ultra-luxe, adults-only spa villas designed for serious switch-off mode. Think king beds, freestanding tubs with mountain views, private hydrotherapy spas, cosy fireplaces and decks made for bubbly at sunset. Perfect for a romantic reset or solo recharge, you can pair your stay with day spa packages ranging from 1 to 5 hours, featuring massages, facials, body wraps, scrubs and foot treatments, plus access to Infra-Red Detox Saunas, a Hydrotherapy Mineral Spa and a 25m heated infinity lap pool. Basically, check in, melt down, float home.
Our pick: Getaway Spa Package: 3.5 hours of pure indulgence, featuring body scrubs, full body massage, 2 hours’ full access to spa facilities, a delicious dessert surprise, your choice of a complimentary alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage.
Where: 59 Lowry Ct, Neranwood
If you’re craving something slower, quieter, and deeply restorative, this boutique Ayurvedic retreat delivers just that. Set amongst peaceful hinterland on the edge of the Scenic Rim, the focus here is gentle yoga, meditation, plant-based meals, and traditional Ayurvedic principles designed to reset digestion, energy, and mind. Kick off your wellness retreat with a sunset herbal tea paired with mindfulness and Pranayama practice. Days two and three invite various styles of yoga, delicious Ayurvedic meals, and personal time, which can take the form of a massage if that’s what you crave.
Our pick: A Day Of Healing: a single-day retreat featuring yoga, breath work, guided practices for deep rest, lunch, and afternoon tea.
Where: 87 Binna Burra Rd, Beechmont
Nestled within four acres of lush rainforest and gardens in Mount Tamborine, Escarpment Retreat and Day Spa is designed to give couples a romantic and indulgent escape, featuring romantic chalet-style villas as well as the self-contained Edge House that offers complete privacy with uninterrupted valley views. Treatments- including massage, facials, hot stones, and body scrubs- combine relaxation and remedial techniques to melt away stress and tension.
Our pick: Time Out Treatment Package: 90 minutes of head-to-toe treatment featuring a massage, organic facial, foot scrub, and foot massage.
Where: 123 Alpine Terrace, Tamborine Mountain
Set on 20 acres high in the Byron Bay hinterland, this award-winning boutique wellness retreat blends luxury with thoughtful simplicity – all wrapped in subtropical gardens, magnesium pools, hot rock saunas and tranquil walking trails. Gaia specialises in flexible retreat options, with freedom to personalise your experience with additional nights, treatments, spa credits, and more. Each package includes over 25 core inclusions, plus bespoke package inclusions. You can tailor your journey to exactly what your mind, body, and soul crave, whether that’s complete R & R, detox, or deeper self-exploration.
Our pick: 2-night Revive: gourmet meals, access to a range of restorative and active classes such as sound healing, Qi Gong, yoga, pilates, breathwork, and more, plus access to Gaia’s premium facilities.
Where: 933 Fernleigh Rd, Brooklet
Perched deep within Springbrook rainforest, this retreat is designed for those who want to truly switch off. Silent retreats are the hero here, paired with guided meditations, gentle yoga, chanting sessions, delicious vegetarian meals, and optional massages and facials. Enjoy your own private room within the peaceful rainforest venue.
Our pick: Two-night Silent Retreat
Where: Set on 50 acres of rainforest in Springbrook
Designed specifically for cleansing and renewal, White Lotus offers structured retreats with a strong emphasis on internal reset and deep cellular healing. Choose from intense healing and detox programs, including the Tao of Detox Alkaline Water Fasting Retreat, Fertility and Preconception Care Retreat, or Cancer Support Therapy Retreat. Guests can expect mindful movement, guided wellbeing practices, and biohacking healing techniques refined in Byron Bay since 2010, all in simple, supportive surroundings.
Our pick: Kahuna Bodywork (also known as Hawaiian Temple Massage or Lomi Lomi)
Where: 78 Bangalow Rd, Byron Bay
These yoga-centric retreats bring together daily mindful movement, breathwork, and soulful connection in idyllic locations around Australia and the world. Perfect if your idea of wellness is flowing on the mat by day and soaking up nature by night. Think small, intimate groups in beautiful locations such as Byron Bay’s beachfront, Tuscany, Italy, and Baja Mexico. Sounds pretty incredible if you ask us.
Our pick: A Better You At The Mondrian Hotel: Two-night women’s only reset- a potent blend of yoga asana, pranayama (breath practices), philosophy, discussion and reflection, guided meditation, wellness rituals, and candlelit restorative sessions, all crafted to support deep transformation hosted at The Mondrian in Burleigh Heads.
Where: Various locations.
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
