Last week saw me heading off to a Helloworld owners' retreat for the first time in two years. Limited to Queensland owners, we didn’t head off to Ho Chi Minh City, Honolulu, or Fiji as we have in previous years, but rather to the South Burnett. At the moment, anywhere is a treat and it was a great opportunity to chat with other travel agency owners. The general consensus is that travel bookings are really picking up and lots of people are booking international journeys... Albeit for the second half of 2022, 2023 and even into 2024. That is certainly our experience at Travelling Places.

If you haven’t been to the South Burnett and you feel like a couple of nights away, I urge you to hop in the car and go. It really took me by surprise. We drove along the shoreline of Wivenhoe Dam and through Esk, where we stopped for coffee at Nash Gallery & Café – a restored Queenslander with covered verandahs and shady garden tables and chairs. Another time I will linger longer to potter around.

Through Toogoolawah, Blackbutt, Nanango and Murgon we commented on how familiar these names were – perhaps Jenny from ABC weather is responsible? Our destination: Goomeri – a delightful small town with a fantastic bakery (stop on your return to bring some goodies home), a delightful bookstore, and Joe’s Grand Hotel that served a good country counter lunch. We stayed a couple of nights in Kingaroy – there are quite a few B&B’s on local farms and around the area which looked lovely.

The weekend was a bit of a gourmet’s delight. I had no idea there is so much produce in the area. The first night we went to Dusty Hill Winery for dinner – this winery has a large tasting room and a substantial restaurant, the grounds are extensive, and the vineyard goes for as far as the eye can see. Wandering around Kingaroy for an early morning walk we passed the enormous peanut silos before we came across Hunter Gather Trader – a small boutique that served good coffee – apparently the best in town. Breakfast saw us out of town at Whipbird – a delightful converted wooden church that served yummy food. Onwards to Pottique lavender farm before pizzas for lunch at Kingsley Grove Estate.

Our second night saw us at delightful Clovely Wines for a fabulous long table dinner under the stars between the grapevines. Catered for by Farm to Fork Collective – all the produce sourced from within 125kms of Wooroolin where they have a produce shop. Sunday morning saw us walking the Rail Trail – the old rail line has been developed into a walking/cycle track winding through farms and hamlets; the full length is 51kms – we enjoyed a 12km hike, great to be out in the open and walking off some of the wonderful food! I am happy to recommend Kingaroy and the South Burnett for a short getaway... Amazing what is within a few hours' drive of home!

Contact Travelling Places
P: 07 5545 1600
E:travel@travellingplaces.com.au