We spent the nights of 9, 10, 11 at Aaronlee Retreat in Mt. Tamborine. After leaving Lone Pine, we made our way back to the Motorways and eventually to Pacific Hwy. Nice and smooth, then exited on 57 to the Mt Tamborine-Oxenford road for the long and winding trip up the mountain. The first of many long and winding roads I would drive the next several days. On the left side of the road. nuff said.
Thanks to my Australian pals on Fodors, I knew that Coles would have just about everything we would need for the next few nights, road tripping, and a prepaid phone. Google Maps had been my friend and we easily located the Coles at Oxenford/Reserve Road and our second encounter with Australian sticker shock began.
It doesn't matter how much we "knew" that it was expensive here. With the exception of the phone ($29.99!) it was a spendy shopping trip. But, we had water, fruit, sandwich makings, and the supplies for dinners the next three rooms as Aaronlee is self-catering.
Off we continued up the mountain. Aaronlee Retreat was a great place to start our stay. Ponies in the front paddock and an alpaca in the yard in front of our room. Kangaroos hopping about in the morning, and a kookaburra posing. The views off the grounds at the back were spectacular, and from the far corner you could see the buildings of the Gold Coast.
Breakfast provisions were stocked in the fridge, with an entire loaf of bread, a dozen eggs, and three packets of really good bacon.
Even better, they left a nice bottle of Chateau Haut Vivianne, Southeastern Australia 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon on the table. Upon arrival, I poured myself a glass and headed out back to sit on the swing and look at the mountains.
Wifi a challenge, with two places you could connect. One was at a white picnic table out back, and I hunched over it in the dark trying to get a good enough connection to activate the prepaid phone. Luckily online chat with Roman at Telstra and we got it going.
Aaronlee Retreat site: http://www.aaronleeretreat.com.au
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