Bougie mountain retreat that brings guests to tears in Scenic Rim is up for sale
Perched high on the ridgeline of Tamborine Mountain, Verandah House Country Estate is the kind of property that stops visitors in their tracks long before they step inside.
The magical views of the Gold Coast skyline, hinterlands, and beach, situated amid curated grounds, set the stage, but it’s the interiors, layered with designer detail and bespoke craftsmanship, that reveal just how thoroughly the estate has been reimagined.
Co-owners Judy Pereira, an interior designer of more than 30 years, and her husband Lawrence purchased the rundown former B&B in late 2022.
What followed was a full-scale reinvention – a complete rebuild of interiors, structural upgrades and the creation of a luxury boutique retreat now operating across eight designer-appointed guest suites on a 2.01-hectare Scenic Rim site at 13-17 Munro Court, Tamborine Mountain, near Lahey lookout, just 90 minutes from Brisbane and 30 minutes from the Gold Coast.
Pereira says the transformation quickly became far more extensive than planned, featuring a day spa for in-house guests, a wood-fired sauna, an outdoor cinema, and a swimming pool. “We just basically rebuilt everything. We rebuilt the entire interiors of the rooms. We recladded the exterior. It was seriously run down. We have spent a lot, probably five times what we actually intended.”
Her attention-to-detail design philosophy shaped every element, adding touches like candles, coffee table books and bath salts. “I wanted to make sure each and every room was quite elevated. I have this saying that everywhere you go should be better than where you live … I always think, ‘If I’m going to spend money to go away, I want it to be better than home.’”
That ethos is evident throughout the suites, which feature Ralph Lauren fabrics and soft furnishings, bespoke European furniture, French oak pieces and custom king beds, blending refined country charm with contemporary luxury. Pereira’s commitment to premium materials was unwavering: “Everything is designer … my husband said: ‘Who needs all this expensive stuff?’ and I said: ‘I do, I do.’”
Beyond the aesthetics, the couple invested in substantial behind-the-scenes infrastructure: new septic systems, upgraded water tanks and filtration, and a purpose-built barn accommodating the estate’s club lounge and operational facilities. They also curated the overgrown gardens, pruning unruly shrubs and planting more than 60 trees, hundreds of plants, and an abundance of new grass.
The estate soft-opened in late 2023 and has since grown rapidly – gaining a five-star Google rating – and has drawn both domestic and international guests to its luxury suites, spa facilities, curated gardens, infrared sauna, fire pits, and a cedarwood hot tub overlooking the city.
Pereira’s vision centres on meaningful, personalised stays. “We believe accommodation is so much more than staying a night somewhere. We believe it’s about creating an experience.”
With guests over the age of 15 welcome, this includes private dining, styled picnics, high teas, intimate elopements and weddings for which guests book the entire property. “We’ve had a very intense wedding season … They book the hotel, it’s exclusive use.”
The emotional impact of the setting is something Pereira witnesses often. “When you see the view … everyone who walks on this property, they walk through that middle area, and people cry.”
The property is now being offered for sale via expressions of interest through Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty, with agent Blake McDonald saying it presents as a genuine turnkey business opportunity, or a luxury home. Inquiries from both residential and commercial buyers have flooded in after the listing was advertised on dual platforms.
“The campaign … has been going extremely well … we had around 50 enquiries in just two weeks,” he says. “The most likely buyer has been commercial, though there have been a few people with genuine interest, just looking at it as a personal estate.”
McDonald says interest spans boutique hoteliers expanding into wellness, wedding operators seeking a destination venue, short-stay accommodation managers representing private clients, and high-net-worth individuals seeking an elevated private estate. The breadth of enquiry reflects its versatility: “It’s such a good example of a successful business … but it could also just be a husband and wife combo that decides to live on-site.”
Operational performance continues to strengthen year on year and “also has a lot of capacity to grow”, says McDonald, highlighting sharp recent occupancy growth. “Last financial year it was only at 50 per cent occupancy. They’ve already increased that since July 1 by about 20 per cent.”
While no price guide has been released, McDonald outlined the property’s underlying value structure: “The block of land is worth circa two and a half million [dollars]. The estate itself is five or six million [dollars] under roof that’s been highly renovated, and that’s before you even consider the business.”
For Pereira, the sale comes with mixed emotions but also clarity. Creating extraordinary properties is what she and Lawrence love most. “We love buying property, creating something magical and letting somebody come in and take it over.
“I really feel like we’ve just got a beautiful rhythm with everything … I really feel like now it can kind of, you know, run itself.”
Tamborine Mountain is one of Queensland’s most sought-after boutique tourism destinations, prized for its cool climate, rainforest trails, waterfalls and vibrant food and wine scene. Located in the Scenic Rim – recently named by Lonely Planet among the world’s top destinations – the region continues to experience strong tourism growth.
