World Travel Guide

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Beginning 100 kilometres west of Brisbane is a 72,000 square kilometre agricultural district, 900 metres above sea level; Darling Downs. This region has rich volcanic soil that yields grapes, oilseeds, wheat and magnificent gardens.

Along the country side you will see beautiful English style elms, plan tress, green pastures, grain fields and historic towns. The National Parks preserve much of the native landscape including the eucalypt forests and granite outcrops.

Jondaryan Woolshed: This 1859 Woolshed on historic Jondaryan Station is the centerpiece of complex old farm buildings. Sheepdog and shearing demonstrations are held daily and for a taste of yesteryear, sit down for a yarn over the billy tea and damper!

Allora: This evocative town lies just off the highway between Toowoomba and Warwick. Victorian veranda shop fronts and three old timber hotels line the main streets Davids Anglican Church (1888) is on of Queenslands finest timber churches.Glengallen Homestead south of town, was built in 1867 during the golden age of pastoralism.

The Toowoomba Japanese garden: With 3 kilometres of paths at Ju Raku En, a Japanese garden at the University of Southern Queensland, it is visited by a thousand people a week for a leisurely stroll. These gardens showcase the harmony and beauty of ancient Japanese design with its lake, willowy beeches, islands, bridges, stream and pavilion.

Granite Belt Wineries: Queenslands only significant wine region is on an 800 metre plateau in the Great Dividing Range around Ballandean and Stanthorpe.Over 40 boutique wineries, many with tastings and sales, grow major grape varieties on the well-drained granite soils,favouring soft reds made from shiraz and merlot grapes.

The Climate and soils of the Darling Downs have created one of Australia’s greatest gardening districts. Toowoomba has 150 public parks and gardens including the Japanese Garden, The scented Garden (for visually impaired people) and 6 hectares of mountainside Boyce Gardens with 700 species of trees, shrubs and perennials. Warwick is known for its roses particularly the red city of Warwick best seen in the Jubilee Gardens. There are superb private gardens throughout the region, some open daily, some seasonally and some as part of the Open Garden Scheme .If you want to look around these visit the information Centre for details.