Lockdown is over and the open road beckons

With local journeys good to go, this grounded travel writer is planning the ultimate Scenic Rim getaway.

With local journeys good to go, this grounded travel writer is planning the
ultimate Scenic Rim getaway.

I’ve been a travel writer for nearly 20 years and spend half of each year travelling the planet. With international journeys off the agenda, I can’t wait to explore my own neighbourhood, because the Scenic Rim is as pristine as any region I’ve visited in 70 countries. Fortunately, I have a few hidden gems on my itinerary.

Day 1There’s no place in the world I’d rather be for sunrise than deep inside the Scenic Rim’s precious Gondwana rainforest. The forest canopy is so thick you won’t see it, but the animals sure know when it’s time to wake up. And nowhere feels as close to the action as my favourite glamping spot, Nightfall (nightfall.com.au). There are just four safari tents set up inside a deep gorge escarpment beside Lamington National Park. My tent has a twin bathtub, a rotating fireplace and an outdoor shower where red-necked wallabies watch on. Breakfast is served beside a creek which runs through the property, or in front of a fireplace on chilly mornings.If I’m not strolling around breathing in the smells of the forest, I’ll opt for a one-on-one yoga session on the deck outside my tent. Hot tip: Don’t miss Nightfall’s unofficial day spa - it’s entirely free-of-charge. Here you sit in a rock pool beneath a cascade and let the water massage your aches away.

Day 2It’s hard to leave, but O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat (oreillys.com.au)provides a different perspective on World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park. There’s a winding road in but this 93-year-old bush refuge is worth the hairpin bends.Run by four generations of the O’Reilly family, it’s the epicentre for all kinds of forest adventures. There’s 160km of trails, and 500 waterfalls to find. While I love a good hike, if I feel lazy I walk a kilometre-or-so from the retreat to the Tree Top Walk (pictured below), where I can stroll through the forest canopy, 16m above the ground. There’s everything at O’Reilly’s from Segway tours to Birds of Prey displays, but best of all is the Sunset Experience, where guests are driven through the forest to a platform overlooking the McPherson Ranges to toast the sunset with wine.You’re really spoilt for choice around this national park. I can hike through from O’Reilly’s to Binna Burra Retreat (binnaburralodge.com.au), though the track is being worked on and won’t open until later this year. With time constraints, it’s easier to drive in. Binna Burra Lodge was damaged by bushfire last year, but restoration is well underway, and until the retreat is up and running, Binna Burra Kitchen is operating out of the nearby Headmasters Cafe.The cafe has my favourite view in a region full of stunning views – sitting here for breakfast or lunch (it’s also open for sunset dining on Saturday evenings), you can see right out over the Gold Coast, all the way to NSW.Day 3On my third day, I like to explore Australia’s most secret wine region. There are tasting rooms and restaurants built in some of the prettiest country estates in southern Queensland. They produce everything from Verdelho to Shiraz here, and it’s all available for tasting. It’s worth noting that if the wine’s good, the food’s even better. The eatery in Cedar Creek Winery (cedarcreekestate.com.au) serves a rolled and roasted pork belly to die for, while smaller wineries with tonnes of country character, such as Sarabah Estate (facebook.com/SarabahEstateVineyard), offer local produce such as yearling beef cooked up in their Merlot.There are farms to visit for fresh produce straight off the land, such as Tommerup’s Dairy Farm (tommerupsfarmstay.com.au), and atmospheric cafes across the region, including Scenic Rim Brewery & Cafe in pretty Mt Alford (scenicrimbrewery.com.au).And I have to work some art into my last day, it’s mandatory, after all. The region is a creative hub, with artists coming to the Scenic Rim since the early 1900s, lured by the mountain scenery, pace of life and the mild climate. One particular gallery I like to visit when I finish my lunch at Cedar Creek Winery is the estate’s Arthur Hamblin Gallery (Hamblin was the father of Outback art). Or, if you prefer a view with your art, Hilltop On Tamborine (hotmt.com.au) is set on 11ha of bushland overlooking Surfers Paradise. For real insights into what’s going on inside the artist’s head while they’re working, join an art tour with Ambience On Tour, giving you access to award-winning local artists in their private studios. For my last stop, I love the tiny town charm of Springbrook, set deep in the rainforest. Local artists have formed an art co-operative called Craft Corner Gallery which I like to check out any time I’m passing by. With travel restrictions easing, that’ll be happening a lot more often, and that’s what I call a silver lining. With local travel now permitted, Queensland is good to go. Click here to learn more about destinations near you.

Originally published as Lockdown is over and the open road beckons