Frosted landscapes and winter vineyards make for dreamy photo locations in Queensland’s high country, so grab your gloves and scarf and escape to these winter wine locations around Stanthorpe and Ballandean. Re-create these beautiful photos in Granite Belt Wine Country!
1. Swinging in the Vineyard at Tobin Wines
We adore this swing at the Tobin Wines cellar door – a winter wine destination in Ballandean that has all the delights for photo perfection!
The photo at the top of this page is taken in Tobin Wines vineyard… let’s face it, it’s hard to take a bad photo with a wintery vineyard backdrop! PLUS this spot boasts the extra beauty of dry stone walling along the perimeter of the vineyards, for a touch of English-style winter landscaping you’ll love. The cellar door itself, besides from offering a truly inspiring and intimate wine tasting experience, is a trendy photo spot! Instagram search #tobinwines for inspiration and head for wine country!
Open 7 Days
34 Ricca Road, Ballandean, Queensland.
2. A Very Cool Christmas in July
Capture Wintery Christmas photos in Australia! Stanthorpe’s very own Christmas tree farm, the Granite Belt Christmas Farm, is a Christmas winter wonderland. Walk through the avenues of Christmas trees, feed the reindeer and donkeys, plus more Santa’s animals and sip on a warming Belgian hot chocolate as you browse the beautiful Christmas trinkets and decor in the Mistletoe Store.
Capture cute winter photos here for a perfect Christmas in July celebration!
Open Daily
321 Aerodrome Rd, Applethorpe, Queensland
3. Bocce in the Vineyard and Winter Sun
Picture yourself here, enjoying the winter sun in French style, with a game of bocce in the vineyard with friends. What a lovely way to spend day in wine country, at Jester Hill Wines, a fun and picture-perfect spot. Sit outside in the double swing chair with your wine and just take in the winter vineyard views, or plan to stay for lunch as they offer grazing platters by pre-booking.
Open 7 days.
292 Mount Stirling Rd, Glen Aplin
4. The Big Thermometer
Did you know Stanthorpe has a second ‘Big Thing’ – not just the Big Apple?! The Big Thermometer is a beautiful stone monument, overlooking the picturesque Quart Pot Creek.
If the frosty grass and misty cloud above the creek isn’t proof enough, the cool temperature reading on the numbers atop the thermometer will prove you’re in Queensland’s coolest town!
Find The Big Thermometer next to the Stanthorpe Visitor Information Centre.
Visitor Information Centre open 7 days
28 Leslie Parade, Stanthorpe, Queensland
5. Stroll to Boutique Girraween Estate
Walk across the crunchy fallen leaves, through the arbour to reach the cellar door entrance at this quaint boutique cellar door. Here at Girraween Estate, Michael and Lisa Barter welcome you to share their beautiful part of wine country, located nearby to Girraween National Park, south of Ballandean. This winery sits in a cluster of three cellar doors, with Pyramids Road Wines and Balancing Heart Vineyard both nearby.
Girraween Estate is open Saturday and Sunday
41 Hinkling Lane, Wyberba, Queensland
6. SNUGGLED IN THE RABBIT HOLE
Snuggle in the NEW Rabbit Hole Whiskey & Cigar Bar at Balancing Heart Vineyard. The cellar door & cafe is open 7 days and is always a beautiful sight in the wintery valley hemmed by boulders, but for a visit to the Rabbit Hole you’ll need to be there on a Friday or Saturday from 4.30pm – 9pm. That coincides with their Sunset Dinners where pizzas are a favourite, with the added bonus on Saturday of live music all afternoon or a Saturday evening’s bus pick-up service.
BALANCING HEART VINEYARD
OLD WALLANGARRA RD, WYBERBA, Queensland
7. Winter Hiking Amongst the Granite
The beauty of the granite landscapes and spectacular giant boulders in Girraween National Park is a photo location not to be missed this winter. Pictured above, the Balancing Rock atop the summit of The First Pyramid is a #wow photo location! Read more about how to get to Balancing Rock.
The second photo pictured is a location just as fun and is an easier hike to reach – the Granite Arch in Girraween National Park. Both locations are a lot of photo fun and a hike in the wintery cool is the way to go! Instagram search hashtag #granitebeltwinecountry for so much inspiration!
8. Sink into a Bean Bag for Winter Sunsets in the Vineyard
Sink into a bean bag for sunset views at the Friday and Saturday night Sunset Sessions at Summit Estate near Stanthorpe. It’s a chilled affair, where the lawn is dotted with bean bags enabling comfortable, perfect viewing of the sunset across the vineyard… and a fire inside for cosying into a bean bag by the fire.
Available for purchase are wines (including lovely winter mulled wine and port), Wickerman Beers, Ciders and soft drink.
Do it your way and here are a few ideas… bring a picnic, order takeaway, have a wine tasting and buy your favourites to drink, setup your portable BBQ, hold your own celebration gathering, practice an instrument, bring your games (footballs, croquette set), bring the fur baby, practice your whip cracking or try their locally made craft beers sold onsite. ​
Summit Estate open 291 Granite Belt Drive, Thulimbah
Open Thursday to Monday. Sunset sessions on Fridays and Sundays.
Where to Find a Cosy Winter Fire and Accommodation
Most accommodation spots and cellar doors offer a cosy fire in Granite Belt Wine Country! Cosying by the fire is an iconic experience in wine country… and being very popular, booking a bed on weekends can be tricky.
Our top tip to guarantee finding a bed is to travel mid-week, or visit in late May or early Spring when finding a vacancy is easier and the nights are still definitely cool enough for a wood fire! Search for vacancies in Stanthorpe and Ballandean accommodation on Trivago.com and then book direct with the accommodation to ensure your money stays with local small businesses.
The Exclusively Winter Cellar Door!
You’ll love Savina Lane Wines for its wintery vineyards and divine leather chairs by the fire! This cellar door is only open to the general public on limited occasions and this winter they are hosting special wine tasting experiences which can be pre-booked. Read more about visiting Savina Lane Wines this winter.