When did the Scenic Rim get so good? I ponder the question while gazing out from The Tamborine Boutique Hotel, taking in sweeping mountain views. Ahead, the suburb of Eagle Heights sits atop the range, rooftops peeking through thick foliage. To my right, the Gold Coast stretches into the distance, the ocean just visible on this clear, bluebird day. After a few days of exploring the region, I’m struck by the sheer volume of activity here. It’s hard to believe this is only an hour’s drive away from Brisbane and the Gold Coast considering the dramatic change in scenery and cooler temperatures.
Opened in December, The Tamborine Boutique Hotel has added a new level of sophistication to the region. The reimagined 1980s hacienda-style motel features 23 rooms, each with a balcony or terrace overlooking the mountains. The buzz is palpable, and if the Hollywood celebrities staying alongside me are anything to go by, the Scenic Rim is now well and truly on people’s radar. And for good reason. From the lush paddocks of Boonah to the rolling hills of Beechmont and the World Heritage-listed national parks surrounding Tamborine Mountain, this is a region of diversity.
There’s lots of ground to cover; more than 4200 square kilometres of it, in fact. The Tamborine Boutique Hotel makes an ideal base for a Scenic Rim getaway, particularly for those drawn to Tamborine Mountain’s thriving food and drink scene. While it’s tempting to lounge by the heated mineral pool or relax on the lawn taking in the view, the area brims with walking trails, wineries, breweries and distilleries to explore.
An essential stop is North Stores, an ecofriendly food, art and nature precinct in the heart of town. Opened in 2021 by long-time best friends Brenda Fawdon and Sonja Drexler (the duo behind Brisbane’s pioneering Mondo Organics), the precinct houses several small businesses, including a ceramics studio and florist. “When the block came up for sale, it was a bit unusual because of its triangle shape,” says Fawdon. “People were scared of that, but we weren’t.” It’s the sort of fearless attitude Fawdon and Drexler are known for. Their café, Picnic Real Food Bar, continues the ethos they championed at Mondo, with a menu highlighting fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. A Bombay fish burger comes with house-made tartare, pickled red onion and baby gem lettuce, while zucchini and green pea fritters are topped with herbed labneh, pickled daikon and cucumber salad. It’s simple, nourishing food done exceptionally well. Another North Stores tenant, Loborn, is a smallbatch distillery launched last year by Tom Drewett.
While living in London, Drewett became fascinated with finding the perfect Negroni, eventually leading him to craft his own spirits back home. Despite working as a mechatronic engineer during the week, he finds
time to produce two amari (Amaro No.01 and Amaro No.02), a London dry-style gin (Loborn Original Gin) and a red vermouth – all using botanicals sourced from the mountain. At Loborn’s intimate 14-seat tasting room, visitors can sample Drewett’s spirits individually and even mix up a cocktail themselves. He guides me through making a Sbagliato, a lighter, more spritzy take on the Negroni, made with sparkling wine, Amaro No.02 and red vermouth. It’s the perfect refreshment on a warm Queensland afternoon.
A pioneer of the local drink scene, Witches Falls winery has been operating since 2004. Owners Jon and Kim Heslop focus on alternative varieties, mostly sourcing grapes from South Australia’s Riverland region and Queensland’s Granite Belt. The relaxed cellar door overlooks Pecorino vines, while a space next door is home to their brewery, Boxer Brewing Co. Inside the taproom, I try a range of core beers and seasonal releases brewed by Abby Heslop, Jon and Kim’s daughter, who recently returned from the UK having served as head brewer at Wimbledon Brewery.
For years, Mount Tamborine’s dinner options were relatively limited, but a recent wave of new restaurants has lifted the game. Among them: Greek restaurant Mana Souvlaki and Saint Marthe Brasserie. At the latter, owners Marcus McKay and Amalia Tambling draw on their experience living in Paris, naming the restaurant after the street they once called home. The menu is full of French classics from house-made charcuterie to duck confit and an excellent steak tartare with potato crisps. Head an hour south to Beechmont, and the landscape shifts again. Instead of rainforest and steep escarpments, you find gently rolling green hills.
Beechmont Estate, set on a 75-acre property neighbouring Lamington National Park, is home to 17 self-contained cabins, three pavilions, the luxurious four-bedroom The Residence, and The Paddock, one of the region’s best restaurants. In the kitchen is husband-and-wife team Chris and Alex Norman, who arrived at The Paddock in late 2023 after stints at Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe, including The Ritz London, and leading kitchens in Brisbane. Their move to Beechmont was inspired by a desire to get closer to the region’s producers, and they proudly source most of their ingredients within a 150-kilometre radius – some from their on-site garden.
“We want the restaurant to be a celebration of the Scenic Rim,” says Chris, which is backed up by the list of producers they work with: dairy and meat comes from Tommerup’s Dairy Farm in Kerry Valley, fruits and vegetables from Valley Pride near Boonah, and they even source some camel products from Summer Land Camels in the region’s north. Indeed, farms lie at the Scenic Rim’s heart. One of the biggest events on the region’s calendar, Eat Local Month, celebrates its growers and producers. Every June, the community comes together for a month-long festival, hosting long lunches, farm gate experiences and masterclasses.
“The excitement around it seems to get bigger every year,” says Alex. Among the festival’s Scenic Rim food ambassadors is Jack Stuart, owner-chef at Blume in Boonah. Since opening in 2021, his restaurant has
regularly appeared in Gourmet Traveller’s Annual Restaurant Guide, and is well worth the drive, an hour west of Tamborine Mountain. The region’s exceptional produce is essential to many restaurants and supermarkets in South East Queensland, but farming here can be unpredictable.
The Normans recount a recent story about a beetroot grower who suffered heavy rain damage. Retailers wouldn’t take the beets because the leaves were destroyed. Rather than let the produce go to waste, local chefs found clever ways to use them. “If someone’s had a bad crop, everyone bands together,” says Alex. “You don’t see that in the cities.” It’s that deep sense of connection – between farmers, chefs and the land – that makes the Scenic Rim special. A cookbook co-authored by Brenda Fawdon, Eat Local, captures this sentiment perfectly.
Fawdon is optimistic about the region’s future, pointing to a wave of new investment, including new properties like The Tamborine Boutique Hotel and Verandah House Country Estate. “There’s lots of energy happening here, and it’s attracting people from the city,” she says. So, when did the Scenic Rim get so good? Turns out, it’s been quietly building for years, led by dedicated pioneers and passionate newcomers alike. And with more visitors discovering the region, whether for a day trip or a longer stay, the momentum keeps growing. You get the feeling the best is yet to come.
More Scenic Rim accommodation
Perched high in the misty embrace of Mount Tamborine, Wattle Cottage is a tranquil escape of vintage charm and lush calm. Soak in the cedar hot tub and sip local wine by the fire, or on the classic wraparound verandah. This lovingly restored Queenslander invites you to slow down and truly savour.
Vanbery Cottage, a charming country escape in the heart of the Scenic Rim, whispers of romance and renewal. Once a humble schoolhouse, now a luxe farm retreat with sweeping mountain views, a crackling fireplace, and a rosella farm at its doorstep — perfect for lovers, wanderers, and those looking to unwind and relax.
Set among whispering gums on a peaceful Tamborine hobby farm, this thoughtfully crafted tiny house redefines luxe simplicity. Stargaze from bed, soak in the outdoor tub, or sip wine by the firepit. With eco-conscious design and a backdrop of birdsong, it’s a dreamy retreat for romantics and their small companions.
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