Saturday morning saw 5 members of the Parker family (in their new 300 Series LC), Cos, Brian and Jo, Scott and Tess, Maddy and Peter, Shane and Sophie, and Don and Tracey meet at the Toby Slatter park just outside Stanthorpe.
In a change from past trips, we were trying a new way to Stanthorpe and visiting a couple of National Parks in NSW. We were reserving Sunday morning for the usual shopping therapy at Jamworx, wineries etc.
We headed south from Boonah and went around Maroon Dam before hitting the dirt on backroads across the border into NSW. The scenery was magnificent – so nice to get away from the cities and highways in terrific weather.
Once we hit the Mt Lindsay highway, we headed towards Tenterfield stopping briefly at the Liston Cobb and co Museum. The plan until 2 weeks before was to have lunch at the Liston Tea House but the owner had advised that she had closed due to inability to find local staff. However Don and Dave had both brought a pile of Croissants, cheese, ham and their little cookers. We decided that we would head for the Boonoo Boonoo National Park for lunch.
Although we were planning for this to be an explore trip, Cos was in the area a couple of weeks earlier and had already looked around and worked out that this was a park well worth the visit. It certainly was. The lookout for the falls was closed for construction but we had plenty of access to some very nice spots and rock pools with clear water running down granite lined creek beds.
Maddy had to go ahead to find phone reception to sort out some urgent work issues, but the rest of us went to the “Trig Point” in the Basket Swamp National park a bit further towards Tenterfield. This was a high point for the area atop some large granite boulders. Not a bad view!
On the way out we came across an echidna that scurried off the track and tried unsuccessfully to hide from a stampede of photographers.
We ran in to Stanthorpe just before dark.
After a magnificent evening banquet at Anna’s and breakfast at St Jude’s Cellar Door and Bistro, we set out on our morning’s activities. We walked around to Anna’s Candles at Ballandean which was just around the corner from St Jude’s. Cos left to do some more exploring in the National Parks as he was going to stay an extra night. The rest of us visited the pyramid at Ballandean.
As everyone had their favourite Stanthorpe district venues to visit we split up to make best use of our time there. A few of us headed to Heavenly Chocolates and Balancing Heart Winery. Other venues visited were Jamworx (of course), Ashburn Farm to pick strawberries, Suttons Juice Factory, Granite brewery, Vincenzo’s etc. We gradually headed off individually to make our way home. The trip home was also eventful for some, as a traffic accident had closed the Cunningham Highway for a period and they were stuck in traffic – undoing all the relaxing good work that our trip to Stanthorpe the previous day had done. A few of us managed to find different ways home. Brian and Jo reported that we need to a Queen Mary Fall trip again as they enjoyed the run home over the Head. Cos has found and explored a new batch of tracks and roads in the area around and through the National Parks that we can try on a future trip.
A great weekend with terrific company.
Some of the attractions at the Balancing Heart Winery -
