Canungra & Scenic Rim
Located just 40 minutes from the Gold Coast and recognised as the gateway to the Scenic Rim, escape the hustle and bustle of the city by visiting our historic town of Canungra. Once home to the largest softwood timber mill in Australia, the town is now a developing business hub and fast becoming the main service centre for the south-eastern part of the Scenic Rim Region. With a community of more than 1200 people, not including the military personnel from the nearby Kokoda Barracks; we welcome you to relax, unwind and stay a while with us locals.
The Scenic Rim region itself is a rural paradise at the feet of the Great Dividing Range surrounded by World Heritage-listed national parks. Awarded by Lonely Planet as the 8th best region to visit in the world for 2022, it covers more than 4,200sq km and is about an hour south of Brisbane, or an hour inland of the Gold Coast depending on where you’re starting your journey.
The entire area is known for its stunning picturesque scenery and is a popular tourist destination for a day trip or weekend getaway. There is plenty to see and do in the Scenic Rim Region; with wineries, art galleries, bush walks, adventure tours and other family friendly attractions all nearby. With a strong sense of community spirit, you’ll find the area packed with friendly locals and many accommodation options should you wish to explore for more than just a day.
The main towns and villages located in the region are Beaudesert, Boonah, Tamborine Mountain, Kooralbyn, Beechmont, Kalbar, Aratula, Rathdowney, Harrisville, Peak Crossing, and our favourite, Canungra. Canungra is fast becoming known for its surrounding tourism offerings, including our small but growing wine industry. You can base yourself in town and explore with day trips, or just pass through and enjoy a refuel with a meal at our family friendly Hotel. With so much exploring to do in and around the region, the fun can begin as soon as you arrive.
Pack your hiking boots for a day of exploring! If you’re a keen observer of the great outdoors rather than an active physical participant, there are many other options such as hot air ballooning to take in the spectacular sights. Prefer indulging in fresh produce? The region caters for that too with plenty of local culinary options and picnic spots for a lazy afternoon with friends and family.
We’ve put together a list of a few tourist destinations in and around Canungra so you can plan your stay.
Experience the beauty of the Hinterland on this full-day discovery tour of Lamington National Park and the Scenic Rim from Surfers Paradise and Gold Coast. You’ll start your adventure with a drive into the subtropical rainforest, where you’ll take a walk through the tree tops and see colorful birds, before swinging by the Scenic Rim to visit a winery and alpaca farm for a glass of bubbles with a view.
Combine two very different destinations in the Gold Coast’s hinterlands to make one eventful day of sightseeing on this group tour from Surfers Paradise. Begin by visiting Tamborine Mountain to stroll along the Gallery Walk, an overwhelming selection of shops offering everything from fashion and jewelry to chocolate and wine. On the way to Lamington National Park, stop at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards for some wine-tasting, before taking to the forest with the Tree Top Walkway.
Tourism based alpaca farm with alpaca gift shop. Feed and pat the alpacas and check out all of the amazing alpaca products. Now located at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards, where you can also enjoy amazing lunches and do some wine tasting while you are here! Feed the alpacas every day of the week from 10am
Explore the mountains, caves, and waterfalls of the Gold Coast Hinterlands with this full-day tour. Admire the Natural Bridge and trek to Cave Creek waterfall in the Springbrook National Park; drive through the scenic Numinbah Valley; then visit a glow-worm cave and hike part of the Curtis Falls track in the Mt Tamborine National Park.
The forested valleys and vine-clad hills of Brisbane’s Scenic Rim area are even more magnificent when viewed from above. With this tour, make an early start to catch the sunrise and float over the picturesque landscapes in a hot air balloon. After admiring the views, celebrate your flight with a glass of Champagne and a scrumptious hot buffet breakfast at a local vineyard.
Many wine tours focus only on the great wine but on this tour you’ll also visit some of the most beautiful heritage buildings in the area, which happen to be wineries. On this tour you’ll be taken to four different estates, including a home that three previous Queensland premiers lived in. Learn about wine-making and local history while indulging in a tasty drop or two.
The monument commemorates those from Canungra and District who served in World War One and World War Two. It was originally erected to commemorate those who served in World War One. The names of those who served in World War Two were added to the monument on ANZAC Day 1954.
The Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians is situated at 2541 Beechmont Rd, 10km from Canungra and south of Brisbane in the Gold Coast Hinterland. As an Archdiocesan Shrine of Brisbane it is dedicated to Our Lady Help of Christians, a title under which Mary is particularly honoured in Australia as its Patroness. At Marian Valley there are many beautiful chapels, donated by generous benefactors including different ethnic communities. Many of them were assisted in the construction by Marian Valley volunteers.
