Southern Queensland Country

Experience the clean fresh air of the country, as well as boutique wineries, fresh farm produce, gourmet prepared foods, arts and crafts markets, galleries, vast rolling hills and plenty of open space. Take a short drive from Brisbane or any of the Southern Queensland coastal centres and you will soon find yourself in Southern Queensland Country. Enjoy the simple pleasures of life… home-cooked breakfasts at quaint bed & breakfast cottages, hidden antique shops and cast wide open landscapes dotted with vineyards. Southern Queensland Country is made up of six regions, each with a unique offering - South Burnett, Toowoomba & Darling Downs, Southern Downs & Granite Belt, as well as Greater Brisbane Country, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and Gold Coast Hinterland.

South Burnett
Driving north-west from Brisbane on the D’Aguilar Highway, you will wind your way up mountain ranges through pine and eucalypt forests. The South Burnett region is full of scenic drives and walking trails, as well as quaint historic villages like Nanango, Blackbutt and Yarraman. Teahouses are dotted along your journey enticing you with freshly baked goodies and friendly country folk. Head over the ranges and the country opens out to vast rolling hills and lush farmlands. Stay at a farm house and try billy tea and damper (a traditional Australian treat), or visit wineries, craft shops, country pubs and cafes serving fresh locally grown produce. Visit Kingaroy, Queensland’s home of peanuts, and sample the many peanut delights and sweets that are on offer. Then in the south-west lies the dramatic ridges of the Bunya Mountains, where the open grazing lands of Wondai, Murgon, Goomeri and Kilkivan offer the perfect setting to relax with a locally produced glass of wine.

Southern Downs and Granite Belt
Two hours drive southwest of Brisbane you will soon find yourself under the wide blue skies of the Southern Downs, Queensland’s high country. This region is full of cosy bed & breakfasts and country farm stays. Enjoy warm summer nights outdoors under the stars, or snuggle up in winter as you wake to the occasional dusting of snow on the vast rolling hills. Discover diverse landscapes of granite escarpments, vineyards and vast grazing lands, as well as a relaxed peaceful way of life. Discover Warwick, home to roses and rodeos, where grand sandstone buildings tell legendary stories of Queensland’s pioneering past. South of Warwick lies the Granite Belt and the township of Stanthorpe. Hike over rocky granite landscapes, savour in the taste of locally grown apples and locally produced wines, or spend the night under the stars with a glass of wine in hand. Further north is where you will find Inglewood and Texas, famous for its olives.

Toowoomba and the Darling Downs
Just a 90 minute drive west of Brisbane is the mountain-top city of Toowoomba. Driving through Queensland’s ‘salad bowl’ you will gradually make your way through farmlands to the base of the Great Dividing Range. It is once you have climbed the range that you will discover Queensland’s Garden City, with its annual spring Carnival of Flowers. Perched atop the Great Diving Range, this historic pioneer city offers amazing views across the farmland plains below, a myriad of antique and craft stores and a real country charm. Drive west to the rolling plains and visit the little rural townships of the region, or head south and enjoy a hearty country pub meal and admire the dramatic view of the Bunya Mountains rising up from the plains. Hike through forest trails and discover waterfalls and creeks, as well as some of the world’s most ancient tree species, the bunya pine.