Adventure Designed by Nature

Start exploring

We begin in Mt Barney National Park, a 2 hour and 10 minute drive from Brisbane or 2 hours and 25 minutes from the Gold Coast.

Distance

105 km

Drive time

2 hours 15 minutes

The park’s rugged mountain peaks pierce clouds and watch down over the surrounding ancient Gondwana Rainforests. There are seven iconic mountain peaks in the park, all formed 24 million years ago when the ancient Focal Peak Shield Volcano erupted.

Today, the peaks are home to a diversity of landscapes and ecosystems and countless species of common and rare animals.

A walk along the way

Upper Portals Walking Track; 3 hours, 8 km return

To reach this track you’ll require a 4WD. Drive about 45 minutes from the Lower Portals and the Yellow Pinch area of the park. Follow the trail until it reaches the junction of Yamahra Creek and Mount Barney Creek. Follow the creek to the Upper Portals.

If you’d like to spend more time exploring Mt Barney, you’ll find diverse accommodation at the nearby Mt Barney Lodge, as well as a year-round program of guided adventure activities.

Next, we head north east through Rathdowney. The authentic warmth of this village has been cultivated since John Rankin first took up a lease in the mid-1800s.

A look into the village’s milling and dairy industries and the people of its past can be found by visiting the Rathdowney Museum.

You’ll need a 4WD as we arrive at the Scenic Rim Adventure Park to the north of Rathdowney. Here you can explore 28km of off-road driving tracks and trails for 4WD enthusiasts, mountain bikers and bush walkers alike. Or build your skills on a 4WD awareness course. Dogs welcome on a lead.

Not far from the adventure park, you’ll find a spicy farm stay. Oaky Creek Farm has a four-bedroom farmhouse nestled on a garlic, ginger, turmeric, chilli and lime farm. Watch out for the coming opening of the Harvest Café.

From herbs and spices to the main meal, it’s time to head south to a farm gate stop full of history and the undeniable value of paddock to plate living. Running Creek Beef is home to second generation cattle farmers Rod and Debbie and some of the happiest cows you’ll ever meet.

Watch out for open days or choose to stay and wake up to spot platypuses in the creek, charm the horses and wind down to the rhythm of a fire in the evenings. With so much natural beauty surrounding you, why not leave the planning to the professionals at Araucaria Ecotours. From day trips to multi-day tours, you’ll find yourself exploring biodiversity hot spots.

Places along the way