Stanthorpe

The park at Stanthorpe is very good (Top of the Town Top Tourist Park) – new amenities, big sites, grass, roses, shade, country hospitality.  At the risk of repeating myself, there is a big difference in climate when you come up the hill from the north.  Stanthorpe is cool / cold still.  A couple of nights last week required socks and electric blankets!! 

The first weekend at Stanthorpe involved a trip back to Warwick for the Rodeo festivities.  There were great markets in the park in the centre of town, a parade down the main street including some good old cars and lots of local businesses, and in between we did the heritage walk around town looking at the beautiful old buildings from the 1860’s.  There were also several open gardens advertised and we chose a visit to one on a sheep station back towards Toowoomba called “Harron”.  The 10 acres of gardens including a lake with jetty and hundreds of rose plants including a 50m long arch of climbing roses were spectacular.  The house was also open with beautiful furniture, polished floors, chandeliers all kept in place from the 1800’s was excellent.  The boys room with 12’ X 6’ full size billiard table, fireplace and bar was immaculately kept.  Tea & scones on the verandah was fitting.

Back at Stanthorpe; we found the Wineries of the region to be good – much better than their reputation I recall.  Robert Channon produces a great Pinot Gris and Verdelho.  There is also a great little cheese factory that produces a soft Sunrise (Brie like) that I went back for more than once.  There is also a “pick-your-own” strawberry farm near town.  The tourists loved it but we found out that you could buy “seconds” from the fridge for ½ the price and they were great; huge berries and sweet as.  2kgs have provided several deserts and brekky extras and fat free for $6 / kg.  Near the cheese factory was the Castle Glen “Liquer” winery.  The building was a castle built out of rockblock but still impressive, and inside every type of spirit / liquer / beer you can imagine and more.  The double yeast, double malt Munich beer was a drinker – bottled in a bubbly bottle and needed the bubbly style cork, steel cap and retaining twist wire to keep the contents in until the right drinking moment has arrived.  The liquers were presented in every shape and color of bottle we have ever seen including a violin shape bottle.  Apparently you can make grog from every fruit, vegetable, and flower ever grown!!  Garry managed to fit in 18 holes of Golf at the local course which was a very enjoyable walk on the green grass with plenty of galahs and magpies for company. ....more....

Warwick Qlder & Masonic Temple

Qld 1st born Premier & Warwick PO

"Harrow Homestead"

Inside

One of many gardens

Harrow Lake

Just one rose bush!!

Carols favourite rose

Stanthorpe Castle Glen liquers

Note trumpet bottles

Browns Falls near Killarney

Daggs Falls 2km further

5 of these, one tree Qn Marys Falls

Queen Mary Falls 4km on

Head of the Condamine River

We took a day drive into the mountains north east of Stanthorpe to the head of the Condamine River which is the start of the Murray-Darling system.  On the way we visited a lavender farm and took walks to see Browns Falls, Daggs Falls, and Queen Mary Falls.  Each of them spectacular in the rainforest.  There are cottages past Queen Mary Falls that sit on the edge of the rain forest and are on the edge of the valley escarpment.  Great views up the valley to Mt Warning, Mt Tamborine, and other mountains ringing the valley where the Condamine River starts.  Unfortunately the Café at the cottages was closed on the day we visited.  Killarney is the small town near the falls drive – a great little town with a lovely pub in the middle to place Melbourne Cup bets and get the camera battery charged!!  We were ashamed to realize that we were less than 3 hours from Brisbane but had never got around to visiting the area before now.  The lateness of this weeks blog will be explained next Friday when we will be in NSW.