Beenleigh is a settlement of the fringe Brisbane, halfway between the city centre and the Gold Coast. Inland from here, the winding Beaudesert Beenleigh Road passes through the foothills of the McPherson Range and by the 600m high plateau of Tambourine Mountain on it's way through the townships of Mt. Tambourine and Beaudesert. The regions original forest have been preserved in nine small national parks which contain and array of gorges, waterfalls, and walking tracks. If seeking a restful retreat Mt. Tambourine has an excellent variety of B&B's and guest houses. Twenty kilometres further on, the township of Beaudesert has a pioneer museum, a range of accommodation, and a tourist centre. The centre will help guide you on the best way to explore the diverse surrounding countryside.

West of the Great Dividing Range, on the edge of a stretch of rolling plains named the Darling Downs, Ispwich has virtually become an outer suburb of Brisbane. Historically, an important early Queensland town, it still contains many fine old houses and public buildings. Information is available on these in the informative Ipswich City Heritage Trails leaflet available at the tourist office.