The Granite Belt is one of the only wine regions in Queensland, and fortunately it’s a great destination to visit with your dog. Centred around the town of Stanthorpe, the coldest town in all of Queensland, there’s a huge list of dog-friendly wineries to visit, not to mention plenty more dog-friendly attractions, plus places to dine and stay. Read on to plan your dog-friendly getaway to Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt…
Dog-Friendly Wineries in the Granite Belt
There’s over 50 wineries located in the Granite Belt wine region, situated both north and south of the town of Stanthorpe. Luckily for dog owners, many of the wineries are dog-friendly, with some even allowed dogs to join you inside the cellar door.
Across two visits to the Granite Belt, I’ve been able to visit a diverse range of wineries, most of them dog-friendly. Take your pick from these dog-friendly cellar doors in the Granite Belt to enjoy a tasting or two:
Summit Estate: Dogs are welcome inside the cosy cellar door at Summit Estate, with a sign on the door letting you know they are “fur baby friendly”! In addition to being opening for tastings from Friday to Monday, they often stay open late on Friday and Saturday evenings for Sunset Sessions next to the vines.
Balancing Heart: With a focus on sustainability and obscure varieties, the wines at Balancing Heart are lighter in style and ideal for enjoying with a meal. Not surprisingly, they have their own onsite kitchen, with lunch served daily and dinner on selected nights, including wood-fired pizzas. Dogs are welcome at the many tables scattered across the lawn overlooking their dam and farmyard animals, plus inside.
Ridgemill Estate: Recently celebrating their 20th anniversary, with their wine club named the Top Dogs and dogs on the label of many wines, it’s no surprises that Ridgemill is dog-friendly! You’ll likely be greeted by Angel, with the option of tasting at the outside tables or in the cellar door.
Dear Vincent: One of the newest cellar doors in the region, Adam from Dear Vincent describes his diverse selection of wines as “fun, fresh, hipster juice”. Dogs are warmly welcome at the rustic cellar door open to the elements or for a tasting underneath the trees. You’ll also find a new food truck at the cellar door every three months.
Symphony Hill: Producing an extensive range of wines from both their own vines and grapes from across Australia, the prestige product at Symphony Hill are their Amphora Wines, aged in traditional terra cotta vats known as amphora. Dogs are welcome both inside and out, and may meet the assistant winemaker dog, Nala.
Serrena Que Estate: One of the few wineries in the region with a female winemaker, Serrena Que’s cellar door recently opened in 2023. Their vineyard is the highest in the Granite Belt and all of Queensland, at about 1000m high, meaning that their grapes ripen slower and later.
For more details and tips on visiting these and other wineries, check out my guide to dog-friendly wineries in the Granite Belt.
Plus, if you’re wanting to find out more about growing wine, I recommend following the self-guided vineyard tour at Balancing Heart. Weaving through the grape vines and detouring to the “balancing heart” rock, this leisurely walk takes about 15 minutes and dogs are welcome to join you.
Dog-Friendly Sightseeing in the Granite Belt
When visiting Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt region, there’s more to do than just wine tasting. Add some of these other attractions to your itinerary…
#1 Climb Donnelly’s Castle
The Granite Belt region is named for the distinctive granite boulders that dot the landscape. Many of the most famous granite outcrops are found in Girraween National Park, located to the south of Stanthorpe. However, the park is of course off-limits to dogs.
One of the best outcrops around Stanthorpe that can be explored with a dog is Donnelly’s Castle. This reserve is about 20 minutes drive north of town. Note that the final few kilometres of the road is unsealed, whether approaching from the south or north, although at least the gravel road was in good condition when we visited.
At Donnelly’s Castle there are two short walks: the 55m walk to the caves area or the 100m walk to the lookout, located at the top of a huge boulder. There’s also picnic facilities onsite. There’s no signs relevant to dogs, but its advisable to keep your dog on a leash, given the drop-offs.
#2 Or Walk Among Sentimental Rocks
If your time is limited, there’s also plenty of granite boulders to check out right in the town of Stanthorpe. For example, head to Jardine Street on the southern edge of town.
About halfway along the road on the left-hand side is a short 200m walk, starting at the Land for Wildlife sign, through a cluster of boulders, known as Sentimental Rocks.
#3 Go Apple and Sunflower Picking
The area around Stanthorpe is the top apple growing region in Queensland, thanks to its high altitude. There are a number of orchards in the region, some open to the public, including Nicoletti Orchards, about a 20 minute drive north of Stanthorpe.
Make a booking for one of the Pick Your Own events held on weekends during March and April each year. A diverse range of apple varieties will be available to pick yourself from the apple trees. Plus this year for the first time their stunning sunflower patch is also open for pickings.
Dogs are welcome to join you, including in the orchard – just make sure you supervise them. A picnic area is also available on the grounds, plus their orchard shop is open for purchases.
#4 Taste the Local Apple Pie
As well as fresh apples, don’t also miss the chance to taste apple pie made from local apples. I recommend heading to Sutton’s Juice Factory in the village of Thulimbah for their famous apple pie. Their apple pie is served in a big wedge accompanied with spiced apple cider ice cream, cream and apple syrup – it’s simply delicious!
While dogs aren’t allowed inside or in the main outdoor area, there’s a “dog parking” area just before the main door, with multiple tables for dogs and their owners.
#5 Enjoy a Paddle of Beer
More than just wine drinkers are catered for in the Granite Belt region. The area is also home to multiple breweries, including the Granite Belt Brewery. Surrounded by beautiful bushland, dogs are allowed at the tables on the lawn, plus quiet dogs are allowed up on the tables at the back verandah.
Order a tasting paddle, with two sizes of glasses on offer, or just one of their many beers and ciders. If you don’t want to leave, some of their cabins onsite are pet-friendly.
#6 Taste the Local Gin
One of the latest “cellar door” openings in the Granite Belt region is actually a gin distillery, The Ginyard. Producing a wide range of gins with a grape based spirit, many of their gins are produced using fruits grown onsite, including their own feijoa and lemon trees, plus locally grown plums.
Grab a seat along their large, sheltered verandah, with leashed dogs welcome to join you. Tasting flights of their three best-selling gins (Signature, Lemon Myrtle and their distinctive Shiraz gin) are available, redeemable with the purchase of a bottle. Don’t also miss saying hi to the herd of alpacas in the adjacent yard!
#7 Stroll Along Quart Pot Creek
Another beautiful walking option right in Stanthorpe are the concrete paths alongside Quart Pot Creek. This lush vein meanders through the centre of town, dotted with wetland areas and edged by parks.
Perhaps walk along the section adjacent to the Off-Leash Dog Park on Connor Street (see below). Or head further south to Heritage Park and follow the path to Red Bridge, an historic railway bridge formerly painted red. Dogs need to be kept on leash along the path.
#8 Head to the Top of Mt Marlay
While in Stanthorpe, don’t also miss heading to the top of Mt Marlay, home to a lookout with panoramic views across the town. At the mountaintop there’s also an unsignposted walking trail around the summit, on an easy path, with dogs on a leash permitted to join you.
Dog-Friendly Parks in Stanthorpe
There’s one off-leash dog park located in Stanthorpe. It’s located on Connor Street, on the southern side to the west of Talc Street. The park is fully fenced, with picnic benches, chairs, poo bag dispensers and bins within the area, plus a water fountain just outside.
It’s probably best to visit early or late in the day, with not much shade until the nearby trees mature. Also some dogs may not be impressed by the number of bindis within the grass.
The park is adjacent to Quart Pot Creek and the pedestrian paths that run along the creek, including a recently constructed bridge across the creek. Perhaps combine a visit to the park with a walk along the creek.
Dog-Friendly Restaurants & Cafes Around Stanthorpe
Many of the best dining options in the Granite Belt region are located outside of Stanthorpe, with a number of the wineries having onsite restaurants, plus a wide variety of local food outlets.
At Balancing Heart Vineyards, 25 minutes south of Stanthorpe, their focus is just as much on their food. The cellar door is famous for their gourmet wood-fired pizzas, best enjoyed on one of the tables near the dam, with your pup by your side.
Open daily for lunch, they also offer a range of platters at lunchtime. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, visit for a sunset pizza, with a generous two-course roast also offered on Friday nights. Dogs are allowed both outside and in the cellar doors, with bookings essential.
A lunch option where bookings are optional is Stanthorpe Cheese and Jersey Girls Cafe, located a 15 minute drive north of Stanthorpe. I recommend paying the small fee for a tasting of their cheese range, which you can enjoy on the outside picnic tables with your pup, before ordering a ploughman’s platter, with a choice of their cheese. If you’re only peckish, they also offer cheese toasties.
Back in Stanthorpe, a great spot to dine in or grab a take-away lunch is Zest Pastries. They bake a wide range of high-quality gourmet pies – we both loved their cider pulled pork pie. Their sandwiches also looked delicious. Outside the bakery is a few tables and a dog bowl, or head to one of the local parks.
For more dog-friendly cafes, each with a covered dog-friendly outdoor dining area, check out Jamworks in Glen Aplin, Vincenzo’s in Thulimbah and The Little Larder in Stanthorpe.
Dog-Friendly Pubs in Stanthorpe
A great new gastropub to head to near Stanthorpe is the freshly renovated Ballandean Pub, a 20 minute drive to the south. Open daily for lunch and dinner, dogs are welcome to join you at the tables with umbrellas in the beer garden out the front, although not on the verandah. Choose from the menu of pub favourites, accompanied by local beverages.
Back in Stanthorpe, another option for a meal and drink in the evening is O’Mara’s Hotel on the main street. Dogs are welcome to join you in the beer garden, including an undercover sheltered section. There are many recent reports from happy dog owners!
Alternatively, head to Girraween Country Inn, located in the countryside south of Stanthorpe. Dogs are welcome to join you when dining at the restaurant, where you may be welcomed by their own dog, also called Schnitzel. Open for breakfast and dinner, bookings are essential.
Dog-Friendly Accommodation Around Stanthorpe
There’s a wide range of pet-friendly accommodation options in and around Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt wine region.
During my most recent visit, I stayed the night at Rock Pool Park in Banyandah, one of three luxury cottages scattered around the farm in Balladean, which is also home to a stud of Highland Cattle. The two-bedroom two-bathroom cottage is fully self-contained and beautifully decorated, with a fireplace for the chilly winter nights.
Each of the cottages overlooks the surrounding grassy paddocks and the Severn River – the perfect spot for an evening or morning stroll with your pup by your side. Pet dogs are allowed to stay for a small fee – enquire directly for the full rules.
Another fabulous option is the recently revamped Stanthorpe Holiday Park, now under new management. As well as being allowed on all sites, pet dogs are also allowed to join you in selected accommodation. The onsite cafe can deliver meals and dog-sitting is sometimes available at off-peak times.
Up to one pet dog is welcome in each of the newly renovated Ranch Cabins, for an additional cleaning fee. Sleeping up to three, they are beautifully decorated with a stone ensuite and lots of little extras. Dogs are also welcome in the Family Value Cabin and one of the cedar Glamping Chalets – they are very cute!
Another popular option on the edge of Stanthorpe is the Top of the Town Tourist Park. I stayed multiple nights here on my first visit to Stanthorpe on one of their unpowered camp sites. Pets are also allowed on powered sites and in their affordable pet-friendly standard and family cabins.
For a camping spot in the countryside, check out Foxbar Falls, about 15 minutes northwest out of town. Each site has its own fire-pit, and the site fees include the use of kayaks and the laundry. Two dogs are permitted at most campsites, although some campsites are pet-free. Dogs are permitted on the walks and in the dam, but need to stay leashed.
For more places to stay, check out my full guide to dog-friendly accommodation the Granite Belt region.
Note: The author was a guest of Granite Belt Wine & Tourism on her second visit to the region and was hosted at Rock Pool Park.
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About the Author
Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.