5 things to do in the Granite Belt- with kids!
If you’ve moved to Australia’s sunny state and if you’re anything like us, you’ll be missing good wine! Queensland is the top drawcard for pristine beaches, perfect weather and a laid back lifestyle, but not for rolling valleys covered in vineyards. Although you have to look a bit harder for wine producers, they are there and they do offer a great drop or two! We visited Stanthorpe in the Granite Belt region of Queensland, right on the border with New South Wales. It’s approximately 3 hours drive from both Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and 4 hours from the Sunshine Coast. It produces 60% of Queensland’s wine and houses over 30 wineries!
Here are our top five family-friendly things to do in the region.
A DROP OR TWO!
Wine tasting is a must, after all you are in wine country! There’s some great varieties in the Granite Belt, known for its Shiraz, Chardonnay and Rosé. Winery visits can still be achieved with children in tow, the key is to be prepared. We pack pencils, activities, games and books to keep our children occupied, and seek out places with outdoor space so they can run free. And where there’s happy kids, there’s happy parents!
Our favourite here was Granite Ridge WInes. We found this charming, casual cellar door on one of the main winery roads, with lots of little knick-knacks to purchase and excellent wines. We enjoyed our wine tasting under the vine-covered veranda overlooking the vineyards, while the kids played on the grass. It was a beautifully peaceful and informative experience. They also have accommodation on site, it’s advised to phone ahead to check that cellar doors are open for tastings on your particular day.
CHRISTMAS TIME, ANYTIME!
If you love everything Christmas then you must visit the Granite Belt Christmas Farm. The 20 acre farm grows real Christmas trees but it offers so much more! We went close to Christmas time which made it all the more special, but it is open for most of the year. Browsing through the small but very well-stocked Christmas shop was a treat for kids and adults! It’s a great place to stock up on presents or take something special home for the tree.
They also have a Christmas-themed cafe, our kids enjoyed a Candycane crush drink while we sat outside listening to the Christmas carols. To top it all off, you can purchase a bag of feed from the shop for the friendly farm animals who loved a pat from our kids.
A lovely way to spend an hour or two!
FARMHOUSE LIFE
If you have city kids then staying in the country, in a big old farmhouse will be a memorable experience. We visited the region with another family so it was perfect to house all of the kids and adults whilst still having our seperate areas. Staying in a farmstay rather than a hotel means that we could all spend time together relaxing on the numerous verandas, drinking a local wine and watching the sunset while the kids played in the yard. It really was a relaxing way to spend a holiday. Staying together also meant that the children entertained themselves and both families packed lots of activities to keep them occupied. And it’s such a treat for the kids to wake up and have breakfast with their friends each morning! We stayed at James’ Farmhouse
GIRRAWEEN NATIONAL PARK
The unique landscape of Girraween National Park with its massive granite outcrops and balancing boulders, makes it an interesting walk for families. There are plenty of walks to do here, but for families we suggest the walk to Granite Arch. It’s 1.7 kilometres return and is relatively flat. We encountered numerous tame kangaroos, some completely blocking our path and one even with a joey in its pouch! The Granite Arch is a natural stone archway, offering a great photo opportunity and a good point to stop for a rest or snack before returning. The path is relatively sheltered to avoid the hot sun if going in Summer. We’d recommend wearing walking shoes, hat and sunscreen and taking a water bottle with you.
CHEESE TASTING
We are big cheese lovers, so of course we were excited to know that the Granite Belt produces not just wine, but cheese. A match made in heaven! We were warmly greeted at Stanthorpe Cheese then taken through the extensive range of cheeses on offer. It is safe to say we left with a good selection for our platter that night! They also stock a range of condiments and beautiful wooden cheese boards.
Although it’s not the typical picture-postcard experience of Queensland, if you love wine and fresh produce, its definitely worth a family trip to the Granite Belt!
