Five of the best Scenic Rim Eat Local Week events: from picnics with alpacas to a beer and music festival

The ultimate backstage pass to farms, wineries and restaurants, Scenic Rim Eat Local Week runs June 29 to July 7. We’ve found five of the best events ripe for taste testing.

Scenic Rim Eat Local Week will celebrate the bounty of produce harvested throughout the region with foodie events from June 29 to July 7.

The Gold Coast hinterland is a food bowl just waiting to be sampled. Amber Macpherson has found five of the best events from Scenic Rim’s Eat Local Week ripe for taste testing.

Longest Lunch

Canungra Valley Vineyards

Canungra Valley Vineyards. Picture: O’Reillys Canungra Valley Vineyards

FIRST LOOK AT TWEED HINTERLAND’S NEW FARM CAFE

This weekend grill up at Canungra Valley Vineyards is a next level Sunday roast.

On June 30, celebrity chef and barbecue master Fenton Keogh teams up with the Vineyard’s executive chef Paula Sproul to present a sumptuous three course share platter featuring locally sourced produce from the Scenic Rim with a complementary glass of a 20th anniversary Canungra 20 Shiraz.

“There will be beef and suckling pig, local pumpkin and carrots in the platter,” Eat Local Week event co-ordinator Gen Windley says.

The lunch wraps up with a rubber duckie race down the river with a prize for the winner. Tickets from $79.

You pack the rug, alpaca picnic! The Mountainview Alpaca farm will welcome couples and families to enjoy a gourmet lunch spread alfresco with some cuddly alpacas.

THE NEWEST FESTIVAL COMING TO THE GOLD COAST

The next day the Vineyard’s attached Mountainview Alpaca Farm hosts the Alpaca Picnic event where families can enjoy a gourmet hamper and meet a cuddly alpaca. Tickets from $135.

Sensory Experience

Pethers Rainforest Retreat

Pethers Rainforest Retreat in North Tamborine, Queensland.

Indulge each of your five senses with a five-course degustation of locally-sourced food at Pethers Rainforest Retreat. The intimate restaurant hidden in the forest will present the beautiful flavours of the Rim paired with Witches Falls Wines on July 4, 5 and 6. Just choose your preferred evening and prepare to be swept away by the Tamborine Mountain scenery. Tickets are $125 per person.

Progressive winery dinner

Tamborine Mountain

Witches Falls Winery.

THE GOLD COAST’S BEST WINTER WEEKEND GETAWAYS

Did someone say winery tour? This progressive event will take you to four Tamborine Mountain winemakers with paired meals included. On June 30 you’ll start at Witches Falls Winery and continue to Mason Wines, Cedar Creek Winery and Hampton Estate Winery. All courses will highlight Scenic Rim produce and be matched with wines from each cellar door. Tickets from $150 and include a dry driver, or pay $180 for a Gold Coast or Brisbane pick-up.

Crop to cup

Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation

This one’s for the coffee lovers — Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation will take guests through the crop to cup process.

The Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation invites you to receive an education in caffeination. The boutique farm will take you through the entire coffee process in its Crop To Cup event, giving an insight into the growing, roasting and serving of its organic coffee. “In the Scenic Rim, they take their coffee really seriously,” Gen says. “They’ll take you through a cupping process and, of course, there will be plenty of coffee to try.” Happening on June 29, July 2 and 4, tickets are $22.

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Canungra Food, Beer and Music Festival

Canungra Bowls Club

Taste local produce and craft beer while enjoying live music at Canungra Food, Beer and Music Festival.

FOUR BEST GIN EXPERIENCES ON THE GOLD COAST

Winter sun, food stalls, bowls, beer and live music is a recipe for a charming afternoon at the Canungra Bowls Club. Take in the mountain views while nibbling on fares from local vendors at this casual country town carnival. Free event, from 10am to 3pm on June 29.