Toowoomba

Overview

Toowoomba is a city in South East Queensland, Australia. It is also known as the 'The Garden City' and is located about 130 km west of Brisbane (approximately 1.5 hour drive), and approximately two hours drive from the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

Toowoomba's urban population is just over 90,000, making it one of Australia's most populous regional centres. It is perched atop the Great Dividing Range's escarpment at an elevation of around 700m; much of the escarpment itself is national park featuring scrubby eucalypt forest, while vegetation is noticeably sparser grazing land to the west. Some of the eastern suburban areas are right on the escarpment, while the city is located to the west.

Like Brisbane, Toowoomba and its suburbs are very spread out. Despite its population, Toowoomba's geographical size is comparable to that of Paris.

Toowoomba is noted for its many beautiful parks, and is annually home to the Carnival of Flowers in late September.

Local CS Community

Toowoomba's CS community had members come to Brisbane and meet some of the Brisbane hosts in an effort to grow the CS community in both cities and the general region in December 2007. Regular contact with Brisbane CS has been maintained.

The Toowoomba CS group is a useful starting point for information. It is moderated and regularly monitored by members Steve Davison and Geoff Davis, although Steve moved to Leeds, UK in December 2007.

Official meetings are not regular, but unofficial ones have generally occurred when CSers from Brisbane or abroad visit.

Climate

The climate is atypical of south-east Queensland. It has more pronounced winters than Brisbane or the coast due to its elevation, while summer is just as hot or hotter, but drier due to it being further west. Toowoomba's weather statistics can be viewed here. The average daily maximum in summer is 27°C, and 16°C in winter; in extreme circumstances temperatures reach 40°C in summer and -5°C in winter. Frosts occur in winter, and a light sprinkle of snow has been recorded on rare occasions, although winters are generally dry, clear and mild; while summers are hot and punctuated by storms.

What To Do

Mountain Biking

Toowoomba has many opportunities for mountain biking. Downhill mountain biking has the most cohesive community, and Toowoomba's location on the range escarpment provides multiple tracks; indeed, many of Australia's best downhillers hail from Toowoomba. However, there are plenty of opportunities for not-so-extreme cross country and trail-type riding on scenic bridle trails and fire roads around Toowoomba's escarpment area and beyond.

See a show

You can see a number of world class performances at Toowoomba's Empire Theatre. The theatre was beautifully renovated a few years ago and is Australia's largest regional theatre. Find them at http://www.empiretheatre.com.au/

Spring Bluff

Spring Bluff Railway Station is one of Australia's prettiest and most historic railway stations. It nestles in a glorious hillside setting where the main rail line makes its winding way up the steep gradient of the Great Dividing Range to Toowoomba.

Crows Nest National Park

Few places have such a wonderful variety of eucalypt trees from gums to stringybarks, bloodwoods and ironbarks, delighting the amateur naturalist. The park is a haven for wildlife including platypus, swamp wallabies, echidnas, bandicoots, lace monitors, birds, and the brush-tailed rock-wallaby Petrogale penicillata, which is vulnerable to extinction in Queensland.

The Crows Nest Falls are a spectacular sight and should not be missed.

Crows Nest National Park is just outside the town of Crows Nest near Toowoomba. Take the New England Highway north from Toowoomba and drive 50km to Crows Nest. Turn off the highway and drive 6km east to the park. Camping is available for a small fee, and there are wood barbeques available, but remember to bring your own wood (easily collected at the side of the road) so you don't have to collect it in the National Park.

Ravensbourne National Park

Rainforest at Ravensbourne

Not far from Crows Nest National Park, and about 40km from Toowoomba is Ravensbourne. It contains beautiful remnant rainforest that once covered this part of the Great Dividing Range.

To get there drive North on the New England Highway until you reach Hampton, turn right and follow the signs. No camping, but barbeques are available as in Crows Nest National Park.

AGMF Easterfest

The Australian Gospel Music Festival, recently renamed as Easterfest, is Australia's largest Christian music festival. Held in Toowoomba's Queens Park over the Easter long weekend.

http://www.easterfest.com.au/

Bon Amici Cafe

Nestled in the centre of Toowoomba's 'Eat Street,' 'Bon's,' as it is known locally, is one of Toowoomba's best cafes. It regularly hosts a number of local and national bands, open mic nights, jazz and is run by Toowoomba CSer Cookie

Find them at http://www.myspace.com/bonamicicafe

Cobb and Co Museum

Cobb + Co Museum, a campus of the Queensland Museum is home to the National Carriage Collection, Australia's finest collection of horse-drawn vehicles. As well as Cobb & Co. coaches, the carriage collection has examples of a vast range of vehicles from the horse-drawn era, from farm wagons, hawkers barrows, delivery carts and buggies to an elegant landau; the Rolls Royce of carriages.

They are located on Lindsay St, just north of the Botanical Gardens.

Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery

The oldest public art gallery in regional Queensland was established in Toowoomba in 1938. The city is proud of its new, specifically designed Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery which opened in March 1994, and is owned and maintained by the Toowoomba City Council.

The Gallery is adjacent to the City Hall at 531 Ruthven Street.

The Japanese Gardens: Ju Raku En

One of the most peaceful and beautiful parks in Toowoomba is the University's Japanese Garden.

Located on the northern side of the campus, on a 4.5 hectare site, it is Australia's largest and most traditionally designed Japanese stroll garden.

Its elements of mountain stream and waterfall, Dry Garden, central lake, Azalea Hill, 3 kilometers of paths, 230 species of Japanese and Australian native trees and plants, and lawns combine in a seamless and restful harmony.

Preston Peak Winery

Preston Peak Wines is located just outside Toowoomba in South East Queensland, Australia.

Terraced atop the range escarpment, the Cellar Door features vineyards, magnificent views, rose gardens, olive groves, a café and offers FREE wine tasting. Table Top Mountain, Toowoomba, the Lockyer Valley and the Darling Downs can all be seen from the Cellar Door.

Head out Ruthven Street traveling south and turn left at the signs. Don't drive too far, it's only a couple of minutes from the intersection of Ruthven and Nelson Streets.

Carnival of Flowers and Food and Wine Festival

Around 19 - 28 September annually.

The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is Australia's longest running annual horticultural event and is renowned as a national Spring icon.

Carnival brings together horticulture, entertainment and gourmet foods in a unique culmination of spring celebrations, horticultural excellence and artistic diversity that remains unrivalled by any other Queensland event.

Friday 19th - Sunday 21st of September is the Food and Wine Festival in upper Queens Park. The event showcases many tasty foods and wines from the region as well as local and national musical talent.

The Floral Parade is on the first Saturday of the festival and winds its way through the city's streets, starting at midday.

Pubs and Clubs

There are a number of decent pubs in Toowoomba but CSers users tend to migrate towards The Irish Club Hotel and The Norville Hotel's Beer Garden - both of Russell St in the city centre and almost next to each other.

Other venues include Fitzy's Fibber McGee's (Fibber's), The Tattersall Hotel (The Tatts), The Gladstone Hotel (formerly The CBD, and more formerly The Gladstone Hotel - go figure), The Shamrock Hotel, Settlers Inn and The Burke and Wills Hotel (There is a very nice cocktail bar inside the actual hotel lobby, totally separate to the rather trashy bar which is open from the street). Further out of the center you can find The Spotted Cow, Delacy's and The Blue Mountain Hotel heading north along Ruthven Street and The Southern Hotel with its Bar 839, heading south on Ruthven Street.

Clubs include Tomba's Nightclub and Rumours International which doesn't usually open until 2am and only on weekends (you only end up here if you're absolutely desperate for that final drink and you have been rejected from every bar in town! It also usually ends up with the cops and bouncers hassling everyone as they leave at 5am).

Climb Table Top Mountain

Follow South Street as far east as you can and it will turn into a dirt road heading down the escarpment. At the bottom you can park and follow the trail over 'The Camels Hump' and make your way up the mountain. It's a surprisingly taxing climb and will probably take a good few hours to get up and back down again. Be sure to take plenty of water!

Other Interesting Things To See In Toowoomba

The Old Strand Theatre Grand Central Shopping Center Eat St (Margret Street) Picnic Point Lake Annond (feed the ducks) Laurel Bank Park (play Boules with the old folk or have a BBQ) Old Post Office Old Court House Queens Park Railway Station St Lukes Cathedral St Patricks Cathedral Botanic Gardens (North Eastern corner of Queens Park) City Hall Jubilee National Park Redbank National Park Webb Park

Getting There and Away

Toowoomba is serviced by two bus companies from Roma Street Transit Centre in Brisbane, which is the main hub for travel to or from major destinations in south-east Queensland and beyond. Toowoomba Transit Coaches operate twice daily express-only services to and from Roma Street, while Greyhound offer more regular but not always express services to Roma Street, Brisbane International and Domestic terminals, as well as destinations west of Toowoomba. Hint: note whether the service will stop in Ipswich or Gatton: this will take at least half an hour longer. At time of writing, Toowoomba Transit Coaches is $18 one way, Greyhound is $15 one way on special, but competition between the two companies results in regular variation.

If driving, Toowoomba is linked to Brisbane by the Warrego Highway. From Brisbane follow the signs to Ipswich, from the Ipswich Motorway the Warrego Highway and Toowoomba will be signed. The Warrego Highway is of moderate quality and is dual carriageway all the way, a good run will take about 1.5 hours. There are road services at least every 20km.

Local Transport

Toowoomba's transport infrastructure is generally geared toward private cars.

Toowoomba is served by Sunbus. Services usually run hourly between about 7am and 5pm, and the buses are clean and reasonably modern. The routes are slow, limited, and the buses are almost always late. Fares are quite cheap.

Cycle lanes exist in and around the CBD. Shared pedestrian/cycling paths run along the East Creek Parklands running North and South of the city, and are a beautiful way to see parts of Toowoomba. All other footpaths outside the CBD, including in parks, are also shared. Always give way to pedestrians on shared paths. Caution should be taken when riding on roads: Toowoomba drivers are notoriously inconsiderate of cyclists.

Toowoomba is served by two taxi companies: Yellow Cabs and Garden City Cabs; both of which are priced quite reasonably compared to cabs in capital cities. A trip from the CBD to the city limits shouldn't cost more than $25.