Stanthorpe, Queensland - Great Food, Wine & Granite Landscapes

Stanthorpe, Queensland - Great Food, Wine & Granite Landscapes

Set high in Queensland’s Granite Belt, around 217 kilometres south-west of Brisbane, Stanthorpe is a vibrant country town known for its cool climate, rich farming heritage and outstanding food and wine scene. Surrounded by rolling hills, granite outcrops and fertile farmland, this region produces some of the state’s best apples, berries, cheeses, wines and truffles.

Whether you’re planning a relaxed weekend escape, a foodie road trip or an outdoor adventure, Stanthorpe delivers a wonderfully varied experience that invites you to slow down and savour every moment.

First Impressions of Stanthorpe

When we arrived in Stanthorpe, we spent time wandering through the town centre, admiring colourful street art, historic buildings and quirky landmarks. We spotted the Big Thermometer, crossed the historic Red Bridge, sampled local produce and began mapping out our Granite Belt adventure. Over the following days, we tasted apples, cheese, strawberries and truffles, explored Girraween National Park, indulged in chocolate and wine, enjoyed scenic lookouts and discovered fascinating granite landscapes that define this unique region.

Exploring the Town Centre

Stanthorpe’s town centre has a welcoming country feel, with a great selection of cafés, a bakery, traditional hotels and plenty of shops to browse. As you wander the streets and laneways, you’ll notice vibrant street art murals and interesting sculptures that add splashes of colour and creativity to the town.

Historic buildings also tell the story of Stanthorpe’s past. The Post Office, built in 1901, features the British coat of arms, while the heritage-listed Central Hotel, constructed in 1908, was one of the largest buildings in town at the time and remains an impressive landmark today.

Queensland’s Coldest Town

Stanthorpe proudly claims the title of Queensland’s coldest town, and you can check the temperature yourself at the famous Big Thermometer, located next to the Visitor Information Centre in a leafy park beside Quart Pot Creek.

From here, we enjoyed a gentle walk along the creek to the historic Red Bridge. Built in the mid-1880s using manpower, horse-drawn drays and explosives, the bridge is an impressive reminder of early engineering — even if it’s no longer red.

Apples, Orchards & Local Icons

Stanthorpe is renowned for its apples, with more than one million apple trees producing all of Queensland’s apple crops. About 13 kilometres north of town, we stopped for a photo at the quirky Big Apple, a roadside attraction built in 1978.

Nearby, Sutton’s Juice Factory, Cider & Shed Café was a must-visit. Open daily from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm, Sutton’s produces apple juice, cider, apple brandy, liqueurs, preserves and vinegars, all handmade on site. And of course, we couldn’t leave without trying their legendary homemade apple pie, served warm with apple cider ice cream and cream — it’s every bit as good as people say.

Cheese, Truffles & Strawberries

Next on our Granite Belt food trail was Stanthorpe Cheese, Queensland’s highest and coldest dairy farm cheese shop and café. Open daily from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm, we joined a cheese tasting and sampled their award-winning handcrafted cheeses alongside crackers, condiments and an information sheet explaining the process. The café also offers light meals and cheese platters, and the shop is stocked with local produce to take home.

At the Truffle Discovery Centre, open Wednesdays and weekends, we learnt about truffle farming and tasted a range of truffle products.

Just outside town, Ashbern Farm offered a hands-on experience, where we picked our own strawberries straight from the fields, the strawberries are at their peak between October and May. After weighing and paying for our haul, we treated ourselves to homemade strawberry ice cream from the café.

Walking Among Granite Giants at Girraween National Park

Around 30 kilometres south of Stanthorpe, Girraween National Park is one of the region’s natural highlights. The park features 17 kilometres of walking tracks, winding through forests and dramatic granite landscapes.

We started our walk to the Granite Arch from the Bald Rock Creek day-use area. This easy 1.6-kilometre circuit takes around 30 minutes and leads through blackbutt and stringybark forest, past massive granite boulders. The reward is the Granite Arch itself — a stunning natural stone formation that feels almost sculpted by hand.

Chocolate Stops & Sweet Treats

J

ust a few kilometres from Girraween on Pyramids Road, we discovered Heavenly Chocolate, a small chocolate shop and café open from Friday to Monday. Here, we enjoyed coffee and handmade Belgian chocolates while overlooking the garden, a perfect indulgent stop after our walk.

Wine Tasting in Queensland’s Premier Wine Region

The Granite Belt is Queensland’s premier wine region and the highest wine-growing area in Australia, with more than 40 cellar doors producing cool-climate wines.

We visited Balancing Heart Vineyard, just 10 minutes from Girraween National Park.

Open daily from 10.00 am, the vineyard has been operating for more than 20 years and produces estate-grown Shiraz, Pinot Gris, Verdelho and a lovely sparkling wine. After feeding the farm animals — including Vinnie the miniature Highland cow — we enjoyed lunch on the deck overlooking the dam and vineyards before wandering to the heart-shaped balancing rock.

Lookouts & Bushranger Hideouts

A short but steep drive from the town centre took us to Mount Marlay Lookout, where panoramic views stretch across Stanthorpe and the surrounding countryside. With picnic tables and mounted binoculars, it’s a great spot to pause and take it all in.

Around 20 kilometres from Stanthorpe, we explored Donnelly’s Castle, a fascinating granite rock formation where you can walk between, over and around enormous boulders. This rugged landscape was once used as a hideout by the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt, adding a layer of history to the dramatic setting.

Add Stanthorpe to your Queensland List!

Stanthorpe is a destination that effortlessly combines food, wine, nature and history. From apple orchards, cheese tastings and cellar doors to granite hikes, lookouts and heritage streets, the Granite Belt offers experiences that feel both indulgent and adventurous.

Whether you’re chasing cool-climate wines, outdoor exploration or simply a slower country pace, Stanthorpe is a place that invites you to linger — and once you visit, it’s easy to see why so many travellers keep coming back.

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