How to have the perfect Stanthorpe picnic
Guide
By Danielle Reckless
Do you remember the last time you went on a picnic? The kind of picnic that takes you deep into rolling green countryside. Where you feast on local cheese, wine and olives, curl up on a rug and watch the clouds pass overhead?
Well, if you’re looking for rolling hills and the best produce for a great spread, jump in the car and head to Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt. Here, you can spend your day exploring vineyards, sampling local goods and meeting the makers before you lay out your blanket. A picnic you don’t have to prep for, half the fun will be a DIY food tour to collect your snacks, smallgoods and wine for the perfect Stanthorpe picnic.
Something cheesy
The hills of Queensland Country are home to lots of Jersey Girls, so it makes sense to add some dairy to your platter with a stop at Stanthorpe Cheese; the Granite Belt's original farmhouse cheesemakers.
The tasting room offers a daily selection of cheeses at their peak of perfection for you to sample before making your selection. From a rich and crumbly Stanthorpe Pepper to a double brie, aged, smoked and blue cheese – everything you need for a perfect platter is here.
The shopfront also stocks plenty of picnic goods including chutneys and relishes, cured meats, pastes, fruits and wines. Ask for cold packs if you're travelling around all day before you feast.
Something to sip
Whether you’re after a light white, a deep red or something a little different, you can’t go wrong with picking up a bottle or two from a Granite Belt winery to fuel the picnic. It’s as easy as turning up to a tasting room to find your match.
Crowd favourites are long-time institution Ballandean Estate, sustainable wine producer Twisted Gum, and Strange Bird favourites Savina Lane and Tobin Wines. Read up on the region’s best wineries before you go.
Something to savour
Mt Stirling Olives is home to more than 3,500 olive trees and owners, Jim and Vivienne, produce a range of tapenades and pickled olives to suit every taste. You’ll also find a variety of rich and fruity extra virgin cold pressed olive oils that are infused with the natural flavours of truffle, lemon myrtle, bush lime, garlic and chilli. All you need now is a little fresh sourdough to enjoy it with.
Something to dip
Stanthorpe Seasonal Feast Markets, Queensland Country
The key to the perfect Stanthorpe picnic lies in the staples: fresh bread, fresh fruit, and plenty of provisions. And there’s plenty of local spots you can pop into on a DIY food tour.
Sam’s Fresh Fruit & Veg stocks fresh local produce, bread, preserves, jams and more; as does Jamworks Gourmet Foods Café & Larder. In the heart of Stanthorpe, Brinx Deli is another local hotspot with plenty of picnic-worthy goods.
Here on a Friday? The Stanthorpe Seasonal Feast Markets are held every Friday from 8am–2pm at Farley Street Piazza. Arrive early to get first dibs on the freshest fruits and vegetables.
Something sweet to finish
Suttons Juice Factory, Stanthorpe, Queensland Country. Photo by @southerndownsandgranitebelt
Every picnic needs a little dessert, so beeline to Sutton’s Juice Factory and Cidery to fill your basket with fresh made apple juice, cider and the region’s most famous apple pie.
Find the best picnic spots in Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt
Summit Estate, Granite Belt, Queensland Country. Photo by @summitestate
The final step to the perfect picnic is to find just the right spot to kick back.
Throw out your rug by Quart Pot Creek at Lions Park in town, the Mt Marlay Lookout or Donnelly’s Castle. Girraween National Park has picnic tables at Bald Rock day use area; though the more adventurous might wish to haul their picnic basket up The Pyramid for the best sunset viewing spot in Queensland Country.
To dine by the vines, make your way to a sunset session at Summit Estate Wines on Friday and Saturday evenings. The crew here welcome visitors to bring a picnic, buy some wine, and find your spot on the lawn.
For a picnic without the planning
Photo by @emilyychapman
Want to leave your picnic spread to the experts? Order a gourmet basket from a winery instead and enjoy it with vineyard views,
Hidden Creek Vineyard and Café has a great reputation for its alfresco dining, but you can also order a picnic basket to devour on the property. Start your picnic at Ballandean Estate with a complimentary wine tasting, pick your favourite drop to add to your basket, then find your own corner of the vineyard and settle in.
Ridgemill Estate prepares picnic hampers to order, packed with local gourmet foods. Borrow a picnic rug or spread out on the picnic table under the tree with vineyard views – and pay a visit to the goat feeding station before you leave to say hello.
Better yet? Turn your picnic into a long weekend of devouring the region’s best.
