Guide to the Scenic Rim

Covering around 21,000 hectares (52,000 acres) of rainforest, peaks and gorges, Lamington National Park is a must-visit. The 130 kilometres (80 miles) of walking trails range from the wheelchair-friendly Centenary track to challenging full-day hikes.

Alongside Lamington, there are five more national parks in the Scenic Rim. Tamborine National Park is to the south of Lamington, while Mount Chinghee, Mount Barney, Moogerah Peaks and Main Range national parks circle the region to the west.

From bed-and-breakfasts in the mountains and farm cottages on the valley floor to eco-friendly retreats such as Mt Barney Lodge and O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat and sustainable luxury at Spicers Peak Lodge, you’re spoilt for choice of accommodation.

Grapes thrive in the Scenic Rim’s volcanic soils, as you’ll discover at wineries (alongside a handful of innovative distilleries and breweries) scattered around Tamborine Mountain, Canungra and outside the town of Boonah deep in the valley.

A spectacular 47-kilometre (29-mile) multi-day hike, the Scenic Rim Trail runs through the Gondwana rainforest and ridges of the Main Range National Park. Stay in public campsites or book two- or five-day luxury guided walks with Spicers Retreats.

Long lunches under gum trees, farm tours, cheese workshops and chatting to local producers are all on the menu during Scenic Rim Eat Local Week. Held in late June, the week culminates in the indulgent Winter Harvest Festival in the town of Aratula.

With exhilarating mountain drives to lookouts and bushwalking trails, and single-lane bridges and quiet country roads leading to cute villages scattered across rolling valleys, the Scenic Rim is the perfect setting for a road trip to remember.

Immerse yourself in nature at Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, where raised steel walkways take you through the upper canopy of a private rainforest to a bridge cantilevered over the treetops, where you can gaze down at a pristine creek far below.

Hosting only four couples at a time in hand-built safari tents (each with its own twin bathtub and fireplace), Nightfall is a luxury camping experience on the edge of Lamington National Park. Expect delicious organic food and abundant wildlife.

The Granite Belt wine region is around an hour’s drive from Cunninghams Gap, the pass through Main Range National Park. Its high elevation means frosty nights and cool days, and excellent shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and verdelho.

Come for the wine tastings and grazing platters at Overflow Estate 1895, overlooking Lake Wyaralong, and stay in a luxury off-grid cabin. The winery’s five eco-aware WanderPods feature fire pits, outdoor baths and surprisingly roomy interiors.

In the heart of the valley floor, is a popular spot for bushwalking, fishing and kayaking. It’s also home to 25 kilometres (15 miles) of international-standard mountain biking trails like Kooralbyn Valley mountain bike park.