The Southern Downs and Granite Belt region, in southern Queensland, is one of the most unique parts of Australia to visit. Quirky wines, giant granite boulders everywhere, and Australia’s only pyramid…what’s not to like?
Yes, there’s also incredible produce, gorgeous wineries to visit, and plenty of restaurants, but I love the uniqueness of the region the most. So, it’s no surprise that you’ll find plenty of unique places to stay in the Granite Belt!
The Granite Belt is only about two hours from Brisbane and right on the Queensland/NSW border, so it’s easy to access for a weekend away. If you’re planning a trip and want to stay somewhere just a little out of the ordinary, you can’t go wrong with any of these places!
The Straw House Cottages and B&B
Want to stay in a straw house? Unlike the misfortune of ‘The Three Little Pigs’, the cottages at The Straw House Cottages and B&B are made of a unique mixture of both straw bales and stucco, which makes them incredibly strong and also insulated—staying cool in summer and warm in winter.
Straw House Stanthorpe is a locally-owned property also has a tiny house on-site that you can rent and a few residents that are known to turn a few heads—highland cows Aklan and Bahookie.
Straw House Bed & Breakfast
21 Straw House Lane
Dalveen (Stanthorpe), QLD 4374
Kurrajong Barn and Cottages
What’s the best Granite Belt accommodation for groups? I recently stayed at the Kurrajong Barn and Cottages (with a group!) and really loved it.
It’s a literal barn, but converted into a massive home, with five bedrooms, that can sleep up to ten people. It’s been tastefully decorated and has everything you could want from a group, from a firepit to a well-stocked kitchen.
There’s also a small cottage and a 1957 Viscount vintage van behind the barn if you need more space for a larger group.
It’s a really fun and beautiful place to stay, but I particularly loved the sunsets here—just across the road is a gorgeous stretch of farmland that seriously glows as twilight arrives.
However, you can’t stay in the Barn as an individual or small group, so this choice is mainly for groups of friends or large family gatherings that want to stay together.
Kurrajong Barn and Cottages
2625 Eukey Rd
Ballandean, QLD 4382
Abbey Boutique Hotel
This is probably one of my favourite places to stay in the area. The Abbey Boutique Hotel, formally known as the Abbey of the Roses B&B), is a Gothic-style mansion built in the late 19th century as Our Lady of the Assumption Convent for the Sisters of Mercy.
Later on, an extension was added to offer boarding for the Catholic girls’ school. The building is on the Queensland Heritage Register for its rare stained glass, historic sandstone architecture, and significance to the community.
Oh, and you can also spend the night here! It’s now privately owned as a B&B but still retains all of the historic beauty and charm from its time as a Convent.
You can even still ring the Convent’s bell from the top floor—as long as you’re tall enough to reach it!
It’s an adults-only retreat, so an awesome choice for a romantic weekend away.
Abbey Boutique Hotel
Crn Locke & Dragon Street
Warwick, QLD
Also pictured in the featured image above.
Heritage Estate Winery and Cottage, Granite Belt
There are a lot of unique things to like about staying at Heritage Estate Wines.
1. It’s a winery. Enough said.
2. It’s old. Winery Cottage dates back to 1864.
3. Oh, and it’s haunted.
Heritage Estate Winery is one of the oldest properties in the Granite Belt and visiting feels like you’re stepping back in time. Even if you can’t stay the night, lunch or dinner in their incredible dining room (you can dine at a grand antique table that was originally part of Queensland’s Parliament House), is well worth your time.
The cedar Winery Cottage is an incredibly unique place to spend the night if you love history, but it’s also pretty cool to stay in a working winery.
The property is also considered to be haunted, so definitely ask the staff about their experiences!
Heritage Estate Winery
747 Granite Belt Drive
Cottonvale QLD 4375
If you’re an avid reader of this blog, you’d know there’s nothing I love more than visiting haunted places! Manly’s Q Station and Rose Cottage, near Sydney, are some of my top recommendations if you enjoy haunted history. Of course, there are plenty of unique towns in NSW to stay in as well!
Girraween Environmental Lodge
Girraween Environmental Lodge is not your ordinary hotel. This award-winning property consists of architecturally-unique chalets, set in gorgeous bushland just outside Girraween National Park. If you’re heading to the Granite Belt for hiking, this is probably your best option for accommodation, since you’re literally just steps away from the park’s entrance.
Each chalet has a kitchen too, so it’s easy to cook your own meals. I loved the solitude of Girraween—if you wake up early, you’re very likely to see kangaroos or wallabies just outside your chalet.
Make a cup of tea, cosy up on your veranda with a blanket, and watch the ‘roos as they start their day—so cool!
Girraween Environmental Lodge
Pyramids Road
Ballandean (Wyberba)
Queensland 4382 Australia
Foxbar Falls Campground
If you’re hoping to visit the Granite Belt on a budget, definitely check out Foxbar Falls Campground. Full disclosure, this is the only place on this list I haven’t visited myself, but this gorgeous property, part of the family-owned Harslett Farm, is ideal for camping with both powered and unpowered sites available.
Oh, and it’s dog friendly too!
There are plenty of bushwalking trails right near the property and you can also kayak on the large dams on site. Definitely make time to visit Foxbar Falls too, a gorgeous waterfall and the property’s namesake.
Foxbar Falls Campground
375 Goldfields Rd
Amiens QLD 4380
A note on booking unique places to stay in the Granite Belt—plan ahead!
Weekends away to the Southern Downs and Granite Belt are really popular—when border closures meant Queenslanders couldn’t go elsewhere, many people discovered the joys of travelling within their state.
Luckily, even though borders are now open, it remains a really popular destination. My point is—book your accommodation as far in advance as you can, especially for a weekend visit – the most unique places to stay in Stanthorpe and the region book out before you know it, so plan ahead! Otherwise, your preferred choice might already be at capacity.
A lot of the Granite Belt accommodation is small and boutique too, which means they fill up quickly.
How to get to the Granite Belt
If you want to visit the Granite Belt, it’s really best to have your own car (or rent one). The region is spread across quite a large area, so you’ll want to be able to drive yourself around.
However, if you want to be in an area where you can walk to places like restaurants or shops, base yourself in one of the region’s larger towns—Stanthorpe or Warwick.
From Brisbane, it’s about a 2 ½ hour drive to Stanthorpe or two hours to Warwick. It’s a beautiful drive, taking in views of the Scenic Rim and the gorgeous countryside.
A note about driving—the Granite Belt region is extremely dark at night, so if you’re used to driving in cities, you might find it a bit of a shock. In that case, aim to be back at your accommodation by nightfall or stay in Stanthorpe so you can walk around at night without needing the car.
Wondering how to get to the Granite Belt from the Gold Coast? That’s a bit of a longer drive, so plan for about 3-3 ½ hours, depending on your destination.
Best time of year to visit the Granite Belt
Queensland is known for its heat and sunshine, but the Southern Downs and Granite Belt are actually a bit of an anomaly. They can get snow (yes, snow!) in winter, so it’s a much colder climate than you’d get in Brisbane.
I’ve visited a few times in autumn and loved it, but this is a destination that you can enjoy year-round.
Winter is definitely a fun time to visit. It’ll be cold, but it’s ideal weather for enjoying a glass of wine by the fireplace. Just bring warm clothes—if you’re lucky, it might even snow!
The weather can change quickly, so I find it’s best to dress in layers if you’re worried about being cold in the morning but warm in the afternoon.
