Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Apple & Grape Festival
(
www.appleandgrape.org
)
The Apple & Grape Festival is a three-day harvest festival held every
even-numbered year in March. All hail the 37,000 tonnes of apples trucked out of here an-
nually. Highlights range from a fun run to quilting exhibitions, grape crushes and a grand
street parade.
FOOD
OPERA
Opera in the Vineyard
( 07-4684 1226;
www.ballandeanestate.com
; Ballandean Estate, 354 Sundown Rd, Ballandean)
Many of the
wineries hold regular performances and events; check with the visitor information centre
for details. One of the largest wineries, Ballandean Estate (
Click here
)
, hosts regular cook-
ing classes, themed degustation dinners and Opera in the Vineyard in May, all with copi-
ous amounts of food and wine.
Brass Monkey Season
(
www.granitebeltwinecountry.com.au/pages
/
winter-brass-monkey)
The main event in the Granite Belt
spans an entire season: winter (June to August) is Brass Monkey Season, with a parade of
music events and food fiestas in town and at various wineries.
WINE, MUSIC
Sleeping
The Granite Belt high season is during the cooler months (May through September), when
Queenslanders roll into the region for a dose of chilly temperatures and cosying up by the
fire. Prices are higher over this period, and are higher on weekends year-round.
Top of the Town Tourist Park
(
CARAVAN PARK
$
07-4681 4888;
www.topoftown.com.au
;
10 High St, Stanthorpe; powered sites $40, cabins from $110;
)
A bushy site on the northern side of Stanthorpe, this is a serviceable option if you're here
for seasonal work in the vineyards and orchards. A snug six-person cottage costs $230 per
night.
Backpackers of Queensland
( 0429 810 998;
www.backpackersofqueensland.com.au
; 80 High St, Stanthorpe; per week $195; )
So-
mething of a halfway house for young fruit pickers, this clean, efficient place has a min-
imum one-week stay in five-bed dorms with en suite bathrooms. No booze is allowed.
HOSTEL
$
Diamondvale B&B Cottages
COTTAGE
$$
