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Enjoy our baking special in our Food and Wine Issue, cook recipes from our country chefs in your own kitchen and discover the latest label from a famous South Australian winemaking family.
in south-east Queensland, is only 32 kilometres west of the Gold Coast, it feels like a world away. Tucked in the lush foothills of the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, the village of about 1200 people is known for its natural beauty. Given its proximity to Brisbane and the coast, tourists, hikers and daytrippers mingle here each weekend, exploring the town’s cafés and boutiques, often en route to the surrounding national parks of the Scenic Rim.
After falling in love with Lamington National Park, Nikki Hobbs, 34, moved to Canungra with her husband Luke five-and-a-half years ago. They were introduced to the area by Nikki’s stepfather Dave who is a paramedic in town and the couple now operate their award-winning business Hobbs Building & Interiors, from just outside of Canungra.
“After renovating, holding or flipping several projects for over a decade, we’ve finally settled into a property and home which we adore and there are no plans for relocating any time soon,” Nikki says.
“The like-minded community and neighbourhood is a huge factor, including our morning coffee shop addiction, gym sessions, cycling club and hotel pizza nights with friends.”
Once a timber town, Canungra is now a supply centre and hub for the surrounding agriculture, tourism and equine industries, and the Kokoda Barracks training base, that was established in 1942, is close by. While the Canungra region was impacted by fire last year, the community rallied together and welcomes visitors to the region with a large range of experiences and accommodation options.
Trish Wilson, 52, of Country Mile Escape in the Flying Fox Valley just south of Canungra has lived in the region for most of her life. Her grandfather originally developed a dairy at the end of the valley and now Trish and her husband Murray have diversified their 28-hectare cattle property with two accommodation studios perched high in the hills. “We wanted to give everyone a taste of what we have every day,” Trish says. “It’s a beautiful area and still secluded from the nearby large population of people. We are in the heart of the national parks so a lot of bushwalkers base themselves here.”
Whether you’re after relaxion or adventure, this pretty town with its country hospitality is sure to delight.
For more information, go to visitscenicrim.com.au or canungrainformationcentre.com.au >