Itinerary:
Road trip through the Scenic Rim

18 JANUARY 2023

Pack the car and prepare to cover a lot of ground as you explore the stunning Scenic Rim over two eventful days. Discover breath-taking scenery, soaring peaks, local produce, vibrant arts and crafts and expansive bushwalking and rainforest tracks – all only a 90-minute drive from the centre of Brisbane. Scenic Rim is dotted with an array of family-friendly destinations and opportunities to experience some of Australia’s most beautiful natural environments. I spy adventure and entertainment in abundance!

IN THIS ARTICLE
IN THIS ARTICLE
Shot of vineyard in front of buildings at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards.
O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards

Day one

Morning 

Grab a coffee and enjoy brunch with a fluffy friend at Mountview Alpaca Farm. Conveniently located within the grounds of O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyards, Mountview Alpaca Farm lets you feed alpacas and walk them through the vineyard grounds. After sharing time with your new fluffy friends, enjoy a Devonshire tea with homemade scones and jam on the veranda of the farm’s homestead or roll out the picnic blanket next to the babbling Canungra Creek. Don’t forget to pop into the cellar door to pick up a bottle of wine for later. 

Midday 

Head up Tamborine Mountain and treat the kids (and yourselves) to a little sweetness from Lemon Lovers Gelato or Granny Mac’s Famous Fudges. Take your Italian-style ice cream or handmade fudge on a stroll to explore the boutiques and art, craft and gift stores along Gallery Walk.  

Afternoon  

Wander through Mount Tamborine’s rainforest and experience an unforgettable Glow Worm Tour. The presentation cave features realistic stalagmites and stalactites, designed to mimic the natural environment of these rare glow worms. Learn about their fascinating biology as the kids delve into a dark and mysterious experience, lit up by thousands of tiny creatures glowing on the tunnel walls like a starlit night sky.  

Evening  

There is simply no better way to finish the day than by taking in a spectacular sunset. Pack a blanket, camera – and maybe that bottle of wine from Canungra Valley Vineyards – and take the family to Hang Gliders Lookout or Rotary Lookout on Tamborine Mountain to see the sunset. Watch hang gliders launch off the side of the mountain and see them floating above you as the sky changes from blue to orange to black..

Night 

Nestled in some of the Scenic Rim Region’s most beautiful countryside, Clandulla Cottages and Farmstay offers families the ultimate farm stay experience. Check in to your self-contained suite or cottage and get ready to “work” on the farm. During your stay, you can hand-feed and cuddle friendly animals and toast marshmallows around the campfire at night. Relax, listen to the birds and enjoy the tranquillity of the surroundings.  

If farm stay is not your style, check out the many other accommodation options in the Scenic Rim.  

People walking past a statue of a pterodactyl on a sign that says "ThunderBird Park".
Thunderbird Park, Scenic Rim

Day two

Morning 

Rise, shine and venture into Thunderbird Park where kids can fossick in the world’s largest thunderegg mine and unearth these amazing structures left over from 200-million-year-old lava flows. Dig deep with the kids and see how many you can find. Whatever you discover is yours to keep as long as it fits in your bucket. Parents needn’t miss out. Unleash your inner child as you slice open that thunderegg to see what treasure is hidden inside.  

If you’re ready to up the adventure stakes, take on the Treetop Challenge, Australia’s largest zipline and high ropes attraction. Hang from trees, climb ladders, balance on bridges, navigate suspended tunnels and whip through World Heritage rainforest.  

Cuddling the farm animals at Towri Sheep Cheeses.
Towri Sheep Cheeses

Lunch 

Hunting and high ropes can work up an appetite so slow the pace down a little at The Overflow Estate, a restaurant and winery on the shore of Lake Wyaralong. The scenery along the drive from Beaudesert to Boonah is breathtaking and The Overflow Estate’s divine drops are well worth the drive. Enjoy expansive water views from the restaurant’s peninsula position while grazing from a menu packed with local produce including Towri Sheep Cheese and Summer Land Camel ice cream. 

Afternoon 

Pick up afternoon tea at Arthur Clive’s Family Bakehouse. The owners, the Pennell family, have baked in the Scenic Rim since the 1930s, and have since expanded to three bakeries in Boonah, Kalbar and Aratula. Try the wild fermented sourdough bread, order a pie with flaky golden pastry or indulge in a cherry ripe slice. 

Take your goodies to Lake Moogerah for one final picnic with picture-postcard views. The lake is a popular spot for boating, bushwalking and fishing enthusiasts and if the weather is warm enough, the kids can take a quick dip before hitting the road one last time. 

An image of a family standing on a ledge in a rainforest, surrounded by large rocks and trees.