Queensland’s Must-Do Road Trip for a Wintery Christmas in July
Queensland’s only tourist Christmas tree farm happens to be in the state’s coolest town – Stanthorpe! So head to the high altitudes of the Granite Belt with these tips to finding the best wintery wine country experiences.
Pictured: Granite Belt Christmas Farm (photo by: www.instagram.com/laura_baker14)
Deer & Hot Chocolates at the Christmas Tree Farm!
The Granite Belt Christmas Farm brings the spirit of Christmas alive all year round. From the moment you walk through the Christmas gates of this very special Christmas tree farm, it’s clear you’re being welcomed for the most authentic and magical wintery Christmas experience in Queensland.
Grab a hot chocolate from inside the Mistletoe Store and stroll through the farm gates into the avenues of thousands of pine smelling Christmas trees!
That’s if you can make it that far, because you have to first walk past all the cute Santa’s farm animals, complete with deer, donkeys, goats, sheep and more. Grab a bag of feed for $2 and you’ll be their best friends in no time.
Inside the Mistletoe Toe store find a wonderland of delights, with Christmas decorations, tinkling Christmas music and so much to bring back many years of happy Christmases past. Owned and run by a young family, this is truly a place where memories can be made. Take home some fine Belgian chocolates from Mrs. Claus’ festive hand crafted sweet treats, made onsite by owner Katrina.
Open: 9am – 4pm Wednesday to Sunday, plus all public holidays and everyday in Qld school holidays
Location: 321 Aerodrome Road, Applethorpe (7kms north of Stanthorpe)
Entry: Free Admission
Warming Soup & Apple Pie by the Fire
Time to warm your insides and fill your tummy with the country cooking at the apple farm shed cafe at Sutton’s Juice Factory. Their lunches include delicious soup with scones… but leave room for a big piece of apple pie at the end because they were widely renowned for making the best apple pies – ever!
Open: 9.30am – 4.30pm 7 days
Location: Halloran Drive, Thulimbah (opposite the Big Apple)
Tastes Like Christmas in a Glass… Spiced Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a traditional part of a wintery cold Christmas in many parts of the world and right here on the Granite Belt mulled wine awaits at the Heritage Estate Church Cellar Door & Cafe in Thulimbah. Purchase one off the menu, or buy a bottle of their Club Red and take home the instructions on how to make one at home.
Open: 10am – 4pm, 7 Days
Location: Cnr New England Hwy & Amiens Rd, Thulimbah (next to the Big Apple)
Sparkling Wines, Winter Sunsets & Bean Bags by the Fire
What’s a wintery Christmas escape without some sparkling wines and Summit Estate nearby has a large range of sparkling wines. They have some exciting alternate variety sparkling wines you’re possibly never encountered before… like their Sparkling Tempranillo, Sparkling Marsanne and a Sparkling Red Mourvedre Petit Verdot.
Enjoy these in the stylish cellar door overlooking the winery vineyard, or slouched down in a cosy bean bag beside the cellar door fireplace. Find out about their Friday and Saturday night sunset sessions.
Open: Monday 10am – 2pm, Friday 2pm – 6pm, Saturday 12pm – 6pm and Sunday 10am – 2pm
Location: 291 Granite Belt Drive, Thulimbah
A Cool Wintery Stop at the Big Thermometer
Stanthorpe is the coolest town in Queensland and standing in Stanthorpe as a monument and proof to this is the Big Thermometer! Grab a warm coffee at the Stanthorpe Visitor Information Centre before setting off for a frosty stroll by Quart Pot Creek and the Big Thermometer (both right next to the Information Centre).
Location: 28 Leslie Parade, Stanthorpe
Artisan Market Shopping
If Christmas in July sounds like the perfect excuse for some retail therapy then head where the locals love to do their Christmas shopping and that’s the Market in the Mountains. It’s where local artisans gather to sell quality handmade product, including delicious Granite Belt preserves and cottage industry products like olives, soaps and more. Read more about markets on the Granite Belt.
Open: 8am-midday on the second Sunday of the month (plus Queensland long weekends)
Where: Stanthorpe Showgrounds, Exhibition Pavilion, High Street, Stanthorpe, Queensland
More around the Granite Belt…
photo credit: @schmidthead at Tobin Wines
8 Insta-perfect Winter Wine Locations
Fun Things to do with Kids on the Granite Belt
Browse Accommodation (winter peak season can be tricky to find vacancies on Friday and Saturday nights, so consider coming mid-week or in May or September when it’s still cold enough for a cosy wood fire winter experience). Search Trivago.com for vacancies and then book direct with accommodation.
