Country Gates Swung Wide Open on the Granite Belt
A post and rail fence make you weak at the knees? Find country businesses and farm cafes where the country gates are swung wide open and ready to welcome you around Stanthorpe…
Bungawarra Estate Wines
Beyond the picturesque gates to Bungawarra Wines is a history of more than 100 years of grape growing. Winemaker Jeff Harden and his assistant Tom are the current custodians of the vineyards, which still include Muscat vines over 80 years old! In the cellar door – Jeff’s Gewurtztraminer (a rarer white wine variety in Australia) is a must taste!
If looking for a picnic spot and barbecue facilities why would a traveller look past a winery and Jeff has his gates swing wide open every day and welcomes visitors to use his beautiful venue.
Open: 10am – 4pm, 7 Days
Location: 181 Bents Rd, Ballandean, Queensland
Granite Belt Christmas Farm
Stanthorpe is home to Queensland’s only tourist Christmas tree farm and through these farm gates awaits an adorable farm outing year round (open April to December). Originally farmers in Queensland’s Outback, Katrina and Brad created a new lifestyle for themselves, planting more than 10,000 Christmas trees and creating a Christmas wonderland for visitors to the Granite Belt Christmas Farm.
Stroll through the avenues of trees, pat and feed Santa’s animals (donkeys, deer, sheep and more) and browse the Mistletoe Store’s Christmas trinkets and chocolates! Entry is free. Small fee for buckets of animal feed.
Open: 9am – 4pm Wednesday to Sunday. Plus everyday during school holidays.
Location: 321 Aerodrome Rd, Applethorpe, Queensland
(8 minutes drive north east of Stanthorpe)
Ashbern Strawberry Farm
Stanthorpe is a big strawberry growing area, with a long picking season from October to May. Ashbern Farms is a commercial strawberry grower that open their gates to visitors during the picking season! Pick your own strawberries fresh from the patch or buy them freshly packed from the cafe.
The shed cafe has yummy strawberry treats, including homemade ice cream, scones, waffles, pavlova, chocolate dipped strawberries, strawberry parfait, milkshakes and smoothies.
Open: 9am – 4.30pm Wednesday to Sunday (Oct to May)
Location: 2 West Rd, Stanthorpe
Bush Rock Gallery
Photo: @thetravellinghoff
Welcomes come casual in the country and you’re welcome to make yourself right at home when you drive down the country driveway to Bush Rock Gallery.
Inside a notice welcomes: “Dear Visitor. Welcome to Bush Rock Gallery. This is the result of a ‘mid-life’ career change. Hope you enjoy the paintings. The chairs are pretty comfortable. In view of this some dozing off is allowed. If you would like the lights on there is a white button near the door. I’m probably up the hill in the studio. If I can help with anything come up and say hello.” Graeme Schreiber.
The gallery is set in a native plant garden. Paintings are mainly landscapes and wildlife subjects and are done in realistic and semi abstract styles.
Open: 10am – 4pm Daily
Location: 29 Hoey Lane, Thorndale (13 minutes south west of Stanthorpe)
Jamworks Gourmet Foods Cafe & Larder
When it’s time to fill your tummy, look for the windmill and the country gates swung wide open at Jamworks Gourmet Foods Cafe & Larder. This is where the dozens of fruits and vegetables grown on the Granite Belt converge to be made into a huge range of relishes, sauces, jams and more.
The authentically local made preserves feature as the ‘heroes’ on the cafe menu and can be purchased from the large Jamworks larder to enjoy at home – a perfect souvenir: jars filled with Granite Belt produce right there onsite.
Open: 10am – 4pm Wednesday to Friday. 9am – 4pm Saturday & Sunday.
Location: 7 Townsend Road, Glen Aplin, Queensland
(10 minutes south of Stanthorpe)
Whiskey Gully Wines
The picture-perfect white post and rail fence entrance to Whiskey Gully Wines is only a hint at the charm that awaits further up the driveway at this Stanthorpe cellar door. Manicured hedges lead you through the garden to the grand entrance of Beverley Homestead. Built in 1874, the building is now yours to make yourself at home on the wrap around verandah and inside Denice and John are ready to entertain with wines and guitars ready at hand.
This Beverley Station property was originally 2500 acres and was one of the Granite Belt’s early grazing properties.
Open: Friday to Tuesday 10am – 5pm
Location: 25 Turner Lane, Severnlea
(9 minutes south of Stanthorpe)
Truffle Discovery Centre
The rare and highly valuable French Black Perigord Truffle is often heard of in culinary circles but in commercial farming suddenly becomes very secretive due to security and bio-security reasons.
The Truffle Discovery Centre however swings its country gates wide open to visitors, unearthing all that is truffles with talks, information, products and tastings, gourmet product range and interactive exhibits.
Open: Wednesday, Saturday and Sundays 10am to 3.30pm
Location: 334 Church Rd, Stanthorpe (ignore GPS and follow signage to Lawdogs Australia which is also located onsite)
(14 minutes north of Stanthorpe)
