Canungra, Beechmont,
Tamborine Mountain
Discover ancient rainforests, stunning views and incredible flavour makers
On the first weekend of Eat Local Month (2 – 4 June) we open with a flavour-focus on the stunning towns and villages of Canungra, Tamborine Mountain and Beechmont. Green islands in the sky, these towns are gateways to ancient World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests, and home to incredible wineries, distilleries, flavour makers, adventures and accommodation experiences. Prepare for stunning views, new tastes and sensational sips!
On this opening weekend acclaimed chef Jack Stuart* hosts the first ever Blume Restaurant x Witches Falls Degustation Dinner at the famed winery at Tamborine Mountain. Legendary Binna Burra at Beechmont welcomes foodies to dine in the sky at their Parrots Picnic Lunch (PS: this is a spectacular place to stay).
Lovers of tipple tastings are in for a treat with Tamborine Mountain Distillery, Australia’s most awarded distillery this century, hosting tastings and classes all weekend, plus down the road at the Cauldron Distillery there’s gin blending classes. There’s 11 local wineries and breweries open every weekend of Eat Local Month plus for a hyper-local and sustainable dining experience, book at The Paddock at Beechmont Estate, headed by chef Simon Furley*.
Stay for the weekend and wake up to the famous whip birds of the ancient rainforest, take the spectacular Skywalk 30mabove the valley, or chase some waterfalls! And don’t forget to drop into the Canungra Visitor Information Centre, for the best local advice, and they are hosting tastings (of course!).
*Scenic Rim Food Ambassador
Here’s a foodie adventure we prepared earlier. So go on, make the most of your long weekend!
Friday 2 June
10am – Crop-to-Cup and Brewing Class at Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation
3pm – Spirit of Tradition Class at Tamborine Mountain Distillery
5pm – Twilight Gin Blending Class at Cauldron Distillery
6:30pm – Blume X Witches Falls Degustation Dinner at Witches Falls Winer
Saturday 3 June
Early riser? Head out and explore the stunning Canungra region. It’s a wine lovers’ paradise with cellar doors like Sarabah Estate Vineyard, Albert River Wines and O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards, which is also home to Mount view Alpaca Farm where an Alpaca selfie is mandatory!
12noon– Parrots Picnic Lunch at Binna Burra Lodge – a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to dine in the sky (well, close enough!).
Tastings or Soiree – you choose!
4pm – A Country Cook and Taste with Mrs Frost’s Kitchen at My Country Escape
4:30pm – Sunset Soiree at the Copperhead Restaurant on Tamborine Mountain
Sunday 4 June
Tipples and sips, or sipples and tips? It’s your choice…
10:30am – 2pm – Grape to Glass at Witches Falls Winery
11am – Distillery Tour at the multi-award winning Tamborine Mountain Distillery
From 12pm – Burgers and Beers on the Grass at North Stores – time to chill and swill!
Tip from the locals!
Kick on in the afternoon at Fortitude Brewing Company or toast the end of the weekend at Hampton Estate Wines.
Boonah, Kalbar, Harrisville, Mount Alford, Roadvale
Discover fertile soils, country towns and innovative farmers
Welcome to the second weekend of Eat Local Month (9 – 11June), a weekend in a patchwork of paddocks, bordered by ancient volcanoes, home to some of the most fertile soils in the country and the most innovative farmers and flavour creators. Peppered across this western side of the Scenic Rim are small country towns that ooze old fashioned charm and are rich in history, culture, art, stories and beautiful heritage-listed buildings.
Let’s talk carrots! This is Australia’s carrot growing capital, with local farmers harvesting 600 million each year! Celebrating this carrotacular fact, is the Kalfresh Carrot Day held on Saturday. It’s perfect for little foodies – they walk the paddock and pull carrots from the soil, meet the farmers and visit Kalfresh Vegetables.
A new event opens the weekend: Floravescence – An Evening in the Flowers with Josh Lopez* and Kate Raymont* at the stunning Scenic Rim Farm Shop and Café. The next day it’s the famous KALBAR-BQ, a long country lunch like no other, and the inaugural Fermented Food Festival, celebrating the taste-bud blowing world of food fermentation.
On Sunday, the Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm just outside Boonah hosts the Time to Feastlunch. Summer Land Camels (their Persian Feta is a MUST), Elderflower Farm, Scenic Rim Cooking Classes and Scenic Rim Mushrooms are running classes and tastings all weekend. Local breweries and wineries are also open every weekend so check out Bunjurgen Estate Vineyard, Kooroomba and the Scenic Rim Brewery.
One of the newest foodie destinations is The Bowl in Boonah, under Blume chef Jack Stuart*, while The Roadvale Hotel has been refurbished and is now home to chef Daniel Groneberg. Read over the itinerary suggestions and book your accommodation now, as this is one packed foodie weekend!
*Scenic Rim Food Ambassador
Take a deep breath because this is one big flavour-packed weekend!
Friday 9 June
10:30am or 12pm – Farm Tour and Taste at Summer Land Camels and sneak a camel kiss for the Insta!
Stop in at the Scenic Rim Brewery just for the spectacular view of Mount Alford (and a beer of course – the Beauy & Blue is made from Beaudesert Blue pumpkins!). Enjoy a chat with Head Brewer Mike and then make your way just up the road to Bunjurgen Estate Vineyard, (you must take home a few bottles of their Chambourcin Rose and Shiraz).
4:55pm– Floravescence – An Evening in the Flowers at the Scenic Rim Farm Shop & Café (flowers, food, a sunset and a Scenic Rim Food Ambassador chef – what could be better?)
Saturday 10 June
Attention families – these next two are for you!
8:30am to 3pm – Kalfresh Carrot Day (book immediately as this awesome experience sells out!)
9am to 3pm – Fermented Food Festival at Summer Land Camels
10am – Make a Vege and Flower Vase Workshop at Elderflower Farm (PS: those jacaranda trees are 120 years old!)
11:30am – KALBAR-BQ Gourmet Long Table Lunch at the Kalbar Schools of Arts & Memorial Hall – country hospitality at its veryfinest.
4pm – Grow with the Farmer, Cook with the Chef Workshop at Scenic Rim Mushrooms
5pm – Eat Local with a view at The Vue Restaurant
Sunday 11 June
9am to 4pm – Come Pick Your Own and Meet the Farmer – Valley Pride Produce – perfect for the family, and you take home the freshest veggies!
So many workshops and experiences to choose from!
10am – Edible Flower Picking and Cupcake Decorating Workshop at Elderflower Farm
10:30am or 12pm – Farm Tour and Taste at Summer Land Camels
11am or 4pm – Grow with the Farmer, Cook with the Chef at Scenic Rim Mushrooms
12pm – Time to Feast Lunch at Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm
1pm – Floral Tea Picking, Tasting and Blending Workshop at Elderflower Farm
4pm – Sunset Cocktail and Canape Class at Scenic Rim Cooking Classes
Beaudesert, Allenview
Kerry, Rathdowney
Discover the heart of the Scenic Rim
On the fourth weekend of Eat Local Month (23 – 25 June) we invite you to explore the heart of the region. At home in the heart of the Scenic Rim is the much loved sixth generation Tommerup’s Dairy Farm. Kay and Dave Tommerup will stage two all-new events this weekend in Our Bread and Butter – Simple Farmhouse Pleasures Masterclass and the Tommerup’s Feast on the Farm with guest chef Richard Ousby*.
Two French Chefs Restaurant at The Overflow Estate 1895 open the weekend with a stunning Friday Long Lunch matched with their own beautiful wines, and the following day Oaky Creek Farm near Rathdowney shines the light on growing garlic, ginger and turmeric.
On Sunday Towri Sheep Cheeses at Allenview adds to the flavour feast, but with a twist! The inaugural Eat Local Month running of the famous Towri Twilight Woolly Cup will celebrate their beloved Awassi sheep (tip Hercules always wins!).This is the home of authentic farmstay experiences (Tommerup’s, Cedar Glen, Worendo) as well as the gateway to The Lost World, truly a special part of the world, where paddocks meet the ancient rainforest.
On your travels make time to drop into local wineries The Overflow Estate 1895 and Barney Creek Vineyard Cottages for a tasting or two.
There’s fantastic cafés and pubs and the Beaudesert Visitor Information Centre is the place for all foodie info, so drop in and say hi. It’s proper paddock to plate!
*Scenic Rim Food Ambassador
Authentic Farm Time, a long lunch and real country flavours. Here’s how to make the most of this long weekend, and don’t forget to pack your esky!
Friday 23 June
10am – Our Bread and Butter – Simple Farmhouse Pleasures Masterclass at Tommerup’s Dairy Farm. Walking on their farm is very special.
12pm – Friday Long Lunch at Two French Chefs Restaurant at The Overflow Estate 1895. Let the flavours roll on!
Saturday 24 June
Tip from the locals! If you are heading to the Oaky Creek Farm Workshop, arrive a little earlier and enjoy a Farmer’s Breakfast at the Harvest Café, with local free range eggs and Running Creek Beef’s legendary sausages!
10am – Growing Root Crops Workshop at Oaky Creek Farm, all about ginger, garlic and turmeric.
Stop in at Rathlogan Olive Grove and Shed Café for afternoon tea; their olives, tapenade, jams and relishes are so good! Make a beeline for Barney Creek Vineyard on the way back for a little wine tasting, or drive a little further to The Overflow Estate 1895.
Sunday 25 June
On your way to Tommerup’s Dairy Farm in the Kerry Valley, pop into Teaspoons & Aprons for a hearty breakfast brimming with local produce. Their sweet tarts and cakes are the best!
10am to 2pm – Tommerup’s Feast on the Farm at Tommerup’s Dairy Farm
3pm – Towri Twilight Woolly Cup at Towri Sheep Cheeses (the race that stops the Scenic Rim is not to be missed!)
