Escape to the country with a Crows Nest getaway
Itinerary
By Sarah Bristow
Forget about your troubles for a weekend, immersing yourself in country life with a weekender spent in Crows Nest. Never heard of this place? You’re not alone, but the timber town perched on the crest of the Great Dividing Range is well worth your attention.
Within easy reach of both Toowoomba and Brisbane, this Queensland Country resident is a boiling pot of historical landmarks, national parks, and outdoor pursuits galore. Here is how to best spend your time during your Crows Nest weekender.
Day One
Morning
Greet the day in Crows Nest, your country base for the next few days. Introduce yourself to the neighbourhood with a wander down the main drag and its surrounds. It’s worth making a stop at Crows Nest Soft Drinks, the local company founded in 1903. Nearby you’ll also find history aplenty - there’s Salts Antiques, and the Carbethon Folk Museum, which is home to the original Ray White Real Estate office originating back in 1902. More artistically inclined? Make for the Regional Art Gallery and the community arts and crafts centre.
Afternoon
Crows Nest Historical Village, Crows Nest, Queensland Country
Keep things cultural this afternoon with an explore of the Crows Nest Museum and Historical Village, an educational outpost manned by a team of volunteers who lovingly restored each of the 21 historical abodes within. Each of these buildings beckons to be explored, and many boast interactive displays, like the Old School House where you can dress up in costume for a lesson.
Evening
Tweeters Country Getaway, Crows Nest, Queensland Country. Photo by @tweeters_country_getaway
When it comes to Crows Nest accommodation you’ll find plenty to choose from. Kick back and relax while on your Crows Nest weekender with a stay at Ravensbourne Escape, a luxury gathering of chalets on the edge of Ravensbourne National Park. If you’re travelling with friends and family in a larger group, you may prefer Tweeters Country Getaway, a six-bedroom farmhouse sitting on a 72-acre property. Or keep things casual, and far more budget-friendly with a stay at the 4-star Crows Nest Motel in town, or the family-friendly Crows Nest Tourist Park.
Day Two
Morning
Holland Wines, Crows Nest, Queensland Country
After a lazy morning, sample some of the region’s finest edible wares with a trip to the family-run Holland Wines. For the past 15 years, the family behind this vineyard and cellar door have been developing specialty shiraz and chardonnay, and a gathering of more grape varietals. Not so much a wine lover? Holland Wines also boasts one of the country’s largest collections of rare tins.
Afternoon
Crows Nest National Park, Queensland Country. Photo by @channiemaree_discovers
Get outdoors, with a meander along the walking tracks which have made Crows Nest National Park a destination in its own right. There are plenty to choose from, with the Crows Nest Falls Circuit one of the most popular, a shaded stroll along the creek which takes in the tumbling Crows Nest Falls. If you fancy something a little more challenging, try the 4.5 kilometre Koonin Lookout Track. The going may be tough, but you will be rewarded with views out over Crows Nest Creek, the Valley of Diamonds and the rolling hills beyond.
Evening
Crows Nest National Park, Queensland Country
Fancy spending a night under the stars? That’s an option in Crows Nest National Park where you are welcomed to pitch your tent for the evening - one of the most unforgettable of Crows Nest’s accommodation options. The district boasts a small unpowered bush camping area with unpowered tent and caravan sites, pit toilets, boil your own water showers, and wood barbecues for visitors’ convenience. Just keep in mind that permits are required.
Don't forget to take a dip while you're here.
Day Three
Morning
Ravensbourne National Park, Queensland Country. Photo by @getoutthereadventures
Before you depart your Crows Nest weekender, take the time to explore a little further afield. Ravensbourne National Park is a popular attraction, a small scenic park entwining rainforest and wet eucalypt forest that boasts plenty of walking trails, including the Cedar Block circuit track.
Or take in the sights and sounds of Cressbrook Dam, one of a trio of water storages used to supply Toowoomba and its surrounds. If you’re a fan of fishing, you’re even welcomed to bring your boat and throw in a line.
