Toowoomba Motor Village

When it comes to your morning coffee, we like to take the short drive (less than 10 minutes) into town to Ground Up Cafe, one of Toowoomba’s best specialty coffee roasters. It’s tucked down a laneway off Ruthven Street, and while the focus is squarely on excellent coffee, they also do a great breakfast with eggs benedict, avocado toast and granola bowls all a feature.

For a casual lunch, head to The Baker’s Duck, a Toowoomba institution that locals will tell you is worth the hype. Their sourdough loaves and buttery pastries regularly sell out, so it pays to get in early. We’re big fans of their almond croissant or a classic ham and cheese toastie paired with one of their rotating single-origin coffees. We also grabbed a loaf of the olive and rosemary sourdough to take back to the park - it did not last long.

If you’re after something a little more indulgent, The Rock is a contemporary gastro pub in the centre of town that’s known for its seasonal specials built around local produce. They’re exceptionally vegetarian and gluten-free friendly - even boasting a gluten free chicken parmi. Other signature dishes include chargrilled steaks and fresh seafood, paired with a solid wine list featuring plenty of great Australian drops. It’s one of our favourites for a dinner out when staying here.

Catch a show at The Empire Theatre — one of Australia’s largest regional performing arts venues. Housed in a heritage-listed Art Deco gem, it hosts world-class performances in music, ballet, comedy, and more. Tours of the beautifully restored auditorium are available too.

On the other end of the spectrum, enjoy the calmness of the Ju Raku En Japanese Garden — nestled on UniSQ’s Toowoomba campus, this expansive 4.5-hectare stroll garden is one of Australia’s largest traditionally designed Japanese gardens. With elements like a central lake, waterfall, tea house, azalea hill, bamboo groves, and more than three kilometres of paths, it’s the perfect spot for a quiet wander.

Experience Toowoomba’s lush heritage in vibrant garden beds and historic landscaping with a stroll through Queens Park and Botanic Gardens. Whether it’s vibrant flowers or shaded paths, this is the city’s horticultural heart and a favourite for locals and visitors.

Again best discovered on foot, Toowomba’s Street Art scene. The town’s laneways and alleys are bursting with bold murals thanks to the First Coat International Art Festival which operated as a three day event from 2013 - 2017. First Coat Studios continues to expand Toowoomba’s public art catalogue, making one of the largest outdoor street art galleries in Australia.

Despite sitting on the main road of Ruthven Street, the park is tucked back enough that traffic noise is minimal, making it surprisingly peaceful given how close you are to the town centre.