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Stanthorpe - Queensland’s Wine Capital
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Stanthorpe is a picturesque town known for its amazing
national parks, historical buildings and wineries, located
on the New England Highway close to the New South Wales
border. It has become more popular over the last few
years as a tourist destination, with so many rural
activities and sightseeing options available.
There are two main caravan parks available in Stanthorpe.
The Blue Topaz and Top of the Town (at the top of Main
Street), both located centrally so you can enjoy the
comforts of your campervan and explore this fascinating
town.
The locals of Stanthorpe experience the four seasons of the
year, which is not common to Queensland. Winter is a
fantastic time to visit, and with low temperatures, a
popular retreat is in front of a roaring fireplace with
local wine and great food. Make sure you pack your scarf
and mittens as there is even the occasional snowfall.
With such high altitudes the frosts are perfect for
excellent grape harvests, and perfect wines. There are
over 50 wineries in the Stanthorpe district on the Granite
Belt as well as stone fruit and apple orchards.
There is so much to see and do in Stanthorpe, with vineyards
such as Bald Mountain Vineyards, Aventine Wines and
Kooroomba Vineyard and lavender farm all deserving a visit.
North of Stanthorpe is also the famous Old Caves winery.
Winery tours are popular, and each year in August the famous
Jazz in the Vineyard is attended by almost 1000 people each
year. Opera in the Vineyard, held in May, also promises to
be an amazing cultural experience.
In February, the Apple and Grape festival is held every
second year, along with the Food and Wine Festival. With
Mediterranean food on the main menu and a favourite with the
locals, it has all ingredients for a memorable cuisine
experience.
You can’t miss the Historical Society Museum, located in the
town centre, with a shearers hut, preserved school and goal,
along with interesting artefacts from the mid 1800’s.
The four major national parks surrounding the city provide
an unspoilt wilderness beckoning you to drive further on and
explore at your own pace. Perfect for campervan travel,
each park offers a contrasting experience.
Girraween National Park is perfect for bushwalkers of all
levels, with picturesque walking trails ranging from 25
minutes to six hour hikes. With massive granite rock
formations, wildflowers in Spring and eucalypt forests, it
is a nature lovers dream. Girraween is easy to find if you
take the turnoff from the New England Highway at Wyberba.
Bald Rock National Park is famous for its name, Bald Rock,
which is Australia’s largest exposed granite rock. With
magnificent views, rock formations and bushwalks this park
is accessible from the Mt Lindsey Highway, 39 km from
Stanthorpe. Camping areas are available.
Boonoo Boonoo National Park is well known for its river
system and impressive waterfall. Take a picnic lunch and
relax for an afternoon by the rock pool that is above the
cascading falls, and surrounded by open forest and lush
vegetation.
Sundown National Park is located on the Queensland/New South
Wales border. You can leave your campervan at the entrance
of the park and then travel by foot to experience the remote
wilderness. There are steep gorges, rainforest and
waterways and there are places to picnic, camp, swim and
just relax and enjoy the amazing birdlife and beauty of the
park. You can also explore the impressive Red Rock Falls,
Mt Lofty, Red Rock Gorge and Carpenter Gully.
More than just a stopover, Stanthorpe is a unique and
relaxing holiday destination as you enjoy your campervan
experience.
Jenny Brewer
http://www.appleandgrape.com/ |
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