2 days
Scenic Rim
Self-drive
Every great festival deserves a show-stopping finale, and Scenic Rim Eat Local Month delivers it in delicious style with the Winter Harvest Festival Weekend.
Held in and around the charming, historic town of Kalbar, this signature event is a full-flavoured celebration of the region’s growers, makers, chefs, and producers. We’ve crafted the ultimate weekend itinerary for you and your crew—whether that’s your partner, family, or best mates—packed with farm-fresh feasts, country hospitality, and the sweet joy of slow travel.
From twilight dinners among lavender fields to camel encounters, produce picking in a paddock with the farmers, a deep dive into long-lost culinary arts, and a full harvest celebration with a legendary Tractor Pull, this weekend is all about food, friends, and unforgettable memories in the heart of winter in the famous Scenic Rim.
Long before refrigeration and supermarkets, generations of women used creativity and resourcefulness to feed their families, growing and preserving produce from their gardens or local farms. This event honours these pioneers, showcasing essential skills like bottling tomatoes to last the whole year and jam-making for the pantry, along with a couple of extra jars for the neighbours too. Attendees can explore these traditional methods through talks, demonstrations, and market stalls, celebrating the timeless art of food preservation and the cherished recipes passed down through generations.
Experience Eat Local Month in one flavour-filled day. Explore 60+ market stalls featuring fresh produce, local beers, wines and spirits, and handmade goods. Enjoy delicious food, from Spanish paella to BBQ’d local beef and wood-fired pizza, paired with live music and tastings. Don’t miss the world-famous Tractor Pull, plus interactive workshops and fun kids’ activities. Bring your empty eskies for this ultimate farm gate experience!
Kick on after the Winter Harvest Festival with a good ol’ fashioned country celebration at the Harvest Hoedown! Enjoy a night of live music, line dancing, and hearty street food, with drinks flowing from The Cow Bar. A fun, family-friendly event packed with country hospitality - everyone’s invited!
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the farm, getting up close with show cattle, stock horses, and working border collies. Enjoy welcome drinks and canapés in the cattle yard before indulging in a long lunch on the lawn, featuring two delicious courses of Speckle Park beef paired with local vegetables. Finish with cheeses by the fire pits at sunset.
Start your weekend in Harrisville, a charming village home to two classic Queensland pubs: the Royal Hotel (where you can camp and stay in an old tram!) and the Sip & Skull Commercial Hotel.
Continue on to the Scenic Rim Farm Shop and Café, which also houses Elderflower Farm and Fifth Acre Organics, along with two beautiful 120-year-old jacarandas and a famous carrot cake! Just a few kilometers away is Kalbar, a delightful town rich in history and local charm. Stop by the renowned Lovett Café for delicious locally made pies, sausage rolls, sandwiches, jams, and meals brimming with local produce. Across the road, visit The Emporium Revival, a stunning historic building filled with antiques, vintage and modern collectibles, and unique fashions. Take a stroll along the street to explore even more.
For lunch, head to the multi-award-winning Blume, home to Scenic Rim Food Ambassador chef Jack Stuart, or pop into The Commercial Hotel in Boonah (and try the brand-new Scenic Rim Brewery). Alternatively, visit the historic Dugandan Hotel before driving up Mount French for a short walk to the viewing platform, where you can take in the region’s stunning paddock patchwork in all its glory.
As the sun sets enjoy the Winter Harvest Dinner (SOLD OUT) at Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm, where Scenic Rim Food Ambassador, Daniel Groneberg, showcases the finest seasonal produce in a share-style feast. This will be a spectacular event, starring breathtaking sunset views amid the beauty of lavender fields in and around the famed restaurant. A perfect start to the Winter Harvest weekend!
Given that food comas will be the norm this weekend, it’s best to book somewhere local for one, two, or even three nights. Be sure to book early, as this weekend fills up quickly in the region! Consider staying at the stunning Herrmann House or The Old Church Bed & Breakfast for cozy, country experiences, or choose from Vanberry Cottage Host Farm and Chapel, Scenic Rim Farm House, the Moogie Collective (house, glamping, and cabin), great motels in Boonah and Kalbar, or local farm stays and scenic bed and breakfasts. Or better yet, try Glamping at Kalbar showgrounds.
Wake up to a day of big country flavour, fun, and forgotten culinary skills! Start your Saturday immersed in the heart and soul of the Scenic Rim’s food heritage at A Celebration of Lost Culinary Arts at the Kalbar School of Arts—a hands-on tribute to the resourceful pioneers who preserved the harvest long before supermarkets existed. Learn how to bottle tomatoes, make pantry jams and pickles, and explore traditional techniques through live demos, nostalgic talks, and bustling market stalls packed with local goodness.
Then, just a short stroll away, dive headfirst into the deliciousness of the Winter Harvest Festival—the flavour-packed crescendo of Eat Local Month. The little town of Kalbar will come alive with over 60 stalls showcasing the best of the region’s produce, bites, brews, and handmade creations. With live music, tastings, cooking demos, and the unmissable, world-famous Tractor Pull, it’s a true country carnival of food, fun, and farm-fresh pride.
The celebration continues with the Harvest Hoedown at The Cow Bar—a unique country bar—featuring a night of live country music, line dancing, and hearty street food. Let loose with family and friends while enjoying the festive atmosphere and delicious local fare under a starry winter sky.
Wake to the sounds of birdsong (and the famous country music beats from last night!) and grab breakfast where you’re staying (tip: you can always pick up breakfast hampers from cafes across the region or create your own as you drive around). Alternatively, pop into any of the charming local cafes in Boonah, Kalbar, or Harrisville.
Then, it’s time to get your boots dirty! Join the fifth-generation Scholl family farmers at Valley Pride Produce for a hands-on, family-friendly experience harvesting fresh veggies straight from the ground.
Or, if you’d prefer to kiss a camel, take a tour at Summer Land Camels and discover the health benefits of camel milk while exploring Australia’s largest camel farm. Finish with a tasting of their award-winning products.
Wander into the idyllic surrounds of the Progressive Paddock (SOLD OUT) at the Scenic Rim Farm Shop & Café—a paddock-to-plate adventure where you’ll forage through rich farmland, gather fresh produce straight from the source, and enjoy seasonal snacks and sips at each scenic stop. The journey culminates under two grand jacarandas with a two-course feast featuring farm shop favourites, perfectly paired with local wines. It’s fresh, fun, and the Scenic Rim at its delicious best.
For something a little more meaty, head to Speckles on the Teviot at Hawthorne Speckle Park. Settle in for an indulgent afternoon on the farm, starting with welcome drinks and canapés before enjoying a long lunch featuring two stunning courses of premium Speckle Park beef and vibrant local sides. Then, relax with artisan cheeses and a glass of red by the fire pit as the sun melts into the hills. Refined, rustic, and ridiculously good.
Wrap up your weekend with a relaxed dinner at one of the region’s wonderful historic pubs, or enjoy a fireside meal at your accommodation. Reflect on a weekend filled with local flavours, heartwarming experiences, and the charm of the Scenic Rim. If you are heading home, make sure you fill your esky, and drive safe!!
