It was a burning ring of fire — about 24 million years ago.
Today, Australia’s picturesque, mountain-rimmed paradise — formed when a shield volcano vomited up a lake’s worth of lava — is so fertile it’s like farm-to-table on steroids. It’s also fun in a choose-your-own adventure type of way. And don’t expect to encounter crowds (yet). While the Scenic Rim was recently named one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 regions in the world, it’s still one of Oz’s best kept secrets.
Just 60 miles south of Brisbane’s skyscrapers, the horizon belongs to the summits of some of Queensland’s tallest peaks. These rugged mountain ranges — think less dramatic Dolomites — form the periphery of the Scenic Rim.
Slightly larger than Long Island, the region is home to six distinct national parks. They range from Lamington National Park, where you can hike in Australia’s ancient, World Heritage-protected Gondwana Rainforests, to Moogerah Peaks National Park, a sacred Aboriginal stomping ground turned bushwacker’s bucket list check.
For the ultimate Scenic Rim experience sign your life away and soar above it all with Boonah Gliding Club. They take tourists up in their engine-free fixed wings. Admire the quilt of farmland, courtesy of rich volcanic soil below.
The Scenic Rim is the Land Down Under’s unofficial breadbasket.
Or better yet, farm hop while driving the popular Farm Gate Trail where dozens of farmers open their gates to sell directly to tourists and locals curious to see where their food comes from. Time your visit to coincide with July’s Winter Harvest Festival and you can even catch the redneck hunger games. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss the tractor-pulling competition.
Of course, no trip to the Scenic Rim is complete without a stop at the world’s largest camel training center. At Summer Land Camels, the motto may as well be, “Hold your humps.” Introduce your taste buds to everything from fresh camel milk fromage blanc to salted caramel camel milk gelato. Need something stronger? Buy a bottle of homemade camel milk and honey vodka.
Quirky best describes the underlying current running throughout the Scenic Rim.
Other eccentric attractions include the German Cuckoo Clock Nest — a Bavarian chalet bursting with grandfather clocks — and Heart of the Soul — a Tamborine Mountain institution where you can get a professional tarot card reading in between rainforest laser tag battles (at Laser Skirmish Gold Coast) and touring a glow worm cave (at Cedar Creek Estate).
For accommodations, forget Hiltons and Holiday Inns. The Scenic Rim’s sleepover options range from safari tents to working farm stays and bushland B&Bs.
There’s even Yumeji (from $204), a retreat and ode to all things Zen, seemingly imported from Japan. Feeling a little homesick?
Stay at the East End-inspired Hampton Estate (from $190) where the well-appointed cottages are named South Haven, Southampton, Watermill and Wainscott.