When most RVers think of south-east QLD, they think of the stunning coastal and hinterland region east of Brisbane. It’s a part of Australia that attracts thousands of travellers every year looking for a northern escape. However, did you know there was a different side to south-east QLD just three hours west of Brisbane? With amazing produce, stunning wines and picture-perfect camping, Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt region has to be one of the more underrated destinations in QLD.
Stanthorpe sits just over 220km south-west of Brisbane, and only 143km south of Toowoomba. The town is also the hub of the spectacular Granite Belt region, which covers a wide range of smaller villages like Ballandean, Greenlands and Dalveen. The region is known country-wide for its fine wines and quality produce like apples and stone fruit. Add to this some beautiful scenery, friendly atmosphere, and stunning camping opportunities and you have yourself a truly memorable destination
The reason this region can produce such wonderful produce is its unusual climate. It’s amazing that just under three hours from sunny Brisbane is QLD’s coldest town. In the winter months the morning frosts are huge and temperatures can get as low as -10°C. Fortunately most days end up warming to 20°C, making for a fairly comfortable day. The cold temperatures assist in apple and wine grape production.
In fact, ‘Brass Monkey’ season is the Granite Belt’s major drawcard – travellers from the warmer regions come here to experience the cold. This is celebrated by the people of Stanthorpe, with an actual brass monkey statue being placed across the road from the Post Office. It’s a wonderful experience sitting out the front of your van next a warming campfire.
As usual your first point of call when arriving in Stanthorpe is the information centre. The centre is just across Carnarvon Bridge on the banks of Quart Pot Creek. With beautifully manicured gardens leading right to a tranquil flowing creek, this is actually one of the more scenic picnic spots in the town. Best of all the information centre does a great coffee and cake. What a top first impression of a town! The staff are friendly and helpful, providing maps and brochures on all the top attractions.
There are a number of caravan parks in the region, with all having a full range of facilities accommodating for a range of setups. Top of the Town Tourist Park on High St is one of the nicer parks, with plenty of powered and non-powered sites on offer. The grassy, shaded sites make for the ideal base camp for further exploration of the region. The park is also right next to the Stanthorpe Museum, which houses artefacts explaining the region’s rich agricultural and tin mining history.
If you’re looking for the ideal reason to visit Stanthorpe, why not time your trip with the Apple and Grape Festival? Held every two years in March, the festival attracts people from across the country looking for that unique celebratory experience. The Apple and Grape Festival is a celebration of the magnificent culture and produce the region is famous for. The main street is shut down for the Saturday, where there are markets and stalls, live music, and a fabulous parade. You can even make your way down to the scenic Weroona Park for a drop of local wine and a picnic while watching local bands perform.
The first brilliant must-see attraction is Sutton’s Farm, just 13km north of Stanthorpe. Farm owners, David and Roslyn Sutton, offer a unique experience to travellers – you can actually pick your own tree-ripened apples. Produce doesn’t come as fresh! The picking season runs from February to June, and for just a $2 entry and a $2.50/kg apple price, you can pick as many apples as you please.
That’s not all that’s on offer at Sutton’s Farm – they also have a huge range of juices, ciders and conserves to taste and purchase. The cider is super refreshing – made from real apples right here at the farm. You can also time your trip to the farm with morning tea and try a scrumptious slice of apple pie with a well-made coffee. Spoil yourself with the range of delightful produce available at Sutton’s Farm.
Who knew some of Australia’s best wine is produced just three hours from Brisbane? Offering over 55 vineyards and 40 cellar doors, RVers flock to the Granite Belt every year to indulge in fine wines on offer throughout the region. On the northern end towards Dalveen you have Summit Estate Wines and Castle Glen, but the real diamonds are south around Glen Aplin and Ballandean.
If you only had a chance to see a couple of wineries, try Mason Wines, Bungawarra, Symphony Hill and Rumbalara Estate Wines. If you’re looking for a winery a bit left of centre, try Wild Soul or Ravenscroft Wines. Beth and John Boullier of Wild Soul Wines offer that wonderful experience of unique wine tasting in an exceptional bush setting. Mark Ravenscroft from Ravenscroft Wines is one of the region’s most decorated wine makers. His cellar door west of Stanthorpe is a bit off the beaten wine trail, so you have the chance of trying his brilliant wines one on one with the friendly South African.
Looking for a unique way to see the best of the region’s wines? The Strange Bird Alternative Wine Trail is a self-guided tour to the many wineries in the Granite Belt offering unique wine varieties. Step away from the chardonnay and shiraz and explore delectable varieties like tempranillo and petit verdot. The downloadable map and brochure gives you all the information you need on this trail. You even learn how to pronounce the wines and what meal you should serve with it!
Of course there are regular winery tours running every day of the week. Filipo Tours runs comprehensive tours, taking in some of the best cellar doors and most scenic vineyards on offer.
While you’re down Ballandean way enjoying the wineries, check out the other lovely attractions on offer here. Firstly, the Ballandean Tavern have scrumptious meals and of course a good ale as a bit of a change of direction. Just down from the Tavern is Fruitisforus – the big green Triceratops that’s very well-known to New England Highway travellers. This iconic Ballandean sculpture was originally part of a float in the 1998 Apple and Grape Festival.
Also at Ballandean is the Ballandean Pyramid. When Henty Estate owner, Stuart Moreland had a surplus of large rock, he decided to build a large pyramid on his property. The 30m wide, 15m high pyramid is a pretty impressive site as you wind your way into the vineyard.
There are two routes back to Stanthorpe from Ballandean – both having unique experiences perfectly suited to RVers. Eukey Rd holds a few wineries that are on the Strange Bird Trail, and also leads to the wonderfully scenic Storm King Dam. This body of water is not only a recreational hotspot, it’s the town’s main water source. Water skiing is a popular pastime, but what will excite the travellers is the opportunity to wet a line. Golden perch, Murray cod, catfish and silver perch are all regular catches here. Grab some worms, shrimp or yabbies for bait and you’re bound to get a nibble.
The best thing about Storm King Dam is that you can drag your van out and camp here. The Sommerville Valley Tourist Park has a number of powered and unpowered sites available. The park is on private property that runs all the way down the dam’s edge, so water activities are available just a short walk from camp.
The second route back from Ballandean is north along the New England Highway. The bonus of heading this way is that there are a range of unique attractions just off the road. One particularly good stop is Jamworks – right on the highway at Glen Aplin. The jams and preserves here are made the old-fashioned way – lots of stirring a pot on the stove. You can also examine the near 100 year old Thorndale School house Jamworks owners Sue and Peter have restored.
There’s more to Stanthorpe than just wine and apples. This region is also home to some of the more productive lavender farms in the state. Aloomba Lavender Farm is a terrific site when at full bloom. The beauty of the plumes of purple in the fields is beyond comprehension. The farm is just 15 minutes from Stanthorpe, offering bed and breakfast accommodation and a gift shop. Purchase a range of lavender products, including lavender bags, soaps and lavender oil.
As good as the surrounding region is, Stanthorpe’s town centre shouldn’t be overlooked. The late 1800s saw the first settlers arrive in the area searching for tin in the hills. In fact, Stanthorpe meaning derives from the Latin and English words for ‘tin’ and ‘village’. As mentioned before, the town is built around Quart Pot Creek – a very picturesque creek snaking through the urban streets. The council has worked hard to maintain the lovely parklands surrounding the creek – making for the ideal place to take a stroll. This is a particularly pretty place in winter, with white frost on the grass, smoke bellowing out the chimneys and heavy steam rising from the chilled Quart Pot waters.
The success of Stanthorpe can be somewhat attributed to the hard working Italian migrants who settled here a few generations ago. The rich Italian culture is portrayed throughout the town, with plenty of lovely restaurants serving traditional Italian cuisine. Make sure you have a meal at Anna’s – this is true home cooked Italian food. There are also a range of lovely cafes and gift shops to be explored.
Stanthorpe has everything an RVer would want. The history, culture and produce combine to create a stunning weekend getaway. The stunning array of cellar doors alone warrants a trip to the Granite Belt. However, the best thing is there’s so much more to discover than what’s listed here – you could spend weeks here indulging in all the delights. You owe it to yourself to get up and over the Great Dividing Range and into a region so rich in culture and beauty.
TOURING INFO
Stanthorpe is a town that thrives and survives on tourism, so the roads and parking spots are tailor-made for RVers. Fuel at the time of travel was $1.46/L for diesel, and $1.44/L for ULP.
CHEAP TREATS
Storm King Dam
Take half a day to enjoy the wonderful waters of this dam. Fish on the bank or from a boat, or just have a picnic on the banks.
Jamworks
New England Hwy, Glen Aplin
Ph: (07) 4683 4171
Web: www.jamworks.com.au
Taste some absolutely delicious preserves and jams made from locally grown produce. Explore the old school house the owners have restored.
Sutton’s Farm
Halloran Drive, Thulimbah
Ph: (07) 4685 2464
Web: www.suttonsfarm.com.au
Pick your own apples in the orchard or simply stop in to try and buy some juice or cider. Be sure to have a slice of apple pie in the Shed Café.
MUST-SEES
Apple and Grape Festival
Held March 7-9, 2014
Ph: (07) 4681 4111
Web: www.appleandgrape.org
Celebrate the wonderful culture and history of Stanthorpe at one of QLD’s premier festivals.
Aloomba Lavender Farm
Mt Lindsay Hwy, Liston
Ph: (07) 4686 1191
Web: www.aloombalavender.com.au
Strange Bird Alternative Wine Trail
This self-guided winery tour takes you to cellar doors offering wines that are a bit left of centre. Try a Petit Verdot or Tempranillo and learn what food to serve with them. Brochure available on Granite Belt Wine Country website.
STAYING THERE
Jim Mitchell Park
Mountain Park Rd, Dalveen
TOILETS, WATER, PICNIC TABLES, NO CAMPING FEES, PET FRIENDLY, DUMP POINT***
Top of the Town Tourist Park
High St, Stanthorpe
Ph: (07) 4681 4888
Web: www.topoftown.com.au
Email: info@topoftown.com.au
Sommerville Valley Tourist Park
Sommerville Lane, Stanthorpe
Ph: (07) 4681 4200
Web: www.sommervillevalley.com.au
Email: info@sommervillevalley.com.au
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
BEST COFFEE
Brinx Deli
BEST MEAL
Anna’s Restaurant
BEST BUSHWALK
Pyramid Track, Girraween National Park
BEST WINERY
Symphony Hill Wineries