Quick escape: A 48 hour guide to the Scenic Rim for couples

A weekend getaway in the Scenic Rim for couples does exactly as it should: distances you from urban stresses and draws a connectedness to some of nature’s finest work. 

Located 80km from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and just north of the New South Wales border, the region is a melting pot of national park beauty, scenic drives, community and culture, waiting to be enjoyed with your loved one.

With plenty to be uncovered, hop in the car and serendipitously wander from rainforest to winery and every farm gate in between over 48 hours in the Scenic Rim for couples.

Nothing beats a cheeky weekend escape. Just a 1.5-hour drive from Brisbane, a Scenic Rim couples getaway is as easy to coordinate as it is to get lost in adventure together. Pack comfortable walking shoes, a picnic blanket and warm jacket for cooler evenings and set your navigation for this stunning network of mountains and valleys. 

Local providores to add to your itinerary

With so many local farm gates to choose from, a visit to the local grocery store to stock up on road trip snacks will seem a wasted of opportunity. While there’s a number of grocery stores on your route through Beaudesert township, grab only essential supplies before saving space for the following farm gates along the way.

Our number one tip when tackling the Scenic Rim for couples? There’s plenty of pitstops to pepper throughout your journey, never leaving you short of something new to delight in or snack on during your getaway.

Scenic Rim Olives: The region produces its own pesticide-free olives. You’ll find them in brine, olive oil, tapenade and dukkah for a salty fix.

Scenic Rim 4Real Milk: If you’re enjoying a cup of coffee in this neck of the woods, chances are it’s made with 4Real Milk, a pasteurised, non-homogenised full cream milk.

The Lime Caviar Company: The Scenic Rim happens to be home to Australia’s premier grower of native finger limes. They pick-to-order and supply local and international fine dining markets.

Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation: Take a tour through the plantation and see first-hand how coffee is grown, harvested and roasted, before sitting down to enjoy a cup yourself. Tours operate Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays at 12pm.

Explore Scenic Rim’s culinary culture

A vibrant food bowl, Scenic Rim is as nourishing to taste your way through as it is beautiful to look at. With so many cafes, breweries, farms, wineries and more, you could easily dedicate a whole weekend to feasting.

While serious foodies should time a visit during the annual Scenic Rim Eat Local Week, getting a taste of the good stuff is as easy as making a lunch or dinner reservation. The restaurants hidden among the hills and villages of this region easily compete with any you'd find in a capital city.

The only hard part is choosing which to visit. Long lunch among the flower fields at Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm; gain new skills with an Italian cooking class at Classi di Cucina; dine beside the vines at Overflow Estate; or go for a gourmet degustation at The Peak, awarded two Chefs Hats at the 2022 Australian Good Food Guide Awards (and where you can sink into luxurious accommodations with a full stomach). 

If you get the time, book a long lunch or dinner at Blume, a newcomer 20-seat destination restaurant in Boonah that's already made Delicious magazine's Top 100 restaurants just months after opening. Brisbane-born chef Jack Stuart has created an ever-changing mutli-course menu that celebrates Scenic Rim flavours and produce, and it's an experience you'll long remember.

Settle in, switch off and kick back

Luxury and natural immersion tie for first place in the mammoth line-up of accommodations that makes the Scenic Rim perfect for couples. 

There's cottages hidden in the forest, treetop lodges tucked into national park, farm stays and country retreats. And while you're here, you'll never be far away from a deep spa or bath, exquisite dining, or a terrific view - best enjoyed with a cuppa or wine. 

For a country escape that'll melt every care away, head to Australia's highest non-alpine lodge, Spicers Peak. Surrounded by World Heritage listed Main Range National Park, you'll feel like you're above the clouds here, and you can make great use of the fireplace in winter months. 

Explore Lamington National Park

A rim of mountains dating back over 25 million years, there’s no surprise Lamington National Park is a region of deep historic and spiritual significance for South East Queensland. Today, it’s a national park with great views, picnic spots and walking trails among some of Australia’s most accessible World Heritage-listed rainforests. Best yet, it's ready to be explored by all ages and fitness levels.

Walks range from 30 minutes to three days, but two favourites for a Scenic Rim couples getaway include the Morans Falls Track (around 1.5 hours) and the Border Track (a longer 7 hour hike). Immerse yourself further into nature with O'Reilly's Tree Top Walk through the rainforest’s canopy across nine suspended bridges. 

Be sure to take with you whatever you brought on the hike, we’re all responsible for leaving this historical site as picturesque as you arrived.

Farm gate meets farmers’ market

More of an early riser? No matter where you spent the night, you'll be able to wake to views of glistening morning dew or the sing-song of native birds beginning their day.

Once you’re packed and ready for another day ahead, drive to Tamborine Mountain where local growers gather in The Green Shed to deliver homegrown produce every Sunday – a true local hot spot in Scenic Rim.

A market run mostly by the mountain’s retirees with a passion for organic produce, you'll find freshly picked, seasonal, certified and non-certified organic fruits and vegetables. Open to the public from 6.30am - 11am on Sundays, pick up a selection of honey, coffee, jams and preserves to take home. 

You'll pass plenty of farm gates on the drive, so pull over and see what's freshly picked. And if you're peckish for a food stop afterwards, head into Tamborine Village and choose from the many cafes that line the Gallery Walk. 

Wine down your weekend with a tasting at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards

Every Scenic Rim for couples itinerary needs a little wine, so end your weekend away with a picturesque picnic and wine tasting at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards, nestled into the humble Gold Coast Hinterland. This multi-award winning, family owned and operated vineyard has dedicated itself to boutique wine, and fostering an unforgettable connection to you and the region you’ve enjoyed together. 

Its rolling hills, grazing cattle and country homes make it the ideal finish to a weekend of reconnection with earth, eats and each other. Dine overlooking 6000 grape vines, pre-order a gourmet picnic hamper, and settle in the soak the rest of your Sunday away by Canungra Creek’s babbling brook. If you’re lucky, you’ll even spot a local platypus or turtle.

Inspired to stay a little longer?

• Get a bigger bite of the region and head off on this unique trip
• Discover more things to do in the Scenic Rim
• Explore these hotspots within a day's drive from Brisbane