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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Australia

Boonah

Base here 2 nights only if you hike or climb; otherwise day-trip from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, about 1 h each way by car.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
avoid Dec–Feb (heat and storms)
Airports
BNE · OOL
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Boonah is a small Fassifern Valley town about 80 km south-west of Brisbane, used as a base for the Scenic Rim: Mt French, Cunninghams Gap, Spicers Gap, Mt Barney and the Main Range. There is no rail link, so you need a car. Most visitors come for one day of lookouts and short walks, or stay two nights to climb and hike.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Boonah, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Street or quick mealBakery pie or sandwichA$6–12 (≈ US$4–8)
  • Budget bedHostel or cabin bed, a night, per personA$45 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedPub or motel double room, a night, per roomA$180 (≈ US$120)
  • High-end bedPub or motel double room, a night, per roomA$280 (≈ US$190)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$90 (≈ US$60) · Mid A$150 (≈ US$100) · High A$250 (≈ US$170)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Scenic Rim lookoutsMt French rock climbingCunninghams Gap and Spicers GapMt Barney walks
Airports
BNE Brisbane Airport (About 1 h 30 min by car via the Ipswich and Cunningham highways; no direct public transport to Boonah.) · OOL Gold Coast Airport (About 1 h 45 min by car via Nerang, Canungra and Beaudesert.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Boonah: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

31°C

19°C

9 rd

Feb

30°C

19°C

9 rd

Mar

29°C

17°C

9 rd

Apr

26°C

13°C

7 rd

May

23°C

10°C

7 rd

Jun

20°C

7°C

6 rd

Jul

20°C

6°C

6 rd

Aug

22°C

7°C

5 rd

Sep

25°C

10°C

6 rd

Oct

27°C

13°C

8 rd

Nov

29°C

16°C

9 rd

Dec

30°C

18°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is required: sights are 15–50 km apart with no useful bus service. Fuel up in Boonah before heading to Spicers Gap or The Head. Roads to Governors Chair and The Head are narrow and winding; the Condamine Gorge route is unsealed and needs a 4WD.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Mt French National Park

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Drive south from town, turn right at the Dugandan Hotel; signposted to the summit car park

Short cliff-top walk and picnic area; car parks are limited, so arrive early.

Cunninghams Gap

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Boonah–Fassifern Road west, then south on the Cunningham Highway

Walks to Bare Rock and Mt Mitchell start from the highway parking bay; heavy truck traffic.

Spicers Gap and Governors Chair

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Boonah–Fassifern Road, then the marked road past Aratula

Road ends at Governors Chair; views over the Main Range.

Mt Barney and Lower Portals

go

Door to door: About 50 min

Drive south towards Rathdowney, then follow signs to Mt Barney

Lower Portals is the easy option; summit routes need navigation and a full day.

Queen Mary Falls and Killarney

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

South via Carney's Creek and The Head, or the sealed road via Spring Creek

Combine with the Teviot Falls lookout; the Condamine Gorge road needs a 4WD.

Beaudesert

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive east on the Boonah–Beaudesert Road

Service town on the route to the Gold Coast.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

High Street, town centre

Pubs with rooms, cafés and the bakery within a short walk; best if you have no car in the evening.

Dugandan and Mt French road

Quieter, 5–10 min drive south of town; closest access to Mt French National Park.

Bigriggen and Mt Barney area

Camping and bush bases 30–40 min south; bring food and water.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$90–140 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
A$140–220 (≈ US$95–150) excl. bed
High
A$220 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Pub or motel double room1 × 2 nights × A$180A$360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × A$150A$600
Fuel, Brisbane return (about 180 km)1 × A$35 · checkA$35
National park camping, per night4 × A$7 · checkA$28
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$20A$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$106
Trip total≈ A$292 per person per day, bed includedA$1,169≈ US$800

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
Pub meal (counter or bistro)A$22–35 (≈ US$15–25)
Fish and chipsA$15–25 (≈ US$10–17)
Bakery pie or sandwichA$6–12 (≈ US$4–8)
Fuel, unleadedcheckA$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2) per litre
National park camping, per nightcheckA$7–14 (≈ US$5–10) per person

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Boonah itself is quiet and safe; the real risks are heat, storms and remote walking routes in the Scenic Rim. Tell someone your plan, carry water and a map, and avoid unsealed roads in a 2WD.
  • No train or public bus to Boonah: without a car you are stuck in town.
  • Mt Barney and Main Range routes are serious full-day walks: carry water, a map and tell someone your plan.
  • Summer heat and afternoon storms; start walks at first light.
  • Mobile coverage is patchy in the ranges.
  • Kangaroos and wallabies on the road at dawn and dusk.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From mobiles
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BoonahBoonah

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Can you take me to this address?To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Embassy

No consulates in Boonah; embassies and consulates-general are in Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Brisbane → Boonah by car: about 80 km, 1 h 15 min–1 h 30 min (check)
  • Gold Coast → Boonah by car: about 100 km via Nerang, Canungra and Beaudesert, 1 h 45 min (check)
  • Fuel, Boonah: A$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2) per litre (check)

Say or show

  • Thanks — Thank you
  • Where's the servo? — Where is the nearest petrol station?
  • Is this road bitumen? — Is this road sealed?
  • Table for two, thanks — Table for two, please
  • Card OK? — Can I pay by card?

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Boonah. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Dec–Feb (heat and storms) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BNE and OOL: drive times field-checked, no-public-transport warning, late-arrival rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: High Street, Dugandan and Mt French, Bigriggen and Mt Barney.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Mt French, Cunninghams Gap, Spicers Gap, Queen Mary Falls) and eat pages with opening days.
  4. Heat, storm and bushfire fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources