| South East Queensland Country - Toowoomba and Darling Downs |
Only a short drive from Brisbane and the coast, and you're in South East Queensland Country. Welcome to four clearly defined seasons, clean air, a burgeoning wine industry, galleries and museums, and the freshest and tastiest produce. All this wrapped up in warm hospitality makes South East Queensland Country an ideal holiday destination.
|
The wild expanses of national parks and the cheery hubbub of country markets, glorious vistas and folk music festivals, wineries, fine dining and freshwater fishing are all waiting for you just a short drive from Brisbane.
Head west and you’ll soon be in the cool of the mountains, winding through the Brisbane Forest Park to Mt Nebo. Beyond is Mt Glorious, clad with rainforest, and further north lie the lush hilltop pastures and state forests of Mt Mee. Drive north through Woodford and Kilcoy and you’re at the head of the "Valley of Lakes, here forests and crags inspire tales of yowies and other dark legends. But legends fade in the sunshine, and the shores of Lake Somerset and Wivenhoe offer perfect camping and picnic sites.
And just an hour south of Brisbane, climb to Mt Tamborine, Green Mountains, Binna Burra or Springbrook, and enter the Scenic Rim. Everywhere in these high places are towering rainforests, rainbow-lit waterfalls and dramatic views.
From Beaudesert to Boonah in the west and Rathdowney in the south, the townships cradled by the Scenic Rim have their own charm. Go rock-climbing, do a spot of freshwater fishing or get a bird’s-eye view of the landscape from a hot-air balloon.
Must See's & Do's
Visit Laidley Pioneer Village for a trip back to the region's pioneering past. The village has maintained many of the original buildings including an authentic slab cottage, the blacksmiths and police cells, alongside a flora and fauna sanctuary.
Take a balloon flight over the Lockyer Valley and be wowed by the lush natural landscape. Like a bit more adrenalin with your aerial scenery? Skydiving is another alternative...
For a more sedate and grounded take on the Lockyer Valley's stunning panorama take a tour of the lookouts and differing perspectives on the valley. Do the rounds of Cunningham Crest, Balaam, and Schultz's Lookouts.
Take a drive down Tourist Drive 29 and be lulled into holiday mode by the undulating green hills, and long views through to the bay.
You're spoilt for choice with great camping spots. Try Mt Mee, kitted out with walking tracks, picnic area, lookout, swimming holes, camping, and horse and bike trails.
Assemble a picnic with your pick of fresh produce, to be enjoyed wherever the fancy (or view) takes you.
|
Past the forestry towns of Blackbutt and Yarraman, where scenic drives and walking trails lead off through state forests, you enter the historic town of Nanango. Then the country opens out to lush farmland around Kingaroy, the paddocks forming a chequerboard of green crops and deep red soil.
In the south-west lies the brooding bulk of the Bunya Mountains. A steep climb takes you the ridge top and through the dense rainforest of the national park, with lofty bunya pines breaking the canopy. To the north, the tidy farmland widens into grazing country and the towns of Wondai, Murgon, Goomeri and Kilkivan. Here the creek beds lure gemstone, fossickers, and the lakes attract anglers, campers, water-skiers and boating enthusiasts.
|
| Sunshine Coast Hinterland | |
This rich, subtropical country is embroidered with detail. West of the Bruce Highway, the Blackall Range beckons. Montville, Maleny and the other villages that perch on or behind the escarpment have wineries, art galleries and lovely boutiques. Further west, taste hand-crafted cheeses at Kenilworth before taking a leisurely trip along the Kenilworth Forest Drive or trekking into the rugged Conondales. Follow the Mary River north from its headwaters towards Gympie and you’ll find a series of magnificent state forests and townships of nostalgic rural charm.
Turn into Gympie town centre and you’re in the narrow, twisting streets of an old goldfield. Impressive public buildings reveal its wealthy past.
Must See's & Do's
Explore the Sunshine Coast Hinterland's parks, forests and falls - Mary Cairncross Park alone boasts 50 hectares of pristine rainforest.
Explore the Mary Valley on horseback, foot, or by the historic Mary Valley Heritage Railway.
Montville showcases the best of the region in a one great spot, the top of the Blackall Range. The progressive township offers galleries, boutique shops, wineries, great food and above all warm hospitality.
Escape to Buderim Forest Park, a sub-tropical rainforest haven complete with lush vegetations, streams and waterfalls. Bordered by the award wining Buderim Whitehouse B&B at one end, and Harry's Restaurant at the other, this is one Park where you don't have to rough it.
|
| Southern Downs and Granite Belt | |
Two hours’ drive and you’ll be through Cunningham’s Gap and out under the wide skies of the Southern Downs, the high country, where people know that the good things of life should not be rushed.
Whether it’s wilderness you’re seeking, exhilarating bushwalking in a dramatic landscape, or a little pampering in a cosy B&B while a rare snow whitens the hills, you’ll find it somewhere in the Southern Downs.
Must See's & Do's
Visit the National Parks of The Southern Downs. Marvel at landscapes ranging from Girraween's granite monoliths to Main Range's lush Queen Mary Falls and Cunningham's Gap, where rainforest meets grassy plains.
If you ache for a horizon more inspiring than concrete and glass, follow the scenic driving routes through the Southern Downs. Sweeping panoramic views, heritage trails, gorgeous deciduous trees, and tempting pit stops lay in wait...
Wine is a local passion and accomplishment. Be sure to visit the wineries and if you don't fancy driving yourself, there are plenty of tour operators who'll take the responsibility away from you.
Packing a picnic is a great way to take advantage of the stunning surroundings. From the ordered gardens in the townships, to the natural environs of National Parks and creeks and rivers, finding a great spot won't be challenging.
|
| Toowoomba and the Darling Downs | |
Just 90 minutes from Brisbane, the lofty city of Toowoomba, overlooks the coastal lowlands laid out below. Over the Range, you ease into a place of flowers, sparkling mountain air, dignified buildings and breathtaking vistas. Toowoomba is Queensland’s Garden City, and in spring, when the Carnival of Flowers is held, it’s a riot of perfume and colour.
Drive west to the rolling plains and there little rural townships, some with B&Bs where you can yarn with a local or retreat fireside with a bottle of wine. Cruise north to Crows Nest through the hamlets strung along the eastern escarpment and check out the nurseries, cafes, museums and galleries. Go south into the country that was the setting for Steele Rudd’s stories, and enjoy the atmosphere in the popular historic pubs.
Head north-west and you’ll see the Bunya Mountains rising dramatically against the sky. This unique offshoot of the Great Dividing Range has dense rainforest, waterfalls, walking tracks and the largest remaining stand of bunya pines anywhere. Whatever your mood or fancy, there’s something here for you.
Must See's & Do's
Take in the magnificence of the deciduous trees in Toowoomba's manicured parks, or head onto the rolling green plains of the Darling Downs, framed with lovely borders.
Preston Peak Jazz in the Vineyard and the Hampton High Country Food and Arts Festival. The event crescendos into the Signature Dish competition, pitching chef against chef in the preparation of beautiful local produce.
The spirit of South East Queensland Country's pioneering rural heritage lives on at Jondaryan Woolshed.
|
|  | |
|
Visiting Queensland?
