Why you need to explore the Scenic Rim

IF you want a lazy drive through the awe-inspiring Scenic Rim, followed by some family-friendly frolics in freshwater cascades, this is the perfect place.

The scenery in Boonah.

WITH crystal clear waters for swimming and an amazing country drive to get you there, Running Creek is perhaps misnamed.

That’s if you were looking for some exercise, anyway.

But if you simply want a lazy day cruising through the awe-inspiring Scenic Rim, followed by some family-friendly frolics in these freshwater cascades, this is the perfect place.

A storm at Rathdowney. Photo: Dan Marshall

Start your cruise from the Coast to the countryside by heading towards Nerang, taking in the sights of Tamborine Mountain, Canungra, Beaudesert then on to Rathdowney.

Follow Running Creek Rd out of this historic township and 17km along this country lane — with accompanying stunning pastoral scenes — you’ll come across Andrew Drynan Park.

This campground is the perfect spot if you’re looking for a bush getaway, or just use it as a base for splashing in the creek.

Lillydale Farmstay at Rathdowney. Photo: Russell Shakespeare

Located along the Lions Road Rainforest Way — a scenic link between Beaudesert and Grafton — the park overlooks Mount Chinghee and Running Creek itself.

The creek’s waterholes feature some natural rock slides and also offer some decent freshwater fishing.

But this day out is just as much about the journey as the destination, so make sure you leave enough time to visit the surrounding attractions.

If you can manage to spend a night or two here, it’s a pretty sweet set up.

While there are toilets, the rest is pretty much as nature intended — no powered sites but dogs and campfires are allowed. Bush bliss.

As for bathing — you don’t get much better than the running water of Running Creek.

Running Creek.

EAT AND DRINK:

Stop in at the Rathdowney Hotel — aka the Rathy Pub — for a hearty country pub feed. The Rathdowney Hotel has been a central feature in the township since the early 1900s. Open for meals seven days a week, just be aware of the country-style hours … lunch is served from noon to 2pm and dinner is served 6pm to 8pm. Specialising in true pub grub and icy cold beers, don’t expect frills … but do expect quality and decent sized servings. It’s a great place to kick back and meet the locals.

Engage in some family-friendly frolics in the freshwater at Running Creek. Picture: @jamieerickett

WHILE YOU’RE THERE … DO:

As well as an old school pub, Rathdowney is the heart of local history. Start at the information centre, the town’s oldest building, and find out more about the nearby attractions. From the Tramway Building — which houses a display of Our Pioneering Women, local sawmills and the Logan and Albert Butter Factory; to the Old Shop — a former general store; to the Prison Hut — used by prisoners at the then Palen Creek Low Security Farm; to the Glenapp Railway Siding — which houses a detailed model of the local area … there’s so much to learn the kids won’t even need to go back to school.

The Rathdowney Hotel was built in 1915. One man is riding a horse and another person is on a bicycle. There is a horsedrawn cart in the background. Picture: State Library of Queensland collection: Beyond the Battlefield

DISCOVER:

Running Creek is home to another five-star attraction … bush caviar. The Lime Caviar Company is just down the road from Andrew Drynan Park and while they don’t yet do farm door visits, you should certainly keep an eye — or tongue? — out for their produce. Finger limes are an ancient Australian native citrus, eaten by indigenous people for thousands of years. Inside the fruit’s skin are hundreds of refreshing juice-filled pearls that differ in colour according to the variety. Farmers Ian and Margie Douglas are taking this native fruit global, with chefs around the world begging for more of this local delicacy.

Australian Lime Caviar Company's Caviar Limes aka Finger Limes. Photo: Jerad Williams