My Aussie GuideMy Aussie Guide

    Brisbane → Tamborine Mountain → Canungra → Boonah → Lake Moogerah → Brisbane

    Scenic Rim Road Trip: the full drive guide

    This is the Scenic Rim as its own destination loop, genuinely distinct from our 5 Days: Gold Coast & Hinterland itinerary, which is built around Springbrook National Park — a different valley, reached from the Gold Coast side rather than Brisbane, with no overlap in the towns either guide covers. It's also a separate route from our Granite Belt & Southern Queensland Country road trip, which is centred on Toowoomba, Warwick and Stanthorpe, considerably further west and inland.

    Distance
    ~235 km full loop from Brisbane
    Time needed
    2 days minimum; 3 days lets you properly add a side trip into Lamington National Park from Canungra without rushing
    Vehicle
    2WD suitable
    Surface
    Fully sealed the entire loop, including Tamborine Mountain Road.
    Best months
    April–October for the clearest lookout days and the least chance of a washed-out afternoon. Summer (November–March) brings the region's heaviest rain and the odd severe thunderstorm, which can make the mountain roads genuinely unpleasant to drive.
    EV suitability
    EV friendly
    Scenic Rim Road Trip — Queensland

    Route map

    Stops shown in driving order with a straight line between them, for planning only — this is not a turn-by-turn route. Always check current road conditions before you travel.

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors

    Route stops in order: 1. Brisbane, 2. Tamborine Mountain, 3. Canungra, 4. Boonah, 5. Lake Moogerah.

    Seasonal gate & outback safety

    Check before you commit to dates
    1. JJanuary — Caution
    2. FFebruary — Caution
    3. MMarch — Caution
    4. AApril — Open — go
    5. MMay — Open — go
    6. JJune — Open — go
    7. JJuly — Open — go
    8. AAugust — Open — go
    9. SSeptember — Open — go
    10. OOctober — Open — go
    11. NNovember — Open — go
    12. DDecember — Caution
    • Open — go
    • Caution
    • High risk / cut

    Open year-round with no seasonal closure — this is a fully sealed loop. Summer, roughly November to March, brings the region's heaviest rain and a real chance of fast-building storms making the winding mountain roads genuinely unpleasant to drive.

    Wildlife warning: do not drive at night

    Wildlife is active at dawn and dusk on the rural and forested sections throughout this loop, particularly around Canungra and Boonah.

    Live road conditions

    QLDTraffic

    Tamborine Mountain, Canungra and Boonah each have a genuinely different character: Tamborine Mountain's Gallery Walk and rainforest boardwalks are the most visited and most set up for day-trippers; Canungra is the practical gateway to Lamington National Park's Green Mountains section; Boonah and Lake Moogerah are quieter rural landscapes with fewer crowds and a slower pace.

    Storms build quickly over the range in the warmer months, and the winding mountain roads are a different, more demanding drive in heavy rain than the same roads on a clear day — check the forecast before committing to a full loop rather than a shorter out-and-back.

    The stops, in driving order

    1. 01

      Brisbane

      0 km in · Start

      The start, with full capital-city services before heading into the ranges.

      Tip: Leave early on a weekend if you can — Tamborine Mountain's car parks fill by mid-morning.

    2. 02

      Tamborine Mountain

      65 km in · 1h

      Critical supply point — Full village services before continuing into the ranges.

      Gallery Walk's shops and cafes, plus rainforest walks to Witches Falls and Curtis Falls — short, well-formed tracks rather than serious bushwalks.

      Tip: Park once near Gallery Walk and walk between the nearby falls tracks rather than driving short hops.

    3. 03

      Canungra

      85 km in · 20m

      A small country town and the practical gateway to Lamington National Park's Green Mountains section (O'Reilly's), about 30 minutes further up a winding mountain road.

      Tip: The Green Mountains detour adds real time both ways — decide before you leave Canungra, not partway up the mountain.

    4. 04

      Boonah

      120 km in · 35m

      Critical supply point — The last full-service town before the return leg to Brisbane.

      A working rural service town and the gateway to Main Range National Park, with a genuinely different, quieter character to the more touristed Tamborine Mountain.

      Tip: Fill up here — services thin out through the smaller towns on the rest of this loop.

    5. 05

      Lake Moogerah

      145 km in · 25m

      A reservoir surrounded by Moogerah Peaks National Park, with walking tracks and lake views — a quiet spot to break the drive.

      Tip: The short lakeside lookout near the dam wall is an easy stop if you don't have time for a walk.

    6. 06

      Brisbane

      235 km in · 1h 10m, via Ipswich

      The end of the loop.

      Tip: This return leg is mostly highway — a straightforward close to the trip after the winding mountain roads.

    Drive planning: legs, fuel and conditions

    Three paces, same road: highway pace, a towing or 4WD rig, and what the day actually takes once fatigue and photo stops are in it.

    Scenic Rim Road Trip — honest timings by leg
    LegDistanceStandard vehicleHighway pace, no stopsTowing / 4WD rig90–100 km/h cruiseRealistic paceFatigue + photo stopsFuel
    Brisbane → Tamborine Mountain~65 km1h1h 10m1h 10mTamborine Mountain
    Tamborine Mountain → Canungra~20 km20m25m25mCanungra
    Canungra → Boonah~35 km35m40m40mBoonah
    Boonah → Lake Moogerah~25 km25m30m30mNone needed
    Lake Moogerah → Brisbane~90 km1h 10m1h 25m1h 20mIpswich
    Whole route3h 30m4h 10m4h 5m

    How we get these: standard is moving time at signposted highway pace. Rig time assumes a 90–100 km/h cruise and slower acceleration — roughly 20% longer. Realistic pace adds a 15-minute fatigue stop every two hours (the national driver-fatigue guidance) plus about ten minutes an hour for photos, fuel and legs. Plan daylight around the realistic column, not the standard one.

    Scenic Rim Road Trip — leg conditions
    LegDistanceFuelNotes
    Brisbane → Tamborine Mountain~65 kmTamborine MountainSealed
    Tamborine Mountain → Canungra~20 kmCanungraSealed
    Canungra → Boonah~35 kmBoonahSealed
    Boonah → Lake Moogerah~25 kmNone neededSealed
    Lake Moogerah → Brisbane~90 kmIpswichSealed, via Ipswich

    What can go wrong

    • Storms build quickly over the range in the warmer months, roughly November to March — the winding mountain roads are a genuinely different, more demanding drive in heavy rain.
    • Wildlife is active at dawn and dusk on the rural and forested sections throughout this loop, particularly around Canungra and Boonah.
    • Tamborine Mountain's car parks and Gallery Walk fill by mid-morning on weekends — arrive early or expect to circle for parking.
    • The Lamington National Park approach road from Canungra is narrow and winds continuously — take it slowly, especially towing or in a larger vehicle.

    Conditions change seasonally and after storms. Check current conditions with the road authority before relying on any of this.

    Common questions

    That itinerary is built around Springbrook National Park, reached from the Gold Coast side. This is a separate loop from Brisbane through Tamborine Mountain, Canungra, Boonah and Lake Moogerah — different valleys, different towns, no overlap between the two.

    No — every leg is sealed, including the Lamington National Park approach from Canungra. A standard 2WD covers the whole loop; the roads are narrow and winding rather than requiring higher clearance.

    It's a worthwhile side trip from Canungra, not part of the core loop distance — the Green Mountains section (O'Reilly's) is about 30 minutes up a winding road each way. Budget extra time if you're adding it.

    Where this is researched from

    • Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service — Lamington and Main Range National Park access and conditions
    • QLDTraffic — Live road conditions
    • Tourism and Events Queensland / Scenic Rim regional tourism — Route framing and local visitor information

    This is a researched guide, not a firsthand trip report. How we research.

    Spotted something we should update? Let us know.