Warwick
Town
Population 12564
Warwick is an attractive city set alongside the willow-shaded Condamine River. It is known as the 'Rose and Rodeo City', as the Warwick Rodeo dates back to the 1850s, and the parks and gardens have an abundance of roses. There is even a red rose cultivated especially for Warwick – the City of Warwick Rose (or Arofuto Rose). The area was explored by Allan Cunningham in 1827, and in 1840 the Leslie brothers established a sheep station at Canning Downs. Warwick was eventually established in 1849 on the site that Patrick Leslie selected. The surrounding pastures support famous horse and cattle studs.
Visitor Information
49 Albion St (New England Hwy); (07) 4661 3122 or 1800 060 877
www.southerndownsholidays.com.au
Nearby national parks
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Main Range National Park
Stretching for 55 kilometres along the Great Dividing Range, World Heritage-listed Main Range National Park forms the western part of a...more -
Moogerah Peaks National Park
This small national park includes a number of isolated mountain peaks such as Mount French (579 metres), Mount Edwards (632 metres), Mount...more -
Mount Barney National Park
As one of the state’s largest areas of pristine vegetation, World Heritage-listed Mount Barney National Park on the...more
Nearby towns
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Allora
Allora is a charming town in the Darling Downs, central to its rich agricultural surrounds. Explored and settled with stud farms in the...more -
Killarney
The attractive small town of Killarney is on the banks of the Condamine River close to the New South Wales border. It is appealingly...more -
Clifton
Clifton is south of Toowoomba in the fertile agricultural lands of the Darling Downs. The town's charming street facades have been a...more
In Town
Australian Rodeo Heritage Centre: follow the history and relive the glory of the Australian Professional Rodeo Association's greatest champions; open 10am–3pm Mon–Sat or by appt; Alice St. Pringle Cottage: historic home (1870) housing large historic photo collection, vehicles and machinery; closed Mon–Tues; Dragon St. Warwick Regional Art Gallery: local and touring exhibitions; closed Mon; Albion St. Jubilee Gardens: see the displays of roses that Warwick is famous for; Cnr Palmerin and Fitzroy sts. Lookout: viewing platform for regional views; Glen Rd. Historic walk or drive: self-guide tour of historic sandstone buildings dating from the 1880s and 1890s; brochure from visitor centre.
Nearby
Leslie Dam: watersports, fishing and swimming; 15 km W. Main Range National Park: 61 km NE; see Boonah and Killarney. Heritage drive: 80 km cultural drive in region; brochure from visitor centre.
Fishing spots near town
Lake Wivenhoe 113 km
Impoundment fishing for native species in southern Queensland has enjoyed phenomenal growth and it all began at Lake Wivenhoe. Situated about 80 km west of Brisbane on the Brisbane Valley Highway, Wivenhoe has a surface... Find out moreClarrie Hall Dam - Fishing Sub-region 127 km
Angling is a buzz when you are into a hot bite. It is also a buzz when discovering new territory or out hooking with other anglers, observing their methods and techniques on their home waters. So it was when I fished... Find out moreMooloolaba 201 km
It’s 6am on the Mooloolaba waterfront behind Kawana Waters Hotel. The temperature is mild enough to be wearing shorts and a shirt. All is quiet amid the moored boats except for the eager anglers sitting around the... Find out moreBjelke Petersen Dam 208 km
Lake Barambah is a 22 sq km water about 15 km south-east of Murgon. It is regarded as one of the state’s best waters for big bass, but also has yellowbelly, silver perch and saratoga. It is relatively shallow for a... Find out moreLake Copeton 213 km
Lake Copeton has an excellent catchment area, fed by the Gwydir River and runoff from the New England Tablelands. The lake is about 46 km west of Inverell on the Gwydir Highway. Its dam wall was constructed primarily to... Find out moreLake Boondooma 242 km
Situated on the Boyne River to the west of Bjelke Petersen Dam, this lake is about 15 km from Proston. Since its construction in 1983, a variety of species have been stocked here. Australian bass, silver perch and... Find out moreEco-friendly activities around town
Tamborine Mountain Distillery 118 km
There is a multitude of chemical-free schnapps, gins and vodkas to try here, many of which come from the fruits grown on the farm. Try lemon myrtle vodka, the multifaceted choc’n’chili liqueur, forest... Find out moreMount Coot-tha Forest 123 km
The largest natural area in Brisbane, this 1500 hectares of open eucalypt forest holds more than 18 kilometres of walking tracks, 12 kilometres of mountain-biking tracks and a further 31 kilometres of multi-use tracks.... Find out moreRock climbing around Brisbane 128 km
Brisbane’s Kangaroo Point is perhaps the friendliest city rock-climbing spot in the country, with views over the Brisbane River, a range of climbs for absolute beginners and upwards, and established anchor points... Find out moreWestlander 128 km
Take the overnight train ride from Brisbane to Charleville or Quilpie, travelling over the Great Dividing Range and through some of Queensland’s rich farming areas.... Find out moreCycling and mountain-biking around Brisbane 128 km
Brisbane has a growing network of great cycling trails and some excellent rides for tourists – a five-to-20-kilometre ride along the shores of the Brisbane River comes highly recommended. There is also a great ride... Find out moreDiving and snorkelling around Byron Bay 162 km
Although there is not much in the way of shore dives or snorkelling around Byron Bay, the nearby Julian Rocks Marine Reserve is a top spot if you can get on a boat, with sea turtles, eagle rays, corals, grey nurse and... Find out moreCycling the Sunshine Coast and hinterland 181 km
Join a half-day or longer guided bike tour with Bicycle Tours of Queensland, particularly the popular Sunshine Coast ride or Maleny to Glass House Mountains. A back-up bus is included if it all gets too much.... Find out moreBirdwatching - Port Macquarie to Lismore 225 km
There are a couple of top birdwatching spots in the New England area. One of the most spectacular is an all-weather bird hide among masses of waterbirds at Quipolly Dam, about 18 kilometres north-east of Quirindi. Mother... Find out moreGolf courses around town
Brookwater Golf & Country Club 105 km
Brookwater opened to considerable fanfare in 2002, with many observers quick to draw comparisons with Augusta National, venerable home of the US Masters. The varied terrain, inventive bunkering and undulating putting... Find out moreThe Grand Golf Club 127 km
Think of the Gold Coast and flashing images spring to mind: beaches, theme parks, high-rise apartments, hordes of tourists. The Gold Coast hinterland has none of these, and could be thousands of miles away. The... Find out moreThe Glades Golf & Spa 132 km
Ask Greg Norman’s former chief designer Bob Harrison to name one course that makes him feel proud when he sees the final result, and chances are he’ll say The Glades. Upon joining the Gold Coast golfing... Find out moreLakelands Golf Club 134 km
As a player, Jack Nicklaus was a regular visitor to Australia for more than two decades. He won six Australian Opens and inspired a generation of young Australians to take up golf. When his playing career began... Find out moreThe Links, Hope Island 135 km
When Hope Island opened for play in 1993 it was a unique addition to Australia’s golfing landscape. Here was a links-style layout seemingly uprooted from Scotland and transplanted on to the sunny northern... Find out moreRoyal Queensland Golf Club 135 km
Of all the golf courses in this book, Royal Queensland has undergone the most dramatic changes in recent years. Originally opened in 1920, on reclaimed mangrove swampland on the north bank of the Brisbane River, ... Find out moreSanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club (Pines course) 136 km
Sanctuary Cove’s Pines layout, designed by Arnold Palmer, has reigned for more than two decades as one of the Gold Coast’s best courses. At various stages during that time it has also ranked among the... Find out moreNorth Lakes Resort Golf Club 147 km
Good course designers have tricks up their sleeves when it comes to spurring golfers to rise to the challenge. They can visually intimidate you with large schemes of bunkers or water hazards encroaching on the best... Find out morePacific Harbour Golf & Country Club 172 km
Challenging the best players without alienating casual and beginner golfers is the fine line every course designer treads in coming up with a new creation. One designer who does it better than most is Ross Watson. His... Find out morePelican Waters Golf Club 185 km
It took 54 years for his dream to be realised, but when Pelican Waters Golf Club finally opened for play in 2000, not even the visionary behind the original idea could have imagined it would turn out as good as it... Find out moreCafes & restaurants around town
Nearby eco-friendly places to eat
Mondo Organics, West End 126 km
Australia’s first organic restaurant when it opened in 2000, Mondo Organics serves a range of organic meats, including beef, chicken, duck and lamb, and the fish is chosen for the sustainability of the catch. The... Find out moreNearby breweries
Mt Tamborine Brewery 119 km
As we went to press, one of Queensland’s more ambitious craft-brewing operations was about to come to fruition at Mount Tamborine, in the Gold Coast hinterland. The 24-hectolitre microbrewery is the original plant... Find out moreCastlemaine Perkins (Fourex) Brewery 127 km
The pages of Australian brewing history are littered with take-overs and acquisitions, and while Castlemaine Perkins sounds like a merger, it was, in reality, yet another buy-out. As the name suggests, the Castlemaine... Find out moreFoster's Group (Yatala Brewery) 129 km
This brewery site, located at Yatala, midway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, was established by the Power Brewing Company, which launched Powers Bitter in 1988. Four years later a joint venture between Powers and... Find out moreBurleigh Brewing Company 136 km
Queensland has generally suffered from a dearth of craft breweries so the Burleigh Brewing Company is a welcome and relatively recent addition. Co-owner/brewer Brennan Fielding boasts considerable experience as a... Find out moreStone and Wood Brewing 159 km
The popular coastal holiday destination of Byron Bay is the location for one of the country’s newest and most exciting craft breweries – Stone & Wood. The partners behind the venture include a trio of... Find out moreSunshine Coast Brewery 198 km
Queensland’s longest-running microbrewery has been operating from an industrial estate on the outskirts of Maroochydore since 1998. It was established by Jim Robinson and Queensland craft-beer pioneer Graham Howard... Find out moreCampsites around town
Washpool Camping Reserve 12 km
Washpool’s 25 ha campground is well grassed, shady and has 12 powered sites. The scenic Leslie Dam nearby is well known as a good fishing spot for golden perch and is popular for canoeing and sailing. The camping... Find out moreRocklands Camping Reserve 19 km
This 8 ha campground is a little more secluded than nearby Washpool Camping Reserve, making it suitable for tents and camper-trailers but not caravans. It is 18 km west of Washpool on Rocklands Rd, off Glen Rd. Campers... Find out moreQueen Mary Falls Caravan Park 36 km
Great for kids, you can hand-feed king parrots, take a twilight animal-viewing walk or stroll to beautiful Queen Mary Falls opposite this caravan park. The office has an adjoining cafe, there’s a laundry, and... Find out moreMain Range camping area (bush camping) 39 km
Bush campsites for self-sufficient campers are located in remote areas of the park and can only be reached by walking. There are 14 walking tracks in Main Range National Park; track gradings and surfaces vary widely.... Find out morePoplar Flat and Manna Gum camping areas 40 km
On the banks of Dalrymple Creek, these large grassy campsites are big enough for 100 and 150 campers respectively. The eastern end of Manna Gum has walking tracks that lead to the lookouts. You’ll need to bring... Find out moreSpicers Gap camping area 42 km
Spicers Gap is a small walk-in campground on the eastern side of the gap, with good walking trails nearby. A maximum of 50 campers are allowed, but there’s the freedom of setting up anywhere in the mown area. It... Find out moreKoreelah Creek camping area 44 km
This is a dry-weather access only site – to get here, follow the Mt Lindesay Hwy 10 km west of Woodenbong and turn on to Mt Clunie Rd, then left onto White Swamp Rd. Look for Trough Creek Rd on the left. Both... Find out moreLake Moogerah Caravan Park 54 km
On the shores of Lake Moogerah, this large caravan park is packed with top-grade facilities for a comfortable stay in the region. There’s a kiosk, 2 boat ramps, laundry, campfire pits, 2 amenities blocks, cabins... Find out moreCentenary Park camping area 56 km
An electric barbecue is the new addition to this campground featuring 8 powered sites. Visitors can throw a line in at nearby Lake Dyer or enjoy the walking trails. To get here, follow the signpost on Mulgowie Rd in... Find out moreThe Gorge camping reserve 56 km
Camp by the water at this campground on Reynolds Creek, a fantastic swimming spot near Lake Moogerah. It is 3 km south of Aratula on Gorge Rd, off Charlwood Rd from the Cunningham Hwy. You need to bring your own... Find out moreCaravan parks around town
Kahler’s Oasis Caravan Park 2 km
Located on the south side of town, this is a spacious park with good amenities best suited to the touring caravans and motorhomes passing through the area.... Find out moreLocated on the northern outskirts of town, this is a smaller, good quality, dog-friendly park. It is ideally located for an overnight stay but would be very comfortable for a longer period.... Find out more
Washpool Camping Reserve 12 km
Lake Leslie, a popular fishing destination, lies 14 km from town at the end of a sealed road. The park has numerous powered and unpowered sites spread across a large acreage alongside the dam. Normally a quiet peaceful... Find out moreGlendon Caravan and Camping Grounds 34 km
This park is 38 km north-west of Warwick and 2 km south of the Cunningham Highway along a good unsealed road. Situated on a 1600-acre property, the well-shaded, quiet camping area boasts modern amenities, a shop, a golf... Find out moreTop of the Town Caravan Park 48 km
This good quality park is ideally located in town for a short stay or a longer period to explore the granite belt region. Facilities include a pool and barbecues. Bookings are recommended during the fruit-picking season... Find out moreLake Moogerah Caravan Park 54 km
In a picturesque setting on the shores of Lake Moogerah, nestled among the rugged peaks of the Scenic Rim, the park is 9 km south of Aratula along a sealed road. The lake is a popular destination for waterskiers.... Find out moreCountry Style Tourist Accommodation Park 58 km
Adjacent to the highway, this park is 9 km south of Stanthorpe. The spacious, wellcared- for establishment is an ideal base from which to explore the region’s vineyards and national parks. Bookings are recommended... Find out moreGirraween National Park 69 km
Girraween National Park has camping areas that provide space for caravans and motorhomes. The camping area is 10 km from the New England Highway along a sealed road. There is a minimal amount of unsealed road within the... Find out moreToowoomba Motor Village Caravan Park 70 km
Located on the southern approach to Toowoomba, this is an older establishment but has good facilities and amenities and is an ideal base for exploring the local area.... Find out moreBIG4 Toowoomba Garden City Holiday Park 71 km
Colourful, manicured gardens greet you at the entrance of this high-quality park in a quiet spot, about 3 km from the city. The park has great amenities and is a good base for exploring this wonderful city and... Find out moreHotels, motels & B&Bs around town
It’s a steep drive to the top but worth every bit of it to get to this superb mountain lodge surrounded by World Heritage–listed Main Range National Park. You can also arrive by helicopter from Brisbane or... Find out more
Eco-friendly places to stay around town
Destiny Boonah 63 km
Set on 80 hectares of Land for Wildlife property, this self-contained three-bedroom cottage is solar- and wind-powered. You are encouraged to bring a mountain bike or go bushwalking on the property, which is located near... Find out moreThe Mouses House, Springbrook 122 km
Set in a beautiful rainforest at more than 800 metres above sea level, this luxury resort has 11 self-contained chalets, hot tub, sauna, tennis court and bikes, a sensible environmental policy and eco-accreditation. It... Find out moreCrystal Creek Rainforest Retreat 124 km
Located near Murwillumbah and surrounded on three sides by World Heritage–listed national parks, this secluded couples-only resort on the Queensland border has minimal-impact, self-contained bungalows and cabins.... Find out moreBrisbane Marriott Hotel 129 km
By no means the greenest accommodation in this book, the Marriott still deserves inclusion as one of the better options in large hotels. It gained the Green Globe Benchmarked Bronze status and is AAA-rated for its water-... Find out moreCottages on the Creek 132 km
This 2-hectare establishment is managed as a Land for Wildlife property and the two, onebedroom spa cottages have composting toilets, protecting Currumbin Creek with its turtles, catfish, platypus and yabbies.... Find out moreEmerald Valley Villa 146 km
Nestled in the hinterland some 25 minutes drive from Byron Bay, this is way up the high end of ecotourism in this country. You can rent your own five-star palace (they call it a villa), complete with pool, courtyard,... Find out moreGlass House Mountains Eco-Lodge 169 km
The simple, down-market rooms here include the use of old train carriages for a communal kitchen and group area. An old church has also been recycled, and all greywater and blackwater is used on site to irrigate the... Find out moreRest areas around town
Bluff Rock Rest Area 104 km
80 km N of Glen Innes (R) or 12 km S of Tenterfield (L) Small area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S29 09.277 E152 00.108... Find out moreBellbird Camp Area 142 km
T/O 73 km E of Glen Innes (L) or 87 km W of Grafton (R) Small campground 4 kilometres north of the highway in a secluded bush setting deep in the forest of Washpool National Park. Good facilities and shade. NOTE:... Find out moreMulligans Hut Camp Area 147 km
T/O 69 km E of Glen Innes (R) or 91 km W of Grafton (L) Small secluded campground situated in a natural bush setting 9 kilometres south of the highway in Gibraltar Range National Park. Good facilities and shade. NOTE:... Find out moreBoundary Falls Camp Area 147 km
T/O 60 km E of Glen Innes (L) or 100 km W of Grafton (R) Small secluded campground 2 kilometres north of the highway in the forest of Gibraltar Range National Park. Good facilities and shade. NOTE: Unsealed access. ... Find out moreSleepy Hollow Rest Area 147 km
61 km N of Ballina (L) northbound only Large area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S28 25.457 E153 31.220 ... Find out moreYelgun Rest Area 149 km
50 km N of Ballina (R) or 42 km S of Tweed Heads (L) Large area just off the highway. GPS: S28 29.489 E153 31.356 ... Find out moreWhat's on around town
Rock Swap Festival: Easter.
Jumpers and Jazz: July.
Campdraft and Rodeo: Oct.