Gourmet Country & Outback Stories

9 Day Loop From Brisbane

Start: Brisbane

Finish: Brisbane

Duration: 1593 kms – 9 Days

Highlights

• Discover the Granite Belt - Qld's premier food & wine region
• Explore spectacular Girraween National Park
• Visit Qld's oldest hotel - The Nindigully Pub

Day 1: Brisbane to Killarney

Duration: 180 kms - 2.5 hrs

Travel south via the Ipswich Boonah Road to Boonah, heart of the Scenic Rim with its stunning mountain and country scenery. Take a coffee break in the delightful Flavours café located in the historic Butter Factory and visit the Boonah Regional Arts Gallery. Follow the Falls Scenic Drive via Lake Moogerah, Carr’s Lookout and the spectacular Queens Mary Falls to Killarney.

We recommend: Stay overnight at Spring Creek Mountain Café and Cottages in Killarney.

Day 2 & 3: Killarney to Stanthorpe

Duration: 88 kms - 1 hr

Enjoy a gourmet breakfast at your mountain cottage with breathtaking views of the Condamine Gorge then discover some of the states finest sandstone buildings in nearby Warwick. Indulge in a High Tea and tour at the historic Abbey of the Roses, built for the Sisters of Mercy in 1891. Continuing on to Stanthorpe in Queensland’s premier food and wine destination, call in for a tastings at gourmet food producers and cellar doors.

Begin the day with a relaxing breakfast on your private verandah surrounded by 20 acres of Australian bushland, then head south to Girraween National Park featuring massive granite rock formations and eucalypt forests. It is a paradise for bushwalkers with scenic walks, wildlife viewing, camping and picnics. Tonight you may like to join a Twilight winery and dinner tour with local expert Filippos Tours

We recommend: Stay 2 nights at Happy Valley Retreat in Stanthorpe.

Day 4: Stanthorpe to St George

Duration: 406 kms - 4.5 hrs

Travel west towards big skies and cotton country to Goondiwindi, famous as the home of racehorse legend, Gunsynd. Visit the museum or join a local farm tour to learn more about the cotton industry. Pass through the pretty wheat village of Bungunya then call into Queensland’s oldest hotel, the Nindigully Pub for a cold drink and old-fashioned pub food. Drive a further 30 mins to St George, the inland fishing capital of Queensland.

We recommend: Stay overnight at Riverland Motor Inn in St George.

Day 5 & 6: St George to Bonus Downs

Duration: 255 kms - 4 hrs

Spot local birdlife during a morning cruise on the Balonne River with Sandytown River Cruises then join the team at Riversands Winery for a personalised wine tasting and meal at their onsite café. Travel through Mitchell to Bonus Downs Farm Stay, a privately owned property built in 1911 by one of this country’s most famous landholders.

Start day 6 with a Bonus Downs Jackaroo Breakfast and relax in your authentic station accommodation. The day is yours to wander the tranquil bush walks, take in the day’s activities and enjoy the warm country hospitality of your hosts.

Day 7: Bonus Downs to Roma

Duration: 134 kms - 1.75 hrs

Travel into Mitchell for a therapeutic soak in the Great Artesian Spa. Visit the original courthouse where local bushrangers the Kenniff Brothers were committed to stand trial. Drive east on the Warrego Highway to Roma where twice weekly you can join a free tour of the Roma Saleyards, the largest cattle selling facility in the southern hemisphere. Enjoy an amazing theatrical presentation, recreating the story of Australia’s Oil and Gas Industry at the Big Rig Night Show.

We recommend: Stay overnight at Roma Explorer’s Inn in Roma.

Day 8: Roma to Toowoomba

Duration: 355 kms - 4 hrs

Continue along the Warrego Highway towards Toowoomba. Along the way visit the Miles Historical Village, one the Australia’s leading regional museums. Take a break in Chinchilla the country’s melon capital en route to the Garden City of Toowoomba in time to explore Australia’s largest and most traditionally designed Japanese garden or stroll the magnificent Queens Park. Tonight, dine at one of Toowoomba’s trendy restaurants offering fresh local produce menus.

We recommend: Stay overnight at Quest Apartments in Toowoomba.

Day 9: Toowoomba to Brisbane (via Esk)

Duration: 175 kms - 2.25 hrs

Take a scenic drive through the Toowoomba highlands to the picturesque villages of Highfields, Hampton and Cabarlah. Wander the enticing specialty, arts and crafts shops, purchase seasonal produce and share a meal in a cosy café. Breathe in the panoramic views and enjoy a picnic at Ravensborne National Park. Follow the scenic country drive via Esk back to Brisbane.

This road trip was provided by Queensland's Big Sky Country Drives.

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