Best action-packed experiences in Southern Queensland Country
Get out of your comfort zone and into our country playground with these action-packed experiences.
Got a weekend spare? May we introduce you to Queensland’s largest inland city, Toowoomba, which seamlessly blends country charm with CBD amenities.
Got a weekend spare? May we introduce you to Queensland’s largest inland city, Toowoomba, which seamlessly blends country charm with CBD amenities.
Aptly known as the Garden City, you’ll find Toowoomba bursting with vibrant gardens and luscious parklands sitting atop the Great Dividing Range while being flanked by the Bunya Mountains National Park, Crows Nest National Park and Ravensbourne National Park.
To help you plan your ultimate weekend away, we’ve pulled together your Toowoomba itinerary.
DAY ONE: SATURDAY
9AM: First up, breakfast
Befitting of its city status, you’ll find a cafe scene to match in Toowoomba’s CBD.
If you feel like going for a post-breakfast stroll, take your most important meal of the day at Urban Grounds Cafe opposite Laurel Bank Park.
Alternatively, The Parkhouse Café or Valetta Café will see you from coffee to the camphor laurel trees in Queens Park.
If you’re chasing a more urban vibe, Sweet Talk Coffee ticks all the boxes, complete with exposed brick walls and an abundance of indoor greenery.
12PM: Take a hike
Fueled with caffeine, slip on your hiking shoes and hit the road to Table Top Mountain.
Situated on the edge of Toowoomba, the challenging hike involves a steep incline that rewards hikers with views from the summit.
If you’re after vistas that don’t involve a whole lot of hiking, make your way to the heritage-listed Picnic Point Lookout and Parkland.
The short walk to the lookout provides panoramic views overlooking Main Range and the Lockyer Valley.
4PM: Get acquainted with local breweries, distilleries, and cocktail bars
After a day of walking, ease into the afternoon visiting Toowoomba’s nearby breweries, distilleries, and cocktail bars.
After a couple of beers on tap? Volcanic Brewing has you covered with their craft brewery in the heart of Toowoomba.
Make your way a little further up the street and you’ll find 4 Brothers Brewing, where their venue, The Brewhouse, serves up crowd-pleasing burgers, chips, and charcuterie boards.
If beer’s not your beverage of choice, swap to cocktails at Santé Cocktail Bar.
Up for a little drive out of town? Pechey Distilling Co is set on a homestead in the high country north of Toowoomba, overlooking the Crows Nest Valley.
Their triple distilled spirits and fresh cocktail mixes make drawing short straws to be designated driver 40 minutes back to town an absolute necessity.
6PM: Savour the exotic flavours of Sofra’s Turkish Cuisine
Toowoomba might be a long way from Turkey, but you’ll find Sofra Turkish Cuisine serving up traditional meals alongside warm hospitality.
Their authentic Middle Eastern menu is full of flavour - think smokey eggplant, chickpea battered fried mussels, and lamb marinated with traditional herbs and spices.
Overnight: Whether you’re after something quaint and cosy or a restful retreat, there’s no shortage of B&B and Airbnb’s in the Toowoomba region to stay the night.
DAY TWO: SUNDAY
9AM: Choose your own adventure
Take the morning at your own pace for a stroll through the city’s gardens before laying down a picnic rug or grabbing a coffee to go and delving into Toowoomba’s heritage.
Botanic Gardens, Queens Park, Toowoomba
Option 1: Explore Toowoomba’s history and heritage
Stop by Ortem for breakfast and a coffee, or grab a quick caffeine pick-me-up from Ground Up Espresso Bar, before diving into Toowoomba’s history.
Board a sightseeing bus for a guided tour or take a historical walking tour to pace out the city at your leisure.
Cobb & Co Museum, home to the National Carriage Collection turns back the pages of transport history, while the museum’s Sciencentre will have you exploring the world of science through their interactive station.
DownsSteam Museum is another one to add to your list, exploring the history of trains and the restoration of original railway artifacts.
Be sure to step inside the Museums ‘Dreamtime Journey Coach’ an Indigenous art gallery acknowledging the contribution indigenous workers made to the construction of the railway.
Option 2: Pick up pastries and picnic in the gardens
Get your pastry fix at The Baker’s Duck, a local favourite with its twice-baked Ferrero Rocher and Bischoff croissants, rhubarb and pear Danishes, and Nutella-filled donuts.
Take a leaf out of our book and grab a loaf of artisan sourdough, some sweet treats, and make your way to Queens Park for a picnic.
You might also like to pick up fresh, local produce to enjoy from the Toowoomba Farmers Markets, held every Saturday from 7am – 12pm just across the road under the windmills at Cobb & Co Museum.
2PM: Discover the city’s art murals
Navigate your way through Toowomba’s alleyways, marveling at more than 50 murals, which have lined the streets since 2013.
Once you’ve scoped out the laneways (aka the best free thing to do in region), check out a few of the CBD’s wine bars to see one of the reasons why Toowoomba was named the most liveable regional city (2019).
Whether you’re partial to a glass of fragrant rosé or a full-bodied merlot, Cork & Lever has your afternoon sorted with a collection of independent wine labels.
5PM: Catch a show at the Empire Theatre
You can’t visit Toowoomba without looking up what’s showing at the Empire Theatres, the largest performing arts precinct in regional Australia.
You’re likely to catch a musical performance, ballet tour, or a comedy show as you soak in the lively theatre atmosphere inside this heritage-listed art deco venue.
Alternative: Make your way to Rosalie House, a vineyard and cellar door with a focus on local produce, serving lunch, dinner, and grazing boards. Slip between the vines on a Sunday afternoon and sip wine to the gentle harmonies of local musicians.
Keen to stay an extra night? Check out these Toowoomba guides:
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