Touring the countryside of Queensland's Scenic Ri,

ANGELA Saurine discovers beautiful countryside, fresh local produce and lovely people on a tour of Queensland's Scenic Rim.

Guide Russell Moreton at Spicers Peak Lodge. Picture: Angela Saurine

AS I stroll along the crunchy gravel walkway, I stop to close my eyes and listen to the sounds of water trickling in the fountain nearby.

I make the conscious decision to smell the lavender growing in the garden, touch the soft rose petals in the bush beside me and listen to the birds tweeting in the trees.

To my surprise I start to feel myself welling up with emotion at the thought someone took the time and effort to create something so beautiful for other people.

Peter and Colleen Lindore created the blind garden at their home at Melrose Station, at Killarney in Queensland, after their nephew lost his sight in an accident.

As well as being a place of sanctuary for him, they often throw open their gates to elderly residents of the local nursing home, and garden lovers generally.

The couple reside in a 19th-century homestead on the 2430ha property that Peter, who operated a crane company in Brisbane, came across flicking through a real estate magazine.

It previously belonged to polo player Alex Makin, the former husband of Sarah Ferguson's sister Jane.

Al fresco dining at Melrose Station at Killarney. Picture: Angela Saurine

We dine on a lunch of local produce with the couple under the shade of a 150-year-old pecan tree, overlooking a lake and windmills in the distance. The meal consists of pink eye potatoes with cornichons and bacon, a roast pumpkin salad with green beans, pearl barley, feta and honey balsamic glaze and Junabee yearling rib with horseradish mustard and red wine jus.

Killarney is prime beef and potato-growing country, an area honouring the "paddock to the plate" concept.

Much of the produce grown in the area is also served in Brisbane's best restaurants. Killarney sits within the Scenic Rim, a group of forested mountain ranges of the Great Dividing Range on the border between southeastern Queensland and northeastern NSW.

Driving through the area is to experience Australia's countryside at its best.

Our guide Louise Brosnan, from Cambanoora Co Tours, points out the towering Wilsons Peak in the distance and the Condamine River, the longest tributary of the Murray Darling river system.

We stop in at Spring Creek Mountain Cafe, a lovely weatherboard cafe with a corrugated iron roof overlooking a deep misty green valley. Before building the cafe 10 years ago owner Bev Ruskey used to drive up from Brisbane to picnic on the property, as did many others.

When she discovered the 24ha property was for sale she bought it the next day.

She prides herself on her country-style cooking.

Her big, fluffy scones are made from real butter and buttermilk and there are no pre-mixes used in her rhubarb, apple and raspberry crumble, or her gluten-free fruit and nut cake.

Her most popular dish is her homemade pies, made with "good Killarney beef". The next day we dine at Kooroomba Vineyards and Lavender Farm, at Mt Alford.

Sitting outside in the sun surrounded by the purple flowers of the lavender bushes and rolling green hills, I enjoy a house-cured and smoked Tasmanian salmon with fried capers, golden shallots and a dill and lime dressing: the highlight of a weekend filled with great food and people.

A bygone relic at Spring Creek near Killarney.Picture: Angela Saurine

The writer travelled as a guest of Tourism Queensland

GO2 - SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

TOURING THERE: Cambanoora Co Tours has guided 4WD tours of the Cambanoora (Condamine) Gorge and the Killarney district. Ph [phone] or see cambanoora.com.au

STAYING THERE: Spicers Peak Lodge at Maryvale has bed and breakfast packages from $499 per room per night in a Lodge Suite from Sunday to Thursday, or $699 on weekends. Ph 1300 253 103 or see spicersgroup.com.au/property/spicers-peak-lodge

EATING THERE: Spring Creek Mountain Cafe is at 1503 Spring Creek Rd, Killarney; see springcreekcottages.com.auMelrose Station is at 1 Barlows Gate Rd, Killarney; Kooroomba Vineyards and Lavender Farm is at 168 FM Bell Rd, Mt Alford. tel [phone] or see kooroomba.com.au

MORE INFO: queenslandholidays.com.au

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