Businesswoman and restaurateur Bonnie Rodwell divides her time between her native New Zealand and Songbirds in the Forest near Australia's Gold Coast. Bonnie bought the 54-acre rainforest property in the Gold Coast Hinterland in 2004. She recreated Songbirds in the Forest restaurant and developed six villas for guests who want to enjoy all nature has to offer with luxurious accommodation, fine food and wine. Bonnie has already been rewarded for her efforts. Songbirds in the Forest won every major award in the region within months of opening. Songbirds' awards include Restaurant of the Year, Best New Restaurant, Best Modern Australian Cuisine and a Best Wine List Award. The retreat recently won a Gold Coast Business Award for Excellence in Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation. Bonnie's dream for Songbirds is on course. "It is my dream and my passion to see this beautiful part of the world carefully enhanced to give people the ultimate spa retreat without disturbing the ecology. Plans are now in place for the perfect holistic spa, a place where people can do as much or as little as they wish while enjoying sensational food and VIP service," she says. Bonnie knows the effort required to bring her ideas to fruition but she is accustomed to hard work and often puts in a 20-hour day. Songbirds is not her first success. Bonnie founded the famous Bonz (Best of New Zealand) boutiques to promote New Zealand made luxury goods to tourists. Bonz now operates on both sides of the Tasman and employs people in Australia and New Zealand. Bonnie is passionate about her business but her son Oscar is the light of her life. "Oscar is intent on following a career as a professional skier and spends a lot of time on the ski slopes in New Zealand, Canada and Europe. "My husband takes responsibility for Oscar's training and education. I spend as much time with him as possible at Mount Tamborine and in New Zealand and we speak on the phone every day. Mount Tamborine will eventually become our home base," she says. | 
