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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.
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