The very, very best things to do in Canungra, Queensland

The best things to do in Canungra, Queensland, include O’Reilly’s winery, the Mountview Alpaca Farm and Queensland’s smallest national park.

Canungra, Queensland, is one of the main towns in the Scenic Rim region (aka the Gold Coast hinterland). Just north of the Lamington National Park, Canungra stretches out along a valley created by the Canungra Creek.

Things to do in Canungra, Queensland: Wine-tasting

Most of the best things to do in Canungra can be found in the valley rather than the semi-urban settlement. These include a couple of wineries, too. O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyard and the Sarabah Estate Vineyard are both next to the creek. Whisper it, but the location is arguably better than the wines, but O’Reilly’s in particular makes for a lovely outing. You can get picnic baskets, stonebaked pizzas and cheese boards from the historic Killowen Homestead, then settle down on the lawns by the creek to eat them.

The historic homestead at the O'Reilly's Canungra Valley vineyard in the Gold Coast hinterland, Queensland. — The historic homestead at the O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley vineyard in the Gold Coast hinterland, Queensland.

Things to do in Canungra, Queensland: Mountview Alpaca Farm

O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyard is also home to the Mountview Alpaca Farm. At this Gold Coast alpaca farm, alpacas train as therapy animals, but visitors can rock up and say hello the woolly South American beasts.

There are a series of experiences offered by the Mountview Alpaca Farm, with the cheapest being a 15 minute Meet An Alpaca encounter. For $23, you get to walk the alpaca on a lead around the property, and then feed it. At the more expensive end of the scale, you get luxury picnics, wine and a half hour alpaca walk for $199.

Best day trips from the Gold Coast – 7 ways to improve your stay

The Gold Coast is a destination in its own right, but there are several excellent day trips you can do while using it as a base.

Deluxe Tamborine Mountain winery tour – with gourmet lunch.
Full day Springbrook National Park tour – with waterfalls and bush tucker tasting.
Snorkelling with turtles at Cook Island.
Evening glowworm-viewing experience – with guided stargazing.
Lady Elliot Island day trip – with glass bottom boat & guided Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour.
Hopping between microbreweries – with lunch included.
Northern Rivers fruit & distillery tour – with Tropical Fruit World and Husk Distillers.

Queensland’s smallest national park

Other things to do in Canungra include visiting Queensland’s smallest national park. The Sarabah National Park is a ridiculously tiny 3.5 acres of wetland next to Canungra Creek. Visiting is very much a case of saying you’ve been rather than exploring…

Alternatively, use Canungra as hub for exploring the rest of the Scenic Rim. Highlights include the Witches Falls Winery in Tamborine Mountain, Cedar Creek Falls, the mountain bike park in Kooralbyn and Curtis Falls.

Canungra is a 79km drive south of Brisbane, or a 32km drive west of Surfers Paradise.

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