Continuing our series focusing on the best small towns in Australia, we turn our attention to the Sunshine State.
Home to the Great Barrier Reef, pristine coastlines and tropical rainforests, Queensland is a nature enthusiast’s wet dream, offering the very best of Australia’s beautiful and varied landscapes in one accessible region.
When it comes to where to visit, Brisbane, Cairns and the Goldie are great for a quick stop, but if you truly want to experience the best of Queensland you need to venture outside the big cities and spend time in one of the many small towns scattered around the countryside.
To help you organise your next trip, here are our picks for the best small towns worth visiting in Queensland.
Winton
The birthplace of Australia’s national carrier, Qantas, this small town in Queensland’s north has something for everyone.
The Waltzing Matilda Centre is a must for Aussie history buffs. It’s the first museum in the world dedicated to a song where you can learn more about our national anthem that was first performed at Winton’s North Gregory Hotel in 1895.
Kids will be excited to visit the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, featuring the largest collection of dino fossils in the country, while the beguiling Arno’s Wall, a two-metre tall structure running 70 metres long and built using all manner of household objects, including a sewing machine and a lawnmower, is a sight to behold.
Also worth a look are Bladensburg National Park, the Diamantina Heritage Truck & Machinery Museum and the Winton Musical Fence.
Once you’re through sightseeing, end your day in the North Gregory Hotel with a pint and a steak sandwich while enjoying some live local tunes.
Chillagoe
If you’re travelling through northern Queensland be sure to add Chillagoe to your itinerary. The stunning area was once home to an ancient coral reef that’s now a vast underground cave system, with between 700-1,000 tunnels and caverns located below the surface.
Six of the caves in the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park are accessible to the public. The first three, Donna, Trezkinn and Royal Arch, can only be visited with a Ranger-guided tour, while Mungana-Archways, Pompeii and Bauhinia are self-guided.
Spend a day marvelling at the 400 million-year-old caves along with several Aboriginal rock art sites nearby.
When it comes to the town of Chillagoe, we suggest exploring the ruins of the heritage-listed Chillagoe Smelters (Chillagoe was once a bustling mining town) and stargazing at the Chillagoe Observatory and Evo Lodge before enjoying a few drinks at either the Post Office Hotel or Chillagoe Cockatoo Hotel & Motel, the town’s two main watering holes.
Stanthorpe
Close to the border of NSW, Stanthorpe is a beautiful country town nestled in Queensland’s Southern Downs. The region is well known for its wine, with over 20 wineries located within a short drive of Stanthorpe, including Mountainview Wines, Summit Estate, Ravenscroft Wines and Ballandean Estate Wines.
If you’re after something a little different from your usual Cab Sav, take a tour of the excellent Strange Bird wineries that dominate the area. What sets these boutique wineries apart is the type of grapes used, with the vino made at these vineyards consisting of no more than 1% of the total bearing vines in Australia. Take the self-guided approach using this helpful online map or book with a local tour company and drink to your heart’s content without the need for a desi driver.
For those who prefer activities that aren’t booze based, you can go mountain biking down Mount Marlay, visit the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery or get a shot for the gram next to the Balancing Rocks in Girraween National Park.
No visit to Stanthorpe is complete without a visit to the Truffle Discovery Centre. Learn more about the delicious truffles that grow in Stanthorpe all year round (while also sampling a few) before finishing your day with a couple of local brews at Granite Belt Brewery.
Caloundra
Cruise through the Sunshine Coast region and you’ll pass several small towns that make great spots for a week long vacation with the family or a romantic getaway for two, including our top pick Caloundra.
This laidback, family-friendly coastal town has great beaches (you can’t go past Kings Beach) and plenty of fun things for kids of all ages (Aussie World, Big Kart Track and the nearby Australia Zoo). There are also tons of outdoor activities you can take part in, from fishing and hiking to surfing and jet skiing.
Caloundra also has an underrated foodie scene with a slew of top-shelf restaurants where you can dine on fresh produce for surprisingly reasonable prices. Some of our favourites include Greedy Grino Bar, Tides Waterfront Dining and The Shake Fish & Chippery, which is conveniently located next door to Moffat Beach Brewin Co.
Rainbow Beach
Sick of fighting it out for a car park or battling the crowds on a weekend excursion to Noosa? Scrap the day trip and book a few nights further up the coast at the picturesque Rainbow Beach.
This coastal town has the best of both worlds with rolling sand dunes leading to glorious beaches where you can swim, kayak and surf, along with acres of dense tropical rainforest great for hiking.
Thrill seekers can dive with sharks or go 4×4 off-roading through the scrub. Those after a slower pace can enjoy the scenic walk from Rainbow Beach to Double Island Point Lighthouse, which has been operational since 1884.
There’s a great range of accommodation options available, from camping and budget hotels to luxury villas, along with some super local eateries, including Arcobaleno on the Beach, Maheno’s and The Deck, where you can enjoy fresh seafood with a tasty cocktail.
Julia Creek
Experience a taste of the true Outback by spending a few days at Julie Creek. Almost 18 hours from Brisbane, immerse yourself in this hot desert landscape and explore the small town’s many attractions, including the Artesian Baths and Spirit of the Light Horse Sculpture.
Stop in at the Visitors Information Centre where you can experience a VR cattle muster and witness the feeding of Duncan and Donald, the town’s pet Julia Creek Dunnarts, a species of endangered marsupials native to the area.
Learn more about Julia Creek by taking the Historical Walk tour (there are 38 points of interest) and then grab one of the free colourful bicycles from the Julia Creek Caravan Park and enjoy a leisurely cruise around town.
As far as food and beverages go, enjoy a pint at Drover’s Dog Hotel, grab a tasty treat at Corrina’s Cafe & Bakery and chow down on pub classics at the Julia Creek Hotel.
Montville
Montville is a small town outdoor lovers will want to add to their list of must-visit Queensland locales.
No trip is complete without exploring Kondalila National Park with its majestic waterfalls and lookouts offering stunning views of the mountainous region of the Sunshine Coast.
You’ll also find plenty of wineries, fine dining restaurants and pleasant cafes in and around Montville. While there isn’t a traditional pub per se, the Montville Cafe Bar Grill will meet all your needs.
Other fun things you can do in Montville include paying a visit to the Clock Shop, going kayaking on Baroon Pocket Dam and stopping by Montville Art Gallery.
Warrick
Another small town in the Southern Downs, Warrick was settled in 1850 on the banks of the Condamine River. The best way to explore the town is the Five Walks of Warrick, giving you the chance to discover all four corners of the historic town. Other attractions include the Pringle Cottage Museum, Glengallen Homestead and the heritage-listed Warrick Post Office.
The views from Mount Castle are breathtaking while Queen Mary Falls in the world heritage-listed Main Range National Park are spectacular.
But the best thing about Warrick might be the pubs, with the town having an abundance of public houses serving cold froths and great grub. While we don’t like to play favourites, we have to mention the Criterion Hotel, the Sovereign Hotel and of course, the Darling Downs Head, commonly referred to as the Sandy Creek Pub by the locals. This watering hole might resemble a traditional 1920s house but it’s filled with colourful characters and features a fantastic beer garden.
Imbil
This rural town in the Gympie Region has a population of just over 1,000 and a dozen heritage-listed sites, including Imbil Railway Bridge.
There’s not a lot here for sightseers, but considering its location on the outskirts of Imbil State Forest, Imbil is the ideal base for explorers. There are several campsites and caravan parks where you can set up camp before heading off for a leisure stroll through the forest or test your heart rate by tackling the tough climb up to Imbil Lookout.
Kayaking down Yabba Creek is also a favourite activity both locals and travellers enjoy.
There’s not a lot to choose from dining wise, although The Wild Vine Cafe and Restaurant is always reliable and the Railway Hotel has everything you could want from a country pub.
Canungra
Most breeze through Canungra on their way to Lamington National Park and the Gold Coast Hinterland, but it’s well worth a day or two of exploring if you’ve got the time.
Only an hour or so from Brisbane, Canungra offers dozens of bushwalking trails suitable for all ages. You can also take a dip at Canungra Creek, pat and walk with alpacas at Mountview Alpaca Farm and wonder at Lahey’s Tramway Tunnel, a 90-metre long, hand-dug tunnel constructed by the Lahey brothers for their own private use in 1900.
The more adventurous can go hot air ballooning or paragliding before an afternoon spent at the Canungra Hotel which offers affordable rooms for those looking for a place to kip.
Dayboro
We understand not everyone has the time to drive half a day to the middle of nowhere for a weekend away, so if it’s a relaxing day trip you’re after, look no further than Dayboro.
This quaint country town in the heart of Morten Bay is set against a backdrop of rolling hills, luscious vegetation, sprawling vineyards and the odd waterfall.
There are plenty of hiking and walking trails around Dayboro, and once you’ve worked up a sweat, take a dip in the nearby Cedar Creek swimming holes.
Stroll through town and grab some baked goods for lunch at the Dayboro Bakery before checking out the Dayboro Art Gallery and The Churn Room, a space for local artists to share their work.
And no journey to Dayboro is complete without a pint at the historic Crown Hotel where you are sure to run into some jovial locals more than happy to have a yarn.
