National Parks Loop

Drive from Brisbane to Toowoomba via the Warrego Highway. Take a scenic drive from Toowoomba to Gus Beutel Lookout for stunning views over Ravensbourne National Park. Also in the area is Crows Nest National Park just 6km from Crows Nest township. After a good rainfall you'll see water cascading downstream through eucalypt forest to the 20 metre Crows Nest Falls. Continue from Crows Nest to Maidenwell Trading Post for some welcome refreshments. Drive beneath stunning rainforest canopies and ancient bunya pines to Bunya Mountains National Park, a spectacular wilderness range. Home to the world's largest forest of bunya pines, the area is home to wallabies, pademelons and 121 species of birds.

Relax in the privacy of your Bunya Mountains Chalet with stunning views of the surrounding rainforest. Explore nine kinds of rainforests, ancient plant species and an abundance of native wildlife. The most popular track is the 4km Scenic Circuit Track featuring Festoon Falls, Pine Gorge lookout and the chance to walk through the strangular fig. Join in the daily wild bird feeding activities - 4 sessions daily and watch the Chocolate Wattled Bat emerge at dusk

Travel west from Bunya Mountains passing through the pretty township of Bell en route to Chinchilla. Having once produced 25 per cent of the country's watermelons, rockmelons and honeydew melons, Chinchilla is the undisputed melon capital. Fossickers from around the world come in search of much sought after u201cChinchilla Redu201d petrified wood. Pass through Roma, home of the Big Rig, before arriving at Carnarvon Gorge National Park - an oasis in the semi-arid heart of Central Queensland. You'll see spectacular sandstone gorge vistas, ancient rainforests and well-preserved Aboriginal rock art on tracks that have been classified to match your bushwalking experience and fitness.

This magnificent gorge has been sculpted by Carnarvon Creek. As you explore the park, you'll see a warren of towering chasms filled with remnant rainforest, pools, caves and ancient Indigenous art galleries. There are two main resorts in Carnarvon Gorge -Takaraka Bush Resort and Carnarvon Wilderness Resort. Both offer a great selection of activities including guided and self-guided bush walks, helicopter scenic flights and native animal spotting.

Travel south along the Carnarvon Highway to Injune, a thriving country town with some 450 residents. Continue south to St George, Queensland's inland fishing capital, then visit Riversands Winery for a personalised wine tasting and meal at their onsite cafu00e9. Call in to the Unique Egg to see a world-class collection of hand-crafted emu eggs, then join a sunset cruise on the Balo e River with its 230 species of birdlife.

Leaving St George, follow the Carnarvon Highway to the historic Nindigully Pub, Queensland's oldest hotel. This authentic Aussie pub on the banks of the Moonie River has the reputation for serving up Australia's biggest burger. Visit Coolmunda Organic Olives near Inglewood, walk through the olive grove and taste organic olives. From here, follow the Stanthorpe Inglewood road towards the magnificent Girraween National Park in Queensland's Granite Belt Region.

Follow a selection of bushwalks from your private bush chalet surrounded by Girraween National Park with its intriguing balancing boulders, cascading waterfalls and cool rock pools. See quiet kangaroos grazing in open fields, brilliant turquoise parrots, yellow-tufted honeyeaters and red-necked wallabies as you explore over 17km of walking tracks to suit all levels of fitness. Visit nearby award-wi ing wineries, restaurants and local producers just a short drive from the National Park.

Travel north to Stanthorpe and explore Queensland's premier food and wine region. Sample cider and apple pie at Suttons Apple Farm and visit Stanthorpe Cheese for hand-made farmhouse cheese. If you have a nose for truffles, then take a look at the Truffle Discovery Centre or if secretly would like every day to be Christmas then don't miss the Granite Belt Christmas Farm. Follow the Cu ingham Highway through Main Range National Park back to Brisbane.