Best of Queensland Experience 2026 Gold
Recognised by Tourism and Events Queensland as a Gold-level traveller experience.
Southern Cross Tours
Explore the Gold Coast Hinterland
What We Do
Premium, Small Group, Gold Coast Hinterland Tours
With Southern Cross Tours you will embark on a nature-focused adventure with any of our Gold Coast Hinterland Tours, where our expert guides lead you through the breathtaking landscapes of Mt Tamborine, Springbrook National Park, and Lamington National Park. Discover popular destinations such as Natural Bridge, Purling Brook Falls, O’Reilly’s Vineyard, Gallery Walk, and Curtis Falls. Join our nocturnal tour to witness the mesmerising Glow Worms adding a touch of magic to your adventure. All with a small tour group, in our comfortable air-conditioned vehicles, with our professional and highly experienced expert tour guides.
We're proud to be Eco-Certified, partnering with Reforest to give back to the environment every month.
At Southern Cross Tours, achieving Ecotourism Australia certification underlines our dedication to sustainability and delivering authentic, high-quality nature-based tourism experiences. Through our partnership with Reforest, we’re currently planting 37 trees every month, restoring 225m² of native habitat and removing 5.6t of CO2 from the atmosphere, helping restore habitat for wedge-tailed eagles, native pollinators, and more. It’s part of how we bring adventure and eco-consciousness together on every tour.
Here's what we've achieved since beginning our partnership in September 2023, across all the projects we've supported:
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Trees Planted
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CO2 Tons Removed
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M² Habitat Restored
Experience Excellence
Why Choose Southern Cross Tours
Personal touch
Offering small group tours, our professional and passionate guides are dedicated to providing personalised customer service, sharing their deep knowledge of the Gold Coast hinterland, and ensuring that your Southern Cross Tour experience ends with happy memories and a personal connection to the region.
Local experts
Our guides are Gold Coast locals and they know the hinterland like the back of their hand, they are true experts on the area. We have curated the best walking trails, waterfalls, lookouts, cafes, vineyards and other highlights to allow you to experience the best of the Gold Coast hinterland.
Hassle free
Explore the breathtakingly beautiful Gold Coast hinterland in style with our luxurious vehicles and friendly experienced guides. Choose your preferred pick-up location and enjoy a day of relaxation and exploration. Book your tour today and discover the stunning natural beauty of the green behind the gold.
Learn From Others
What Southern Cross Tours Customers Are Saying
Here to Help
Got Questions?
Q. What do you need to bring?
A. Please wear closed-in shoes and comfortable clothing. Bring some additional spending money to purchase any extras along the way. For tours during the day, we suggest you bring a jacket, water bottle, hat, and sunscreen. For evening tours, we suggest a warm jacket and water bottle.
Q. Are Southern Cross Tours for kids?
A. Southern Cross Tours are suitable for all ages. All tours include a leisurely guided walk, so as long as the guest can walk or can be carried during the guided walk they can join the tour. Kids love the rainforest and the information and stories we share on the region and its wildlife. We can provide car seats for infants to 8 year old. Just let us know at the time of booking.
Q. Where do you get picked up from?
A. We pick up from a selection of Hotels and Apartments on the Gold Coast between Broadbeach and Southport. Some tours have additional pick up locations. If you are at a private address please let us know by sending us an email or giving us a call and we can advise your closest pick up location.
A Gift to Remember
GIFT AN EXPERIENCE
Gift an unforgettable adventure with our Southern Cross Tours Gift Vouchers, the perfect present for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Let your loved ones immerse themselves in the beauty and mystery of the rainforest, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Awards, Memberships & Partners
Recognised for Experiences That Connect People With Nature
Southern Cross Tours is proud to be recognised across tourism, sustainability, local business excellence, and trusted travel partnerships.
Most Recent Recognition
Best of Queensland Experience 2026 — Gold
Southern Cross Tours has been recognised as a Best of Queensland Experience 2026 Gold, celebrating our commitment to delivering outstanding traveller experiences through expert local guides, small group tours, and memorable Gold Coast hinterland adventures.
2026 Gold
Traveller Experience
Queensland Tourism
Small Group Tours
Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards
Winner for August 2025, celebrating business excellence on the Gold Coast.
Eco Certified Operator
Recognised for authentic, high-quality nature-based tourism experiences.
Reforest Partner
Supporting tree planting, biodiversity restoration, and climate-friendly travel.
Tourism Partners
Connected with leading tourism bodies, trade partners, and destination networks.
Travel Review Platforms
Visible across trusted booking and review channels used by travellers worldwide.
Statement of Acknowledgement and Endorsement
The Yugambeh Museum, Language & Heritage Research Centre is pleased to acknowledge the collaboration with Southern Cross Tours in their efforts to deepen their understanding of the local Aboriginal cultural heritage. Through our ongoing work together, we aim to ensure that the rich history, traditions, and stories of the Yugambeh people are shared with accuracy and respect. We appreciate the commitment of Southern Cross Tours to culturally appropriate practices and endorse their efforts to impart this valuable knowledge to their customers in a manner that honors and empowers our community.
Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners
We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners and their families, of the land, sea, and waters on which we operate. We honor and recognise their custodianship of Country and culture for over 60,000 years, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging.