Top tips for a weekend drive to Brisbane’s Twin Peaks

Close to: Brisbane. About a 40-minute drive from Brisbane to Mt Nebo, 15 minutes further on to Mt Glorious. Once there, it feels like you are in the middle of nowhere.
Day or weekend: Both Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious can be seen in a day. But if you want to stay longer, check out Turkeys Nest Rainforest Cottages or Maiala Park Lodge B&B with its panoramic views of Brisbane.
Hidden gems: Mt Glorious Getaways self-contained cottages set on 15 acres of private gardens adjacent to the rainforest and just 50 minutes from Brisbane.
Take home: Fernvale pie, pastry or cake. A Dr Red red.

Shadowing Brisbane’s north-west suburbs are the twin peaks of Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious, a short 40-minute hop from the heart of the city and an ideal locale to spend a day, a weekend or even just a few hours.

Draped over the peaks is a snaking road beginning at the outer northern suburb, The Gap, and it winds past Enoggera Reservoir, with its beautiful water edge picnic spots and aquatic activities.

The scenic road is dotted with lookouts as it meanders through a eucalypt forest, past the Dr Red Vineyard with its sweeping views across the Samford Valley and after about 20 minutes you’ll find yourself in the hamlet of Mt Nebo, which sits under a canopy of tall eucalypts.

Mt Nebo is the gateway to several bush walks that caters to all fitness levels. If the kids are with you, a visit to the Walkabout Creek Wildlife Centre with its collection of platypus, wombats, rainforest birds, reptiles and marsupials is well worth it, as is the Green Tree Frog Café that offers light refreshments and fuel.

As you follow the signs up the mountain towards Mt Glorious the area transforms into a subtropical rainforest, the eucalypts replaced by majestic palm fronds adorning the roadside and hills behind.

In no time the village of Mt Glorious appears and if you want to immerse your taste buds, this is the place.

Quaint shops, restaurants and cafés line the main street and on most days, a salivating collection of motorcycles is parked outside the Mt Glorious Café, their riders sipping on fresh coffee and delicious locally made cakes.

Cloverlea Cottage, which began as a dairy farm in the 1930s before its conversion to a restaurant in the ’70s offers breathtaking views of the bushland and Moreton Bay from its open-air dining on the huge deck.

A selection of sumptuous breakfasts and light lunches with a German flavour are waiting at the Elm Haus, where owner Karl-Heinz Woelkerling will greet you.

Specialities include Bauernfrühstück – a German Farmers Breakfast, or the Elm Haus Hotdog – A Bratwurst and Sauerkraut served in a crusty roll, or his famous Karlsburger! The views overlooking the rainforest garden are free.

While there are no hotels to speak of, there are several accommodation options to suit all budgets.

Instead of turning around and heading back to Brisbane, head west through more twists and turns as you descend the mountains towards Lake Wivenhoe, home of Brisbane’s main water supply.

To the south is the township of Fernvale on the edge of the Brisbane River, 60km from Brisbane. It used to be known for its dairy farming but these days the township is surrounded by crops of various types.

While it looks like any other Australian country town, it is famous for its multi-award-winning pies.

Over the past 20 years, the Old Fernvale Bakery has won more national awards than any other pie shop in Queensland and in 2010 it took home 40 medals.

There are 120 varieties to choose from. Anything from plain beef to Carbonara and Mango Chicken and just about everything in between.

From Fernvale, the journey to Brisbane is an effortless freeway cruise that takes about 45 minutes.

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