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Chill out in the Southern Downs...
“Winter is not a season, it’s a celebration.”
Anamika Mishra
QLD's Cold Country is the ultimate destination for a winter celebration. In the Southern Downs, winter temperatures often dip below zero, with Stanthorpe holding the record for Queensland’s lowest temperature at a frosty 10.6 °C on 23 June 1961. When the mercury plummets, you can immerse yourself in the cozy glow of crackling log fires, enjoy snug cuddles, savor hearty roast dinners, and indulge in steaming hot baths. The coffee tastes richer, and you might even have the chance to build a snowman. Our unique cool climate wines and fresh local produce offer a tasting experience unmatched anywhere else in Queensland Come and embrace the magic of winter in QLD's Cold Country
Regional Map
Tenterfield 15 min
Sunshine Coast 3hrs
Brisbane 2hrs Gold Coast 2.5hrs
Art of Krupinski – Family Vineyard & Estate
Aventine Wines
Balancing Heart Vineyard
Ballandean Estate Wines
Bent Road Winery and Distillery
Boireann Winery
Bungawarra Wines
Casley Mt Hutton Winery
Castle Glen Australia
Dear Vincent Wines
Flame Hill Vineyard
Girraween Estate
Golden Grove Estate
Granite Ridge Wines
Heritage Estate Restaurant and Winery
Hidden Creek Winery Cafe Vineyard
Jester Hill Wines
Just Red Wines
Kominos Wines
Mountview Wines
Pyramids Road Wines
Ravenscroft Vineyard
Ridgemill Estate
Robert Channon Wines
Savina Lane Premium Granite Belt Wines
Serrena Que Estate
Severn Brae Winery
St Jude's Cellar Door and Bistro
Summit Estate Wines
Symphony Hill Wines
Tobin Wines
Twisted Gum Wines
The Queensland College of Wine Tourism, Banca Ridge Cellar Door & Varias
Restaurant
View Wine by Sancerre Estate
Whiskey Gully Wines
Download our Wine Country Guide
Summer
Dec - Feb
Apricots
Cherries
Figs
Nectarines
Pears
Peaches
Plums
Raspberries
Strawberries
Seasonal Splendour
Discover the delights of the Southern Downs winter harvest and be inspired by the many ways in which our produce can spice up your culinary creations.
Autumn
Mar - May
Apples
Figs
Grapes
Olives
Persimmons
Raspberries
Strawberries
Winter
Jun - Aug
Truffles
Chocolate
Red Wine
Cheese
Cauliflower
Mushroom
Spinach
Spring
Sep - Nov
Blueberries
Raspberries
Strawberries
Wildflowers
Taste your way across Southern Downs
Will it snow? Look no further than Stanthorpe's Big Thermometer, stationed next to the Stanthorpe Visitor Information Centre. Whether you're tracking temperatures or planning your winter adventure online, this iconic landmark holds the key to experiencing Queensland's coldest town firsthand.
In winter, Stanthorpe earns its title of ‘coldest town in Queensland’ when fireside accommodation, cozy cellar doors and country hospitality welcome travellers seeking low temperatures and chance of snow. Keep an eye on the Big Thermometer's live updates here.
Wake up to frosty mornings and a hazy fog that disappears to reveal crisp clear days that are picture perfect for celebrating everything QLD’s Cold Country has to offer. Our clever community curates several winter festivities that many visitors describe as the highlights of their visits to the Southern Downs.
Jumpers & Jazz in July
18-28 JULY 2024
17-18
Queensland's quirkiest yarnbombing and jazz winter festival returns to Warwick, as the CBD is transformed into a living gallery with around 100 handmade "tree jumpers". Enjoy live jazz performances and 10 days of epic winter events.
From fast to slow, pre-50s classics to vintage caravans, and everything in between, come and see it all at the 2023 Historic Leyburn Sprints event weekend! Leyburn Sprints
20 JULY 2024
Killarney Bonfire Night
Heat up the night with creative fire drums, live fire performance, country rock music, fireworks, and, of course, a giant bonfire.
The coolest town in Queensland is gearing up to host thousands of visitors on a winter family holiday with a guaranteed chance of throwing snowballs. Snowflakes in Stanthorpe
Brass Monkey Season
The Brass Monkey sculpture in Stanthorpe’s CBD is a famous little fellow that marks the town’s claim to get ‘cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey’. In a region that offers four distinct seasons, the most popular season is winter, affectionately known as Brass Monkey Season.
Despite the impression the sculpture by Chris Humphries undoubtedly gives, the brass monkey in question is not a primate at all. As the plaque beside the sculpture explains:
“In long ago wars, artillerymen had a brass plate called a ‘monkey’, which sat on the ground alongside the cannon. This plate held 30 iron cannonballs stacked pyramid-like, until on freezing nights the monkey would shrink and the balls would fall off, hence the expression ‘cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey’.
“This friendly chap is showing relief, having protected the last two balls on the plate. Resemblance to any person in unplanned, purely accidental.”
The Brass Monkey sculpture is part of the amazing Artistic Stanthorpe Walking Trail. Download the official Southern Downs Visitor App and follow the Artistic Stanthorpe Walking Trail today.
Our Visitor App is the ultimate travel resource for the Southern Downs that helps you explore even more.
Cosy Nights In
Imagine snuggling up in luxurious accommodation, with the crackle of a log fire and the warmth of a cosy spa or bath Here is how to spend 48 hours for a winter weekend escape to the Southern Downs and Granite Belt wine region.
Ridgemill Estate
Award-Winning Boutique Winery and Cabin Accommodation in the Granite Belt, Stanthorpe, nestled amongst the vines on the stunning 40 acre property.
Granite Belt Retreat
Set on 30 acres of natural bushland just five minutes from Stanthorpe, our country estate features 20 cedar cabins complete with log fire, a 1000 litre micro brewery plus a bar, restaurant and function centre.
Abbey Boutique Hotel
Elegantly refurbished, luxury accommodation in Warwick, just 2 hours from Brisbane north of Stanthorpe Be the Lord & Lady for a romantic escape at this adult only boutique hotel
Alure Stanthorpe
Breathtaking rolling farmland, granite boulders, and big open skies with a luxurious glamping tent and two stunning villas. Only five minutes by car from Stanthorpe
Logger's Rest B&B
A beautiful Queenslander style B&B situated in Stanthorpe Logger's Rest offers modern comforts in an old world charm, boasting four luxurious bedrooms with ensuites, spacious communal areas, woodfires and air conditioning.
Spicers Peak Lodge
Poised atop a soaring mountain of the imposing Great Dividing Range, Spicers Peak Lodge is surrounded by untouched rainforest, the world heritage listed Main Range National Park and the dramatic volcanic scenery of the fertile Scenic Rim
Serene Winter Walks
Bushwalking is one of Queensland’s great pastimes and the Southern Downs is the perfect place to lace up those boots and take in the crisp winter air. From serious granite-scaling hikes to leisurely family bushwalks in areas of outstanding natural beauty, there is a track to suit everyone.
Five must-do hikes:
Queen
Location: Spring Creek Road, Killarney
Tracks: 570m return or 2km circuit
Wild tip: These are the headwaters of the Condamine River
Dalrymple Circuit
Location: Girraween National Park, Stanthorpe
Track: 1 6km return
Location: Forestry Reserve Road, Goomburra
Track: 1 2km return
Wild tip: Dalrymple Circuit is the perfect track for children and families!
Location: Cunningham’s Gap, Main Range National Park
Track: 6 8km return
Wild tip: Spectacular mountaintop views back to Brisbane
Scenic Rim Trail
Location: Scenic Rim Trail starts at Spicers Peak Lodge
Tracks: Two guided hikes: 28km or 30km
Wild tip: Luggage can be transported for you!
Mary Falls
Granite Arch
Wild tip: Take a selfie at Granite Arch or climb The Pyramid
Mount Cordeaux
Build A Snowman
The idea of seeing snow in Queensland seems so extraordinary that you barely believe it could happen, but it does. While QLD’s Cold Country doesn’t always see snow every year, it happens more often than you might think and sometimes there is even enough to build your very own Olaf, Frosty, or Mr. Freeze.
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