Discover Why Stanthorpe is the Ultimate Escape this Summer

Escape Queensland Summer….To The Granite Belt

Officially Queensland’s coldest town, Stanthorpe is definitely the cool place to be this summer. Our warm, sunny days lack the high humidity of the city and make it enjoyable to get out and enjoy the many enticements that Stanthorpe in summer has to offer.

The Granite Belt’s perfect summer climate

During the day, Stanthorpe’s summer temperatures are, on average, 5 to 7 degrees cooler than Brisbane. Overnight, our temperatures can be up to 9 degrees cooler.  The Granite Belt is a great place to delight in outdoor pursuits, even in the peak of summer when the days are warmer, as the humidity is so much lower than Brisbane.  Perfect sunny skies are often followed by clear nights, perfect for star gazing.

Enjoy Stanthorpe’s amazing summer scenery

The best way to fully experience the Granite Belt in summer is to pack a picnic lunch full of fresh local produce and cool off in a tranquil stream in Girraween National Park. Or you might prefer taking a walk along the many creek banks of the area, enjoying a relaxing pace and soaking up the spectacular landscape. When all of these options become too taxing, you could simply enjoy the view from your Alure Boutique Villa.

Feast on Stanthorpe’s delicious, summer fruit

Amazing stone fruits and berries are harvested throughout the Granite Belt every summer and the juiciest grapes are getting plumper for wine making. Summer in Stanthorpe sees the production of some of the most delicious berries, apples, pears, rockmelon and stone fruits in Australia, as the mild temperatures are ideal for growing.

Stop and smell the summer wildflowers of the Granite Belt

Beds of fragrant lavender and gorgeous roses are a constant hive of activity with bees and butterflies, offering many ideal photo opportunities amongst the blooms. Keep an eye out for the bright yellow coreopsis and the lovely pink and white cosmos flowering on the roadside and in the orchards. It truly is a beautiful sight to see the wildflowers in bloom in the summer in the Granite Belt region.

Local Granite Belt wines to taste

End your summer day of touring the Granite Belt with a spot of stargazing and a glass of local wine. Enjoy the warm, soothing bubbles of your private spa hidden discretely in your Alure Boutique Villa’s secluded courtyard and feel the daily stresses of city life leave you behind.

We’d love for you to escape the heat and humidity of the city, to indulge in luxury accommodation at Stanthorpe in the heart of The Granite Belt.  Come and experience the Granite Belt’s incredible natural summer attractions for yourself.

Australian First - Luxury Tent Coming to Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt!

For a change we’re writing about something we’re up to at Alure and we’re excited!  It’s been over 12 months of hoping, planning and dreaming.  Finally, it's all coming together and in late 2011 our new Tented Villa is due for completion.  Did we say we’re excited???

It’s all the things you love about camping like the soothing sounds of the rhythm of the trees and the twitter of the local birdlife, the masses of gorgeous wild flowers in spring, watching a full moon rise and the caress of an afternoon breeze.   

Like the idea of camping, but you’re not up to ‘roughing it’ with creepy crawlies on hard, lumpy ground, in a sleeping bag and a tiny tent after eating half cold and half burnt beans for dinner?  Neither are we…

Alure’s tented villa is all the things you love about indulgent, luxury holidays with everything at your fingertips. 

Just imagine a tent with…

Р   Full kitchen, European appliances, dishwasher and an espresso coffee machine.

Р   Ensuited bathroom where you can bathe under the colours of the rainbow with the revolutionary, illuminated Hansa Clear Lux Duo shower system.

Р   Large rear deck surrounded by granite rock and natural bush with heated outdoor spa for soaking under the milky way

Р   Silken fabric draped, four poster (king sized) bed

Р  Entertainment centre with 50” plasma TV and iPod dock

Р     Sumptuous lounge perfect for two, to snuggle by the cosy eco-fireplace

Р   And of course… a chandelier!

Seriously, if you can’t relax in your king sized four poster bed, under the romantic light of your chandelier whilst watching your 50” plasma by the cosy fireplace… there’s just no point camping!

Welcome to the Home of Berry Love...

We’ve been meaning to write about this Granite Belt home of yummy things (berry and otherwise) for quite some time. Of course, we’re talking about The Bramble Patch, a family run, Granite Belt institution.

We discovered the joys of The Bramble Patch shortly after moving to Stanthorpe in early 2009.  Located at the end of Townsend Road at Glen Aplin, with large ‘prose’ filled strawberries guiding us along the way, we reached the multi award winning home of  jams, preserves and  fortified wines, along with waffles, poffertjes, berry ice creams and yes … coffee…. sigh.

We were served by the lovely Hayley, who took our order for waffles, berries and ice cream, in various forms.  Yum!!!  What can we say; we loved it so much we just HAD to supply Bramble Patch jam and the (exclusively made for us at Alure Boutique Villas) apple/berry compote in our lovely Villa breakfast baskets.

Of course, most of our Alure guests visit The Bramble Patch during their stay and can't resist taking some gourmet delight home. Interestingly, on our Facebook page, just mentioning The Bramble Patch generates a flurry of comments.

So, don't muck around, experience your own taste of Granite Belt 'Berry Love'!

Footnote: Customer service is a big thing at The Bramble Patch as when we returned for more waffle/berry love, Hayley remembered exactly how we had our order…. now that’s big!

It’s Gold, Gold and Gold on the Granite Belt!

There are gold medals everywhere on the granite belt at the moment and it has nothing to do with the Commonwealth Games!  Local wineries and food producers have come home from competition with a full swag of medals. 

At the prestigious Queensland Wine Show, Golden Grove Estate Winery at Ballandean came away with the big awards; Champion Wine of the Show, Best Alternate Red Wine and The Most Successful Exhibitor.  Not to be left out, Summit Estate Wines won Best Red Wine and Robert Channon Wines won Best White Wine.

Now, we’ve always loved The Bramble Patch and it seems we’re not alone.  Judges from around Australia are impressed with their range of gourmet goodies.  Here’s their latest list of medals:

• Royal Hobart Fine Food Show - 3 Gold and 1 Bronze medal
• Royal Melbourne Fine Food Show - 1 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze
• Royal Sydney Fine Food Show - 3 Bronze

Congratulations everyone.  Keep up the good (and tasty) work! 

It Takes a Lot of Beer to Make Good Wine!

Peter and Karen Orr from Felsberg Winery take this axiom so seriously they decided to make their own beer. So, now amongst the Granite Belt vineyards, you can also sample Felsberg’s own European Lager….and it’s good!

The name ‘Felsberg’ is a German expression for ‘rocky hill or mountain.’ When driving up the granite boulder strewn hillside toward the Bavarian styled building that houses the winery, you’ll see that Felsberg is well named. We’re hoping for a Felsberg 'Rocky Horror' party…hint, hint.

The Bell Tower Café at Felsberg Winery is one of our favourite places for lunch. Set high upon the hill with sweeping views of the Glen Aplin valley, the café is a great spot to relax over a tasty meal.

Beer, wine, food, AND views…. It doesn’t get much better!

Stanthorpe's Best Kept Secret - Patty's On McGregor

Patty's On McGregor is a personal favourite of ours at Alure Boutique Villas.  The majority of our guests dine at Patty's and just love it!  Tucked away in a side street in Stanthorpe, Patty's is easy to miss if you're not in the know. 

The building that houses Patty's was originally a general store when it was built some 60 years ago and has retained its quaintness.  Inside, Patty's has a french country feel (with a twist) and is warm and friendly with lovely ambience.

Patty and Howard make up the team that is Patty's On McGregor. They put their heart and soul into this lovely little restaurant and its gorgeous meals.  Patty sources the freshest (mostly organic) produce the Granite Belt region has to offer- often direct from the farmers gate. 

We've seen men look like they've lost their best mate after finishing Patty's eye fillet steak.  Our world-travelled guests claim they have never had better cake than Patty's French Flourless Chocolate Cake....It's our personal favourite too!  Vegetarian or gluten free?  Don't worry, Patty will have something special for you.

Next time you're on the Granite Belt, do yourself a favour and dine at this hidden gem called Patty's On McGregor.

Patty's On McGregor is open Wednesday to Sunday nights (bookings essential).  Located at 2 McGregor St, Stanthorpe.  Patty's is BYO and has free corkage.  Ph 07 4681 3463

Why Drive When You Can Fly?

Sunshine Aviation recently launched their charter flight services from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast into Stanthorpe airport.  It seems it's a good move, as their phone was ringing within an hour of the launch with enquiries.  Just think, now you can reach your luxury accommodation on the Granite Belt in just 35 minutes from Brisbane.