Historic Rivermill

This place was absolutely beautiful! The staff were so so friendly, the scones and grazing platter were beautiful, there animals to see and feed. We booked a horse riding session and the man called Rodrigo was a very patient and a great trainer and made the experience worth while! We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend this place for families and pets too.

Beautiful, quaint little spot. The river with the turtles, fish and eels is gorgeous, relaxing and a hit with the kids. The Cafe looking over the river and property is beautiful.

It looks like it's a new chef and possibly owners/management, they are still working out finer details but sound like they are heading in the right direction.

Only suggestions is slightly more modern music, the instrumental is fine but a bit more beat to it. And staff out from behind the register to greet customers as we weren't quite sure what to do when we came in. Heaps of potential though! I've worked in hospitality in management and I think you could do wonders with this place ❤

Went to Rivermill for lunch after a long hike nearby. Never knew about this little gem! Had a wander around met some llamas and horses. Lunch was good (burger and beer). I lol'd at the previous poster who pointed out the lovely Spanish girl who's doing everything, she's still there running around doing the things!

Saw some people riding horses so if you like that kind of thing you can, plenty of room there. I'm in the area quite often for hikes with friends will come back.

Had a good time, thanks :)

I highly recommend this place. Food was great , staffs super nice, the environment was rustic and plenty of room. I’ll definitely come back to celebrate my bday with friends.

Great fun for the family and what a hidden gem. Kids had a good time. Very glad to discover this place, will be coming again.
Friendly staff, good food, and lovely ambience.

Here on a day after big storm hit GC hard during the Christmas holiday. Lots of area have no electricity still 3 days after the storm, including here. Probably not here on the best day, will be back sometime when all things are in order.

First of all
We were very glad they still open to the public and tried their best not to disappoint customers in this holiday season. They had a small power generator to keep the essentials running for stocks and general cooking equipments. They tried their best to serve walking in customers. The historic exhibition area was completely dark, but still we found many people came through the door.

The food was delicious
We had a chicken burger with the best crunch although lack a bit of taste. The rest of the meal, chips and dino nuggets were outstanding, credits to the chefs cooking in the dark with torches.
Floor staff at the counter and the bar had the most difficult time to deal with disappointed customers and various outbreaks of new problems still remain calm and professional.

It was our first time here, didn't know the owners before, but being an owner of a shop ourself we could feel the vibes. By reading the reviews, learned there was a change of ownership not long ago. We know how hard it is to take over from a long existing iconic business. It takes time to learn all the tips and tricks to look after old and new customers with expectations. It is also true the possibility to carry on and copy how it used to be is absolutely null. But it is clearly the new team is eager and passionate about making the place better. From our experience today, the team together was doing a great job, the owners were trying their best to fix the problems and make up for the mistakes with the limited resources they had.

We love our local GC supporters to our business that are always understanding and encouraging. I'm glad I have the opportunity to be one of them too. So keep your heads up ! You can do well in this !

Great place to visit and take the kids! Feed some animals and the turtles! Staff are friendly! Highly recommend

We had a lovely morning at the Historic Rivermill. Great food, friendly staff and enjoyed feeding the wild turtles in the river.

Can say that this stunning venue is perfect for the most sensational experience for the young & young at heart.
Thank you team for an amazing day!
✨❤

Wonderful place to visit. Food and service in the cafe was excellent. Fresh and very tasty, presented very well. Turtle feeding was a great thing to do - especially with an almost 3 year old. Feeding the alpacas was a delight as well. I highly recommend a visit.

It is so idyllic and tranquil, they offer beautiful chocolate dianne cake and the scone is just unparalleled, the Spanish girl in the reception delivered marvellous customer service.

Me and my family went there today and we had a wonderful experience, the food was delicious and was served quickly. The waitress Angela made a great service and she made sure we were happy with everything! The kids also had fun in feeding the animals, we will definitely return! great place to enjoy among family and friends.

Chanced upon this when we were looking for a rest stop. There's a small playground and some animals... you can get free turtle or alpaca feed from the super friendly staff at the counter. There's a small museum.

They are also big on supporting local and no outside food.

Coffee was okay. Milk was oversteamed, it was way too hot. Beans were overextracted and tasted very burnt.

Limited options on the menu. Saw a number of people having scones and chips. The loaded fries didn't look loaded enough. Bacon on it didn't look crispy.

So we went for the normal chips. It was a large bowl for 9.50. Wish the menu was a little bigger.

It's a nice place to hang if you're tired from all the wine tasting.

This is a great place to go with children also.
This is my second time here, and something I would consider my happy place. This time, it was a very different experience as it was a week day, and therefore, not as busy.
It was overcast, which I think added to its charm.
Upon arriving at the entrance, you are delighted to find something you weren't expecting. From the outside, you are not aware of what's ahead of you.
You enter through some nostalgic artefacts from the arrowroot farming era. And then you enter a huge covered deck with seating, overlooking the river. We were visited by a friendly butcher bird while we ate out scones and drinks.
The menu is extensive with both breakfast and lunch meals.
I would suggest, the venue supply some easily accessible reserve signs to place on your table due to you needing a table number to order your food, especially for those eating alone, as getting the right seat to look over the river is hard to do if it's busy.
After our food, we wandered over to the animals, where we noticed more seating outside. You can purchase food for both the animals (deer, alpaca, and a pig) and some paste for the turtles in the river.
On the weekend, I think they often have pony rides also.
We then ventured over to the river edge where hundreds of turtles and a catfish and eel greet you, hoping you will feed them with the paste. Hold the stick tight as the turtles 🐢 will grab it off you. If you venture to the fork of the river, the water flows quickly over rocks, bringing back childhood memories of the flowing creeks we ventured to as children.
This is a great place to bring family, friends, and overseas visitors in a calm, relaxed atmosphere. You wouldn't know it was here and was an amazing find.
There is a sign promoting it as a wedding venue also and has a chapel attached to it.

This place is a real gem set in beautiful surrounds. The horse riding lesson was outstanding, we felt very privileged to start to learn how to ride these beautiful Peruvian Paso horses! The trainer was very patient and clearly explained the techniques to be used. The other staff were also friendly and helpful, the cafe and museum are great and the animals lovely. A really great day out!

My first visit to the Historic Rivermill, nestled near the Gold Coast, was nothing short of enchanting. As I explored this serene haven with my sister, the beauty of the place captivated us completely. To our delight, we stumbled upon a wedding ceremony in progress. The sight was like something out of a fairy tale, with the couple exchanging vows in such a breathtaking setting. It was evident in every detail that the Rivermill staff had poured their hearts into making the wedding extraordinarily special.

The atmosphere was filled with joy and happiness, further enhanced by an outstanding horse show that took place on the grounds. The skill and grace of the horses and their handlers were a sight to behold. But it wasn't just the event that made the day memorable. The overall ambiance of the Historic Rivermill, from its friendly animals and delicious food to the dedicated staff, contributed to a truly magical experience.

This place is a blend of natural beauty and thoughtful hospitality. Whether it's for a wedding, a family outing, or a quiet day in nature, Historic Rivermill is a place where memories are made. I left with a heart full of joy and an eagerness to return. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a slice of paradise near the Gold Coast!

Great place to take the kids. Beautiful surroundings and cute animals. Loved that there were coeliac safe GF options too.

I took the family out for breakfast at the restaurant, and besides the fact that the food was excellent, we decided to stay and enjoy the river, the playground, and all the animals. My son really enjoyed it, especially feeding the turtles – there are plenty of them. I highly recommend it without a doubt.

I had such great experience with my friends in celebrating a birthday in this place, I will definitely be back one day again. A big thank you to Mari, the manager, who services us and managed everything very well. The food was delicious and very quickly too.

Mariana and her team at Historic Rivermill are absolutely amazing!
Service was excellent despite being busy. Highly recommend the oyster mushroom tacos! Delicious is an understatement. Our compliments to the chef and team!
The atmosphere was relaxing and the scenery breathtaking!