Brisbane isn't built for the cold. Toe-numbing wooden floorboards, open plan living and a lack of fireside drinking venues drive this point home endlessly. To be fair our winters are fairly short and mild, but that's little comfort on those few bitingly cold nights.
The end of the world
Luckily the wintery hamlet of Tamborine Mountain is little more than an hours drive south, quaint and shrouded in wood-smoke. The kind of place cold nights are welcomed rather than dreaded. They provide an opportunity to throw on that thick coat and spend a night eating and drinking by the fire.
Tamborine Mountain boasts a collection of cosy restaurants and cafes to escape the chill, as well as it's own brewery and distillery. Most places have a fire, and during the weekend places like Clancy's, the local Irish Bar, will have live music.
The mountain also offers national parks, bushwalks, incredible views, wineries and shopping (although this can be overly touristy). The main drag, Gallery Walk, and some wineries get swamped with day-trippers over the weekend and are probably best avoided at these times. The Tamborine Mountain Distillery is a must. They won't take coaches or large groups, which helps with the crowds, and are the most awarded in Australia.
But by far the best way to really experience the peaceful mountain lifestyle is to stay overnight. There is a variety of accommodation on the mountain, much of which can be found
here.
Winter will soon become your friend as you sit warming your feet by the crackling log fire, with a bottle of local wine and nothing to do but enjoy it.
