Things to do in stanthorpe
the The Ultimate Weekend Itinerary:
48 Hours in the Granite Belt
Day 1: Saturday – Coffee, Cows, and Country Sunsets
8:30 AM – Fuel Up at The Little Larder
Start your weekend in the heart of Stanthorpe town at The Little Larder. It’s a local favourite for a reason—the coffee is top-notch, the brunch options are delicious, and the vibe is warm and welcoming.
10:00 AM – Giant Apple Pies at Sutton’s Juice Factory
Take a short drive to Thulimbah to visit Sutton’s Juice Factory & Shed Cafe. You can't leave the Granite Belt without trying a slice of their legendary, world-famous apple pie served with spiced apple ice cream. Grab a bottle of locally made cider while you're there.
Severn River Cottages
2:30 PM – The Highlight: Private Farm Experience at Highland Station
Head over to our peaceful country haven at Highland Station for your pre-booked, private 60-minute farm experience. This is your exclusive time to slow down, connect with nature, and get hands-on with our animals. You'll get to feed the cheeky goats, brush our friendly alpacas, and spend quality time cuddling Austin and Winston—our incredibly photogenic miniature Highland cows. Bring your camera, because you’re going to need it!
5:00 PM – Sunset Sessions at Summit Estate Wines
Wrap up an incredible first day at Summit Estate Wines on Granite Belt Drive. Unlike most cellar doors that close early, they host fantastic Friday and Saturday sunset sessions. Grab a glass of their award-winning local wine, pull up a seat by the bonfire, and watch the sun drop over the vineyard.Day 2: Sunday – National Parks and Vineyard Pizzas
8:30 AM – Hike the Pyramid at Girraween National Park
Lace up your hiking boots and head south to Girraween National Park. If you're feeling adventurous, tackle the steep climb up The Pyramid to see the famous Balancing Rock. The reward at the top is a spectacular 360-degree view of the rugged Granite Belt landscape.
12:30 PM – Woodfired Lunch at Balancing Heart Vineyard
After working up an appetite, head down the road to Balancing Heart Vineyard. Pull up a seat on the lawn overlooking the vines, order one of their exceptional woodfired pizzas, and pair it with a glass of their "Strange Bird" alternative varietal wines.
3:00 PM – Road Trip Snacks at Jamworks Gourmet Foods
Before hitting the highway home, make one last stop at Jamworks Gourmet Foods in Glen Aplin. Taste your way through their massive range of artisan, locally grown preserves, chutneys, and glazes. Pick up a few jars to take a piece of Stanthorpe home with you!Where to Stay in stanthorpe:
The Best Accommodation Options in Stanthorpe
Looking for the perfect base for your Granite Belt adventure? Whether you are planning a romantic couples' retreat, a fun family weekend, or a luxury escape close to the vineyards, here are our top recommended places to stay in and around Stanthorpe.Luxury & Romantic Escapes
Alure Stanthorpe Nestled just five minutes from town, Alure offers ultimate high-country luxury. Choose between their gorgeous self-contained villas or experience Australia’s most luxurious glamping tent. Complete with private outdoor spas, crackling fireplaces, and pet-friendly options, it's the perfect destination for a romantic couple's getaway.
31 The Rocks Set across 10 acres of rugged bushland and spectacular granite outcrops, 31 The Rocks features a collection of boutique, self-contained villas. It perfectly blends secluded nature with modern comfort, offering incredible valley views, bushwalks, and unforgettable sunset lookouts.
Vineyard Views & Foodie Favorites
Ridgemill Estate Wake up right amongst the vines! Ridgemill Estate offers intimate, contemporary studio cabins with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a stunning vineyard. It’s an absolute dream stay for wine lovers who want premium comfort right on the doorstep of a working cellar door.
Granite Belt Retreat & Brewery Set on 30 acres of natural country bushland, this retreat features cosy timber cabins complete with log fireplaces. The best part? There is a 1,000-litre craft microbrewery, bar, and restaurant right on-site, making it fantastic for couples, groups, and craft beer lovers alike.
Country Charm & Family-Friendly Stays
Diamondvale Estate Located along the peaceful banks of Quart Pot Creek, Diamondvale offers a relaxed country escape with a collection of beautifully styled, historic cottages. It’s a tranquil property where you can spot native wildlife, sit by the outdoor fire pits, and experience true high-country hospitality.
Southern Downs & Granite Belt
Top of the Town Tourist Park If you are travelling with the whole family or looking for a great budget-friendly option, Top of the Town is a fantastic local pick. Located right in town, they offer clean, fully equipped family cabins alongside caravan and powered camping sites.
Family-Friendly Fun:
Top Things to Do in Stanthorpe with Kids
Planning a family getaway to the Granite Belt? Stanthorpe is an incredible destination for kids, offering wide-open country spaces, giant outdoor natural playgrounds, delicious treats, and unforgettable animal encounters.
Here is our ultimate list of the best kid-approved things to do around Stanthorpe.1. Cuddle Fluffy Animals at Highland Station
Of course, we have to put ourselves at the top of the list! Bring the kids along to Highland Station for an exclusive, private 60-minute farm experience. It is the perfect size for little adventurers—completely away from the crowds. Your kids will love getting hands-on feeding our cheeky goats, brushing our gentle alpacas, and getting up close for photos and cuddles with Austin and Winston, our famous miniature Highland cows.
2. Get Lost at the Granite Belt Maze
Located just a short drive out of town, the Granite Belt Maze is a fantastic way for the kids to burn off some energy. This isn't just a regular walk-through maze; the whole family gets a riddle to solve, sending the kids searching through the timber tracks and obstacles to find the hidden clues. There is even a mini-maze specially designed for toddlers.
3. Experience Christmas All Year Round at the Granite Belt Christmas Farm
No matter what month you visit, it always feels like December at the Granite Belt Christmas Farm. Kids can wander through rows of thousands of real, fragrant pine trees and visit Santa's animals—including real reindeer, donkeys, sheep, and chickens. Afterwards, head into the cafe for a cup of their famous, decadent Belgian hot chocolate.
4. Scramble Through Caves at Donnelly's Castle
Don’t let the name fool you—Donnelly's Castle isn't a brick castle, it's a massive natural rock formation that once served as a hideout for the famous bushranger, Captain Thunderbolt! It is a wonderland for children, featuring giant granite boulders, cave-like walkthroughs, and narrow crevices that are perfectly sized for young explorers to clamber through.
5. Rock Hop at Girraween National Park (Granite Arch Trail)
While Girraween National Park is famous for steep mountain hikes, it also has the perfect track for little legs. The Granite Arch Walk is an easy, flat 1.6km loop that takes about 30 minutes. Kids will love exploring the natural bushland, listening to the creeks, and walking right underneath a massive, natural stone archway made of balancing boulders.
6. Pick Your Own Fruit & Eat Legendary Apple Pie
Stanthorpe grows 100% of Queensland's apples, making it the perfect place to show the kids where their food comes from. If you are visiting in the warmer months (October to May), head to local spots like Ashbern Farms or Eastern Colour to pick your own fresh strawberries straight from the patch. Year-round, you can stop by Sutton’s Juice Factoryto devour a giant slice of their world-famous apple pie and fresh apple juice.
Romance in the High Country:
The Best Couple’s Activities in Stanthorpe
With its crisp mountain air, roaring log fires, starry night skies, and world-class wine, the Granite Belt is Queensland’s ultimate destination for a romantic couples' getaway. Whether you are celebrating an anniversary, planning a proposal, or just looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, Stanthorpe offers the perfect backdrop to slow down and reconnect.Here are our top recommended romantic activities to add to your itinerary.1. Watch the Sunrise or Sunset with the Cows at Highland Station
For a truly unique and intimate date, book a private Golden Hour session at Highland Station. You and your partner will enjoy exclusive, crowd-free access to our peaceful country property. There is nothing quite like sharing a quiet moment as the sun rises or sets over the Stanthorpe hills, all while brushing, feeding, and cuddling our photogenic miniature Highland cows, Austin and Winston. It is an incredibly memorable experience and a picture-perfect spot to capture beautiful photos together.
2. Stroll to the Heart-Shaped Rock at Balancing Heart Vineyard
Take a romantic hand-in-hand stroll through the vines at Balancing Heart Vineyard in Ballandean to find their famous, completely natural heart-shaped granite rock formation. Afterwards, pull up a seat on the lawns for an alfresco lunch or enjoy one of their sunset woodfired pizza sessions on Friday and Saturday evenings as the valley glows in the twilight.
3. Indulge in Fine Dining at Heritage Estate Wines
If you want to pull out all the stops for a fancy dinner date, book a spot at Heritage Estate Wines. Known for their incredible 5 Senses Degustation Dinners, they offer an unforgettable evening of indulgence. Think candlelit silver service, live string musicians, and exquisite seasonal plates perfectly matched with premium local wines, all set inside a grand cellar door laden with beautiful antiques.
4. Share Artisan Chocolates at Heavenly Chocolates
Take a short, scenic drive along the road towards Girraween to find Heavenly Chocolates, a charming little cottage nestled in the bush. It is a must-visit sanctuary for chocolate-loving couples. Order a couple of their rich, decadent French hot chocolates and choose from an incredible selection of handmade artisan truffles and chocolates to enjoy together in their beautiful, quiet garden.
5. Catch the First Light at Rotary Park (Quart Pot Creek)
For the early risers, pack a warm jacket and take a peaceful morning walk along Quart Pot Creek at Rotary Park. In the cooler autumn and winter months, the morning frost and mist rising off the water create an absolutely magical, fairytale-like landscape. It is one of the most serene, quiet spots in town to watch the day begin.
6. Take a Guided, Worry-Free Wine Tour
Instead of arguing over who has to be the designated driver, let a local expert take care of the logistics. Companies like Filippos Tours or Vintage Tours specialise in boutique food and wine experiences. They can pick you up straight from your accommodation and guide you through the region's hidden-gem cellar doors and alternative "Strange Bird" wine varietals in total comfort.
Off the Beaten Track:
Unique & Quirky Things to Do in the Granite Belt
The Granite Belt is famous for spectacular scenery and crisp country air, but it is also home to some of the most unusual, unexpected, and wonderfully quirky attractions in Australia. If you want to skip the standard tourist traps and experience the hidden gems that give our high-country region its distinct personality, this list is for you.
Here are the most unique things to do on the Granite Belt.1. Snuggle Miniature Cows & Alpacas at Highland Station
Forget crowded, commercial zoos. At Highland Station, we host private, crowd-free farm experiences that are completely unique to the region. You get exclusive access to our quiet property to hang out, brush, and cuddle our resident alpacas, cheeky goats, and our famous miniature Highland cows, Austin and Winston. Whether you book a golden sunrise or a peaceful sunset session, it is an intimate, hands-on animal encounter you won't find anywhere else.
2. Hunt for the Elusive "Strange Bird" Wine Varietals
The Granite Belt wine region boasts a quirky self-drive trail known as the Strange Bird Alternative Wine Trail. To qualify as a "Strange Bird," a grape variety must represent less than 1% of all vines grown in Australia! Grab a trail map and spend the day tasting rare, boutique drops like Verdelho, Tempranillo, Nero d’Avola, and Saperavi at local cellar doors. It’s an absolute must-do for wine lovers looking for something completely different.
3. Marvel at the Mysterious Ballandean Pyramid
You don’t need to travel to Egypt to see a pyramid—we have one right here in the high country! Tucked away on private property surrounded by vineyards just south of Stanthorpe sits a massive, 17.5-metre-tall stone pyramid built entirely from blocks of local granite. While you can't climb it, it makes for an incredible, surreal photo opportunity as you explore the Ballandean wine trail.
4. Unearth "Black Gold" at the Truffle Discovery Centre
Did you know the Granite Belt is home to Queensland’s very first commercial truffiere? Drop into the Truffle Discovery Centre in Stanthorpe to learn all about the secretive, fascinating world of French Black Perigord Truffles. You can browse interactive exhibits, taste gourmet truffle oils, aiolis, and infused cheeses, and even watch live truffle-detection dog demonstrations during special weekend events.
5. Step Back in Time at the Amiens Legacy Centre
Located just 15 minutes west of Stanthorpe, the Amiens Legacy Centre tells the fascinating, unique history of the region's post-WWI soldier settlements. You can stand beside a fully restored, historic 1920s railway carriage, walk through a classic themed schoolroom, and discover how the surrounding villages (like Amiens, Passchendaele, and Bapaume) were named after famous European battlefields.
6. Stand Next to the Big Thermometer
As Queensland’s officially recognized "coolest town," Stanthorpe celebrates its brisk mountain climate with a giant, iconic landmark. Head down to the visitor centre along Quart Pot Creek to snap a selfie in front of The Big Thermometer. It actively displays the real-time high-country temperature—and if you are lucky enough to visit during winter, you might just see the gauge drop well below zero!