explore: Southern Country

Just 90 minutes drive from Brisbane the Southern Queensland Country lies just outside the Brisbane city limits, through the surrounding valleys, hinterlands, coastal lowlands with ranges covered in flowers and sparkling mountain air and breathtaking vistas. It is steeped in provincial heritage and abundant natural splendour and you will enjoy its warm hospitality, word-class wines and food. Southern Queensland Country is just bursting with flavour, and has so many reasons to indulge a little.

The Darling Downs region, located about 160 km  west of Brisbane, consists of the fertile agricultural area west of the Great Dividing Range and south to the New South Wales state border, centred on the city of Toowoomba. It has an area of 90,246 km² and contains the local government areas of Toowoomba, Goondiwindi, Southern Downs and Western Downs. In 2008, the region had a population of 231,599.

Toowoomba crowns the edge of the Great Dividing Range 700 metres above sea level, overlooking the Lockyer Valley. To the west you’ll find rolling plains which are home to little rural townships, to the south you'll enjoy the atmosphere of rustic historic pubs, and in the north-west the Bunya Mountains rise dramatically against the sky & offer spectacular mountain scenery, walking trails and abundant wildlife.