There’s a quiet kind of magic that settles over Tamborine Mountain when the sun goes down. The trees hush, the last birds call out, and the rainforest begins to hum with a different kind of life. If you follow the winding track down to Curtis Falls at dusk, and let your eyes adjust to the dark, you might be lucky enough to witness one of the mountain’s most enchanting secrets—the glow worms.
Tucked into the damp rock walls around the falls, these tiny creatures—barely the size of a grain of rice—emit a soft blue-green glow that lights up the forest like something out of a fairytale. Their light isn’t just for show. It’s a clever hunting trick: each glow worm spins fine, sticky threads like a spider, and uses the light to lure in unsuspecting insects. It’s nature’s version of neon signage, perfected over thousands of years.
Tamborine Mountain is one of the few places in Queensland where you can see glow worms in the wild without needing a tour guide or headlamp. The Curtis Falls track is well-maintained and only a short walk from the road, making it accessible for most visitors. But this accessibility comes with a responsibility: glow worms are extremely sensitive to noise and light. A torch or mobile phone screen can disrupt their glow, and loud voices or vibrations can scare them back into hiding. The best experience comes from slowing down, going quiet, and letting the forest do the talking.
While the glow worms are the stars of the show, keep an ear out for the soft croaks of tree frogs or the call of a boobook owl nearby. Night-time brings out a different personality in the rainforest—one that’s alive with rustles, calls, and the gentle movement of water.
For visitors wanting something different—something deeply local and almost dreamlike—this is one of Tamborine Mountain’s most treasured offerings. It’s not a theme park ride or a curated attraction. It’s just nature, glowing softly in the dark.
And like all good secrets, it’s best discovered slowly.