5 trails to explore in Girraween National Park
With more than 17 km of walking tracks, there are plenty of options from a short stroll to an all-day trek.
Have you ever eaten breakfast with wallabies at your window? Woken up to views of endless vineyards? Fallen asleep under the stars with a lake lapping at your door?
Fancy hotels with crisp white sheets and room service is great, sure. But have you ever eaten breakfast with wallabies at your window? Woken up to views of endless vineyards? Fallen asleep under the stars with a lake lapping at your door?
These boutique stays prove that slowing down, embracing local life and getting back to nature are the best ways to relax and get to know a place.
Here’s where to stay in the South Burnett region when you’re looking for something a little left of field.
Psst - be sure to book far in advance if you’re planning to visit during the school holidays or for special festivals like BaconFest, the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival and Murgon Country Music Muster when accommodation books out well in advance.
Wake up to wallabies in the Bunya Mountains
The lush forests and bushland of the Bunya Mountains sits 1100 metres above sea level and overlooks the farming plains of the Western Downs and South Burnett.
Up here life revolves around nature and within Queensland’s second oldest national park, you’ll find plenty of walking trails, panoramic views and the world’s largest stand of Bunya pines.
But best of all you don’t need to rush off, there are a handful of places to stay from rustic mountain cabins to camping within the wild national park.
Expect to find cute red-necked wallabies and black-striped wallabies hanging about beneath ancient Bunya pines, especially at dawn or dusk when they venture out in droves looking for a feed.
Experience life on a historic working cattle property
Escape to the countryside where bright starry nights, homestead history and incredible nature await. Welcome to Taabinga, one of Queensland’s oldest, continuously lived-in rural homes.
Located near Kingaroy, 215 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, this 1846-built homestead and cattle station still runs a commercial herd of Australia’s Murray Grey beef while welcoming guests to experience a taste of farm life in historic self-contained cottages.
Walk trails around the property and come face to face with local wildlife, engage in history at the Taabinga cemetery, blacksmiths, butcher shop and dairy, join a farm tour with your hosts Libby and Colin, go fishing at the nearby Boondooma and Bjelke-Petersen dams, or simply relax and soak in the country air.
Spend a few romantic days between the vines
Warm summers, mild winters and rich soil makes the South Burnett region ideal for grape growing. Don’t just drop by to taste the tannins, instead immerse yourself in village life at Dusty Hill Vineyard.
More than just a winery and cellar door, Dusty Hill offers a charming stone house, quaint cottage or chapel to rest your head for a night or three. Overlooking the tranquil Lake Barambah and Barambah Valley, wake up between the vines, fry up your DIY breakfast basket and go for a walk down to the lake.
If it’s wine tasting time, sip your way through shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, verdelho, semillon, merlot and black muscat grape varieties at the cellar door. Then pop across to Prendergasts Irish Tavern for a hearty lunch. Don’t miss Chef & Winemakers Pantry for gourmet souvenirs including pickles, jams, cheese and soy candles made or grown locally.
Sleep under the stars by a lake
The only thing better than camping out beneath a starry sky? Levelling that up by camping beside a lake or dam too. Those that love boating and fishing will have a field day at the campsites and cabins besides Lake Boondooma, Bjelke-Petersen Dam or Lake Barambah in the South Burnett region.
Pitch a tent in classic Australian bushland, park the camper beneath towering gums or book yourself into a cosy cabin. Don’t forget to bring your camera – with no light pollution, eager photographers can try shooting star photos under clear night skies. Magic!
Get your hands dirty at a farmstay
Feed chickens, gather eggs and milk the cows when you stay the weekend or week at a farmstay in the South Burnett region.
Just 20 kilometres from Bunya Mountains National Park, Bunyip Springs is a favourite farmstay thanks to its hands-on activities and proximity to great bushwalking trails. Choose to sleep in a lodge, cottage or unit and get a taste of rural farm life.
Close to the Diamondy State Forest, Passchendaele Farm Stay is a 5000 acre farm that musters cattle. Feed the animals, cook over a campfire, go swimming or bushwalking and visit wineries nearby before returning to your cottage or campsite.
Our third pick is the smaller 62-hectare Lee Farmstay where you can embrace the rhythm of farm life and join your hosts every day at 8am and 4pm to help feed the chickens, sheep and horses. In between, spend your day fishing in the dam, biking the property or lounging by the pool and sauna. Best of all, your furry friends are welcome here!
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