Secret Walks of the 21- 26 MARCH 2021

Highlights

• Immerse yourself in the nature, walks, food, wine, & art of this unique region less than a 60-minute drive from • Discover the rainforests, rivers & escarpments of the World Heritage listed Gondwana Forests of • Enjoy moderate to challenging walks in Moogerah Peaks, Main Range, Mt Barney, Tamborine & Lamington National Parks. • Delight in the local flavours of this growing foodie destination • Stay in comfortable motels, family owned lodges & cottage bed and breakfasts • Meet local people including wine makers, food producers & artists.

Treat yourself with a short break in the Scenic Rim and learn its secrets from the locals. Stretching south west of Brisbane, this arc of sweeping ranges, river valleys, lush rainforests and quaint country towns is the perfect city antidote. Walk amongst spectacular landforms, sample fresh produce and meet artists and local characters along the way. Travelling from Brisbane via the country towns of Kalbar and Harrisville, we begin with easy walks in Moogerah Peaks National Park. At the Main Range National Park, we walk to Mt Cordeaux and Bear Rock for spectacular views, before enjoying an evening cooking class at Mt Barney Lodge. Within Mt Barney National Park, we take on the climb to Mt Maroon, before enjoying sunset drinks with Scenic Rim produce. Travelling via Rathdowney and Beaudesert, we then explore the eastern side of the Scenic Rim. Based for two nights at , short walks lead to palm DETAILS forests, waterfalls and quiet lookouts. We enjoy the mountain's culinary delights and meet local characters. Our final day includes a short walk in Lamington Price: Twin share/person (starts Gold Coast or Brisbane/ends Gold Coast) National Park, time at a Beechmont art studio and lunch with views back over the mountains before returning to Brisbane Advanced Early Bird: (until 20 Jan 2021) A$2650

Regular: A$3150

Single Supplement: A$540

Note: For guests who request a single room the single supplement will be charged. For single people who prefer to share, we will try to find a suitable room- mate, but if this is not possible the single supplement surcharge will apply.

Minimum Group Size: 6 guests

Special Interest: Wildlife, Botanical, Art, Food, Wine

For bookings call 07 5533 3583 | visit www.parktours.com.au | or email [email protected] | 1 Secret Walks of the Scenic Rim 21- 26 MARCH 2021 FAQ WALKING RATING What COVID-SAFE procedures are in place for tours? During our walking holiday strict COVID SAFE hygiene 3-12km per walking day, on mostly well graded tracks. There Moderate: procedures will be in place. These include, but are not limited to: are some moderate to challenging walks with some steeper sections on non-graded tracks. This tour is for anyone with a good level of fitness, • Complimentary hand sanitiser will be available on tour and bushwalking experience. We reserve the right to be flexible with • Daily health checks will be undertaken by your guide, in line the itinerary to allow for unforeseen circumstances including weather with Health requirements. More information will conditions, track closures and group fitness. be provided to you before the start of the tour. • Physical or social distancing will be practiced during our daily INCLUSIONS activities. The current advice from the Department of Health is for everyone to keep at least 1.5 metres apart from others • 5 nights twin share accommodation – Motel, homestead and B&B style (outside of their family unit) where possible. accommodation with private facilities (3 nights) and shared facilities (2 nights) • Additional cleaning will be undertaken as required • Meals include - 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 4 Dinners Please note ParkTours will comply with new policies and • All transfers as listed in itinerary procedures as they are made available through our industry • National park and museum entry fees authorities and Government to keep you safe and healthy whilst • Professional tour leader assisted when required by local tour guides on tour. • Basic group tips where required • Pre-departure material including background & personalised A-Z tour How & when to book? information To place your booking, simply visit www.parktours.com.au and select the “Bookings” page, or complete a Tour Booking form and return by post or email with your $A500 deposit. Once EXCLUSIONS you have booked on a tour, we will stay in contact with regular mailings (see below). • Airfares & taxes to start / from end of tour • Passport & visa expenses What information and contact can I expect? • Heavy or excess baggage When you send your initial deposit, we will contact you to • Travel insurance confirm your booking. Please do not book any flights or travel • Personal expenses e.g. drinks arrangements until our office contacts you to advise that your tour has been confirmed to depart. Once the tour has been confirmed to depart, a comprehensive pre-departure information TOUR LEADER pack will be sent to you, including a Tour A-Z, suggested packing list, medical questionnaire, balance of payment invoice, and Dedicated to developing regional ecotourism pre / post accommodation options. The final mailing is sent Lisa Groom is passionate about the environment, approximately two weeks before departure and includes final showcasing nature from a different perspective while exploring her backyard. Whether chatting to local tour information, meeting points, accommodation and guest list. characters, exploring walking trails, or soaking in This will also include any additional documentation required spectacular sunsets, Lisa’s knowledge, enthusiasm and under new Covid-Safe procedures. indeliable spirit makes for a memorable walking holiday. What is the group size? Lisa is a member of the pioneering Groom family, We specialise in small group travel with a tour size normally whose vision and hard work helped create the beautiful Binna Burra Lodge between 8 to 18 guests. Consideration will be given for physical and family business of interNATIONAL PARKtours. distancing regulations for bus travel. Please refer to the front page for details on the minimum group size for this particular tour. All tours need a minimum number of participants to operate at the price listed in the itinerary. If the minimum number is not reached, a tour may still operate with a surcharge. How fit do I have to be? When you are assessing your ability to participate, age is not necessarily as important as your fitness and recent walking experience. Please read the tour walk rating and the day-by-day walking descriptions in the itinerary to determine if the tour is suitable for your fitness level. If you have any queries, we are happy to put you in touch with either the tour coordinator or tour leader to discuss your fitness in more detail. What gear and equipment do I need to take? Because we focus on half and full day walks, returning to our accommodation in the afternoon, you don’t need to carry any more than a daypack with rain wear, sunscreen, drinking water, camera and lunch. We recommend walking poles and hiking boots on most of our tours as they offer good ankle support and grip. A detailed packing list is included with your tour’s Click map to view in Google Maps information pack.

For bookings call 07 5533 3583 | visit www.parktours.com.au | or email [email protected] | 2 Secret Walks of the Scenic Rim TOUR ITINERARY 21- 26 MARCH 2021 Day 1 – Sun 21 Mar | Gold Coast - Brisbane / Harrisville / Mt French / Boonah Your tour starts at Nerang Station at 8.00am or Brisbane Transit Centre at 9.15am when your tour leader picks you up in our private bus. We drive towards Ipswich then south west via the old rural towns of Peak Crossing and Harrisville. Farming and viewpoints are the focus of today as we visit award winning Summer Land Camels in Harrisville for a farm tour. We enjoy lunch in their café, before continuing to a section of the Moogerah Peaks National Park. Driving up to Mt French, we take a short walk near the famous Frog Buttress climbing area. After checking in to our overnight Boonah accommodation, we enjoy sunset drinks and a private welcome dinner. Meals: L, D Walks: 1-2km / 30min -1hr return / short walks at Mt French

Day 2 – Mon 22 Mar | Mt Cordeaux walk / Lake Moogerah / Mt Barney Lodge After breakfast in Boonah, we take a 45-minute drive up to Main Range National Park. Forming the western part of the Scenic Rim, this impressive escarpment is the timeworn remains of the Main Range shield volcano which erupted some 24 million years ago. We climb steadily through the rainforest on a zig-zag track to a lookout below the main Mt Cordeaux Peak on the northern side of Cunningham’s Gap. There are sweeping views towards Brisbane, Boonah and south towards Mt Mitchell and other Main Range peaks. If time and weather allow, we will continue on to Bare Rock for even more spectacular views. We return on the same track back to Cunningham’s Gap then continue our drive via Lake Moogerah to settle in for two nights at Mt Barney Lodge. We then have the opportunity this evening for some hands-on learning with a cooking class using locally made and grown Scenic Rim produce. Meals: B, L, D Walks: Mt Cordeaux 6.8km moderate return walk with steady climb & descent / 5.6km return optional extension to Bare Rock. Total elevation gain 628m (shorter walk offered in inclement weather)

Day 3 – Tue 23 Mar | Mt Maroon walk / Mt Barney National Park Today’s walk is a steady climb to the top of Mt Maroon. The track is rough under foot but we take our time to walk 2-2.5 hours to the summit for excellent views of , nearby Mt Barney, the length of Main Range and the Moogerah Peaks. Relax on top with a picnic lunch before we return the same route. In inclement weather, we will offer a lower altitude easier walk to the Lower Portals where there are lovely water holes. In the afternoon, you might like to explore the creek at Mt Barney Lodge, before sunset drinks and another dinner featuring locally grown Scenic Rim produce. Meals: B, L, D Walks: Mt Maroon 6km moderate to challenging return walk with rocky ungraded sections. 612m ascent / descent (shorter walk offered in inclement weather)

For bookings call 07 5533 3583 | visit www.parktours.com.au | or email [email protected] | 3 Secret Walks of the Scenic Rim TOUR ITINERARY 21- 26 MARCH 2021 Day 4 – Wed 24 Mar | Yellow Pinch Walk / Rathdowney / Tamborine Mountain If you are in the mood for a morning leg-stretch, there will be the option to hike up to Yellow Pinch lookout for a great view over the Mt Barney massif. Leaving Mt Barney Lodge, the local museum of Rathdowney steps us back in time to its dairying and timber- getting history. Travelling via the rural town of Beaudesert, we stop for lunch before continuing to tabletop-shaped Tamborine Mountain. While many years ago it was a dairy farming centre, it has become a popular destination for rainforest walks, art galleries and local food & wine. We enjoy the Witches Falls circuit walk in Queensland’s first national park, before sunset, with a view from a beautiful vantage point. The evening is yours to enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants on the mountain. Meals: B, L Walks: Morning walk 5km / 2hr Yellow Pinch lookout (some steep sections with a rougher track). Afternoon walk 3.6km / 1hr on well graded track

Day 5 – Thu 25 Mar | Tamborine Mountain walks & wineries We begin our day with a walk through the lush rainforest of the Sandy Creek circuit in the Knoll section of the Tamborine National Park. We then take the time to connect with artists, food producers and local projects in the area. On Tamborine’s shopping streets, you can explore art / craft and other shops before enjoying lunch at your leisure. The afternoon includes a shorter walk in the quieter Macdonald section of the Tamborine National Park with the possibility to visit some of the local wineries and cheese makers before returning to our accommodation. There is time for a short siesta before meeting for our farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Meals: B, D Walks: Morning and afternoon walks - 3-5km / 1-2hr on well graded track

Day 6 – Fri 26 Mar | Canungra / Beechmont / Gold Coast After breakfast we drive via the historic town of Canungra towards Beechmont. This small community sits between the Lamington Plateau and Tambourine Mountain. Here we take in a short walk in the Lamington National Park to a section of the ancient of Australia World Heritage Area. Time permitting, we will visit landscape artist, Dave Groom’s studio, before lunch at a Beechmont café. We then travel to the Gold Coast’s Nerang Station where you can transfer back to the Brisbane airport or city. Meals: B, L Walks: 3-5km / 1-2hr on well graded track

For bookings call 07 5533 3583 | visit www.parktours.com.au | or email [email protected] | 4 WALKING HOLIDAYS & ADVENTURES

WHY TRAVEL WITH US? ParkTours have been leading small group walking holidays since 1975. Our like-minded guests bond easily and often create reunions, celebrations and friendships, many of them life-long. Our tours are active with regular half and full day walks. Aside from walking, we also spend time meeting local people, tasting regional food and immersing ourselves in the culture and history of a destination. Our flexibility enables us to adapt to the likes, dislikes and agility of our Responsible Travel travellers, and changing situations such as weather and unforeseen For your protection, we are circumstances. In most locations, we stay 2-3 nights and sometimes member of the Australian longer. This allows us to slow down, unpack our bags and enjoy Federation of Travel Agents the local atmosphere at different times of the day. Accommodation (AFTA). Your payments are is comfortable and unique plus locally owned and operated where kept in a client account until possible. required for payment of your tour. Our guides are dedicated, informative people who share their passion We are accredited with AFTA Travel and knowledge on local history, culture, wildlife and topography. Accreditation Scheme (ATAS), a Our journeys are designed to safeguard the ecosystems; benefit national accreditation scheme, endorsing travel the communities we visit and contribute to the sustainability of agents who have met strict financial and customer destinations. Travel is a chance to change your perspective. Nature service criteria. We also have advanced accreditation always provides a new view if we take the time to look. with Ecotourism Australia, are members of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, and a Green Circle member of Queensland Outdoor Recreation “I find the organisation and attention to Federation (QORF). detail is always good. Having travelled quite a few times with ParkTours now I Serendipity of travel would not consider a walking tour with Our Leader and local guides will continually work on any other organization” your behalf to provide a memorable journey. We have Catherine Eakin planned an intimate adventure, but adventure cannot be guaranteed. If indeed it could then it would lose its “I have had a wonderful experience appeal. Though we do the best we can to plan a smooth on my ParkTours trips. I know the journey, sometimes things change at short notice. accommodation, meals, etc. will have Some things may take longer than anticipated, the level of comfort I’m looking for” transport and accommodation arrangements may alter, and you may experience occasional shortcomings and Anne Stanfield be frustrated by the ‘manana’ attitude; at other times you will be amazed by local efficiency. Tour itineraries may need to be modified but this is done so with your needs in mind and to provide the best tour experience. Disclaimer of Liability So, be flexible, surprised and delighted with the Although Park Tours has prepared the Information contained in this itinerary with all due care and updates serendipity that comes from being open to the the Information regularly, Park Tours does not warrant or represent that the Information is free from errors or omission. Whilst the Information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in unexpected. Your enjoyment of this journey is circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the Information. The Information ultimately up to you. may change without notice and Park Tours is not in any way liable for the accuracy of any information printed and stored or in any way interpreted and used by a user. Itinerary Updated: October 15, 2020 5:03 PM

T +61 7 5533 3583 1069 Binna Burra Road, Beechmont QLD 4211 Australia [email protected] | www.parktours.com.au