Luxe Stays unveiled in Queensland’s famed Scenic Rim

Alcheringa Houses

From luxury stays on mountaintops with stunning views for days, to nature-immersing eco-pods, extraordinary escapes with award-winning chefs, lakeside retreats, sky lodges, a five-star glamping experience, and possibly Australia’s best infinity pool, all at home under a sea of brilliant stars, Queensland’s Scenic Rim region has just pushed the go button on luxury!

It’s the region that was named by global travel authority Lonely Planet as one of the hottest destinations to visit in 2022, is a favourite destination of flavour-bible delicious. Magazine, and now the Scenic Rim has unveiled a ‘Luxe Cluster’ of world class accommodation experiences, backed by five-star food journeys.

ALCHERINGA HOUSES @ Lamington National Park

Topline: Five star luxe-adventure in the heart of ancient rainforests.
Alcheringa is the home of two exceptional accommodation experiences in Lamington National Park, adjacent to the famous Binna Burra Lodge. The two houses - Coomera and Numinbah - were finished in August last year and are the epitome of understated luxury featuring natural materials, grand spaces and extraordinary ever-changing views of the world famous ancient Gondwana rainforests.

There’s a wonderful history…. the original Alcheringa House was built in the early ‘70s by Donn Groom, one of the sons of Arthur Groom, co-founder of Binna Burra Lodge (he first coined the phrase, ‘Scenic Rim’). Brisbane architect Robin Spencer designed the house. Donn built six massive rock walls without cranes or heavy machinery and employed carpenters to build around them. The original house was destroyed in the bushfires of late 2019 and Robin was thrilled to be asked to design the replacement houses, which he did with his son Fraser.

The houses are the gateway to over 145km of walking tracks in Lamington that offer a wealth of scenic beauty: dozens of waterfalls, subtropical rainforest, ancient Antarctic beech trees, open eucalypt forest, views from mountain lookouts and wind eroded caves, and 180 species of Australian birds and bush animals. It’s five star luxe-adventure.
Address: 1000 Binna Burra Road, Beechmont, QLD 4211
Website: https://alcheringa-lamington.com.au/

BEECHMONT ESTATE (formerly Hazelwood Estate)

Topline: A five star luxury and flavour stay on high.
A luxury country retreat on Lamington National Park’s Beechmont plateau 600m above sea level, Beechmont Estate is an exceptional cattle property and home to luxury cabins and pavilions across a 75 acre property of idyllic hinterland countryside. The acclaimed onsite restaurant – The Paddock – is led by famed chef Simon Furley who champions local produce and has his own kitchen garden. Watching the sun set over the green hills, with horses grazing in the distance and an open fire crackling on the terrace is a serious five star experience, as is their day spa. It is part of the Northern Escape Collection, a portfolio of boutique sustainable experiences that celebrate Queensland’s diverse natural beauty and the estate is harnessing cutting-edge renewables technology to become Australia’s first carbon positive hotel.
Address: 422 Binna Burra Rd, Beechmont QLD 4211
Website: Luxury Country Retreat | Accommodation | Scenic Rim | Beechmont Estate (formerly Hazelwood Estate)

BINNA BURRA SKY LODGES

Binna Burra Sky Lodges

Topline: The ultimate luxury mountain getaway.
Imagine waking to a misty mountain sunrise in a luxurious king bed, with the fireplace throwing orange light, great coffee brewing and birdsongs welcoming another day on the mountain. This is the wonderful reality at Binna Burra’s eco-friendly Sky Lodges, all of which have been designed to harmonise with the natural beauty of the landscape, featuring local stone, slate, and reclaimed hardwood. The beautifully-appointed bathroom and spa boasts Wallawa amenities infused with indigenous active botanical ingredients. Spread across three levels, the Sky Lodge apartments all share the same breathtaking panoramas of Lamington National Park and are a just stroll from Binna Burra Tea House (which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner) and Groom's Cottage Bushwalker's Bar.
Address: 1040 Binna Burra Rd, Beechmont QLD 4211
Website: The Sky Lodges | Binna Burra Lodge

HERRMANN HOUSE

Topline: Elegant country luxury
Step back in time to an era long-gone at the historic and multi-award-winning Herrmann House in the gorgeous little country village of Kalbar just an hour from Brisbane. Originally, the site housed one of Kalbar’s oldest and most beautiful houses. It sat there by itself since the turn of the century. Then recently, another historic and equally as beautiful Kalbar home was moved onto the same site to create the stunning country homestead that stands today. Inside the stunningly restored houses which are connected by a brilliant common deck and relaxation area, there’s four double bedrooms and two fireplaces, all beautifully fitted out. There is also a fire pit in the conifer garden.
Address: 37 George Street, Kalbar
Website: https://herrmannhouse.com.au/

MOOGERAH LAKE HOUSE

Topline: Waterside luxury in the country.
On the shores of the stunning Lake Moogerah in the Scenic Rim near Boonah is a collection of six stunning houses privately owned by the Moogerah Lake House Group. Each has been architecturally designed to create a luxurious and secluded escape. They feature stunning pools, spas, saunas, fire pits, outdoor BBQs and entertaining areas and for families or groups wanting a luxe break, some have backyard sandpits and cubby houses for the kids.
Address: 15 Greville St, Moogerah QLD 4309
Website: https://www.moogerahlakehouse.com.au/

MOUNT FRENCH LODGE

Mount French Lodge

Topline: Private mountaintop luxury, all favours included.
Commanding prime position on a majestic mountainside overlooking the Scenic Rim near Boonah, Mount French Lodge exudes modern luxury, and is part of the Private Collection by Spicers. With four guesthouses catering to eight guests, the Lodge is designed to provide total ownership of a small group experience. For some, that’s reclining with a champagne framed against an endless horizon; for others, it’s walking around the 100 acres of the mountain and then music around a fire-lit sunset. This is what makes it unique. Included in any stay is breakfast and dinner created from local produce from the gourmet kitchen, select beverages, local walking tracks, a stunning saltwater pool, huge lawn area, tennis courts, enjoyment of the famous Great Room and exclusive use of the property.
Address: 139 Lutter Rd, Charlwood QLD 4309
Website: Mount French Lodge

NIGHTFALL

Topline: A unique luxury glamping experience in Lamington valley; private and unforgettable.
In a large and relatively untouched pocket of forest at Lamington, Queensland, Nightfall’s luxury tents sit delicately beside the crystal-clear tumbling headwaters of Christmas Creek and Queensland’s ancient Lamington National Park rainforests. The Nightfall ‘glamping’ (luxury camping) experience steps away from the excess and complications of modern life, redefining luxury through architect-inspired, hand-built, permanent safari tents (each tent has twin bathtubs and a rotating fireplace); sumptuous home-cooked organic food and the relaxed feeling of staying with old friends. Nightfall is limited to only eight guests at any one time, ensuring privacy, peace and quiet. A truly incredible experience, Nightfall the culmination of the owners’ vision to touch the earth lightly while creating a genuinely sustainable business, true to their principles of conserving and enriching the land.
Address: 3009 Christmas Creek Rd, Lamington QLD 4285
Website: Glamping at nightfall - luxe tents, romance, sumptuous food

O’REILLY’S RAINFOREST RETREAT

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

Topline: It’s about the journey AND the destination and luxury in a legendary place.
The home of the most spectacular infinity pool, with views that last forever across mountains, rainforest and sky, these one, two and three bedroom villas are for those wanting self-contained luxury in an extraordinary place. After a walk through one of the many World Heritage walking tracks, guests can relax in the private spa on the deck of their own villa, which boasts a full kitchen, BBQ area and fireplace. The retreat offers a day spa, and for families, eco-rangers during the school holidays to take the kids on their own adventures.

Tip - the journey to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is almost as memorable as the destination, taking in the village of Canungra and up to the Lamington Plateau, on a fantastic winding mountain road. Look to the mountains in the West and visitors can see why the region is called the ‘Scenic Rim’.
Address: 3582 Lamington National Park Rd, Canungra QLD 4275
Website: Gold Coast Hinterland Rainforest Retreat (oreillys.com.au)

VERANDAH HOUSE COUNTRY ESTATE

Topline: Designer country luxury with views for days.
The first five-star luxury retreat with THE most breathtaking views of the hinterland and beyond, in the heart of the Scenic Rim is Verandah House Country Estate, a brand new haven at Tamborine Mountain. Quite simply, it’s stunning. Eight designer-appointed guest suites capture beautiful country style with modern-day luxuries, all boast panoramic mountain views and bespoke interiors. Each suite offers a unique interior. There’s a wellness space, yoga and meditation areas, a cedar hot tub and infrared sauna, and a communal fire-pit and in 2023, there will be a cellar and barn for guests to enjoy a more communal space to interact and relax.
Address: 13 Munro Ct, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Luxury Boutique Accommodation Set Atop Tamborine Mountain (vhcountryestate.com.au)

WANDER @ The Overflow 1895

Wander

Topline: Eco-pod luxury that reconnects with nature.
Wander is the design-led, eco-pod luxury accommodation experience that reconnects guests with nature and invites them into the story of the local community. A leader in sustainable tourism, Wander chose the Scenic Rim as their first home. Five secluded WanderPods now overlook Lake Wyaralong and 1600 hectares of bushland at The Overflow Estate 1895, the acclaimed winery, cellar door and restaurant between Boonah and Beaudesert, just 90 minutes from Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Each WanderPod is named after a local mountain, and is beautifully – and sustainably - appointed. A stay here is unique, memorable and connected. Wander is also a proud participant in the Scenic Rim Regional Council’s 1 Million Trees initiative.

Address: Beaudesert Boonah Rd, Wyaralong QLD 4285
Wander in the Scenic Rim | Luxury Off Grid WanderPod Accommodation
* Kath Rose at kath@kathrose.com