Stanthorpe Tourist Information
Things to see and do in Stanthorpe
Stanthorpe Coming Events
- Apple and Grape Festival_ every second year!
- Snowflakes in Stanthorpe In July every year
About Stanthorpe Qld
The Granite Belt is more than a premium food and wine destination surrounded by stunning national parks and prehistoric granite formations. While the region's reputation for award winning wine and gourmet produce has gained national momentum in recent years, it is the people who bring the story to life and offer an intimate experience unlike any other food and wine region in Australia.
Granite Belt
Two and a half hours drive south-east of Brisbane, discover Queensland's premier wine region in the Granite Belt - where they've been making boutique wine since the 1870s in the cooler microclimate temperatures.
The Granite belt is centered on the town of Stanthorpe, which sits 700 to 1200 metres above sea level, holds the status of some of the highest altitude wines in Australia. It's known to even snow occasionally in winter.
The Granite belt is centered on the town of Stanthorpe, which sits 700 to 1200 metres above sea level, holds the status of some of the highest altitude wines in Australia. It's known to even snow occasionally in winter.
Thulimbah
Straddling the New England Highway at Thulimbah, a range of providores offer specialty items, local produce and meals. Here you're in the thick of 'apple country' - the only place in Queensland with just the right climate and growing conditions for premium apple orchards. And it wouldn't be the Granite Belt if there wasn't a winery or two nearby!
Pick your own apples and try the apple pie and cider ice cream at Suttons Farm (don't miss the Cider Festival each May). A short drive from the highway is Stanthorpe Cheese - sample cheeses made on the premises from Jersey Cow milk, courtesy of the friendly Jersey girls in the adjoining paddock.
Pick your own apples and try the apple pie and cider ice cream at Suttons Farm (don't miss the Cider Festival each May). A short drive from the highway is Stanthorpe Cheese - sample cheeses made on the premises from Jersey Cow milk, courtesy of the friendly Jersey girls in the adjoining paddock.
Ballandean
Ballandean is renowned for its picturesque setting and is home to the Granite Belt's largest number of award winning wine makers.
It is in this area, just to the south of Stanthorpe, that Queensland's first commercially grown table grapes were harvested. Grapes have been grown here since the 1870s, thanks predominantly to the arrival of Italian settlers. The first legally planted wine grapes are said to have been grown by the Puglisi family of Ballandean. The family vineyard, Ballandean Estate, is the venue for "Opera in the Vineyard", each May.
Don't miss Ballandean's little bit of Egypt - make sure you drive past the famous hand-made pyramid. The amazing Girraween National Park and rugged Sundown National Park are also only a short drive away.
It is in this area, just to the south of Stanthorpe, that Queensland's first commercially grown table grapes were harvested. Grapes have been grown here since the 1870s, thanks predominantly to the arrival of Italian settlers. The first legally planted wine grapes are said to have been grown by the Puglisi family of Ballandean. The family vineyard, Ballandean Estate, is the venue for "Opera in the Vineyard", each May.
Don't miss Ballandean's little bit of Egypt - make sure you drive past the famous hand-made pyramid. The amazing Girraween National Park and rugged Sundown National Park are also only a short drive away.
The Summit
The Granite Belt village of The Summit, located off the New England Highway between Dalveen and Applethorpe (to the north of Stanthorpe) is so called due to its elevated position at more than 900 m above sea level. The Summit is home to roadside fruit stalls, Queensland’s highest railway station and the Granite Belt Maze (which the kids and the big kids will love!). The area also produces many varieties of wine and liqueurs and many specialty products.
The fruit and vegetable stalls operate most of the year with local stone fruit, berries and apples available in summer, autumn and the end of spring and a great supply of most vegetables to be found in summer, autumn and spring and select vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts and cauliflower, leeks mushrooms grown year round.
The fruit and vegetable stalls operate most of the year with local stone fruit, berries and apples available in summer, autumn and the end of spring and a great supply of most vegetables to be found in summer, autumn and spring and select vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts and cauliflower, leeks mushrooms grown year round.
Wine
Summit Estate Wines
Summit Estate Wines is located on the Granite Belt - Queensland's coolest place to make wine. The vineyard produces quality grapes which are used to produce European and Spanish style wines. James Haliday's 2011 Australian Wine Companion recognises Summit Estate as a Five Star Winery, giving both the Queensland Cabernet and Alto Monastrell Blend top marks.
There have been some fantastic changes at the cellar door with the introduction of an Espresso Bar, giving the place an inviting new atmosphere. Your friends and family can enjoy a wine tasting at the bar or in one of the exclusive tasting rooms "La Cave" or the new "Sala de Barricas". After the tasting, you can enjoy an espresso overlooking the vineyard from the cellar door lounge and fireplace or on the terrace.
Bus groups are welcomed with lunches and dinners by appointment. For any enquiries contact the friendly staff at the cellar door.
Summit Estate Wines is located on the Granite Belt - Queensland's coolest place to make wine. The vineyard produces quality grapes which are used to produce European and Spanish style wines. James Haliday's 2011 Australian Wine Companion recognises Summit Estate as a Five Star Winery, giving both the Queensland Cabernet and Alto Monastrell Blend top marks.
There have been some fantastic changes at the cellar door with the introduction of an Espresso Bar, giving the place an inviting new atmosphere. Your friends and family can enjoy a wine tasting at the bar or in one of the exclusive tasting rooms "La Cave" or the new "Sala de Barricas". After the tasting, you can enjoy an espresso overlooking the vineyard from the cellar door lounge and fireplace or on the terrace.
Bus groups are welcomed with lunches and dinners by appointment. For any enquiries contact the friendly staff at the cellar door.
Cheese
Stanthorpe cheese at Thulimbah
Just up the road from Happy Apple in Thulimbah, Stanthorpe Cheese's artisan cheeses are made from a single herd of pure bred Jersey cows from one farm. This makes their cheeses totally unique and seasonally different and interesting.
The Dairy tasting shop and cafe are open daily from 10.00am til 4.00pm. Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.The tasting room offers a daily selection of cheeses at their peak of perfection for you to sample before making your selection. They have a range of local produce, including chutneys and relishes, vinegars, juices, cheese pastes, fruits and wines. The cheeses are made to traditional recipes that still taste like real cheese straight from the farm with no artificial flavours or preservatives. You can eat in the 'Jersey Girls Cafe' where you can sit and enjoy a glass of wine with a cheese platter or come for lunch and sample the range of complete home cooked farm house meals, all made from the farms produce. They stock everything you need to have a picnic if you're out and about enjoying the local wineries.
Just up the road from Happy Apple in Thulimbah, Stanthorpe Cheese's artisan cheeses are made from a single herd of pure bred Jersey cows from one farm. This makes their cheeses totally unique and seasonally different and interesting.
The Dairy tasting shop and cafe are open daily from 10.00am til 4.00pm. Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.The tasting room offers a daily selection of cheeses at their peak of perfection for you to sample before making your selection. They have a range of local produce, including chutneys and relishes, vinegars, juices, cheese pastes, fruits and wines. The cheeses are made to traditional recipes that still taste like real cheese straight from the farm with no artificial flavours or preservatives. You can eat in the 'Jersey Girls Cafe' where you can sit and enjoy a glass of wine with a cheese platter or come for lunch and sample the range of complete home cooked farm house meals, all made from the farms produce. They stock everything you need to have a picnic if you're out and about enjoying the local wineries.
Amazing Food!
The Granite belt is fast becoming a foodies paradise. Try the Nude Food self-drive trail, or browse for ideas in the Granite Belt Food and Wine Magazine
Sutton's Cidery
Sutton's Juice Factory and Cidery offers the visitor the opportunity to experience the thrill of picking their own tree ripened apples and eating them as fresh as they can possibly be. Sutton's produce a unique range of gourmet apple juices, with varieties such as Royal Gala, Jonathon, Granny Smith, Mutsu, Sundowner and Pink Lady. Always in demand are the apple juice mixes such as Apple and Ginger, Apple and Orange and Apple and Beetroot Juice. Sparkling apple cider is also available in dry or semi dry. Pure apple syrup is the latest product to be introduced. It has an intense flavour suitable for both sweet and savoury dishes.
Sutton's apple cider vinegar is naturally fermented and aged on the farm itself and their distillery is the only one on the Granite Belt. They manufacture apple brandy as good as any you will find in the world. The Shed Cafe focuses on apple products as well as fresh and regional produce. The apple pie served with apple cider ice cream has become a must have for visitors to this unique establishment and good home style food cooked on site pleases the most discerning palates.
Sutton's apple cider vinegar is naturally fermented and aged on the farm itself and their distillery is the only one on the Granite Belt. They manufacture apple brandy as good as any you will find in the world. The Shed Cafe focuses on apple products as well as fresh and regional produce. The apple pie served with apple cider ice cream has become a must have for visitors to this unique establishment and good home style food cooked on site pleases the most discerning palates.