The Bearded Dragon – Tamborine Mountain Foothills
So technically The Bearded Dragon isn’t on the Gold Coast, but it’s such a fabulous spot to take kids because it’s just 45 minutes from the city and is a place where you can spend most of the day.
It’s located on 110 acres of farm and bushland in the foothills of Tamborine Mountains.
What you’ll find at The Bearded Dragon
The last time we went it was a Sunday afternoon and there were local Gold Coast families listening to live music, enjoying the ambience of the surrounding farmland and generally making themselves at home.
Located across the grounds are historical pieces of equipment, including a wooden wagon like the ones you’ll see in western movies.
There are some alpacas around the back of the restaurant you can feed and kids will have a ball exploring the venue and playing with other kids in the undercover playground.
What is the food like at The Bearded Dragon?
Serving your traditional pub-type fare, the meals are average size for adults but the kid’s are quite big so if you’ve got younger ones I’d suggest they share.
They also serve breakfast from 8am on weekends if you’ve got early risers or need to fill your bellies before tackling some of the nearby national parks and waterfalls of Mt Tamborine National Park.
What is the Crocodiles and Dragons reptile show?
Well, every Monday, Wednesday and Sunday you’ll be treated to a fabulous show hosted by Furry, who is aptly named. For a gold coin donation, he teaches kids about the critters and they get to see and touch snakes, large geckos, bearded dragons, a turtle and even a crocodile.
On Sundays the show is on at about 11am and 2.30pm, the show is also on Mondays and Wednesdays at 2pm. The weekday sessions are perfect for holidaymakers or parents with little ones because these shows aren’t as packed as the weekend ones.
Be warned, your children won’t want to leave!
Friday Family Movie Nights
Friday nights are family $5 nights with a free kid’s movie (gold coin donation) and a special theme for children and adults. In the past they’ve screened Frozen, Lion King, Angry Birds and Garfield. For the adults there’s been Bollywood, Mexican and adult-comedy themed evenings.
What makes The Bearded Dragon so special?
Build in classic old Queenslander style, this venue has a charming country atmosphere. But the real pull factor of this place is that it’s a great place to bring the kids, especially on the weekends.
The best part of all is the children will be too busy playing outside to nag you or ask when it’s time to go home. This means you’ll have the chance to enjoy a meal or beverage and a proper chat with your family or friends.
Where is it located?
You’ll find it on the corner of Tamborine Mountain Road and Beenleigh Beaudesert Road, Tamborine Village.
Don’t forget to pack a picnic blanket because it can get crowded on the weekends and you’re allowed to park up on the grass and enjoy the live music from afar.
The essentials:
- There’s an ATM on site
- Open 7 days
- Food served all day till late
- Free live music Saturday night & Sunday during the day
- Barbecue breakfast in the garden from 8am on weekends
More details at www.beardeddragon.com.au or visit their Facebook page.
