Warwick & Surrounds

Warwick and the greater Southern Downs area is a wonderful place to explore and makes the perfect country escape with a mix of breathtaking scenery, wine, fresh local produce and events celebrated across four distinct seasons.

Famous as the Rose and Rodeo City, Warwick is a thriving regional hub with a relaxed and friendly country town vibe. Come and visit our superb parks and gardens and see the roses blooming throughout the CBD in spring and early Summer.

Discover historic Warwick through heritage walks, steam train travel, museums and historic buildings and stroll along the Condamine River, the source of the longest continuous river system in Australia which meanders gently through Warwick. Or take in the exhilarating sports action at Morgan Park.

Major Events

• • • Australia’s most famous rodeo, the Warwick Rodeo, takes place on the last weekend of October annually.

    • Don’t miss Australia’s quirkiest festival, Jumpers and Jazz in July, where the town dresses up its trees in knitted jumpers!

    • The Warwick Show is an important event on the local calendar and people of all ages enjoy attending the local show in March each year.

    • Great Australian Bites held each summer around Australia Day

HISTORIC WARWICK

• Warwick is rich in history, being the first free settlement in QLD. The town is well known for its historic sandstone & timber buildings so take a leisurely walk or drive through the streets of Warwick or drive out to Glengallan Homestead.

• ​The Warwick Railway Precinct provides a unique heritage railway experience on the Darling Downs & Granite Belt through the Southern Downs Railway which departs from historic Warwick station & is a lovely ride across the region. For timetables & routes, visit their website. And the Peter Brixley Museum, housing historic railway documents & artifacts.

• Pringle Cottage is a sandstone cottage built circa 1870 & features furniture & household items showcasing over 130 years of family life in the district. 81 Dragon Street & open Wed-Fri 10-12 & Sat-Sun 2-4pm.

• ​At the Tooth Street precinct, the Veterans Support & Advocacy Service has an impressive display of military memorabilia which has been donated by families from the local community. Open Wed & Fri from 9am – 1pm.

• ​The Jackie Howe Memorial is a tribute to the “gun shearer” who, in 1892, shore 321 sheep with hand shears. He later shore 237 sheep with a hand-piece, a record that stood until 1950. Situated on the corner of Jackie Howe Drive & New England Highway, there are picnic tables, children’s playground & toilets available.

NATURAL SURROUNDS

• Condamine River The beautiful Condamine River, is a tributary of the longest continuous river in Australia, the Darling River which stretches to the ocean in South Australia. The Condamine itself is approx. 500 km long. Take a drive, walk or kayak along the river.

Enter Queens Park from Alice Street & take a leisurely drive along the Condamine River exiting at Park Road. An established footpath will guide you along the river if you'd like to stretch your legs & there are plenty of peaceful spots to picnic or just have a quiet break. Picnic tables are available & a Skate Bowl is located near the Park Road exit.

Warwick’s Greenbelt Precinct is also a great place to spot wildlife such as lizards & birds.

• Queen Mary Falls & The Head is an area of stunning rainforest & magnificent waterfalls, the perfect place for rest & relaxation & to re-charge your batteries in a natural bush setting with an abundance of native bird life. The falls are on Spring Creek & plunge down 40 metres of sheer rock face. A short walking track leads to the base of the falls.

Picnic & BBQ are with amenities are available. Travel 45kms to the Main Range National Park via Killarney along Spring Creek Road where Queen Mary Falls is located at the south-west end of the park.

Located 14km past Queen Mary Falls, Carrs Lookout provides spectacular views of the centre of the Great Divide & the source of the Condamine River. Just past the Head is the Condamine River Road which is a 4WD track that crosses the river 13 times & returns to Killarney.

• Leslie Dam & Connolly Dam Leslie Dam is situated 13km west of Warwick along the Cunningham Hwy on the road to Goondiwindi. Regular restocking of freshwater fish is carried out by the Department of Primary Industry & local restocking groups. BBQ's, picnic shelters, & toilets available. Swimming, camping & boating activities permitted.

Connolly Dam is situated approximately 15km south east of Warwick off the New England Highway. Shore fishing is open to the public & there are toilets available, however camping & powered boats are not permitted.

• Main Range National Park The Cunningham Highway crosses the Park at Cunningham’s Gap (50kms northeast of Warwick) & provides access to the northern part of the park. A spectacular arc of mountains stretching from Mount Mistake to Springbrook with graded walking tracks through rainforest & eucalypt forest with lookouts. There are also picnic facilities & BBQs available.

The park covers 29,730 hectares & is managed by Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service.

WARWICK ARTS & CULTURE

• Warwick Art Gallery has an exhibitions program that includes a mix of touring exhibitions & locally generated exhibitions. Along with the exhibitions, a major annual event for the gallery is the Jumpers & Jazz Festival, held July each year. The Gallery is open Tue–Sat 10am–4pm & Sunday 2pm – 4pm.

• Warwick Uber Markets is a community event, aimed at bringing the community together. With free activities for the children every month it is the prefect outing for the family. The market is held the second Saturday from 10am to 2:30pm at Leslie Park & entry to the market is free.

• A visit to Warwick's Pig & Calf Sales is one of those unique country experiences you’ll never forget! The longest continually operated market in Queensland is held Wednesday mornings at McDougall’s yards on the corner of Fitzroy & Lyons Street. A paradise for trash & treasure hunters, the jumble-style auction has everything from guinea pigs to goats, farm equipment to furniture & very intriguing bric-a-brac. Also, take the opportunity to grab fresh fruit & vegetables direct from the farm.

• The Australian Rodeo Heritage Centre (ARHC) is solely dedicated to the spirit of rodeo & the cowboy. A place to follow the history & relive the glory of the Australian Professional Rodeo Association's greatest champions & rodeo history. The only one of its type in Australia, the ARHC exhibits interactive & static displays, live rodeo demonstrations, a theatrette, bar, function & board room, museum store & is home to the head office of the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA). Located at 4 Alice Street, an entry fee is applicable.

• The tale of Tiddalik the Frog is a legend from Australian Aboriginal mythology. This 15 tonne granite frog is based on an aboriginal dreamtime story about the frog that drank up all the water & caused a drought & stands proudly on the banks of the Condamine River near Victoria Street.

WARWICK SPORTS

• Morgan Park is a major sports & recreation facility situated on the southern outskirts of Warwick, only few minutes from the town centre. It is host to a range of events including horse trials, polocrosse, dirt bikes, drag racing, circuit racing & equine driving.

Morgan Park hosts an event nearly every weekend & has become well known for its international events, including the Polocrosse World Cup, Horse Trials World Cup Qualifier & state championships in motor racing.

Morgan Park can be accessed at any time of the day, however, entry to specific sporting venues is subject to event opening times. For further information, visit their website.

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• Warwick Indoor Recreation & Aquatic Centre (WIRAC), is open 362 days a year with 4 different pools to enjoy and over 35 group fitness & aqua classes per week. There is also a fully air-conditioned 24hr gym, staffed by fully qualified instructors with a passion for health & well-being. Located on the corner of Palmerin & Albert Sts.

At the indoor Rock climbing wall there are 14 different climbs to try & expert staff to ensure it is done safely. All equipment is available for hire, (including harnesses, shoes & chalk bag) & they have sizes for all ages & climbs for all skill levels.

• Warwick Golf Club has an 18-hole parkland-style golf course, an air-conditioned clubhouse with popular restaurant, bar & function rooms, a fully stocked pro shop with motorized carts. The air is clean, the hospitality is warm & welcoming and overlooks a great view of the Darling Downs.

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• Cycling the Southern Downs is a great place for the recreational cyclist of any level. Clean, crisp country air & a network of quiet scenic routes provides ideal cycling conditions. Cyclists can pass through the historical buildings of Warwick or ride the relatively flat roads to any of the delightful villages throughout the region. Cycling maps are available from the Southern Downs Regional Council.