Archive for the ‘On the Grapevine’ Category

A boutique travel company which offers a luxury door-to-door Scenic Rim winery tour says visitors love the region’s scenery and the friendly, welcoming hosts.
Tim Scarisbrick of Eco Safaris Queensland says the personalised Scenic Rim wine tour market was largely untapped until he started his business nearly a year ago.
The region and Tim’s tours are proving popular with groups of friends and work colleagues.
Eco Safaris collects groups from home or work in a Landrover Discovery (six people) or a mini bus (11 people) and takes them on a personalised wine and lunch tour, with stops at some very scenic spots on the way.
When Tim, a university-trained National Parks guide, first started his business nearly a year ago he expected the nature tours to be the most popular.
But that hasn’t been the case and it’s in fact the Scenic Rim wine region which has garnered the most interest.
Tim offers a tour to Tamborine Mountain in the Scenic Rim’s east, and another to the south-west part of the Scenic Rim, taking in Harrisville, Boonah and Mt Alford.
“There’s very little out there in terms of private winery tours and everyone who does the tour says, ‘I’ve been meaning to do this for ages,’” says Tim.
“We have suggested winery tours and we generally stick to them but because they’re a private tour we can also do what our guests like.
“I recently did a tour where we did a nature walk through the rainforest before we went to a winery for lunch. At Tamborine Mountain we have a number of different options, we can stop at the Gallery Walk, or go to the Skywalk or visit the German Brewhouse.
“We might stop at Marks & Gardner Gallery for an antipasto platter … it just depends what people are after.
“On the Scenic Rim winery tour there are less options but people are just thrilled to get out there, they really love it.
“They love the scenery, particularly when we reach Peak Crossing, it’s really beautiful, as is Lake Moogerah and the mountains around Mt Alford. They’re also really impressed with the personalised service that the wineries offer.
“The wineries are more personal and friendlier than many they have visited in Australia and around the world, and the staff are very welcoming. People have also been very impressed with the wines, I explain that while it is a newer wine area the wines have won awards and they are very well received.”
Tim says he offers all-inclusive packages which can be tailored to the needs of the group. He can take groups of six, 11 and 24 and collect from home or from work.
The price includes transport, commentary, lunch and a ‘gold esky’ of goodies for the journey.
“People have a lot of fun on the tours, they just have a great time. They often say, ‘I didn’t realise all this was available. Initially they’re reluctant to go further than Tamborine Mountain but when they come to other parts of the Scenic Rim they realise how close it is, Boonah really is only one hour from Brisbane.”
Find out more at www.ecosafaris.com.au