Bring on tomorrow, bring on 2032!
- The famed Cedar Creek Lodges and Thunderbird Park has rebranded to Tamborine Mountain Glades, here’s why and why it’s so special.
- As Brisbane prepares to welcome the world for what just may become the ‘Natural Wonders’ Olympics, Tamborine Mountain Glades is set to lead the way.
VNR and imagery here
The year was 1999 - Britney Spears had just skyrocketed to global fame with Baby One More Time, Cher urged us all to Believe, Ricky Martin danced to Livin la Vida Loca and the Backstreet Boys wanted it That Way; John Howard was Prime Minister and Peter Beattie was Queensland Premier, and Bob and Judi Minnikin took over Cedar Creek Lodges on Tamborine Mountain just under an hour from Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
It was the start of a 25 year tourism love affair that changed their lives and the Australian tourism industry.
Almost a generation later, and after a false start and half a million reasons that would have eliminated most from the industry forever, more than five million people from all over Australia and across the globe have experienced the joy of Cedar Creek Lodges and Thunderbird Park. Now these flagbearers of Queensland tourism are again the leading the way, rebranding and adding to their already iconic destination, in readiness for tomorrow, and for the 2032 Natural Wonders Olympics!!
Over 2,000 weddings have happened over the 25 years – that’s a whole lot of love stories and there’s a mantlepiece heavy with national and state awards, an employee alumni that’s the envy of corporate Australia, and 114 extraordinary hectares that’s home to the country’s number 1 adventure playground, and a full range of accommodation offerings from on-trend rooms to 5 star glamping and luxe lodges, all neighbouring the world famous Tamborine National Park in the Scenic Rim.
Over 200,000 people visit Cedar Creek Lodges and Thunderbird Park each year, and from today, the place that is loved by so many, will be known as Tamborine Mountain Glades, a brand according to Bob and Judi, that better reflects its suite of experiences, future developments, and the importance of the mountainside they call home.
Judi and Bob Minnikin’s own love affair reflects theirs with the mountain. They met in Cairns – Judi had moved there after working London as a film editor, and Bob was at the beginning of what would be a legendary career.
They both had business in their blood. Judi’s was in real estate, establishing the biggest body corporate business in Queensland, before managing a national fashion empire. Bob is an incredibly respected business leader; he was General Manager of the Brisbane city-changing Expo ’88, and picked up an MBE for his work on the Commonwealth Games. Together they are a force of nature, and together they have created a nature-based tourism experience unlike any other.
“Thirty years ago I was persuaded to join a consortium that had bought Thunderbird Park and with an appalling lack of due diligence, we became part owners,” said Bob, with a touch of humour… now that those years have passed. “It was quickly evident that this was a rather tired property, mortgaged to the hilt, and losing money. The best thing I ever did was to persuade Judi, when she sold out of the fashion world, to come here and turn things around,” he said. “My consortium partners could not run away fast enough, and leave it all to us. So on the one hand we paid nothing for Thunderbird Park and on the other, a hell of a lot.”
“It then got worse because the problems were greater than even I had imagined. The ATO was owed BAS monies of over $500,000 and they were in no mood to negotiate. While Judi is a visionary and can sell anything, even she baulked at selling weddings and conferences 12 months into the future, with ‘Under Administration’ on the letterhead. So we dug in, worked bloody hard and got it done.”
Judi said they were very difficult times, but times that forged them closer and indelibly inked in both of them what they wanted to create on the mountain, that being an extraordinary tourism operation that would be forever a work in progress. “Today we stand here sharing that vision, and launching the next chapter – Tamborine Mountain Glades,” said Judi. “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,” she said. “We knew at the time it was a first, and our vision was new, but we were determined to realise it.”
“The transition today from Cedar Creek Lodges to Tamborine Mountain Glades is another line in the sand for us. Our range of accommodation, wedding and conference facilities, restaurant and art gallery has grown to a standard that the old brand did not reflect,” she said. “The new brand does, and under this banner we excitedly look forward to new accommodation coming online, having just launched the 20-room luxe suites called The Vistas, and will be welcoming the Japanese inspired SOL Elemental Spathis Summer on the peninsular on Lake Waterlily.
Judi said they could have remained entrenched in the 90’s, employing no more than 10 people and going nowhere. “Instead, we chose to embrace the challenges – bushfire, drought, ravaging storms, COVID, cost of living ups and downs, financial market movements, and changing tourism trends – and keep moving onward and upward. We now have over 130 incredible people and we love where we are headed!”
JUST LAST WEEK Tamborine Mountain Glades became proudly certified by EcoTourism Australia in the Nature Tourism category. “To achieve this certification we have proven through thorough assessment and auditing that we operate to the highest level of sustainability practices and align our values with those of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). It’s another wonderful addition for our awards cabinet and something very important to Bob and I,” said Judi.
** LOOKING TO 2032 -As Brisbane 2032 is shaping up as the ‘Natural Wonders’ Olympics, where visitors experience some fo Australia’s most beloved and famous flora and fauna, as well as the beautiful surrounds, Tamborine Mountain Glades is perfectly positioned mid-way between the state capital and the Gold Coast, is highly accessible and showcases Australia’s great natural wonders in a unique and safe way.
“BRING ON TOMORROW, BRING ON 2032,” said Judi!
Bob and Judi’s advice to all operators in tourism – keep going, never ever give up, remember it’s all about the guest, and love what you do!
Nestled on the side of Tamborine Mountain, on the world's largest deposit of the geological marvels known as thundereggs, Tamborine Mountain Glades offers a range of stylish accommodation options, conference venues, special event facilities, and family-friendly activities to suit every occasion from romantic escapes and family holidays, to wedding celebrations and corporate functions. Thunderbird Park remains Australia’s greatest outdoor adventure park. The newest experience, Dig IT, is the country’s first mini-excavator park, where children can operate real machinery under full instruction. Adventure will love the rebuilt Canyon Flyer, now higher, longer and more exhilarating following the devastation from the 2023 tornado. The TreeTop Challenge, Australia’s largest High Ropes Adventure Park, features 180 tree-top activities and 18 ziplines plus a Juniors’ Course solely for kids. The world-famous Thunderegg Crystal Mine lets visitors fossick for treasures, with Crystal Panning for little ones. There’s Adventure Mini Golf and Laser Skirmish sessions in the rainforest battlefield! The awarded Rainforest Restaurant offers seasonal flavours and the Terrace Café, great coffee and quick bites. As a top conference and wedding destination, it has earned national, state and local accolades for excellence.
At home at Tamborine Mountain Glades:
- Thunderegg Crystal Mine
- Dig IT
- Laser Skirmish
- TreeTop Challenge
- Adventure Mini Golf
- SOL coming soon
Tamborine Mountain Glades accommodation:
- 28 x Various Hotel Rooms (Premium/Executive/Spa)
- 20 x Vista Suites
- 10 x 2bdr Creek Lodges
- 3 x 2bdr Forest Lodges
- 1 x 2bdr Garden Lodge
- 1 x 3bdr Lorikeet Lodge
- 1 x 3bdr Brumby Lodge
- 1 x 4bdr Mill Lodge
- 4 x Woodlands Glamping Tents (5M)
- 2 x Woodlands Luxe Glamping Tents (5M)
- 4 x Woodlands Family Glamping Tents (6M)
- 1 x Woodlands Family Luxe Glamping Tent (6M)
ABOUT TOURISM IN THE SCENIC RIM
- Tourism is one of the largest industry sectors in the Scenic Rim. Nearly 3,000 people are employed in the -tourism sector. This is around one in nine workers in the region. Each year, tourism contributes over $250 million to the region's Gross Regional Product.
- Almost 2 million visitors were attracted to the region last year. The region has experienced a 25% increase in visitation over the past five years. This growth is due to an increase in visitors staying overnight - a welcome trend as they spend seven times more than day-trippers do during their visit to the region, which is great for our local economy.
- The range and style of accommodation provided by businesses such as Tamborine Mountain Glades is essential for driving this growth in overnight stays.
- Tamborine Mountain Glades acknowledges and pays respect to the land and the traditional families of the Yugambeh region of South East Queensland and their Elders past present and emerging. The Yugambeh region includes families that identify as Kombumerri, Mununjali, Wangerriburra and others.
For media information, please contact Kath Rose on kath@kathrose.com or 0416 291 493
Contact details:
Kath Rose on kath@kathrose.com or 0416 291 493
