Camp Mountain, Samford Valley submitted by Martina Louw
Many people choose to live in Samford for a rural country lifestyle close to Brisbane but the township of Samford makes a lovely escape for a few hours.
Samford is only about 30 minutes drive north-west of the city. Follow Samford Road, all the way from the suburb of Alderley, west to your destination.
In days gone by, visiting Samford meant travelling on the train (before the line was closed in 1955). Historically, the area was dotted with banana plantations, dairy farms, fruit orchards and timber selections.
The dairy farms are gone now, replaced by housing development which began in the 1960s and continues today. Find more about the town’s history by visiting the Samford Museum.(Open Wednesdays and Sundays).
The village has a small selection of shops to browse and there are monthly markets (every second Saturday morning) and an annual Samford show.
The Samford Hotel is a family-friendly and popular spot for lunch.
On the drive to or from Samford, make sure you stop at neighbouring Brisbane Forest Park and take a walk from the Ironbark Gully picnic area, just past the suburb of Ferny Grove.
If you want to extend your drive and day trip, take the winding, steep road up to Mount Glorious or through the valley north to Dayboro.
