RESORTS BALLANDEAN

Golden Grove Estate is a family owned and operated vineyard and winery. The grapes are 100 per cent Estate grown and produced and they specialise in alternative varieties, which are marketed under the Strangebird promotion. Golden Grove Estate is home of the Costanzo family whose rich Italian Heritage is reflected in sumptuous, rich wines and a friendly approach to helping choose the perfect wine for you. For fine dining, unwinding with friends or for those moments of solitude - Golden Grove Estate Wines provide good taste in all occasions. Golden Grove Estate Wines are amongst Queensland, Australia's finest, and they invite you to visit the Ballandean vineyard and winery....

Symphony Hill Wines is a family-owned boutique winery located in the cool climate Ballandean highlands of Queensland's Granite Belt. They have been rated 5 stars by James Halliday for the last three years. And 58 different wines have been rated 4.5 stars or more for last eight years. In his latest 2015 Wine Companion, James Halliday has rated six of their wines 5 stars with their flagship Reserve Shiraz scoring an amazing 96 points. This score is just one point behind Penfolds Grange. Their flagship red is their 5 star Reserve Shiraz which has won top gold medals at both Sydney and Melbourne Royal Wine Shows, and has been nominated for two trophies at 2011 Royal Melbourne for Best Single Vineyard Wine and Best Shiraz trophies. The Jimmy Watson winner beat them for the Best Rhone Style Shiraz trophy with the narrowest of margins. The wine was selected to be served to the Royal couple when they visited Brisbane in early 2014. Their flagship white is their 5 star Gewurztraminer which has been awarded Best Single White Variety Trophies at 2014 Royal Queensland and Melbourne Wine Shows....

The Underground Creek track in Girraween National Park begins at a car park four kilometres east of the visitor information centre. Branch off the Dr Roberts Waterhole track and pass through swamp communities, woodland and shrubland to where Bald Rock Creek disappears beneath boulders that fell from an overhanging cliff face. Water-sculpted granite rocks, hidden rock pools, wildflowers and varied birdlife are a feature of this track....

Stanthorpe Rocks celebrates the best of Australian music, food and wine. There will be an International Food Village with bars serving local wine plus beer, spirits, frozen cocktails, soft drink and water. The Massage Temple, a relaxing spot where you can enjoy a massage. Check out the local acoustic acts in the Beer Garden. Rock out with Aussie Rock legends in the vineyard. Go for a joy flight over Ballandean with Oceanview Helicopters. The Stanthorpe Rocks weekend kicks off on Friday night with the campers pre-party with meals, drinks and local entertainment from 6pm til 10pm. Saturday is the main day of the festival weekend, starting with the food village opening from 7am for breakfast, then The Koffin Rockers kick off the show at 11.30am followed by Stylus, Spy VS Spy, Adam Brand, The Black Sorrows and Hoodoo Gurus and more! Sunday's 'recovery' day starts with breakfast from 7am, the concert starts with Last Days hitting the stage at 11am followed by The Badloves, then Peter Cupples. Finish the day with Sleeping Dogs! Tickets and camping available now from the website, don't miss out!...

The Granite Arch circuit is a short, easy walk to one of Girraween National Park's most popular features. From the Bald Rock Creek day-use area, cross Bald Rock Creek and wind through blackbutt and stringybark forest to Girraween's very own natural stone archway. For a longer walk, combine with a walk to The Pyramid or The Junction. ...

Castle Rock and Bald Rock Creek camping areas are in a pleasant open forest setting close to the QPWS information centre and walking tracks. Both cater for tent camping and camper trailers. Castle Rock camping area is more suitable for caravans and motorhomes. Bush-camping in remote sections of Girraween National Park is also permitted (restrictions apply). As sites are not identified by signs or markers, campers need good navigation skills and to practice minimal impact behaviour when using these areas. Camping permits are required and fees apply. A tag with your booking number must be displayed at your camp site. ...

Ballandean is renowned for its picturesque setting and is home to the Granite Belt's largest number of award winning wine makers. It is in this area, just to the south of Stanthorpe, that Queensland's first commercially grown table grapes were harvested. Grapes have been grown here since the 1870s, thanks predominantly to the arrival of Italian settlers. The first legally planted wine grapes are said to have been grown by the Puglisi family of Ballandean. The family vineyard, Ballandean Estate, is the venue for "Opera in the Vineyard", each May. Don't miss Ballandean's little bit of Egypt - make sure you drive past the famous hand-made pyramid. The amazing Girraween National Park and rugged Sundown National Park are also only a short drive away....

Stroll beside the peaceful waters of Bald Rock Creek for magnificent views of The Pyramid and spring wildlifower displays. Glimpse wrens, thornbills and bowerbirds, or in the warmer part of the day even a short-necked Bell's turtle. Wyberba walk starts and ends at opposite ends of the the Bald Rock Creek day-use area....

The Junction track is an easy walk downstream from the Bald Rock Creek day-use area along the northern bank of Bald Rock Creek to its junction with Ramsay Creek. In dry seasons, these creeks may not run. Enjoy colourful track-side wildflowers in spring - this track is a must for wildflower lovers. Flowering shrubs fringing the creek provide nectar for honeyeaters and parrots. Take the time to look in rock pools and to watch superb wrens, red-browed firetails and thornbills moving through creek bank thickets seeking insects. This track can also be accessed from the Bald Rock Creek camping area. Return distance: 3.7 kilometres return. Time: 1.5-2 hours....