Yarraman

Out Kingaroy way, about 200 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, Yarraman sits at the junction of the New England and D'Aguilar highways.

While this was a gold mining district until the early 1900s, the area now produces beef cattle and crops - mainly grain and beans.

The Berlin's Gem and Historical Museum is worth a visit, and the Yarran and Benarkin State Forests are close by and so, too, are the spectacular Bunya Mountains.

A scenic drive skirting the forest takes visitors to Tarong Power Station but you have to book in advance to take one of the free tours which operate between 9am and 2pm Tuesday to Friday.

Yarraman is central to a rich and diverse area which combines a healthy mix of agriculture, conserved parkland, industry and man-made aquatic playgrounds such as Boondooma and Bjelke-Petersen dams.

The largest town in the area, Kingaroy, is at the heart of peanut and naval (baked) bean production, and a very special brand of conservative politics as practised and perfected by long-time Queensland Premier, Sir Joh and Lady Flo Bjelke-Petersen.