The Area

Following discovery by Allan Cunningham in 1827, the Granite Belt was largely a grazing area until 1872 when tin mining commenced. The alluvial deposits of tin were exhausted by 1887 after which the deciduous fruit industry was founded. The district became a soldier settlement after the First World War and the climatic conditions led to the development of many small orchards with the main export market to the United Kingdom.

Stanthorpe has a population of approx. 5000 people, and is the commercial centre of the district with a population in excess of 10 000. With an altitude of around 800 metres, the district has cool winters with enough frosty nights so essential for quality stone and pome fruit production. Summers are generally mild and rainfall averages around 650mm per year.

Produce of the area includes apples, pears, apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines and vegetables. Table and wine grapes also grow well at the high altitude of the district and over 50 wineries produce unique flavoured local wines.
The town has most facilities, eg. primary and high schools, TAFE college, library, art gallery, museum, hospital, airport etc. Tourism is a growth industry and festivals like Spring Wine Festival, the Apple and Grape Festival and Brass Monkey Season attract tens of thousands of people to the area. The scenic beauty of the Granite Belt is best depicted in the four National Parks in the immediate vicinity.

In the Granite Belt.....

Over 50 Wineries . 4 National Parks . Bushwalking . Rock Pool Swimming . Fishing . Quality Restaurants . Festivals . Fruit Harvest in Summer . Spring Blossoms . Wildflowers . Fossicking . Golf . Bowls .
Museum . Art Gallery . Antique and Craft Shops . Autumn Colours . Freezing Winters

National Parks

Girraween National Park

25mins from Stanthorpe (via Ballandean)
Girraween's dramatic granite landscape features massive granite outcrops in open eucalypt forest and scenic creeks tumbling over boulders. It is an excellent park for family camping and bushwalking. Numerous walking tracks vary from 600m to 10km in length.
Wildflowers abound in late winter and spring. Picnic areas are located beside Bald Rock Creek (at the base of the Pyramids) and near Mt. Norman, the highest peak in the Granite Belt at 1267m above sea level. Bush camping is allowed. The camp grounds at Bald Rock Creek and Castle Rock are both heavily booked during holidays.

Sundown National Park

60mins from Stanthorpe (via Glen Lyon Dam Road)
The Seven River traverses this park from east to west through rugged traprock landscape and open eucalypt forest with steep ridges and spectacular gorges. Visitors need to be self sufficient, and tracks are not provided. Basic facilities are provided for camping at Broadwater camping area at the western end of the park. Bush camping is also allowed. Line fishing is allowed, and larger waterholes are suitable for swimming and canoeing. An alternative access to the eastern end of the park is via Ballandean and is only suited to 4WD vehicles. This area of the park includes Red Rock Gorge and Rats Castle.

Bald Rock National Park

55mins from Stanthorpe (via Tenterfield)
Australia's largest exposed granite rock and second largest rock in Australia to Uluru (Ayers Rock). Two marked walking tracks lead to the summit where a visitors book records successful climbs. Extensive 360° views from the top take in the granite landscape of Girraween National Park to the west and the volcanic plugs of the Tweed Valley to the east.
The picnic area and short term camping ground are just a short walk from the base of the rock. Bald Rock is 1277m above sea level, and is 750m long by 500m wide.

Boonoo Boonoo National Park

65mins from Stanthorpe (via Tenterfield)
The main attraction within this park is the Boonoo Boonoo Falls which cascade 210metres into the gorge below. Above the falls are delightful rock pools surrounded be green forest. Short-term camping is allowed and a picnic area with amenities is located at the top of the falls. The best views of the falls and sheer cliffs are from a viewing platform below the picnic area.