Southern Downs and Granite Belt 2017/18 Visitor Guide
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Southern Downs and Granite Belt 2017/18 Visitor Guide Allora • Ballandean • Killarney • Leyburn • Stanthorpe • Wallangarra • Warwick A part of Southern Queensland Country Welcome to Southern Downs and Granite Belt Swap the city hustle for a country escape and let us show you how to live the good life in our backyard. We have the perfect mix of breathtaking natural landscapes, immersive wine experiences, fresh local produce and exhilarating events celebrated across four distinct seasons. Stomp your own grapes in award-winning wineries, tackle mountain peaks in World Heritage National Parks or watch a cowboy ride a bucking bull in Australia's Rodeo capital. Based in the heartland of Southern Queensland Country, our laidback locals and warm country hospitality awaits you. Welcome to our backyard, where the only thing you need to do is slow down, breathe deep and experience the essence of country life. Discover more at southerndownsandgranitebelt.com.au Hero image: Sunflower fields, Allora Cover image: Golden Grove Estate, Ballandean Contents 02 Getting Here 05 Events Calendar 20 Our Towns and Villages 40 National Parks 48 Heritage & History 56 Nature’s Playground 70 Horsepower Capital of Australia 74 Granite Belt Wine Country 80 Queensland’s Deli 90 Driving the Southern Downs 111 Travel Directory 159 Maps 164 Visitor Information Centres Some images courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland, Granite Belt Wine Country, Department of National Parks Sport and Racing, Cory Rossiter Photography, Stephen Waller Photography, Warwick Show and Rodeo Society, Dan Proud Photography and Izelle Barnard. Every eff ort has been made to ensure the information contained in this publication is true and correct at time of publication. Southern Downs Regional Council assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions that may have occurred. All copy and artwork remains the property of Southern Downs Regional Council and may not be reproduced in part or whole, without the written permission of Southern Downs Regional Council. © Southern Downs Regional Council 2017. 01 Getting Here An easy escape from Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast or the Gold Coast, the Southern Downs region stretches to the New South Wales border in the south. Open, sealed roads and a network of well-marked highways traverse the region, off ering easy access to all major towns, tourist attractions and natural sights. Travelling distances (km) Brisbane to Warwick 154 Brisbane to Stanthorpe 214 Toowoomba to Warwick 84 Toowoomba to Stanthorpe 144 Gold Coast to Warwick 186 Gold Coast to Stanthorpe 246 Sunshine Coast to Warwick 258 Sunshine Coast to Stanthorpe 318 Sydney to Warwick 779 Sydney to Stanthorpe 719 Road condition reports www.131940.qld.gov.au or phone 13 19 40 www.racq.com.au Stanthorpe in Winter 02 Weipa Cairns Townsville Mount Isa Mackay Rockhampton Gladstone Bundaberg Roma Toowoombamba Brisbane City Warwickrwwickck GGold Coast City Goondiwindi Stanthorpetannthornth By Road Only 2 hours south-west from Brisbane and 2.5 hours from the Gold Coast, you’ll enter our region at the top of the beautiful Cunningham’s Gap. Visitors from New South Wales will cross the border at Wallangarra. The region is well connected via highways and road networks including the Cunningham, New England and Australia's Country Way. To plan your journey, check out Drive Queensland's site www.queensland. com/drive or RACQ's easy to use trip planner www.racq.com.au. 03 By Air Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport (Toowoomba) Wellcamp serves as an excellent access point into the Southern Downs region. Located one hour north-west of Warwick, this gateway airport off ers direct domestic flights. Other Airports The Brisbane Airport is a two hour drive from Warwick, while the Gold Coast's Coolangatta Airport is just over two and a half hours away. By Coach At least daily bus services operate between Brisbane, Toowoomba, Warwick and Stanthorpe on Crisps Coaches. Brisbane Airport transfers can be organised through CON-X-ION Airport Transfers and Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport transfers through Peter's Coaches. See page 131 for full contact details. Top Tip Get off the beaten track! Discover the feel of the open road with our self-driving tips that off er freedom and flexibility. Flip to page 90 to explore the region’s Top 10 Tourist Drives. 04 Calendar of Events 2017/18 See the full events calendar at southerndownsandgranitebelt.com.au Allora Autumn Southern Downs Festival Heritage Festival Allora APR 21 — 30 April 29 — 30 April Opera in the Vineyard Ballandean Estate Wines 30 April Southern Downs Steam Railway trips 30 April and throughout year 05 Calendar of Events 2017/18 See the full events calendar at southerndownsandgranitebelt.com.au Warwick Picnic Races MAY 13 May Grazing the Granite Belt 13 — 14 May Warwick Pentath Run 20 — 21 May 06 Calendar of Events 2017/18 See the full events calendar at southerndownsandgranitebelt.com.au Allora Community JUN Auction 11 June Warwick Summit Antiques and Estate Winter Killarney Cup Collectables Solstice Fair 17 June Stanthorpe 16 — 18 June 24 June Snowflakes in Stanthorpe 30 June — 2 July 07 Calendar of Events 2017/18 See the full events calendar at southerndownsandgranitebelt.com.au Brisbane Camperland Queensland Road JUL Team Series Warwick and Allora 1 — 2 July Jumpers and Killarney Jazz in July Bonfire Night Warwick 22 July 20 — 30 July 08 Calendar of Events 2017/18 See the full events calendar at southerndownsandgranitebelt.com.au Rose Bowl Polocrosse Historic Carnival Leyburn AUG Morgan Park, Sprints Warwick 19 — 20 August 18 — 20 August The Waddle and Saddle Killarney 27 August 09 Calendar of Events 2017/18 See the full events calendar at southerndownsandgranitebelt.com.au The 41st National Wings over Chevrolet Festival Warwick Warwick SEP 9 September 22 — 25 Sept Australian Small Winemakers Heavy Horse Day Show Yangan OCT Stanthorpe 22 October 21 — 28 Oct Warwick Rodeo & Gold Cup Campdraft 23 — 29 October 10 Calendar of Events 2017/18 See the full events calendar at southerndownsandgranitebelt.com.au New Years Eve Rodeo DEC Warwick 31 December JAN 2018 Allora Heritage Weekend 27 — 28 January 11 Calendar of Events 2017/18 See the full events calendar at southerndownsandgranitebelt.com.au Sicilian Apple and Vintage Lunch Grape Harvest FEB Golden Festival Grove Estate, Stanthorpe 2018 Ballandean 23 Feb — 17 February 4 March 12 Major Events & Festivals APR Allora Autumn Festival 29 — 30 April Celebrate the changing of the seasons in the ‘Best Little Town on the Downs’, Allora. The Allora Autumn Festival brings the streets alive, with local produce market stalls, arts and craft market stalls, kids chalk drawing competitions, open gardens and more. Follow the penny farthing bikes and vintage cars as they cruise the streets, and don’t miss seeing the house the author of Mary Poppins, PL Travers, grew up in. www.allorafestival.net 13 Major Events & Festivals JUNE Snowflakes in Stanthorpe 30 June — 2 July The Snowflakes in Stanthorpe winter festival takes place over three winter themed magical days every second year. The whole family will be kept busy with snowfields, ice skating, snow globes, a climbing wall, petting zoo, an enchanted forest to explore and more! Indulge in local hearty food at the winter markets and stop by the winery marquee to warm up with a glass of red. Rug up before enjoying the night time bonfire and fireworks! www.snowflakesinstanthorpe.com.au 14 Major Events & Festivals JUL Brisbane Camperland Queensland Road Teams Series 1 — 2 July Round Two of the Brisbane Camperland Queensland Road Teams Series (QRTS) returns to the Southern Downs this year. With the spectacular backdrop of the region’s natural setting, the event will include a Warwick Road Race, an Allora Teams Time Trial and a Warwick Criterium. The Brisbane Camperland QRTS is Queensland’s premier road racing series where teams of the leading riders in the state compete over four rounds to decide the winning riders and teams across a number of categories. Be a part of the action and cheer on some of your favourite cyclists! www.qld.cycling.org/qrts 15 Major Events & Festivals JUL Jumpers and Jazz in July 20 — 30 July Warwick's Jumpers and Jazz in July is Queensland’s quirkiest yarmbombing and jazz winter festival, celebrating its 14th birthday in 2017! The locals yarnbomb Warwick’s deciduous trees, turning our streets into a remarkable exhibition. With live jazz, tastes of country cuisine and a huge program of events spanning 10 days, the festival is book ended by two big weekends of celebrations providing plenty of opportunity to make a weekend of it. Key events include the Killarney Fire Drums and Bonfire (22 July), The Grand Historic Auto Display (23 July), the Picnic in the Park with free live jazz and the Warwick Potters craft markets (30 July). www.jumpersandjazz.com Major Events & Festivals AUG Historic Leyburn Sprints 19 — 20 August The 22nd Historic Leyburn Sprints returns to the streets of Leyburn, with over 200 cars racing around the idyllic country town, vying for trophies over 20 classes, as well as outright placings. Get amongst the drivers and their cars, ranging from the 1920s through to modern classics. The Historic Leyburn Sprints commemorates the running of the Australian Grand Prix, held at Leyburn on a disused wartime airstrip in 1949. Celebrity drivers, country markets, live music, Show n Shine and the Vintage Caravan comp all add to the entertainment provided by this unique event in a fantastic country setting! www.leyburnmotorsprints.com.au 17 Major Events & Festivals OCT Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft 23 — 29 October Every year for the last full week in October the nation’s top rodeo riders and the best broncs and bucking bulls gather for the Warwick Rodeo — known far and wide as “Australia’s Most Famous”.