The Scenic Rim is the name given to the arc of rugged mountains that curves around the south-east corner of Queensland, along the New South Wales border, and Teviot State Forest sits on its western side. It is dry eucalypt country of ironbark and spotted gum, quite different from the rainforest on the wetter slopes nearby, with open woodland, grassy slopes and rocky creek beds. The area is part of the wider Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, a World Heritage area that preserves the largest subtropical rainforest in the world and the remnants of the ancient forests that once covered the supercontinent Gondwana.
The big names of the region are not far. Mount Chinghee National Park, with its small patches of montane rainforest and views from rocky ridges, lies close to the border, and further south the Border Ranges, with their Antarctic beech trees, hold some of the oldest living plant lineages on earth. Teviot Brook runs through the forest, and the whole area is a good place to see wallabies, kangaroos, lyrebirds and colourful parrots. At dusk, the call of the kookaburra echoes across the valleys. Walkers can reach several peaks, including Mount Barney, a spectacular and demanding climb.
For riders, the lure is the road. The Mount Lindesay Highway, which runs through the area, is one of the favourite motorcycling roads of south-east Queensland, with sweeping bends, rolling hills and views of the cone of Mount Lindesay. The forest tracks are another matter, unsealed and sometimes rutted, so a trail bike is better, and rain makes them slippery. Summer brings heat and thunderstorms, and winter is dry and pleasant, with cold mornings. Watch for wildlife on the road at dawn and dusk, especially kangaroos and wallabies, which can appear suddenly.
Boonah, about thirty kilometres away, has fuel, a bakery and a pub, and Kalbar is a similar small town. The nearest services are not close, so fill the tank and carry water. Be careful of snakes and ticks in the bush, and check the status of the forest tracks with the local authorities before you set off.