Looking to swap the surf for scenic peaks and paddocks? Just 90 minutes inland, the Scenic Rim offers a weekend of boutique eats, nature trails and charming country towns like Boonah and Beaudesert. Here are your must-visit destinations for a rejuvenating weekend getaway.
Rolling lavender fields? Check. Meals prepared by a world-class chef? Check. Hours spent sipping boutique wines? Check, check, check. No trip to the Scenic Rim is complete without stopping at this picturesque estate, nestled just outside Boonah. Featuring rolling lavender fields and a cellar door, the views are best enjoyed with a glass of their signature Verdelho. It’s a slice of Provence, minus the jetlag.
Boonah’s favourite old pub just got a fresh new pour. The heritage-listed Commercial Hotel has been restored with love by the Ghanem Group, and is now home to Boonah Brewing Co and a breezy new beer garden. Sip house-brewed beers – like their small-batch ginger beer or Aussie XPA – while grazing on an elevated bistro menu featuring slow-cooked lamb shank pot pies and Detroit-style pizzas. Yum.
If you’re the type who likes to earn their wine, this is the perfect pre-lunch adventure. Mount French offers accessible lookouts and trails with maximum payoff. The Logan’s Lookout trail is an easy stroll with sweeping views over the Fassifern Valley – which are particularly stunning on early winter mornings. Looking for something a little wilder? The Mee-bor-rum Circuit offers a round-trip walk through eucalypt forest and rocky escarpments that feel worlds away from coastal crowds.
Set in the heart of Boonah, Blume is the kind of small-town dining experience that makes you do a double take. Young, innovative and proudly local, this intimate restaurant is helmed by chef Jack Stuart, who serves up a rotating menu that puts the Scenic Rim’s best seasonal ingredients front and centre. Expect culinary creativity without the city price tag – and a long waitlist, so book ahead.
Ready to swap your sneakers for hiking boots or go off-road? Head south toward Beaudesert and you’ll find 680 acres of unspoiled terrain at the Scenic Rim Adventure Park. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure kind of place: 4WD trails, bush camping, mountain biking tracks and just enough wild to satisfy your inner Bear Grylls. Best for groups or couples keen on disconnecting – and getting a little muddy in the process.
While you’re in town, slow things down with a walk through Beaudesert’s historical heart. From the stately Beaudesert War Memorial to heritage pubs and old railway relics, the town is full of charming nods to its past. Grab a coffee from a local café, browse antique shops or just soak up the quiet country vibes. Time moves a little slower here, so you should too.
