Tips for Planning a GIRLS WEEKEND in Wine Country
The Girls do Stanthorpe!
Queensland’s high country, the Granite Belt wine region is a favourite spot for getting the gals together, for hens weekends, birthdays and overdue catch-ups.
Here’s our insider tips for how to plan your girly getaway…
Picnics, Beanbag Hang-outs and Sparkling Wine at Sunset!
How does this sound?… sinking in to bean bags, drinking sparkling wine and watching the sun set over the vineyard! This idyllic setting is on offer each Friday and Saturday at the Summit Estate !
It’s a relaxed afternoon that runs into the early evening and you’re welcome to bring your own picnic and bring along your own music and games (think bocce, or other lawn games).
Summit Estate have a whole range of wine, but it’s handy that they specialise in a huge range of sparkling wines, that go perfectly with a girls celebration!
Tip: Sunset sessions may vary at times of the year or if functions are on, so phone up in advance to confirm if bringing a group. Find out more about Sunset Sessions.
Do a Group Soap-Making Workshop!
A Washpool soap making workshop is a fun activity to do together and you’ll not only learn a lot together, but you’ll take home your beautiful naturals soaps as a souvenir of a fun day together.
Melissa is the chief soap maker and owner of Washpool Skin Wellness and offers a 9am to 3pm day, fully catered with quality coffee, morning tea and lunch. Class size is limited to 8 participants.
Strawberry Sundaes & Strawberry Picking
From October to May it’s strawberry season on the Granite Belt and that means it’s time for strawberry sundaes!
Ashbern Farms is a commercial strawberry farm that welcomes visitors on farm to pick their own strawberries, plus at the shed cafe eat freshly made strawberry waffles, ice cream cones and decadent sundaes! There’s great coffee here too, so a fabulous indulgent stop to plan on your trip.
Take a Sip & Sniff Class in a Perfumery!
Sip bubbles or a cup of coffee as Debra takes you on a sensory journey in her Perfumery. You’ll discover the history of perfume and how french inspired natural perfume is made, plus take home 5ml of one of her signature perfumes. That will be your experience at Rosetta Homestead in a 30 minute Sip & Sniff workshop, but if you want to delve deeper or even create your own unique perfume, check out their full range of workshop options.
Do a Cooking Class
Book your group in a ‘Cooked From Scratch’ Cooking School class, where Lizzie loves to teach the delicious art of making everything from fermentations to Asian dumplings.
Choose from options including yogurt making and cooking with yoghurt, the poplar Tapas & Paella sessions, learning to make tasty little Asian dumplings or join Lizzie’s Wild Fermentation 101 class, which will see you taking home a fermentation jar of your own kraut to start you on your fermenting journey.
Foodie/Travel expert Eat Drink & Be Kerry recently experienced Cooked From Scratch and wrote this review.
…MORE ABOUT COOKED FROM SCRATCH COOKING SCHOOL
Discover Your ‘Wine Animal’ & Liqueur Slushies!
A Rumbalara Estate Wine tasting session with David is completely different to the other Granite Belt cellar doors… and just the sort of fun a group of giggling ladies can get right into!
David’s wine tastings are about discovering which is your wine animal: ‘the leopard’, ‘the rhino’, ‘the elephant’, ‘the lion’ or ‘the buffalo’. These ‘wine animals’ are a very drinkable, very affordable range and fun to discover with David… plus at the end there’s a delicious surprise. Their famed Impi Cream slushies are a real hit (based on a delicious chocolate and cream based liqueur.)
Book a Table Under the Trees
Alfresco lunch under the trees is an idyllic spot to gather as a group of girls. Husband and wife hosts Leanne (responsible for the delicious food) and Andy (the winemaker) offer a warm welcome and delight in hosting groups as they share their water and vineyard views at Hidden Creek Winery & Cafe.
Sunset Wood-fired Pizzas in the Vineyard
Tea and Truffle Tour with Maple
‘Best Ever’ Apple Pies at the Longest Table
Ask for the lovely long table to be reserved for your group of ladies at Sutton’s Juice Factory & Cidery. This is one delicious stop on the itinerary that’s iconically Stanthorpe! This is Queensland’s apple country and right here on Sutton’s Apple farm the shed cafe makes famously delicious, ‘best ever’ apple pies!
Served with cream and their own special recipe of spiced apple cider ice cream, it’s little wonder these pies have become a Stanthorpe icon! Here it’s easy to spend a bit of time with the fun of tasting their apple juices and other products at the tasting bar.
A Vine + Dine Lunch Journey
From Friday to Monday lunch offers so much more at Heritage Estate Wines, where a Vine + Dine Journey begins in the vineyard, continues in the cellar door with Sommelier (wine expert) wine talks and meet the chef experience over a 5 course degustation meal. Sit at the unique 20-seater historic table, which is a Queensland treasure, having over 100 years ago served as Queensland’s Parliament table in Brisbane! …LEARN MORE
Long Table Lunches with Stanthorpe Valley Views
Blue Pot Pantry specialise in hosting group lunches for visitors to the Granite Belt. Their lovely long tables are positioned to give all guests a sweeping view down the valley back towards Stanthorpe. It’s just 15km south west of Stanthorpe and just down the road from Mt Stirling Olives & Fudge.
A Cottage Full of Chocolate!!!
Does a whole cottage full of chocolate sound enough for your group of ladies? Taste the handmade chocolates, made onsite at the cutest little cottage, Wisteria Cottage: Heavenly Chocolates, tucked away in the valley near Girraween National Park.
Sit outside as a group in the adorable cottage gardens and enjoy some sinfully decadent European hot chocolates or coffee with your delicious treats.
We’ve found your designated driver!
Hop your way between the dozens of cellar doors on an organised bus tour and we’ve found your designated driver! Meet Eugene – he’s a tour guide with Granite Highlands Maxi Tours and will have your group singing along to music on the bus and having such a fun day you’ll feel he’s just one of the girls by the end of the day, hahaha!
P.S. Wine tours can include any other food and attraction stops, or even one of the craft breweries – just ask!
Meet more Granite Belt Tour Operators…
Granite Highlands Maxi Tours do Day Tours of wineries stopping at 5-6 wineries and lunch. If you can’t get away for the weekend, they even have Day Tours options with pick-up from Brisbane, Toowoomba, Warwick, Dalby and Goondiwindi (minimum group sizes apply). View all their tours.
Filippo’s Tours offer a Wine Lovers Day Tour and also a Wine & Beer Lovers Day Tour for groups, including 2 course lunch. View all their tours.
Pictured: Wine Discovery Tours
Wine Discovery Tours specialise in luxury small tours for groups of up to 6 people. View their tour options.
Stanthorpe Tours do small group tours for 4 to 10 people and offer a broad range of options, with Day Tour Itineraries and Make Your Own Tour options. View all their tours.
