Depart Sunshine Coast and travel the M1 to the Brisbane Coach Terminal. On to Ipswich  and along the Cunningham Highway, crossing the Great Dividing Range at Cunningham’s Gap to the historic farming town of Warwick on the Darling Downs through some of the most scenic country in Australia. A centre of a rich agricultural production, including market gardens, Warwick’s heritage-listed buildings range from quaint workers’ cottages to large, rambling Queenslander style homes, many made of local sandstone. Lunch and guided tour at the charming Abbey of Roses, built as a convent and school in 1891. It features a three-storey, Gothic-style sandstone building – Australia’s answer to Downton Abbey and said to be haunted – on two acres. We are likely to be greeted by the resident cat, Basil.

Our dinner (and accommodation for the next 3nights) is at the four-star High Street Motor Inn in Stanthorpe, where, after dinner you might like, if it is a cool autumn evening, to sit by a blazing fire.

3 nights | High Street Motor Inn
Lunch at the Abbey | dinner at Motel

After a hearty breakfast we make our way to Kent Saddlery & Leather for a guided tour of their workshop. See how they custom make saddles and quality leather gear, hand-crafted in their workshop. Leather products are available from their onsite shop. Then onto Suttons Cidery for morning  tea before visiting Stanthorpe Cheese. There’s  time for a winery visit before calling into Vencenzo’s “Big Apple” before returning to Stanthorpe for  the night.

A special evening treat as we dine at Anna’s Restaurant tonight.

Breakfast at Motel | Lunch own expense | Dinner at Anna’s

We start our day by travelling south from Warwick along the New England Highway to visit Wallangarra on our way to Tenterfield. The  Autumn colours are breathtaking as we view them through the panoramic windows of our luxury touring coach. Arriving in Tenterfield we have time to explore the town including the big Cork Tree, (known as the Wishing Tree in English folklore), it is believed to be one of the largest in Australia. We make one last discovery before departing town, the Tenterfield Saddler! Explore this historic High St Saddlery (made famous by Peter Allen) that attracted many to town including one famous customer, A. B. “Banjo” Paterson.   

Moving on, we visit  Glenrock Gardens is an award-winning country garden set in the high country of New England a short drive from Tenterfield. The 10 acre of gardens which are divided into varying rooms each possess their own charm and ambiance and are interconnected with pretty walkways arbours and woodland walks. Here we will enjoy lunch in “The Barn” before a guided tour of the gardens with the owner, Anna.

On the way back to Stanthorpe we visit the famous Ballandean Estate, established in 1932. It is Queensland’s oldest family-owned and operated winery, blending the history of five generations with modern winemaking for tasting and a tour of the winery.

Breakfast & Dinner at Motel | Lunch at Glenrock

Saying goodbye to Stanthorpe we turn for home but not before we experience a special mystery treat … ( if we told you what it is … it wouldn’t be a mystery) before arriving in Warwick in time for lunch at the local RSL club.

Continuing our journey north we travel  through the historic rural towns of Allora and Clifton, before arriving in Nobby. In Nobby, we will view the Sister Kenny Memorial and learn about Sister Kenny who pioneered a treatment for polio and a quick visit to “Rudds Pub” the home of “Dad & Dave”  Moving on we will travel down the Great Diving Range into the Lockyer Valley passing through Gatton as we  make our way home to the Sunshine Coast arriving in the late afternoon.

Breakfast at hotel | lunch Warwick RSL