Scenic Rim in Queensland voted one of top 10 global regions to visit in 2022

There’s more to Queensland than sand, surf and snorkelling, as a picturesque hinterland was recognised among the world’s best in 2022.

Borders are open again and while the temptation may be to jump on the first flight out of Australia, there are still so many hidden gems waiting in plain sight to be discovered Down Under.

One such gem worth exploring is the Scenic Rim in Queensland. Located approximately an hour inland from both Brisbane and Gold Coast airports, the area has been recognised as one of travel bible Lonely Planet’s top 10 regions to visit in 2022.

Sitting on that list alongside places like Burgundy in France and Vancouver Island in Canada, it’s no surprise the Scenic Rim is putting itself on the map as a burgeoning food and culture scene — to go with its incredible natural beauty — make it a Queensland hot spot (for tourists, not Covid!).

With Queensland often thought of as Australia’s primary destination for sand and surf, the Scenic Rim offers something a little different for fans of the Sunshine State. In the north east of the region, the cooler climate of Tamborine Mountain boasts hip cafes and galleries populated by local art, as well as Tamborine National Park for those wanting to wear their walking shoes and soak in the rainforest and waterfalls.

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Curtis Falls at Tamborine Mountain.

Six national parks are spread across the Scenic Rim — which would take you about 90 minutes to drive across from east to west — and at Lamington National Park in the south east lies local treasure Binna Burra Lodge.

Ravaged by the Black Summer bushfires that tore through the area a couple of years ago, Binna Burra was determined to rebuild — both physically and metaphorically — from the trail of destruction left behind and it’s done just that.

With accommodation options ranging from classy sky lodges that make you feel like you’re among the clouds looking down across the valley, to cheaper camping and cabin alternatives, it’s a bushwalker’s delight. A handful of walks are dotted around the lodge and cater to people of all abilities.

The views of Lamington National Park.

At Binna Burra you feel like you’re among the clouds.

Accommodation

There are camping options aplenty but if you want something a little more luxurious, Hazelwood Estate in Beechmont features 17 King Farm Cabins (max two adults) and three luxury pavilions (max four adults) on a lush, green property that also includes a polo field and a top-class restaurant embodying the Scenic Rim’s paddock-to-plate ethos.

Whether enjoying a glass of wine in front of the fireplace or out on the veranda, or tucking into a perfectly cooked trademark wagyu steak, Hazelwood is an up-market option — yet still with that laid-back, country escape feel — for visitors looking to unwind.

A tour of the homegrown garden from the in-house chefs, which run in the afternoons, is a must. Don’t worry, even those not aspiring to appear on MasterChef will appreciate learning how what’s on your plate that night came to be and why it tastes so damn delicious.

Hazelwood Estate is also nestled on the edge of Lamington National Park so you can go from working those calves to sipping on a pinot noir in the same day.

Not a bad place to watch the sun set: Photo: Hazelwood Estate (supplied).

You’ll eat what you see growing outside. Photo: Hazelwood Estate (supplied).

You can look out onto rolling green hills from your villa. Photo: Hazelwood Estate (supplied).

Over towards Lake Wyaralong sits Wander at The Overflow. Five individual “pods” — three one-bedders and two two-bedders — are dotted around the property, which also houses The Overflow Estate winery.

Here’s where to come for the true off-road, off-grid experience. Be warned, you’ll need a sturdy vehicle to navigate the dirt roads to each pod, which sit in isolation, seemingly cut off from the rest of the world.

There’s no supermarket nearby but don’t worry, if you aren’t keen to BYO you can arrange to have boxes of food sent to your door by Scenic Rim Farm Box (we’ll get to them a little later).

Wander at the Overflow only opened in December so is still figuring out teething issues with operations and logistics but for pure serenity, it can’t be beat. The views of the lake are awesome and because you’re so secluded the only sounds you’ll hear are made from surrounding wildlife.

How’s the serenity? Photo: Krista Eppelstun, Escape.

Wander at the Overflow is where to go if you want to remain off-grid. Photo: Krista Eppelstun, Escape

Get to the important stuff – what about the food and wine?

More and more tourists are being drawn to the Scenic Rim because its food and wine scene is on the rise. There are more than two dozen wineries in the region and an ever-increasing blend of quality cafes and fine-dining restaurants make it even more appealing.

There’s a special focus in the region on sourcing fresh, local produce. The area is home to so many farmers and food-growers and the community is committed to supporting them and spruiking their wares.

Scenic Rim Farm Box — a collaboration between Scenic Rim farmers and the Scenic Rim Regional Council — is one of the best illustrations of this. An enterprise that sprung up during the pandemic, it delivers the best selection of quality local produce to people both inside the region and in bigger cities further away, such as Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich and Toowoomba.

The local produce is fresh and fantastic. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

Anyone hungry? An example of the food on offer at Hazelwood Estate.

With less need to pack the budgy smugglers and tanning oil than when heading off to the Sunshine Coast or Cairns, the Scenic Rim is a little off the beaten track but as its reputation continues to grow, it might not be for much longer.

From nature walks galore to dining experiences equal to those of a capital city, to adventure activities like rock climbing and hang gliding, it’s easy to see why the area caught Lonely Planet’s eye.

This writer travelled to the Scenic Rim as a guest of Tourism and Events Queensland.