explore our region
Southern Queensland Country
Southern Queensland Country is somewhere you and your family and friends can get lost in the moment.
Just 90 minutes’ drive from Brisbane, our region is the only Queensland destination to offer truly seasonal experiences. From the apples and grapes of Stanthorpe in the south to the rainforests of the Bunya Mountains and Kingaroy's peanut farms in the north, and from our main regional city Toowoomba as far west as St George heading into the outback, you can savour crisp country air, award-winning wines and fresh seasonal produce.
It's somewhere you can appreciate spectacular natural wonders, the stories behind historic sandstone buildings, that cheeky shiraz from the winery up the road or just spending time with loved ones.
Find out more about the greater region around Warwick in the south of our state at Southern Queensland Country
Explore more of Southern Queensland Country - put these unmissable places on your list:
Bunya Mountains
Here in cool green subtropical rainforest 2.5 hours north of Warwick are magnificent stands of giant bunya pines.
Aboriginal people historically used the Bunya Mountains as a meeting place of tribes scattered throughout Queensland and New South Wales to feast on starchy bunya nuts collected from the bunya pine trees.
Native wildlife, wallabies and pademelons as well as 121 species of birds including brilliantly coloured king parrots, satin bowerbirds and crimson rosellas call the Bunyas home.
There are holiday houses for rent and spectacular walks through the rainforest to lookouts with breathtaking views. At the Bunyas café wallabies abound and you can handfeed wild parrots
Nights are alive with the sounds of the nocturnal creatures and a myriad of stars, while mornings have a fresh, crisp and clean mountain quality.
A further 50 minutes north is the Kingaroy Observatory with nightly astronomical shows. The observatory is in an area especially suited to viewing stars without the influence of city lights.
You can also tour the Kingaroy to Booie wine trail stopping in at the cellar doors at Kingsley Grove Wines and Crane Wines to sample wines with the winemakers.
Toowoomba
Toowoomba, an hour north of Warwick, is one of the top five most beautiful places in Australia according to Expedia.
Known as the Garden City, its parks are beautiful year-round – don't miss Queen's Park, Laurel Bank Park and Ju Raku En Japanese Gardens. Its downtown laneways are a treasure hunt of street art and funky cafes. Perched on the top of a mountain range, the views from Picnic Point over Tabletop Mountain and the valley are outstanding.
Indulge in some retail therapy at Grand Central Shopping Centre and the welcoming downtown shops, join a hands-on artisan skills workshop in blacksmithing, lead lighting or millinery at Cobb + Co Museum or browse the collection at Toowoomba Art Gallery.
Take a drive north of Toowoomba to explore the countryside. Stop along the way at Highfields Pioneer Village (20 minutes from Toowoomba), then the German cuckoo clock centre and one of Queensland’s oldest authentic country pubs at Cabarlah (5 more minutes). Continue on for lunch at Emeraude Bistro (10 more minutes) for micro-regional produce in the big tree country of Hampton
From Hampton either head east to walk in Ravensbourne National Park rainforest (20 minutes), or continue north to the bush walk and perfect swimming hole at Crows Nest Falls (40 minutes). You can drop in to Bunnyconnellen Olive Grove west of Crows Nest for an olive tasting and ploughman's afternoon tea under huge figs (15 minutes from the falls).
You can take a riding lesson or get a feel for the mountains, rolling hills and wildlife in this country on a half-day or full day trail ride with Cowboy Up, 20-minutes north of Crows Nest at Emu Creek.
Come home from your explorations in a loop through the countryside (50 minutes).
