Queensland | Brisbane to Gold Coast Road Trip Itinerary
Road Trip: Gourmet Country
Day 1: Brisbane to Killarney
Distance: 173km
Travel Time: 2 hours
Stressed out city types you need a nature fix! Pack yourself a picnic and head out of town via the small towns of Beaudesert and Boonah to your lunch destination: the verdant Queen Mary Falls. From Boonah take Carneys Creek Road, which becomes The Head Road and then Spring Creek Road – what you’ll notice over this 60km stretch, is the landscape getting greener, hillier and more beautiful as you wind your way over the twists and turns of the Great Dividing Range.
Part of Main Range National Park, Queen Mary Falls is a lush place to relax and explore. There are shady picnic tables, wood burning and electric barbecues (watch out for swooping kookaburras after your lunch!), toilets and a 2km walk to the base of the Falls. If you’re not fond of stairs, stroll to the viewing platform a couple of minutes from the start of the track to see the Spring Creek cut its course and cascade over the 40-metre fern-encrusted drop. But sitting at the base of the Falls breathing in the fresh, damp air is well worth the half-hour circuit, which is easy done if you’re even moderately fit.
Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Day 2: Killarney to Stanthorpe
Distance: 113km
Travel Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Today is all about eating and drinking … somebody has to do it!
Before the feasting begins, rise early and take a 2-minute stroll to Carr’s Lookout to catch the sun rising over the Gorge and mountains – the view is often shrouded in dawn mist, making for winning Instagram pics, certainly #worthgettingupfor! Take your time over a hearty country-style a la carte breakfast al fresco at the Café, then pack your bags and hit the road for The Granite Belt, in Stanthorpe.
Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Day 3: Stanthorpe to Brisbane or Gold Coast
Distance: 250km
Travel Time: 3 hours
If you’re not off on a dawn hike, sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your accommodation or try Feast n Farmin’, Foxy’s Bakery or Brinx Deli in Stanthorpe.
Hands up who wants to go home?
No we didn’t think so! Before you set your course toward home, drop in to the Truffle Discovery Centre to learn about the area’s truffles – a gourmet ingredient sought after by chefs and home cooks – you can buy fresh truffles here in the season (usually late July /early August depending on the weather) or truffle oil or truffle-infused honey year-round.
On the way out of town tour Kent Saddlery’s workshop to see master saddlers and leather artisans at work, or drop into Granite Belt Christmas Farm – where you can buy fresh handmade chocolates from Mrs Claus’ Kitchen, or savour the fresh smell of pine on a wander through the fields of real Christmas trees – if you’re there in harvest season you can take home the perfect festive tree!
Image: Tourism and Events Queensland