Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt
$$Queensland's only cool-climate wine region with 50+ cellar doors
Spend a day tasting your way between boutique cellar doors, then hike to panoramic views from ancient granite peaks the next morning. Stanthorpe is Queensland's only cool-climate wine region, 2.5 to 3 hours south-west of Brisbane. Over 50 wineries and cellar doors, ranging from established estates like Ballandean Estate (Queensland's oldest, est. 1931) to small boutique producers. The surrounding Granite Belt is known for dramatic boulder formations, and nearby Girraween National Park has some of the best hiking in south-east Queensland.
Step by step
From start to finish, what to expect.
Day 1
Wine tasting at Ballandean Estate, Symphony Hill, and Ridgemill Estate
Lunch at Granite Belt Brewery
Browse Stanthorpe Cheese and Vincenzo's Deli
Cook with local produce at your cabin or dine in Stanthorpe
Day 2
Hike The Pyramid in Girraween National Park (5.4km return, 3-4 hours, moderate) or the easier Granite Arch Walk (1.2km return, 30 min)
Drive home via the scenic route through Boonah and the Scenic Rim
Cost breakdown
Estimated per person, in AUD.
How you get there
Your options for the trip.
Drive yourself
Local tips
Stuff your mates would tell you.
Designate a driver or book a wine tour operator (Filippo's Tours have been running since 1985 and are the most established)
Stay near Ballandean rather than Stanthorpe township for easier winery access
Winter (June-August) is peak season with mulled wine, cosy fires, and occasional snow
Book accommodation well ahead for winter weekends and long weekends