Unmissable Gondwana Rainforest Experiences In The Scenic Rim

Queensland’s Scenic Rim is a gateway to ancient Gondwana rainforests, stylish eco-retreats and thrilling adventures.

Sitting within a volcanic caldera formed around 25 million years ago, the Scenic Rim is the perfect place to get back to nature. Known as the green behind the gold – and only an hour’s drive from the Gold Coast or 90 minutes from Brisbane – this diverse and fascinating region is home to many treasured national parks in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, the world’s largest sub-tropical rainforest. Here, where most of the world’s only remaining Antarctic beech trees, along with other rare and threatened plants and animals, you’ll find unmissable Gondwana Rainforest experiences.

The beauty of it all is that it’s easy to discover. The towns and villages of the Scenic Rim are warm and welcoming, with a wealth of experiences waiting for visitors.

Tamborine Mountain Rainforest Skywalk gondwana rainforest experiences — Walk through the Gondwana Rainforest on the Tamborine Mountain Rainforest Skywalk.

1. Chase waterfalls in Lamington National Park

Known as Woonoongoora in the Yugambeh language, the mountains of Lamington National Park , in the south of the Scenic Rim, are sacred and spiritual. Lace up your hiking boots and set out on some of the 160 kilometres of walking tracks throughout the park, where rainforests, creeks, waterfalls and spectacular views await.

Perched between Tamborine Mountain and Lamington National Park, the village of Beechmont is an ideal base for exploring or relaxing. Those who venture into the peaceful valleys below will find the Lost World, a place to slow your pace and disconnect from the bustle of daily life.

Lamington National Park Binna Burra view with ParkTours, gondwana rainforest experiences — Join ParkTours for a guided single or multi-day walking tour. (Image: Alexander Wooten)

Hit the trails solo, or join ParkTours or Horizon Guides for a guided single or multi-day walking tour. Afterwards, refuel with paddock-to-plate meals cooked over an open fire at chef-hatted restaurant The Paddock at Beechmont Estate.

Spend the night at one of several boutique accommodation options that offer comfortable luxury and incredible views of the rainforest. Try Alcheringa Holiday Houses , Binna Burra Lodge , O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat or Beechmont Estate . For a unique glamping option in the Lost World Valley, book into Nightfall .

Binna Burra Lodge Tiny Wild House is a great gondwana rainforest experiences — Enjoy incredible views from Binna Burra Lodge’s Tiny Wild Houses. (Image: Leighton Pitcher)

2. Feel on top of the world at Tamborine Mountain

On Tamborine Mountain , the rainforest is never far away, yet creature comforts abound. Meandering country roads reveal sweeping views of the countryside and beyond to the coast.

Tamborine National Park, the third oldest national park in the world, has many short rainforest walks to waterfalls and lookouts. For lovers of soft adventure, Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk offers a view of the lush rainforest canopy, while TreeTop Challenge at Thunderbird Park is home to ziplines and a high-wire course.

gondwana rainforest experiences, Cameron Falls at Tamborine Mountain — Make time for Cameron Falls between incredible meals. (Image: Lachlan Gardiner)

For a change of pace, grab some treats from Picnic Real Food Bar then take them to Robert Sowter Park for incredible views.

You’ll also discover award-winning Tamborine Mountain wineries, distilleries and breweries. Stop in for a tasting or meal at Witches Falls Winery , Tamborine Mountain Distillery or Cauldron Distillery . Weekend markets, shops and galleries offer more reasons to stay longer.

Witches Falls Winery, Tamborine Mountain — Stop in for a tasting at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Spend time on Country at Mount Barney National Park

The rugged and distinctive peaks of seven mountains dominate the skyline of Mount Barney National Park . It’s a place of deep significance to the local Indigenous people, whose stories, rituals and traditions form their connection with this country.

At 1359 metres, Mt Barney is one of the highest peaks in south-east Queensland. While climbing it is only for the fit and experienced, there are other ways to connect with this ancient landscape. Yarriba Dreaming offers a three-day immersive Indigenous cultural experience at Mt Barney Lodge, an Advanced Ecotourism and adventure retreat. Traditional owner Gurruhmun (meaning ‘Old Man Kangaroo’) helps connect visitors to Country and nature.

Gurruhmun leading a Yarriba Dreaming tour — Join Gurruhmun for a Yarriba Dreaming tour.

Later, stop for a meal at The Overflow Estate 1895 for modern dining with traditional French flair, made with locally sourced ingredients and paired with estate-grown wines. Sleep it off in one of the estate’s five secluded WANDERPods overlooking peaceful Lake Wyaralong.

Sleep in one of five Wanderpods at The Overflow Estate 1895 (Image: TEQ)

4. Walk through ancient landscapes in Main Range National Park

Keen bushwalkers will find plenty of tracks to explore in Main Range National Park . Discover them solo, or join Spicers Scenic Rim Trail for guided multi-day walks through the park’s eucalypt forests and rainforest. Each day ends in luxury at secluded eco-camps where guests can revive and gather strength for the next day’s adventure. And here’s a tip: hiking in the cooler higher altitude forests is an ideal way to beat the summer heat.

Beyond the bush, delightful country towns reveal chef-hatted restaurants, wineries, breweries, boutiques and country markets. Local favourites include classic gastro-pub Roadvale Hotel , house-baked treats and incredible breakfast offerings at Scenic Rim Farm Shop and Cafe , and craft brews at Scenic Rim Brewery (which is set in a heritage-listed general store).

ROADVALE HOTEL Truffle Linguine with crisp fried Scenic Rim Mushrooms — Treat yourself to incredible dishes like Truffle Linguine at Roadvale Hotel.

For something a bit different, try the innovative set menu at Blume Restaurant , which showcases the best of the region’s produce, or sample the modern Australian cuisine at The Kooroomba Kitchen – after a wine tasting at their cellar door and a stroll through their lavender fields, of course.

Extend your stay with a night – or several – at Mount French Lodge , nestled in picturesque countryside, or enjoy the sophisticated style and secluded luxury of Spicers Hidden Vale or Spicers Peak Lodge .

Mount French Lodge, Scenic rim accommodation — Enjoy seclusion and style at Mount French Lodge.

5. Travel sustainably with expert guides

Sustainable travel is increasingly important to travellers and the Scenic Rim is well placed to meet that need, with a range of guides and operators with a strong commitment to sustainable tourism. Local ecotourism pioneers Binna Burra Lodge, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat and Mt Barney Lodge are among the region’s many businesses that have gained Ecotourism Australia’s ECO Destination Certification.

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat pool — Travel lightly with eco-friendly Gondwana Rainforest experiences like a stay at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. (Image: TEQ)

6. Take to the air in a hot air balloon or helicopter

From a helicopter pub crawl to gently drifting in a hot air balloon, take to the air for a different perspective on the Scenic Rim. Early risers can join Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flights or Hot Air Balloon Gold Coast on a gentle ride above the region, while indulgence seekers can take an airborne joyride to lunch at a winery or pub – or just to see the sights from the air – with Pterodactyl Helicopters , Elite Helicopters or Gold Coast Helitours . For thrills, take a tandem ride with Oz Paragliding and Hang Gliding or Gold Coast Paragliding for an exhilarating view of the landscape below.

Pterodactyl Helicopters at Spicers Peak Lodge — Take to the skies on a helicopter. (Image: Pterodactyl Helicopters)

7. Join in Eat Local Month

The Scenic Rim is an Australian leader in the ‘Eat Local’ movement, and their famous Eat Local Month , held each June, is the ultimate foodie experience. It’s a chance to see behind the scenes at farms and wineries and to meet the people who produce the flavours of the region.

The region also champions restaurants and cafes that serve local ingredients all year round, as well as those who work closely with local farmers to create menus with the best of each season’s award-winning produce.

Eat Local Month in the scenic rim — Time your stay for Eat Local Month.

Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

Exploring K’gari

ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island — Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

Unwind at sunset

two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort — Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

Indulge and disconnect

woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa — Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

Getting there

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.

7 ways to experience the world’s largest sub-tropical rainforest