The Stanthorpe Road Trip Holiday Guide

Kicking off your road trip in the beautiful Gold Coast

What better place to start your road trip than the Gold Coast? From the 21 pristine beaches stretching along the coastline to the stunning hinterland that encompasses Springbrook National Park and the Hinze Dam, there’s plenty to do outdoors.

If you’re a thrill-seeker, take the family to one of the 4 mega theme parks, or if wildlife is your thing, check out Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Paradise Country or David Fleay Wildlife Park and get up close and personal with some Aussie natives.

Stanthorpe – a perfect place for a campervan holiday

Stanthorpe is 245 kms from the Gold Coast (just over 3 hours’ drive). There’s so much to do in the Southern Downs region that Stanthorpe is located in. From hiking through parks strewn with giant granite boulders or lush rainforests, to indulging in gourmet food, wine and boutique beer/cider, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Read on for a few ideas to get you started on your discovery of this unique region.

Girraween National Park

Girraween National Park is about a 30-minute drive south of Stanthorpe. The park is a stunning natural phenomenon, renowned for its majestic granite rock formations that rise above the landscape. Girraween is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘place of flowers’ and with an abundance of wildflowers on display during springtime, it’s easy to see where the park got its name.

There are many walks and longer hikes to choose from – some challenging, others a leisurely stroll. Most start from Girraween Day Use Area. Pick a walk or a hike and find some amazing photo opportunities at some of its spectacular rock structures along the way. Some of the best trails for a memorable, Instagram-worthy, photo include:

• Balancing Rock – sitting atop a natural granite “Pyramid”, with sensational views across the park (3.6km return, Grade 4 walking trail)
• Granite Arch – a natural stone arch (1.6km circuit, Grade 3)
• Castle Rock – 360-degree views of the park (5.2km return, Grade 4)
• The Sphinx and Turtle Rock – an ancient granite pinnacle and a large balancing tor (7.6km return, Grade 4, can branch off from Castle Rock)

Queen Mary Falls

Queen Mary Falls is in Main Range National Park, about 75 kilometres north-east of Stanthorpe. The park is a part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, and its lush scenery is completely different to the stark, granite landscape of Girraween National Park around 100 kilometres down the road. The Falls offer a great place for a picnic, with a dedicated area near the top of the falls that includes toilets (non-flush), free electric barbecues and picnic tables. Take a leisurely 2-kilometre walk along the Queen Mary Falls Circuit, which starts as a eucalypt track at the top of the Falls then works its way down to the rainforest at the base.

Check out nearby Dagg’s Falls and Brown’s Falls if you have the time (and the energy). Make sure you take your camera with you to capture these beautiful waterfalls and rainforest surroundings.

Fruit galore

Home to the Big Apple, the Stanthorpe region is where all of Queensland’s apple crop is grown. There are over a million apple trees in the area, and you’ll find the Big Apple (and another photo op) next to the New England Highway at Thulimbah, a town just north of Stanthorpe. There are also many other types of fruit to feast on in this fertile fruit bowl including plums, pears, cherries, peaches and nectarines.

Harvest season – February to April

If you’re in Stanthorpe between February and April, you’re in luck – it’s grape and apple harvest season! Pick your own apples at Eastern Colour Orchard and Nicoletti Orchard, and get down and messy stomping on grapes at the Apple & Grape Festival, held every even-numbered year. You can pick your own strawberries at Eastern Colour Orchard, too! Check out their websites for the best times to do so and to book a spot.

The Apple & Grape Festival is a great chance to celebrate everything grapes and wine. Join in the messy, but fun, grape stomping events, hang out at the Food and Wine Fiesta, or pull up a pew kerbside to watch the Grand Parade. There’s plenty to do at the festival.

Have a blooming good time in spring (late September to early October)

If you’re out and about late September / early October you’re in for a treat, with a million apple trees in blossom. Don’t worry if you’re there a little earlier – the region’s other orchards, such as plum, peach and nectarines, blossom around the end of August and the first week of September.

Wine tasting in Stanthorpe

With over 50 wineries and cellar doors, ranging from boutique wineries to award-winning estates, Granite Belt Wine Country is centred around Stanthorpe and is Australia’s highest wine region. The region has a subtropical highland climate, with a dry, cool season and an above average rainfall. As a result, wines from this region have their own unique body and flavour. Sounds intriguing? Book a tour, or plan your own wine tasting day out using Granite Belt Wine Country’s Where to drink map.

Boutique beers, cider and spirits

If hops or spirits is more to your taste, try some of the handcrafted beer, cider, gin and other local liquors on offer at the microbreweries and distilleries dotted around the area.

Cheese, truffles and restaurants

A good cheese and accompaniments go hand in hand with a good wine, and the Stanthorpe region delivers in spades in this respect. The local climate is great for cheese production, too, and at 925 metres above sea level, Stanthorpe Cheese is Queensland’s highest and coldest farm cheese shop. Sample the wide variety of styles and grab some supplies for a picnic or a glass of wine around the campfire.

Stanthorpe is also home to the rare French Black Perigord Truffle. Learn about everything ‘truffle’ at the Truffle Discovery Centre, with free tastings and a gift store that may do some damage to your hop pocket, but will leave you with loaded taste buds.

Stanthorpe is a foodies’ paradise. There are so many great cafés and restaurants both in town and around the vineyards, it’s worth treating yourself to a gourmet breakfast, lunch or dinner. Check out the Australian Good Food Guide for the Top 20 restaurants in Stanthorpe to help you choose.

Immerse yourself in the local art

Feel like some down time, absorbing local and national art? Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery has a permanent collection of almost 900 pieces of Australian art on display and hosts national touring exhibitions of recognised and upcoming Australian artists using a variety of media.

Mt Marlay Lookout

Mt Marlay lookout is located right in town at Lock Street and is a must-do if you want to check out the sensational panoramic view of the town. There’s a picnic area at the top, and free-mounted binoculars for you to take a closer look at the surroundings. You can drive, or take a leg-pumping walk up the 500-metre-long concrete staired pathway to the summit. If you’ve brought your mountain bikes with you on your road trip, there’s also a few tracks ranging from easy to difficult in grades for you to test out.

Where to camp in Stanthorpe

There are a few tourist parks in the area from which you can make your base:

• Top of the Town Holiday Park is set on 22 acres just a few kilometres from the town centre. There’s plenty of facilities, with a games room, pool, laundry, 3 camp kitchens, and an undercover barbecue area on site.
• Sommerville Valley Tourist Park is set on 80 acres, overlooking Storm King Dam. It’s 12 kms out of town, but proximity to the dam means you can also swim, fish, boat and/or go canoeing during your stay if you choose.
• Country Style Caravan Park is just off the New England Highway, about 10kms out of town. There’s a kiosk, camp kitchen, private fire pits and a giant chess set to challenge your mind.

If you’d rather stay somewhere off the beaten track, Hipcamp has a selection of places to camp.

Book your Gold Coast to Stanthorpe campervan road trip

So, what are you waiting for? Book your Gold Coast Campervan and head off on a road trip that will fill your eyes with magnificent, unique scenery and your belly with some of the finest food and drink in the country. Our campervans come fully equipped with everything you need to make your adventure easy and stress free.

Book now