Visit Lockyer Valley

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Only a little more than an hour west of Brisbane is one of the most fertile areas of land in world, the Lockyer Valley. This area that includes flat plains, rolling hills and the steeply rising foothills of the Great Dividing Range, makes for a great day trip or short break. Enjoy, food, nature, history and adventure on Brisbane's doorstep.



About Lockyer Valley

It takes less than an hour to drive to the Lockyer Valley from the Brisbane CBD, though the start of the valley in the east is so subtle, that you wouldn't even notice you have crossed into one of the top 10 most fertile regions in the world, where 40% of South East Queensland fruit and vegetables are grown. The landscape is dotted with little towns and townships, along with friendly locals, making it a region worth exploring.



Getting There

The quickest and easiest way to get to the Lockyer Valley is by car, and you will really need a car to get around. The main route that most people take is along the Warrego Highway, though this is also the route people take to just pass through. An alternative, more relaxed and scenic route is along the Rosewood Laidley Road.



You can also go by bus, and the Translink bus network goes through towns like Laidley, Forest Hill, Grantham and extends as far as Helidon, but essentially only stops at the towns. So once there you will need to use Taxi and rideshare services to get around.

Eating

There are a wide range of places to eat in the area. When you are looking for some great country cuisine at a good price, then the nearest pub is often the best option. As for what I have personally eaten in the area, I have had breakfast at Cafe 4343 in Forest Hill, Coffee and Cake at the Plainland Hotel , a sampling of sausages at Schulte's (though I wouldn't mind trying the meat pies next time I am passing through), lamb and sheep's milk cheeses at the Awassi Cheesery , date scones along with tea served in a metal cup at The Barn , eaten lunch boxes and from the Staging Post Cafe and cakes from the Floating Cafe .



Many people who head to the area, look to self-cater at their accommodation or want to take some farm fresh goodness home with them as part of their Lockyer Valley experience. If this is what you are looking for, you can pick up award-winning meats from Schultes Market and Butcher , grab farm-raised fish and chicken from 9dorf Farms , check out the sheep's milk cheeses and dairy from the Awassi Cheesery or pick up some honey sold at the Information Centre at the Lockyer Valley .



This list is barely scratching the surface on places to eat in the valley. One pub that stands out is Queensland National Hotel in Laidley, though, as I already said, there are so many great hotels serving great pub standards in the Lockyer Valley, that is hard to recommend one over another. Another place worth checking out is Sage on Hickeys in Gatton for innovative cafe dining. Also, if you want to experience more of the area's German heritage, then the German Bake & Wurst House in Helidon Spa is worth visiting for breakfast or lunch.

Shopping

The Lockyer Valley provides a range of shopping opportunities for visitors, including local arts and crafts, as well as locally grown and produced foods. You will find shops in many of the towns across the valley selling arts and crafts and a lot of cafes also sell crafts and food. One town like this which I have visited and explored was Forest Hill . This town also hosts The Handmade Expo and Vintage Markets twice a year.



There are lots of places to buy fresh or locally produced food in the area. I have already mentioned the farms like 9Dorf and Awassi Cheesery and shops like Schulte's Gourmet Market . There are also numerous country markets to visit, including the
Laidley Village Markets, every Friday from 7 am to 1 pm, Mulgowie Farmers Market on every 1st Saturday of each month
from 8.00 to 11.00 am, the Ma Ma Creek Markets ever 2nd Saturday of the month from 7.00 am to noon, the Plainland Country Markets, on the 3rd Sunday every month from 7 am to noon, Murphys Creek Markets on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 7.00 am to 1.00 pm and the Laidley Country Markets on every 4th Saturday of the month from 6.00 am to noon.



Farms

The Lockyer Valley is dotted with a wide range of farms, and you can visit a fair few of them for farmstays, farm tours and farm gate shopping. I have visited 9Dorf farms which runs tours about their poultry and fish farming operations, and which sells farm fresh eggs, pasture-raised chickens, fresh fish and more from the farm gate. Another farm which runs tours, cheese tastings, group meals and sells products from the farm gate is Awassi Cheesery , which specialises in making cheese and other products from the milk of the awassi sheep breed. For contrast, there is also Fordsdale Farmstays and Horseback Adventures in the foothills of Great Dividing Range. They are well known for their horse riding weekends as well as group horse riding options. They are currently doing their weekend stays using glamping tents.



While you can't visit every farm or always buy from the farm gate, you can find lots of locally made products at Schulte's Gourmet Market in Plainland and various farmers markets in the area. You can also buy online, for example, order online from Native Oz Bushfoods or from Preston Peak Wines .



History & Art

Like a lot of country regions, the Lockyer Valley prides itself on its history. You can enjoy great pub meals in a wide range of heritage-listed pubs, or explore the history of each town or area of the Lockyer Valley.



There are also a number of museums around the area, with the most fun and quirky being Scotty's Garage , which features numerous vehicles and other automatic history as well as a tribute to the 1950s American diner out the back. Even if you just visit The Barn cafe next to the museum, you can still see a number of classic cars in various states of restoration around the cafe.



The Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre also features a range of old vehicles and planes in their Transportation Museum as well as local art in the art gallery. If you are in Gatton, this is a great place to stop, and you can also visit Lake Apex Park behind the centre.



Adventure & Activities

While a trip to the Lockyer Valley can end up focusing on food and shopping, there is still plenty of adventure to be had. Fordsdale Horseback Adventures hosts horsing riding for groups and organises events. Go for a couple of hours or do a farmstay weekend.



There is also hiking, mostly at Glen Rock State Park with some unmarked tracks in the Lockyer National Park . Another great place for some adventure is Lake Dyer (Also called Bill Gunn Lake), which is popular for water skiing and sailing when it has enough water, while Lake Clarendon is also suitable for canoeing and kayaking.

Staying

There are plenty of places to stay in the Lockyer Valley, but of course, you will want to stay with style. One place that stands out is Branell Homestead , which includes the homestead with 3 bedrooms, a library and function area, as well as 3 cabins up on the hill, each with 3 bedrooms.



When heading away with friends and family, you can seek out a range of houses, cabins and cottages. A nice example of this is Stockton Rise Country Retreat , which is a great place to base yourself if you are in the area for a while. Though with nice views and a well setup kitchen, indoor dining and outdoor deck areas, you might spend more time there than away.



You can also seek out farmstays such as F ordsdale Farmstays and Horseback adventures . Currently they are focusing on glamping options. Along with various motels close to towns, there are also camping and caravanning options. One of the most popular is Lake Dyer Caravan & Camping Ground. When Lake Dyer is full, it is a great spot for water activities.



Hosting Events, Parties & Weddings

The Lockyer Valley is a popular place to host events, especially weddings because of its proximity to Brisbane, great locations to host events, and suitable venues for parties. With lots of nearby accommodation, people often make a weekend or more out of an event. Despite all these advantages, the Lockyer Valley locations are often cheaper than other locations around South East Queensland.



One of the most popular spots for a weekend wedding event is Branell Homestead , which has a kitchen and group dining setup at the main homestead, a beautiful spot down by the dam for the wedding, and accommodation for over 20 people in the homestead and the cabins that are also on the grounds. If this location interests you, book early as it is one of the more popular wedding and party locations in the Lockyer Valley.



Other event venues include The Barn and Scotty's Garage , which combines the rustic setting of The Barn for dining, the beautifully maintained but a little quirky setting of the surrounding garden for a wedding and a '50s era diner out the back for parties where you can play rock 'n' roll on the jukebox and Elvis and Marilyn Monroe will turn up.



Other locations are Fordsdale Farmstay and Horseback Adventures , which hosts more adventurous events, which include glamping, barbecued meals and horseback riding, or Lake Apex Park at the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre for lakeside weddings and a whole range of functions at the function centre.

Overall

The Lockyer Valley doesn't really register as a place to visit for many people in South East Queensland. I think this is because other areas have managed to attract the attention of the tourist market. Having said that, those who do visit will often return. They go for the food, shopping, or to host an event. They will go away with their friends for a long weekend in a country cottage or visit a place in the area that they haven't had the chance to visit before.

Ultimately, the Lockyer Valley is a great local resource that is made amazing by the efforts of locals. It has a lovely country feel and has not been gentrified like the more famous destinations in this area. What has been listed in this article are the highlights that I know about, and I definitely want to head back and explore more.

The author visited the Lockyer Valley as a guest of Tourism & Events Queensland

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