Get around: country towns and other hidden gems

Fancy a drive? If you’re staying with us during the school holidays (they’ll be here before you can say “Bob’s your uncle”)*, there’s plenty of attractions and events a comfortable distance by car from Scarborough Beach.

Woodford: A water tower transformed into a castle tower is the starting point for a stroll along the Windows of Woodford Art Trail. Residents of this pretty town in the Moreton Bay hinterland banded together to create window-like art panels that showcase all that is amazing about their community. As you follow the trail, starting at the Woodford Water Tower that has been given a new lease of life, count the “windows” that appear on lamp poles. public toilet block windows and bollards throughout town. On the first and third Sunday of each month, the Australian Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Society offers rides on an historical train that runs on the “Durundur Railway”. And if that’s not enough, if you’re in town on June 22 and 23, you can catch the annual Woodford Show.

Caboolture: On July 1, the rodeo comes to town at Queensland State Equestrian Centre’s Caboolture Rodeo Roundup. A jam-packed afternoon extends into the evening and includes steer wrestling, open bull riding (eight seconds is the average), junior events and entertainment under the stars at the rodeo afterparty.

Samford Village: Get out into the countryside at this time-capsule village where the heritage buildings have been lovingly preserved to this day. Check out the history museum (open Wednesday and Saturday), heritage walk, Saturday country markets, gourmet cafes and the local pub. If you drive a further 20 minutes you’ll reach the rainforest walk at Mt Glorious and afterwards reward yourselves with a Devonshire tea.

Cedar Creek: Not far from Samford, is beautiful Cedar Creek. For those with small children, the lush green Andy Williams Park is the perfect spot to unpack a picnic or make good use of the onsite electric barbecues. There’s lots of green space here, along with amenities. Further down the road, the more adventurous can explore local waterholes and waterfalls, which are particularly pretty after the rain. There are no designated walking tracks but under supervision the kids could dabble in shallow pools and practise their stone skimming skills, sit on a rock and observe nature – keeping an eye out for bush turkeys, lizards and whip birds.

Kurwongbah: North Pine Country Park in Kurwongbah contains the Pine Rivers Heritage Museum, which runs events, workshops and children’s activities. It also contains a steam museum, blacksmith’s shed and is home to the local pottery group, which opens its doors to the public for sales every Sunday (8am-2pm in winter).

*The last day of term 3 on the Queensland school calendar is Friday, June 23. The first day back at school is Monday, July 10

Book accommodation at Scarborough Beach Resort. Perfect for a family holiday to Queensland, it’s just 35 minutes drive from Brisbane airport, offering a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully-self contained holiday apartments and onsite facilities including swimming lap pool, large heated spa and more. BBOOK YOUR SCARBOROUGH BRISBANE ACCOMMODATION NOW

 

 

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