Day Trip to Toowoomba Carnival Of Flowers

 

Day Trip to Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, Queensland. Australia

With its blossoming culinary culture, country vibe and city convenience, It’s where crisp winter air finds its appetising antidote in a smorgasbord of cool cafes, bars and restaurants.  Toowoomba should be at the top of your list for a weekend getaway. We hit the range with a blanket of thick fog and parked in the side street beside Queens Park and the markets at Cobb & Co. 

We took a stroll through Queens Park to Park House Café, which we visited a month ago and really liked it. Unfortunately this time around we were unimpressed, with all table reserved we were offered the table near the stairs with no cover or outdoor umbrellas. Due to the wind the host started there wasn’t anything to anchor them down, but the other seven umbrellas had no problems with sandbags. The table was wet from the mist and fog. The host came back out with the menus and placed them on the wet table, had no intention of wiping the table down, so we walked. 

 

A short walk from Park House Café is The Finch Café which is dog friendly venue, with outside seating for customers who wish to bring their four legged companion. Approaching the Finch the first thing we noticed is a board scrawled with the words Fonzie Abbott. Coffee lovers will know it’s a superb roast from Albion that has evidently made its way inland. We both opted for the big breakfast, which Sari (pup) enjoyed some of. The cool industrial vibe is offset by warm and friendly service, and a delicious cabinet of sweet treats. The friendly service and superb meal made up for the rude host at Park House Café. The fog was just clearing as we walk back to Queens Park to check out the flowers in the morning sun before it got too crowded.

The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers went ahead in a varied format with 170,000 blooms planted across the city's major parks and public spaces to create a spectacular canvas of colour for much needed celebrations in September. In a year that has seen a raft of events cancelled due to COVID-19, the Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio confirmed that the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers will bloom brightly again this September, as one of the first major events to be staged post-lockdown. All events, experiences and areas were managed with COVID-19 safe plans in place.

 

Headlining the 2020 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers was the parks and public spaces, including Laurel Bank Park and the Botanic Gardens of Queens Park, which were not affected by COVID-19 restrictions. Floral displays, music and parkland entertainment, a Ferris wheel, food trucks and Saturday markets.

 

We headed over the road to Toowoomba’s vibrant and varied market scene at Cobb & Co, which is one of south Queensland’s best-kept shopping secrets so if you’re looking for an interesting change from your local supermarket for the weekly shop or sourcing a unique gift. After the markets we grabbed our picnic trolley of goodies and headed to a quiet spot in Queens Park.  The go-to picnic spot of Toowoomba normally for us is Picnic Point. Situated on the eastern escarpment, the panoramic views are unparalleled. Loads of tables and barbecue facilities are dotted around the parklands.  Views of the Lockyer Valley, lofty gum trees, rainforest walk, plus a top-notch restaurant with viewing telescope and extensive playground, make Picnic Point popular with us. 

Our now favourite park, the Botanic Gardens at the north-eastern corner of Queens Park has a mood changing landscape and a dog off-lead area not fenced, so your well behaved dogs can run around without being claustrophobic. Unfortunately everytime we let Shari pup) off to play with the other dogs she would visit other peoples picnic to say hi and check out what they are having for lunch. Queens Park has the prettiest fountain, picnic tables and grassy expanses for laid-back enjoyment. The best-secluded spot for a romantic picnic is adjacent to Campbell Street, by the hedge.

We stayed until the twilight settled in when Queens Park springed to life with lighting displays that weaved through a secluded section of the parkland. Designed as a family-friendly space, the Night Garden features light installations and illuminations of colour.

Once Upon A Daxxie Facebook

Kim picked up a couple of handmade pet bandannas from Once Upon a Daxxie.

Hammy's Cupcakes Facebook

Big shoot out to Hamish Brown is an entrepreneur who bakes little cakes with a big Hammylicious taste and is seting his sights on his own cafe and a TV show · Australia.

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