Beechmont

Life's a beach (or should that be beech?), for the laid-back residents in this quaint country village which sits smugly between the Lamington Plateau and Tamborine Mountain.

First settlers flocked to the area in the 1800s and used the white beech trees, once prolific here, for timber. These days, this pretty village is a popular destination for bushwalkers who travel through the town enroute to the Binna Burra section of Lamington National Park.

It's also a popular place for hangliders and paragliders who are enamoured with the popular launch pad at Rosin's Lookout. Because of its small population, Beechmont exudes the kind of country charm that should be bottled with its old-style community hall and country markets. Stay overnight in an old church or at an educational farm stay.

Enjoy local wildlife, Graceleigh Park and most of all, the views and walking options of the nearby mountains and rainforest. The local Yugambeh people loved this area, 45 minutes and a world away from the Gold Coast beaches, and you will too.