Before going on our most recent holiday to the Scenic Rim I contacted a former student, now working as a journalist in the region.
I thought, if she doesn’t know where we should go, eat, stay and play – no-one will!
Sure enough she came back with lots of suggestions and ideas – a huge list in fact.
One of the first things she mentioned was that our trip would coincide with Eat Local Month.
Immediately I went to that website, scanned what was on… and within 24 hours I’d booked us on four events!
Usually, when we go somewhere new, we drop into the local Visitor Information Centre.
Again, they have a font of knowledge and will often suggest lesser known places to visit.
Our first question is usually what’s the must do thing in… (wherever we are).
In Boonah we specifically wanted information on bushwalks and lookouts.
We were surrounded by beautiful mountains, but I knew most of them would be too hard for me to tackle.
Great advice as always… and we headed off to do two fairly simple walks (with fantastic views) on Mt French…
On one amazing mountain drive we did (Falls Drive) we stopped for a moment to take a breath and got talking to another person who’d also pulled in…
He asked if we’d been to Spicer’s Gap… we hadn’t… so that was next on our agenda…
One day in Boonah itself we bobbed into the Cultural Centre, where we got talking to a lady who also suggested a number of drives and lookouts.
Another suggestion from my former student was to visit the Scenic Rim Farm Shop & Cafe.
That was one of the best meals we had…
Oh along with Franquette (which she also recommended) on Tamborine Mountain…
Their French Onion Toastie required a return visit…
Ooh La La!
On one of our Eat Local events Michael got talking to a local and asked did he have a favourite spot for a spectacular view.
It took him a few minutes, but then he said he did.
The instructions were great…
Drive to Tarome and when the bitumen ends (and becomes a gravel track) turn around – and there’s your view…
Stunning.
I suppose having friends and family who have worked in travel and tourism, it’s always been a no-brainer to ask someone with knowledge…
Where to go…
What to see.
If you don’t usually do this, give it a go…
It’s amazing what’s out there… and the best things are often not on Google!
Just driving around by ourselves… exploring new places… we found some great spots including the Rathy in Rathdownie, and the Royal Hotel in Harrisville…
I expect we’d have found out about Eat Local Month eventually, but many of the events book out quickly…
So the chances of doing the ones we wanted… who knows?
Don’t be shy… speak up… talk to locals…
Ask and you shall receive…
Ann 🙏