Scenic Rim’s foodie reputation reaffirmed at tourism excellence awards

Deputy Mayor Jeff McConnell accepts the award with Acting Manager, Regional Prosperity and Communications Julie Schmidt (left) and Coordinator Regional Events Jo Jordan.

The Scenic Rim cemented its status as the home of Australia’s most authentic paddock-to-plate food and farming experiences at the 2023 Queensland Tourism Awards at Cairns on Friday night.  

The bronze award for Excellence in Food Tourism was awarded to the region’s Eat Local Movement, topping off a bumper year for tourism in the Scenic Rim.  

It follows Scenic Rim being named as one of the 100 most loved tourism destinations in the world for 2023 by the Tourism Sentiment Index and Tamborine Mountain reaching the finals for the 2023 Top Tourism Town in Queensland.  

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said this latest award, which joined the region’s previous silver award in the same category at the 2022 Queensland Tourism Awards, recognised the resounding success of Council’s Eat Local brand.  

“Scenic Rim Regional Council accepts this award on behalf of the producers, farmers, brewers, distillers, wine makers, restaurants and cafes in the Scenic Rim, and thanks the Queensland Tourism Awards for recognising the efforts of so many people.  

“A decade ago, the local community recognised the value in leveraging the region’s reputation for quality fresh produce and in 2011, launched Scenic Rim Eat Local Week,” he said. 

“Now, the Scenic Rim’s food tourism has evolved into an all-of-region movement where we come together through our Eat Local brand to grow, innovate, entice and educate. 

“This award recognises that the Eat Local brand is a unique collaboration between Council, our community and agribusinesses which ties together a series of tourism products, experiences and events all designed to showcase the Scenic Rim as Queensland’s most authentic food tourism destination, connecting visitors to food, culture and country.   

“Whether it’s camel milk Feta, olives, organic coffee, goat milk gelato or locally brewed beer, you’ll find a cornucopia of produce in our region which caters for all tastes and budgets.” 

Scenic Rim Tourism and Regional Events Portfolio Councillor Jeff McConnell said Eat Local Month 2023 reaffirmed the region’s reputation as one of Australia's premier food bowls.  

“The Eat Local brand focuses on five key values: authenticity, collaboration, tasty traditions, devouring new trends and manifesting a movement,” he said.  

“Council created this brand so that each and every visitor to the Scenic Rim can experience our friendly, relaxed country lifestyle, our spectacular natural beauty and of course, our award-winning local produce,” he said.  

“We have something for everyone and offer many food-related experiences that visitors won’t find anywhere else, like our annual Carrot Day where families can take a tour of the Kalfresh factory, harvest carrots and meet the farmers, to experiencing the 'Gondwana Trifle' at The Paddock Restaurant inspired by the ancient rainforests surrounding the Scenic Rim.”  

In 2023 Scenic Rim Eat Local Week was extended to a month culminating in the signature Winter Harvest Festival which provides the region’s producers with an opportunity to connect with consumers.  

Producers also benefit from the twice-yearly Scenic Rim Farm Gate Trail which sees local growers and makers across the region throw open their gates to self-drive tourists, with thousands of visitors touring the Scenic Rim and shopping directly from the source. 

Other Eat Local branded initiatives include the farm-to-home Scenic Rim Farm Box, and the popular Eat Local - Food, Farming and Conversation in the Scenic Rim cookbooks. 

“Be sure to jump onto visitscenicrim.com.au and start planning your ultimate foodie road trip through our award-winning region today,” Cr Christensen said.