Enchanting cafe at the doorstep of Lamington National Park Binna Burra section in the Gondwana Rainforest World Heritage.
Binna Burra Tea House is at the end of Binna Burra Rd, in Beechmont. It takes about one hour drive from the Gold Coast, a very scenic drive in the Gold Coast Hinterland. The cafe welcomes hikers, campers and weekend drivers!
Inside the Binna Burra Tea House, there is an ample lounge area with a lovely fireplace, splendid and cosy in the cooler days. There is an enclosed veranda overlooking the beautiful Numinbah Valley. I love sitting on the veranda, the views from the large windows are impressive! You can see all the valley and Hinze Dam and beyond up to the Gold Coast.
The views from the veranda at Binna Burra Tea House. Photo by Author.
The Tea House has a variety of foods, including vegetarian and vegan options. There is a selection of scones, muffins, banana bread, chocolate brownies, raspberry friands, carrot cake, vanilla and caramel slices and other cakes to be enjoyed with a delicious hot drink. There are also wraps and sandwiches already made or you can choose from the menu.
Hmmm, scrumptious iced coffee. Photo by Author.
After a hike, it is great to enjoy a coffee, especially to have the caffeine for the drive home.
Great hot Latte, Photo by Author.
Binna Burra Tea House not only serves great food, it has sweeping views over Numinbah Valley, an extraordinary location, it has also emergency stock of groceries and basic supply.
Basic grocery and supplies, useful especially for camping, hiking and travelling. Photo by Author.
On Scenic Rim Farm boxes, there are local products, in particular Lavender Honey, Finger Lime Marmalade, Lavender Syrups, olives in jars and olive oil.
I really wonder how Lavander honey tastes. Photo by Author.
There is also a nice selection of souvenirs and gifts like plush toys, books and clothing.
These two are very cute! Photo by Author.
Inside the café, there is a reception for the booking of the accommodations and tours, besides providing information of the trails within the National Park.
Binna Burra Cafe is open 7 days a week, 6:30am to 6:30pm.
Start at Binna Burra your exploration of the Gondwana Rainforest World Heritage, with unique flora and fauna. The Gondwana Rainforest of Australia contains outstanding plants and animals with lineage to the oldest vegetation and animal kingdom. The Gondwana Rainforest of Australia is a World Heritage site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Egg Rock and Turtle Rock viewed from the Shipstern Circuit, Binna Burra section of Lamington National Park. Turtle Rock is 510 m and Egg Rock is 440m. Photo by Author.
Binna Burra has a range of walking tracks for all fitness levels and bushwalking experience. This National Park makes a perfect day out for families, groups, beginner hikers and serious hikers. The trailheads of the beautiful trails in the rainforest start nearby Binna Burra Tea House. There is carpark available just in front of the café.
If the carpark is full, there is more carparking available at The Saddle, at the intersection with the road to the Binna Burra Apartments.
Lamington National park has many signs on the trail. Photo by Author.
With my hiking group, I hike often the magnificent trails in Binna Burra. It is great hiking in different seasons and in different weather, observing and appreciating the subtle changes of the forest; the bushes in bloom, the flowers, the orchids, the flowing of the creeks and the waterfalls.
Christmas orchid at Shipstern Circuit , Calanthe triplicata. Photo by Author.
The level of flowing of the creeks and waterfalls rely on the rains.
Waterfall flowing after the recent rains. Photo by Author.
Sometimes I see wildlife, but it can be a bit hard to spot the unique birds, marsupials and reptiles. Most of the animals are nocturnal and it is in the evening that many pademelons can be seen grazing on the grass.
Spider web at Binna Burra. Photo by Author.
Snail eating mushrooms, Binna Burra Trail. Photo by Author.
When you walk, take a bit of time to look around you to discover a micro world in nature.
Carnivorous plants, commonly known as sundews, are common on Daves Creek Circuit, where there is moisture. Photo by Author.
Binna Burra Lodge included the historical listed wooden Lodge, the cabins, the camping sites, the Tea House and Groom Cottage.
Heritage-listed Binna Burra Lodge, the original reception and the heritage-listed cabins were lost in the blaze that engulfed the forest in September 2019.
The prolonged drought produced by climate change, severe weather conditions like winds and low humidity made the forest vulnerable to fire. In the early hours of Saturday the 8th September, the flames devoured the trees all the way up to the lodge. The heritage-listed lodge and cabins were made of timber and unfortunately, they could not be saved.
There are now new projects in place to rebuild the lodge and the cabins, keeping in consideration modern knowledge such as climate change and the variations in the rain patterns.
The lovely banksia at sunset at Binna Burra Lodge. Photo by Author, taken in February 2019.
I booked a cabin for my family and then invited my hiking group to hike the tracks. I was looking forward to spending the weekend at Binna Burra.
Binna Burra Lodge had many of the strawflowers, or paper daisies, Australian native flowers which gave the lodge pastel colours. Photo by Author, February 2019.
The sweet views from Binna Burra Lodge, before the fire. I stayed there few times with my family and my group Hiking South East Qld and More. Photo by Author, May 2019.
Staying at Binna Burra Lodge was a positive experience. The sunsets over the western side were amazing, especially over a cheese platter and a drink!
Winter sunset at Binna Burra Lodge. Photo taken by Author, August 2019.
The cosy fireplace in the lounge room of Binna Burra Lodge, May 2019. Photo by Author.
These beautiful flowers used to be at Binna Burra Lodge, February 2019. Photo by Author
My favourite cabin! Photo by Author, May 2019.
A beautiful early morning seen from Binna Burra Lodge , August 2019. Photo by Author.
A stunning plant with many flowers, on the road to the Binna Burra Lodge. Photo taken on September 2018. Photo by Author.
Now the guests from the accommodations can have dinner in the Tea House. Cocktails and hot drinks are available in the Groom Cottage for guests and the general public.
Award-winning Sky Lodges are eco-friendly apartments offer a full immersion in nature in an extraordinary location. The safari tents are amazing for a real Australian bush experience with tents already in place. The camping sites are great for pitching your own tent, and start your adventures!
Driving to Binna Burra.
The drive to Binna Burra is scenic with breathtaking views over the Gold Coast, Mount Warning, Hinze Dam and forest!
The amazing view of Mount Warning from Rosin's Lookout, Beechmont Rd, Beechmont Qld. Photo by Author.
The scenic drive to Binna Burra. Photo by Author.
An extraordinary tree in bloom somewhere along the road to Binna Burra. Photo by Author.
Gliding at Beechmont Launch, Beechmont Rd. Photo by Author.
