Peppers Clear Mountain reopened in September 2026. Mandala Hotels & Resorts completed a multimillion-dollar refurbishment encompassing guest rooms, dining and event spaces, along with the surrounding grounds. The investment amounts to a bid for longer stays and larger gatherings at an established mountain retreat.
Mandala Hotels & Resorts announced the completed refurbishment and switch from Mercure to Peppers, with City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery describing the property as the city’s first five-star hotel.
From Mercure to Peppers
The refurbishment covered every one of its 51 guest rooms. Dezign was appointed to handle both design and construction. That breadth matters when an owner is asking guests to reconsider a familiar hotel under a different brand.
Plans for the multimillion-dollar refurbishment were announced in August 2025, more than a year before the September 2026 reopening.
The retreat occupies 20 hectares of bushland with an outlook towards the Glass House Mountains. The hotel puts Brisbane about 30 minutes away. Its accommodation includes private balconies with views across the bushland and lake towards the Glass House Mountains.
A balcony above the bushland is a persuasive reason to make dinner here an overnight stay.
Deluxe King rooms have a private terrace with mountain views and a bathroom fitted with a walk-in shower. Privilege King rooms face the gardens.
Dining and gatherings
The Glasshouse Restaurant’s redesign groups banquette seating, lounges and a contemporary bar around a central fireplace. The kitchen uses seasonal produce from the hotel’s Chef’s Garden, which sits a short walk away. Visitors can dine alongside guests staying overnight. A restaurant open to locals gives the refurbishment a purpose beyond selling rooms.
There are two private dining rooms, including one with a balcony of its own.
Group business looks central to the investment.
The refurbished function venues can accommodate as many as 150 people, with configurations for conferences, weddings and private events. That capacity gives the owner a market beyond couples booking a quiet weekend in the mountains.
For gatherings beyond the restaurant, Stephanies Mountain Spa specialises in treatments for couples and groups, with packages lasting half a day or a full day. The spa has six treatment suites, including a hydro couples suite.
A bet on overnight stays
Hotel Management linked the investment to Mandala’s strategy of improving the appeal and long-term performance of hotels it already owns. The relaunch also sits within a wider expansion: Travel Weekly reported that Accor expected about 20 further Pacific hotel openings before the end of the year.
Mandala now has more ways to earn from the same bushland site; the worthwhile result would be more people staying after dinner, with the setting still the main attraction.
For related developments, see our September Australian hotel roundup.