How to spend a perfect weekend in Toowoomba

Toowoomba is a charming and laidback city where you can spend a comfortable and relaxed weekend, really enjoying yourself. It has a spectacular arts scene and a blossoming food culture that wasn't there in this city, which is one of the biggest regionally in Australia, a couple of years ago. There is a perfect mountain air and small-town vibe that would be energetic and relaxing at the same time. Here's how to spend the most perfect weekend in Toowoomba.

Day 1 Morning

On your first day in Toowoomba, start early and make sure you add a morning sunrise to your schedule. Pick one of the serviced apartments in Toowoomba and make sure that you have a grand breakfast at one of the local restaurants that will serve buttermilk pancakes covered in maple syrup, bacon and scrambled eggs and herb-crusted tomatoes. Then climb to a vantage point and watch the sunrise. After that come down the hill to the Cobb + Co Museum where you can see the National Carriage Collection. It's always great to get a glimpse of the golden past. You can take the Warrego highway to the outback and visit Jondaryan, that in the 19th century was a great sheep ranch. Today it's a heritage site that will give you plenty of natural beauty to wander in.

Day 1 Evening

Come back to the city and spend your lunch at your hotel the likes of Oaks Toowoomba Hotels, if you want you could sleep in for a bit or choose to go out immediately. Explore Toowoomba's urban side in the afternoon and evenings, either by checking out the street-art events, visiting live music shows, pop up bars and other artistic workshops.

Don't forget to top yourself up with a jolt of coffee when you can for wherever you may decide to get it from its guaranteed to be delicious. Take in more art by visiting the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery before you get dinner.

Day 2 Morning

You can decide whether you want to wake up early or late on Sunday because you will be spending the morning going for a drive. Try breakfast at a café where you can get roasted mushrooms served in a fetta, garlic and thyme concoction on Turkish toast.

The drive will take you down to the south of Toowoomba, your destination being Queen Mary Falls. It is about one and half-hour's drive and is quite scenic especially past the pretty village of Killarney. The Queen Mary Fall circuit is a quick walk that takes no longer than 40 minutes through the bush. Drive back to Toowoomba just before lunch so you can stop on the way for some beef and shiraz pies.

Day 2 Evening

40 minutes on the way to Toowoomba, you will come across Darling Downs Zoo. It is a small and private zoo owned by a pair of siblings. It will make for a slow and quiet time where you can get the personal tour by one of the siblings and discuss animals with them at great length. It won't feel out of place in a children's book, talking to the siblings who are hard and fast animal lovers whose passion you can see in their excitement as they tell you about the animals in their care.

When you return to Toowoomba, you can pick a room service dinner at your hotel if you are too tired or you can go out for one last rodeo on the town for some opera at the Art Deco Empire Theatre and top it off with Japanese for dinner.