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Oriana singing in the Chiesa di Sant’Andrea Apostolo at Toscolano. Oriana enthralled patrons at the Hlahol Concert Hall in Prague which dates back to the 1860s.

The power of song

By Erle Levey

Paper planes in Prague and the last dinner in Venice under a vine-covered pergola.

For the past five years or so it has been a privilege to be associated with the Sunshine Coast’s Oriana Choir as a paton.

None so important as these times under Covid when extra stress is placed on everyone.

It is at a time such as this that if we don’t have a strong support base we can fracture.

Oriana has provided that strength to everyone and anyone.

Someone has always been there to ask “Are you OK?’’

Always ready to offer a hand.

Perhaps no greater example was the live performance at St John’s in Brisbane before the Christmas past.

Not only was it perhaps that Oriana were the first choir to give a live concert during Covid but the fact it was live-streamed around the world to give people hope.

And the way the performance was dedicated to the people of Italy who had been so hospitable during our 2019 performance tour.

In the time I have been associated with Oriana the choir has been able to perform at a wide variety of music events throughout Queensland and around the world.

That has included major venues, community halls, some of the biggest cathedrals and most historic churches in Europe, and at community services throughout the Sunshine Coast and surrounding regions.

Oriana has toured England, Wales, Belgium and France in 2012; Hungary, Slovak Republic, Austria and Czech Republic in 2016; then Italy in 2019 - from Rome through the northern regions to Venice.

At times they have asked if I would sing with them.

Well, obviously they have not heard me ... except for that night after a performance where we went to a centuries-old restaurant in Budapest, or the time we started singing Waltzing Matilda to a bewildered group of people at a beer garden overlooking a picturesque lake in Austria.

More recently, it was joining in with six to eight choir members in a bit of Boho Rhap at the Yellow Penguin gelataria in Italy the night after a magnificent evening of music and hospitality on the shores of Lago Di Garda.

What this ever-changing group of singers has been able to do is engage with communities and audiences and bring not just music but fellowship to a wide range of people.

That’s the beauty of song. It embraces people no matter what their background.

It doesn’t matter if it is a cathedral in Gympie or Brisbane, Prague or Budapest, Paris, London or Rome.

The message is the same if it is in St Marks at Buderim or St Marks in Venice, if it is at the farming town of San Miniato or the fishing village of Sestri Levante.

The choir members are as passionate about the planet and all of mankind as they are about their music.

They have shown they can be caring and understanding of people from different cultures.

That it is an honour to be invited into their homes and treat each and every one of them with dignity and respect.

Such memorable times – The Armed Man at Brisbane City Hall certainly stands out. A commemoration of 100 years since the end of World War One.

The afternoon in the cathedral at Lucca … such a wonderful setting. The people were so gracious and welcoming of all, no matter what your class, colour or creed.

Riding the carousel at Montecatini Terme after the concert, the funicular journey up the mountain – and even the ambulance trip in Orvieto when a tour member slipped and fell during an afternoon Tuscan thunderstorm. Who could forget?

The village of San Miniato near Verona, and how the people put on the most heart-felt supper.

The way the choirs joined together, not just there but Sestri Levante – and the welcome they gave by the second or secret bay.

Then there was the evening of song and another supper at Toscalano on the shores of Lake Garda.

The small but historic cathedral in the farming community of Aqua Negri … the standing ovation from villagers who had tears in their eyes.

It was the same in 2016 at the final concert in Prague’s Hlahol concert hall … a full house and standing beneath the mural by Alphonse Mucha with a local. He was engrossed. It must have been raining inside as his eyes were wet.

Where did this journey start?

Probably at the Mothers Day concert at Matthew Flinders in 2016 when the choir sang Prayer for the Children.

You had me by the first chorus.

That was bookended on the Tour of Italy by Even When He Is Silent.

What have I learned about this journey? Travel ... it’s a matter of understanding the cultures, not imposing yourself on them.

Asking permission, for we are in your house. A sense of being invited in.

Appreciating the easy come and go lifestyle of the Italian people.

The history built up over centuries.

To be welcomed into their house, so to speak, and enjoy the food, wine and hospitality provided to us after an evening of much more than music and song.

For me, it was a reminder of the need for graciousness and humility.

That these people welcomed us so warmly into their hearts.

It was up to us to return that honour and trust.

Musical excellence is one thing, technical ability another, but professionalism is essential at all times - the ability to inspire and encourage, to extend a hand when needed ... that is the real character of a person or a group.

That is true success.

To be able to change one person’s life, to be able to make the planet that bit better, no matter how much or how little.

For the greatest journey starts with the first step.

COME TO THE WOODS

The latest performance by Sunshine Coast Oriana Choir is Come To The Woods, an amazing piece of choral music by young American composer Jake Runestad.

It’s a work of many moods, which takes the listener on a stimulating day’s outing in the woods.

It is a stirring, uplifting, delightful programme of choral music by American composers from across nearly one hundred years.

It is a program of great variety, with choral arrangements of songs by the likes of Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, George and Ira Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein and many more.

Styles as diverse as jazz, spiritual, musical theatre, art-song and original choral works, of great beauty and emotional depth, make up a concert that has something for every taste.

It is Oriana’s great pleasure and privilege to have renowned choral conductor and educator, Paul Holley as musical director for Come to the Woods.

He is currently artistic director of Voices of Birralee, based in Brisbane.

Paul has more than 25 years of teaching experience in secondary schools and many years of working with adult community choirs, and his work preparing Oriana for this concert programme has been inspirational.

There is an enormous treasury of wonderful American music, and Come To The Woods is a small, but representative sample of that treasury.

For bookings visit oriana.org.au

Looking for a page-turner

Summer Reading

Summer time – time to pull out the hammock, make a cocktail and get out a good book. Journalist Tania Phillips has found a couple of new releases that just might fit the summer reading bill.

Get Well by Michael Leunig available through Penguin Random House

Deceptively wise, heartbreakingly beautiful and just plain hilarious, Get Well is a collection of Michael Leunig’s work over the past four years – a time when, quite remarkably, all has not been well with the world. “Simple rhymes, homemade aphorisms, sentimental yearnings, many daggy jokes, funny faces and mysteries from the heart abound in this collection of cartoons – which cause me to wonder what is becoming of me and my world”, says Leunig. More than ever, Leunig shines a light on questions about sanity and madness, innocence and corruption, friendliness and unfriendliness, joy and despair, and the possibility of an overriding eternal wisdom and beauty.

Apart from the obvious calamities of fire, flood and pandemic, an unwellness of concern to Michael is the quiet erosion of poetic and philosophical perspectives in the feverish clamouring for science. Many of these pieces are what came to Michael most surely, naturally and sincerely during a recent, strange period of creative exile from what seemed to be an increasingly stern and unforgiving environment. He describes his approach as regressive, humorous, messy, mystical, primal and vaudevillian - producing work which is open to many interpretations and has been widely adapted in education, music, theatre, psychotherapy and spiritual life.

The Incredible Life of Hubert Wilkins by Peter Fitzsimmons - Hachette Australia

The brave and bold Sir Hubert Wilkins is Australia’s most adventurous explorer, naturalist, photographer, war hero, aviator, spy, submariner and daredevil – and his exceptional life is celebrated in this new book by Fitzsimons.

“Sir Hubert Wilkins is one of the most remarkable Australians who ever lived,” Fitzsimons said. “He was nothing less than the Forrest Gump of history, with the uncanny knack of being Hubert-onthe-spot for magnificent moments with some of the greats of history.

“Sir Hubert lived the most extraordinary life of any Australian, ever, and in terms of thrills and spills, derring-do, new worlds discovered he could sit at the table with Attila the Hun, Alexander the Great, Captain Cook, and Shackleton and hold his own.”

Fiona Hazard, Group Publishing Director at Hachette Australia said of the forthcoming book, “I cannot wait for readers to discover the incredible story of Sir Hubert Wilkins.

“Peter FitzSimons has once again brought to life a character and period of history that many of us are unfamiliar with. From South Australia to Antarctica via the Soviet Union, this incredible tale will have you on the edge of your seat from the very first page and will take you on adventures and to places we can only dream of at the moment.”

The Tea Ladies of St Judes Hospital by Joanna Nell - Hachette Australia

Sydney GP Joanna Nell is fast becoming the queen of over 50s literature. This is her fourth book in almost as many years and has all the charm of the previous books including her impressive debut novel The Single Ladies Of Jacaranda Retirement Home. This time around her book is inspired by a hospital visit (back to hospital she had worked in many years before).

The Marjorie Marshall Memorial Cafeteria has been serving refreshments and raising money at St Jude’s Hospital for more than fifty years. Staffed by successive generations of dedicated volunteers, the beloved institution is known as much for offering a kind word and a sympathetic ear as for its tea and buns.

Stalwart Hilary has worked her way up through the ranks to Manageress. Joy has been late every day since she started and doesn’t take her role quite as seriously as Hilary would like, but brings a welcome pop of colour. Seventeen-year-old Chloe, the daughter of two successful surgeons is volunteering during the school holidays.

Chloe is at first bewildered by the two older women but soon realises they have alot in common, not least that each bears a secret pain. When they discover the cafeteria is under threat of closure, they must band together to stop it from happening.

The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital.

FINDING THE SMILE IN EVERY DAY

At Regis, we believe a good life is built on great relationships.

That’s why we’ve been nurturing trusted connections with our employees, clients, residents and their families for nearly 30 years. Through our range of tailored aged care services, we are committed to helping people realise their wellbeing goals and lead meaningful lives. We focus on every person as an individual so we can provide the best possible care and help them find the smile in every day. Talk to us today and discover the Regis difference. Brisbane Aged Care Homes Regis Birkdale Regis Bulimba Regis Chelmer Regis Ferny Grove Regis Lutwyche Regis Salisbury Regis The Gap Regis Wynnum Regis Yeronga Regis Sandgate - Griffith Regis Sandgate - Lucinda Regis Sandgate - Musgrave

Woodfordia re-inspired

Business owners and festival and event organisers have learned to think on their feet during the past two years – none more so than the people behind the popular Woodford Folk Festival.

The popular event is held between December 27 to January 1 each year and attracts people from around Australia and overseas but when Covid hit it became impossible to run.

However, Woodfordia, who run the event, changed tact and came up with Bushtime.

Bushtime is an inspired camping holiday held on a 500-acre parkland located in the Moreton Bay Region Hinterland, on Jinibara Country, just over one hour north of Brisbane.

Woodfordia Deputy executive director Amanda Jackes said the event started off as inspired camping experience.

“This Bushtime has probably evolved into something with a little bit more art activities and it’s being held over the traditional Woodford Folk Festival dates,” she said.

“There will be Cabaret performances, concerts, talks and workshops but it’s got a bit of a laid-back start to each day and by mid-afternoon there are a few venues that start up offering some cultural experiences.”

The event is part of reimaging what they could do during Covid times and being able to deliver a Covid safe event that could be scaled up and down depending on what level of social distancing they had to do.

“We developed Bushtime this time last year and we actually ran five Bushtime events but unfortunately in January of this year, the last one was cancelled due to a snap lock down and because of the costs, the impact on cancelling events we chose not to do any events for half the year. We wanted to wait to see what was occurring with the vaccination roll-out and all that and so this will be our first Bushtime since then.

“We have however been opening Woodfordia up for camping over the school holidays and we just had a wonderful long weekend of camping.

“We are pretty excited about it and looking forward to this event at the end of the year. It’s been lovely liaising with artists and putting ideas together.

“Then we hope next year we would be looking towards the return of our planting festival and the Woodford Folk Festival – that’s our hope for 2022.”

To learn more head to woodfordia. org/bushtime

Film festival fun in focus

Yeppoon is set to come alive for the Capricorn Film Festival from 12-16 January.

There will be something for everyone dotted in and around the popular seaside town according to festival director Luke Graham.

Luke said the festival, like a lot of events is making it’s return in 2022 after a Covid Hiatus.

“It is held at the picturesque Yeppoon which is Central Queensland’s tourist locale,” he explained.

“For people touring the country, holidaying, Yeppoon is where you would go – especially gray nomads when you’re travelling around. So our audience is probably fits into that demographic.”

In 2021 the event was canned four weeks out following a spike in cases at Christmas in NSW so they were requested to cancel by the State Government.

“Last year was the only that we’ve missed since we started but it affected everyone,” Luke said.

“This year we’re excited and moving ahead with it. Activities include feature films, documentaries, Australian and international premieres as well as a short film competition.

“All that is what you’d expect at a film festival like this but we have some pretty cool activities that we’ve expanded into in the past two or three years. We are moving into encompassing other art forms in the festival.

“Yeppoon has a lovely promenade on the beach and we’ve actually got filmthemed glow in the dark painted art exhibitions that will be all along the path.

“So we’ve got some really exciting things for people at night – for families.”

There will be outdoor screening events and indoor art gallery viewing events and activities.

“The intention is to activate key locations around the town,” he said.

“If you want to do something you can go to an art gallery or go to a movie or walk along the beach. You can sit and watch a movie at the amphitheater overlooking the water. We’ve got activities for youth as well – video gaming events. We are trying to encompass things that families can go to. You can take your family or go by yourself to events – we are trying to tick as many boxes as we can so we can entertain and inspire an audience.”

He said it was a great place to take the grand kids if their parents are working.

“It is a little bit hotter up here at Central Queensland than it is in the South East but during those Christmas holiday period we’re that event for the region where people can come and do activities as extended families.”

For tickets and more information head to capricornfilmfestival.org

Yeppoon becomes the centre of the Australian film industry for a few days each January. Get set for the return of the film festival.

Screenings, premieres and exhibitions - there’s something for everyone.

Looking north to Coolum from the headlands of the bays. 254744 Part of the streetscape. 254744

Treasures found along the art trail. 254744

Sand, sea and salt in the air

By Erle Levey

There was always the thrill and apprehension of running along the narrow path, through the bushland and native grasses of the sand dunes.

What would it be like? Would it be the same as last year? Would the tides have changed the sand bars?

Those were my memories of our beach holidays as kids.

Days were spent from daylight to dark at the beach or watching the fishing boats come in and getting something from their catch to take back to the camp.

There was nothing quite like it.

There were always ice-cream cones to be enjoyed from the corner shop, games of cricket on the sand, a beachfront carnival to wonder at, and the picture theatre of a night.

Coolum Beach is still that sort of place.

For many years it has been regarded as the sleeping tiger of the Sunshine Coast.

It is stirring. New shops, holiday apartments, landscaping of the beachfront Esplanade.

Yet there is also the rusty tin and plywood behind the glass and concrete facades of some of the buildings.

The beachfront caravan park takes you back to those childhood days.

Talking with long-time holiday-makers from the park, Coolum is very much what you see is what you get.

It’s the place everyone goes for a traditional beach holiday. One of the few where you can still camp on the foreshore, then pop across the road for a coffee.

It’s a place of fish’n’chips and ice creams, broad beaches and secluded coves.

Thongs and sarongs, singlets and tshirts, board shorts and straw hats.

The Dan Murphy liquor supermarket and the pub are both across the road. The bowls club, just a few hundred metres from the sand dunes.

The surf club was designed by Ken Down, who drew on his sailing experience to keep it open to the elements and benefit from the aspect for natural breezes off the ocean.

The old weatherboard picture theatre has gone … and its canvas seats. It was a place where Jaffas could be rolled down the timber floorboards.

The site is now part of an expanded community centre and parkland linking residential areas with the shops and the beach.

The picture theatre, originally the school of arts hall, has been relocated to the industrial estate for use as a men’s shed.

The changing landscape of Coolum Beach. 254744 Fish’n’chips - always a favourite. 254744

The beachfront shopping strip at Coolum. 254744

Coolum Art Trail: Short cut to the beach. Between the flags at Coolum Beach.

254744

Breakfast specials are still a thing to look for. 254744

Then there is the boardwalk that clings to the cliffs and opens the beachfront up to all ... a forerunner of the future perhaps where public access is made for those not as mobile as they would like to be.

You can enjoy the dramatic views.

Yet there is the beauty of walking on the beach … a golden 16km arc stretching from Noosa Head in the north.

It doesn’t matter whether tide is in or out, there is always beach to walk on, and a place to swim or to surf.

The slope of the sand is gentle - not the deep drop-offs of beaches to the south of Mooloolaba.

Time your walk right and you can get all the way to Peregian for a coffee.

Heading in the other direction, the Coolum Beach Public Art Trail starts just to the north of the caravan park. There are 11 featured works reflecting a diversity of artists, from communityinitiated projects to artworks by internationally renowned artists.

The entire Art Trail is about a 3km round trip, which takes a couple of hours if you are to take it all in, grab some photos, stop to admire the views.

One of the works is by local artist Blair McNamara who is regarded as part of the paint work.

Blair regards Coolum as the best section of coastline on the Sunshine Coast, especially the stretch from Yaroomba to Yandina Rd.

The whole hill is a natural amphitheatre with remnants of littoral forest.

It’s a town caught between two cultures … Noosa with its natural appeal and Maroochy with its economic heart.

Originally the road in from Maroochydore was the David Low Way to Tanah St, then up Centenary Heights Rd.

Somers store was on the corner of Yandina Rd and the Esplanade.

Blair said there were several key facts about Coolum Beach, and none so significant as Mt Coolum, the world’s second largest rock behind Uluru.

The volcanic dome rises 208 metres above its surroundings and is one of the most important square kilometres in Australia with more than 700 types of plant life.

The old Toboggan Hill would run from Lows Lookout straight down to the bays. Today it is regarded as a dress circle of Coolum real estate.

The bays of Coolum and Pt Arkwright give everyone a chance to enjoy nature.

Pt Arkwright is one of best areas to observe the geological changes in the cliffs and to investigate the marine life in the rock pools.

Surrounded by Noosa National Park, Coolum is in the middle of nature.

You can experience amazing sunrises, sunsets and moon rises - there are not many other places like that.

The occasional encounters with wildlife are fewer these days - koalas in the laundry, snakes in the garage.

Even so, they cannot be fathomed by the texting teenager.

Laneways have brought a new vibe to the beachfront village. 254744

The view from Lows Lookout. 254744 Part of the Coolum art trail. 254744

The main beach from the boardwalk.

254744

Esplanade-Yandina Rd corner, site of the old Somers Store. 254744 Sand tracks through to the beach. 254744

Coolum Beach: The view from a beach pathway. 254744

Coolum Beach caravan and camping park, right on the foreshore. 254744

Coolun Beach shopping. 254744

The lifeguard tower at Coolum Beach.

Time to make those plans

It’s time to start making plans travel plans for next year whether it be the southwest Queensland Outback, the rugged beauty and history of Tasmania or heading offshore to Norfolk Island.

CT Travel has released its itineraries for the new year, offering an exciting range of tours, from short getaways to two-week adventures. And the word to the wise, is to start thinking about it now before all the seats are snapped up.

“We have some really interesting tours lined up already,” Paul Brockhurst from CT Travel said.

“One not to be missed is a fly / Coach trip exploring southwest Queensland.”

The Southwest Loop will be over 12 days from July 19 next year and is an opportunity to cover the long distances the easy way.

Taking a flight to Longreach and then back from Charleville with Coach travel in between means there will, literally, be no hard yards.

But there will be plenty to see travelling by luxury coach through the heart of the Outback.

After two nights in Longreach and another two in Winton, the trip turns west to Boulia and then south through Bedourie, surrounded by Eyre Creek at the base of a sand dune – population 140 – and on to Birdsville for three nights.

“These are the little spots on the map that have so much to offer and are on many a bucket list but can be a challenge for many of us to get to,” Paul said.

“A spacious, modern air-conditioned coach is the most comfortable and safest way to travel the long distances on our highways and by-ways.”

The three-night stopover in Birdsville includes a day’s flight across the border to Innamincka in South Australia – population 44 – and a river cruise on Cooper Creek, famous for its role in the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition.

The outback comes to life at sunset in a sea of red and orange and there’s no better place to see it than from Big Red, the first sand dune of the Simpson Desert, that stands at 40m high.

From there it’s through Windorah for a night in Eromanga – population 45 – the furthest town from the sea in Australia.

In another claim to fame, is that Australia’s largest dinosaurs have been unearthed here and visitors can “dine with the dinosaurs”. This area has been touted by scientists as the most exciting and prolific dinosaur site in Australia.

Then it’s on to Charleville via Quilpie, before flying home.

“These are the little Outback places we’ve heard of and now it’s time to find them and the many secrets they hold,” Paul says. “We know all the must-see places of interest, and fuel prices and accommodation aren’t your problem as it’s already sorted as part of the package.”

Also coming up next year is a 15-day tour of Outback New South Wales on the Darling River Run, from 26 April.

It’s a journey across open plains and far horizons, visiting Goondiwindi, Lightning Ridge, Burke, Silverton and Cobar and Broken Hill to name but a few.

Despite its name White Cliffs residents live underground to escape the heat, and that’s where visitors stay too.

Immerse in history, culture and natural beauty at Norfolk Island for eight days from 16 February, or head to Tasmania for 14 days from 7 November.

“There’s a lot planned and something for everyone,” Paul said.

“We’re ready to go.”

Full tours details of upcoming tours are on the CT Travel website.

Visit cttravel.com.au

Exploring Australia. Time to travel outback.

CT TRAVEL

Getting messy. The famous street parade.

Feast of apple and grape

One of Australia’s most loved footstomping, grape-crushing festivals is expected to ‘crush-it’ again in 2022, with plans underway to deliver the crunchiest ever Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival on 25 February - 6 March 2022.

In the cool high altitude of Queensland’s Granite Belt, Stanthorpe has been literally “crushing-it” since 1966, welcoming 70,000+ visitors from across Australia to celebrate the bounty of the apple harvest and the wine region’s grape crushing.

Known for its messy grape-stomping antics, the 2022 festival program delivers all the favourite harvest events: the fun of grape crushing; a hotly contested apple peeling competition; plus a three-day Queensland Country Bank Food and Wine Fiesta on 4 to 6 March.

The Food and Wine Fiesta brings together the Granite Belt’s gourmet foods, award-winning wines and craft beer all to one location under the shady trees and picnic tables, all to the tunes of non-stop live entertainment.

Festival entertainment and the party-filled atmosphere will spill out into the streets on the big finale weekend 4 - 6 March.

Crowds will gather for the must-see Grand Parade that runs through the very centre of Stanthorpe and once it’s rolled on by, in it’s place the program of free entertainment continues with the highlight grape crushing championships and the Rebel Breeze FM Street Carnival.

A line-up of live bands and an eclectic mix of buskers will fill the air, though the most impressive musical spectacle is the gathering of hundreds of musicians grouped in brass bands, pipe bands and thunderous marching drum bands who hit the streets en-masse immediately after the street parade on Saturday 5 March.

The first weekend of the festival, sees emerging young stars join seasoned buskers as they gather in Stanthorpe for the South East Qld Finals of the Australian National Busking Championships.

Buskers on every street corner Saturday 26 February is reason enough to be in Stanthorpe on the first festival weekend, but crowds come just as much for Sunday’s Banchetto Italiano (Italian Long Lunch) which celebrate’s Stanthorpe’s Italian heritage in such a riot of fun that it is guaranteed to sell out! “Our festival is held every second year, yet the last one feels a lifetime ago, because we were actually the last festival held in Australia before we were all suddenly introduced to Covid-restrictions,” explained Festival President Russell Wantling.

“Thankfully there’s no stopping the stars of our festival - the apples and grapes, and while they are out there busily budding and bursting this spring, we are busy at work pulling together the 10-day festival.”

“We’ve come through drought and fire in recent history and it’s left our little town stronger and prouder than ever,” said Mr Wantling.

“In 2022 Stanthorpe celebrates a huge milestone marking 150 years since Stanthorpe was founded, so you can be sure we’re putting on a festival celebration befitting the occasion!”

Highlights of the festival program include the Grape Crush Championships, Queensland Country Bank Food and Wine Fiesta, the Channel Seven Grand Parade, Rebel FM Street Carnival, the Apple and Grape Gala Ball, Apple Peeling and Apple Pie Competitions, Orchard Tours, Meet the Winemaker Events and much more, filling 10 exciting days.

Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

Stanthorpe is just 2.5 hours’ drive from Brisbane, three hours from the Gold Coast or Byron Bay and two hours from Toowoomba.

Register to receive festival updates at appleandgrape.org

All the fun of stomping the grapes.

The Treetop Challenge for the grand kids. Innes Larkin on Logan’s Ridge Mt Barney. Summer is a perfect time to visit the cool rainforest walks at Binna Burra Lodge.

Lonely Planet recommends

By Tania Phillips

It has been named one of the hottest destinations in the world by Lonely Planet as part of their Best in Travel 2022 and we don’t even have to leave the state to get there.

It’s the Scenic Rim area in South East Queensland and it’s been a hundreds of millions of years in the making and it’s bouncing back after weathering the ravaging bushfires that made headlines globally.

Thanks to global travel authority Lonely Planet it’s a hotspot again and back in the global headlines but unlike last time it’s in a good way with the region becoming the only Australian destination to be named as one of the top 10 countries, cities and regions to visit in 2020.

This edition places particular emphasis on best sustainable travel experiences and named the Scenic Rim eight in the Top 10 Regions. Just an hour from Brisbane and 30 minutes from the heart of the Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim stretches from Canungra to The Lost World, Beaudesert to Boonah, Tamborine Mountain to Kalbar and is home to the ancient World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests, historic national parks, charming towns and villages, adventure parks, farm stays, craft breweries, boutique wineries, ecolodges, tantalising gourmet experiences, world class camping and glamping and breathtaking spaces in between. “After bouncing back from the 2019 Black Summer bushfires with a raft of new attractions and a renewed focus on sustainability, the Scenic Rim in Queensland is primed to become of Australia’s low impact tourism power players,” said Lonely Planet’s Chris Zeiher.

“It’s such an untouched and diverse eco-based Australian destination. From the amazing food and wine to the incredible rainforest and bush walks and memorable places to stay, this is an unexpected pocket of Australia that has it all.”

“The thing that has struck me about the Scenic Rim are its people. The hospitality you’ll experience is off-thescale... the community will invite you in and make you feel like a part of the family. It’s a region that’s a shining example of a connected community that’s been forced to innovate in the face of serious adversity such as drought, fire and more recently COVID travel restrictions.”

Highlights of the region noted by Lonely Planet include Binna Burra Mountain Lodge and O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Australia’s newest Great Walk in The Scenic Rim Trail by Spicers, ecolodges Nightfall Wilderness Camp and Mt Barney Lodge as well as the six national parks. Summer Land Camels, the Scenic Rim Farm Box and Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm were spotlighted for showcasing local produce, while boutique wineries and craft breweries, farm stays and characters of the region were all championed.

Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor Greg Christensen said being named in the Top 10 Regions in the world for 2022 was a major coup, but not undeserved.

“This is a region of plenty, of rugged ranges, valleys, winding roads and the most welcoming people in the world,” he said.

It’s the region of flavour makers, growers, farmers, foodies and taste-chasers, of path-makers and of forward thinking people who have worked to create visitor experiences that are unique, authentic, educational and sustainable, and have persisted during even the most tumultuous and challenging times.”

Inclusion in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2022 Top 10 Regions sees the Scenic Rim surrounded by outstanding company. The number one region for 2022 is the Westfjords in Iceland, followed by West Virginia, USA, Xishuangbanna in China, Kent’s Heritage Coast in the UK, Puerto Rico, Shikoku, Japan, Atacama Desert, Chile, Vancouver Island, Canada and Burgundy in France.

For more information visitscenicrim. com.au/10-best-locations-to-throwout-the-picnic-rug-in-the-scenic-rim/

Enric the Alpaca and Georgia Stekhoven of Mountain View Alpaca farm celebrates the Lonely Planet award. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT