Getaway Guide to Toowoomba

From exploring gracious gardens to touring Australia’s largest outdoor street art gallery, there’s so much to see and do in and around Toowoomba.

Travel with our handy getaway guide and you won’t miss a thing!

First thing first - Get your bearings at Picnic Point

Toowoomba sits high atop the Great Dividing Range and there’s nowhere better to appreciate the views than from Picnic Point Lookout.

Pack a picnic or book in for lunch at the Picnic Point Cafe and Restaurant overlooking Tabletop Mountain and the Great Divide.

There’s plenty of parkland for the kids and challenging bush walks for the energetic, but the view is so arresting and the air so fresh, you’ll have trouble moving off the picnic rug.

Coffee Culture

Blink and you’ll miss skinny Searles Lane, off Ruthven St right next to the Regional Art Gallery.

If you miss it you’ll miss one of the locals’ favourite coffee spots, Ground Up Espresso. This lively hole in the wall has led to the emergence of a hip cafe scene.

It’s the perfect perch to people-watch over breakfast or lunch and you won’t meet a happier bunch of baristas.

Wine and dine

With an abundance of local produce at their fingertips and award-winning wineries nearby, our chefs are happy chefs.

To find quality restaurants and some of the swishest pub grub around head to Margaret St.

Tucked down a narrow lane off Ruthven St you’ll find a great foodie destination Walton Stores.

You can taste wines at the cellar door of Toowoomba's own winery; Rosalie House & Cellar Door Restaurant.

Wine lovers are invited to take in the panoramic view, indulge in a delicious cheese platter and drink in the experience.

Street Art

Take a stroll around the city centre and you can’t help noticing large vibrant street art murals.

Where bare walls have been transferred into the largest outdoor gallery in Australia.

You can make your way around more than 30 murals, but if time is limited, check out ‘the elephant’ by well-known Brisbane artist Fintan Magee.

Flower Power

In case you're not aware, Toowoomba is Queensland's Garden City.

Spend some time relaxing in the meticulously tended Queens Park, smelling 1,500 roses in the State Rose Garden at Newtown, enjoying the fragrant blooms, herbs and shrubs of Laurel Bank Park or strolling around the beautifully manicured Japanese Gardens.

One of the best times to visit is during the 25 days of Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers in Spring - did we mention the event previously won the award for Australia's Best Major Festival and Event.

It's also well worth checking out Spring Bluff at the bottom of the Range.

The drive down meanders through lush bushland, following the path of the creek where you'll find Spring Bluff Railway Station.

Its gardens are magnificent during Spring and Summer and steam train rides are a feature during Toowoomba's Carnival of Flowers.

Hit the Heritage Trail

For a dose of life as it once was, head 30 minutes' west of Toowoomba to the Jondaryan Woolshed.

Built in 1859, it's Queensland's oldest operating woolshed.

Stroll back in time through a fascinating complex of historic buildings, machinery and collections.

You'll see sheep shearing, bullock and horse teams in action, blacksmithing, vintage tractors, engines, trucks and cars.

Stay the night

Quest Toowoomba once an old church in the heart of the CBD – now it’s the perfect base for travellers to Toowoomba.

If a few nights in a rustic mountain top cabin sounds like you, book a stay at EcoRidge Hideaway.

Perched on a ridge of the Great Dividing Range at an altitude of 620m, EcoRidge offers peace and simplicity, only 15 minutes’ drive from Toowoomba.

For a premier stay, you simply cannot surpass the quality inclusions and superior feel of Potters Boutique Hotel.

Nestled in the ever expanding garden city's CBD, the hotel provides views to Queens Park and is a stone’s throw proximity to Grand Central Shopping Centre – great for a shopping trip!