The country town of Kingaroy is the largest town of the South Burnett wine region and that’s where we spent our Easter break this year. It’s three hours from Brisbane and two and a half hours from our home on the Sunshine Coast.
If there is one thing we miss about Melbourne, it’s the city’s proximity to so many wineries. Compared to Victoria, there aren’t many wine regions in Queensland, as the climate is too warm for wine.
However, we do have some smaller wine regions in the hinterland where the climate is a bit more favourable. The Granite Belt is the biggest wine region in Queensland, and we recently found out about the second largest wine region in Queensland, the South Burnett wine region. Since we do love our wines, this region was quickly added to the list!
So, what is there to do in and around Kingaroy?
Go winery hopping!
Since it is a wine region, the best thing to do is to go wine tasting! Kingaroy is at a reasonably high altitude and has very fertile soil. This creates the right conditions for growing wine varieties such as Verdelho, Merlot, Semillon, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
There are a few wineries to visit in the region. You can visit a few of them or just pick one. We always visit a few as we like to take wine home with us. Here are our favourites:
Moffatdale Ridge
Moffatdale Ridge is a family owned and operated vineyard in Moffatdale. The Kinsella family have lived in the region for four generations, but the first vines at Moffatdale Ridge were only planted in 1996, with the first harvest in 2001.
They focus on creating wines that are suited to the Queensland growing and drinking conditions, you’ll find lightweight whites and soft reds on their cellar door list. We loved their Semillon, Verdelho, and Reserved Shiraz. If you only visit one winery, make it this one. It was our favourite as we not only enjoyed their wines, but we also really enjoyed hearing Geoff’s stories about how the business grew from a farm into a winery.
They also have a restaurant onsite which is open 7 days a week. We didn’t have lunch there, but we wished we had. Next time we will as it looked lovely.
Nuova Sculoa Wines
Overlooking the stunning Barambah Valley, Nuova Sculoa Wines offers a unique tasting experience, allowing you to chat directly to the wine maker as you taste the wine. Wine tasting is by appointment only, you can book directly on their website. Over Easter they had an open door with some really yummy platters to be eaten on the lovely deck at the back.
We loved their wines, especially their red “Novella” and white “La Maria”. Nuova Sculoa is a great winery too with super friendly owners and we highly recommend a visit as well.
Clovely Estate
Clovely Estate is the largest winery in the state, spanning over 430 acres. The cellar door is only open at weekends and is such a lovely place to come with friends for a long lazy afternoon of wine drinking and a pizza or platter. There is ample outdoor space for the kids to run around if you have little ones. Their award-winning Semillon was my favourite. They also distil Vodka and Gin so if wine isn’t your thing, try one of their gin paddles.
Kingsley Grove Estate
Kingsley Grove Estate was founded in 1998, after the Berry family purchased 192-acres of land. The Estate has expanded from its first plantings of Verdelho, Semillon, and Shiraz to growing nine different varieties of grape.
Kingsley Grove Eastate has an on-site caravan and camping ground as well as a restaurant serving wood-fired pizzas and antipasto platters for lunch on the weekend.
Pit Stop at the Peanut Van
Kingaroy is not all about wines, it’s also the “Peanut Capital of Australia”. So, when in Kingaroy, you must stop at its most famous attraction, the Peanut Van.
The Peanut Van is a local business that sells around 300 tonnes of peanuts a year. They are sold all over Australia. The van has been here since 1969 and helped kickstart the Kingaroy tourism industry. The hardest part when visiting the van is choosing what flavours to take home. They come in more than 20 different yummy flavours such as curry, chilli and lime, Hickory smoked, Angry Taco. We decided to take a sample pack home as we couldn’t decide!
Check out the view at the Mt Wooroolin Lookout
For some beautiful views of Kingaroy and the surrounding areas, head to the Mt Wooroolin Lookout. It’s a seven minutes’ drive out of town and easily accessible to people with disabilities.
There are picnic tables and BBQs if you fancy a lunch with a view.
Visit the Kingaroy Heritage Museum
The Kingaroy Heritage Museum is located right next to the information Centre in the centre of town. It’s free to enter (donations welcome), and there you will find exhibits related to the peanut industry and various types of tools used by farmers. All the exhibits date back to earlier times when the lack of advanced machinery forced local farmers and inventors to come up with their own solutions.
The Kingaroy Peanut Silos
Located right across from the Heritage Museum, you will find Kingaroy’s famous Peanut Silos. They are the most recognizable landmark in Kingaroy and are worth checking out. You can’t really miss them as they are huge! The silos stand as a testament to the successful peanut industry and date back to the 1940s.
The tallest one is 42 metres high and holds up to 16,000 tons of peanuts. The silos interconnect with walkways and conveyor belts which allows the transportation of peanuts within the three silos.
Take a trip up to the Bunya Mountains
If you’re looking for some beautiful wilderness, fresh air, and some nice hiking trails, take a day trip to the Bunya Mountains National Park.
The Park contains the worlds’ largest collection of Bunya Pines, hence its name. Some of those ancient pines are over 500 years old, and you can even find some trees with marks cut into them by aboriginal people to facilitate climbing and nut harvests. The ancient Bunya trees were considered sacred by indigenous people, and they held Bunya feasts to celebrate them.
There are a few walking trails in the park to choose from if you like hiking. If you have time just for one hike, we’d recommend the Scenic Circuit. This 4-kilometre hike is easy and wanders through ancient Bunya Pine Forest, past delightful waterfalls, and rock pools, towering trees and sweeping vistas of the valleys. The weather was rainy and foggy when we went which made this hike even more spectacular. It felt so atmospheric walking through the forest in the fog.
The Park is packed with flora and fauna. It’s an animal lover and birdwatchers’ paradise.
The best place to start is the Bunya Mountains Information Centre, where you can get an idea of what to visit while in the park. It’s also right next to the trailhead of the Scenic Circuit.
Visit the Pottique Lavender Farm
Pottique Lavender Farm is home to the largest lavender shop in Australia, stocking lavender products from across the country.
It’s free to visit the lavender farm but if you want to stock up on lavender products or sample their lavender scones, lavender tea, or lavender cheese then you’ll need your wallet. Bear in mind it is only open weekends.
Have lunch at Dusty Hill’s Prendergasts Irish Tavern
Dusty Hill is another winery of the South Burnett Region but it’s a little different than the others, it’s also a small village. The Prendergasts Irish Tavern is just a few steps from the cellar door and is the most popular dining venue in the region. So, make sure to visit for lunch or dinner.
The tavern has a relaxed atmosphere, with great menu choices and daily specials. The food is excellent and extremely generous. There are craft beers, stout, cider, spirits and of course all their handcrafted wines to try.
Gaze at the stars at the Kingaroy Observatory
Because the South Burnett region has low light pollution, and the night skies are significantly darker than the coastal areas, it makes it a great spot for an observatory.
Gazing at the stars and planets never gets old, and the Kingaroy Observatory is a perfect place to do it and a favourite spot for tourists and locals alike.
The best time to be at the observatory is in autumn through to spring when there’s less cloud cover. Book ahead through their website.
Where to stay near Kingaroy?
Redrock Retreat
We stayed at Redrock Retreat and had a very nice and relaxing weekend. Redrock Retreat is set amongst nature with a lot of birdlife and wildlife around. The two self-contained cabins are cantilevered over the escarpment, putting you amongst the treetops and serenity of the bushland surrounds. Great place to unwind and relax after a day of exploring. There is free Wi-Fi and continental breakfast is included. Find their latest prices here.
Deshons Country Retreat
Deshons Country Retreat is a sustainable country house in Kingaroy, where guests can make the most of its garden and barbecue facilities. This property offers access to a terrace, free private parking and free Wi-Fi. The accommodation provides a tour desk and bicycle parking for guests. Find their latest prices here.
Hillview Cottages
Located on Booie Range, Hillview Cottages feature picturesque views of the farmland. A 10-minute drive from north Kingaroy, it offers free parking. All cottages feature wood-fire, private barbecue, and a spacious deck or veranda with outdoor furniture. Find their latest prices here.
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