Discover Toowoomba – Queensland’s largest inland City

Toowoomba’s Cobb+Co Museum takes you back to the times of horse-drawn carriages and steam trains with its wonderful interactive displays and heritage trade workshops in silversmithing, millinery, whip plaiting and blacksmithing. Home of the National Carriage Collection, peer back through Toowoomba’s history and the Australian transport era – and don’t forget to stop by the cafe for scones, naturally.

Don't miss sweeping panoramic views from Toowoomba's heritage-listed Picnic Point Lookout and Parkland - 160-acres perched high on the crest of the Great Dividing Range, overlooking Main Range and the Lockyer Valley. And if you've been before, visit again because no two days are the same.

Picturesque Queens Park is just a short walk from Toowoomba's Central Business District. Many of the trees imported at the time from Europe, Asia and other parts of the world, today stand as grand old trees providing shade and a comfy place to rest beneath. This is the perfect spot for a family picnic, with large grassy spaces and playgrounds for the kids. Not a bad way to spend the day.

Visit the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, a private collection by former Toowoomba resident featuring over 400 Australian artworks by artists like Lionel, Daryl and Ruby Lindsay, Phillips Fox and McCubbin. Exhibits change monthly so no two visits will be alike. You’ll find dedicated galleries for those who are fond of specific periods of art such as The Fred and Lucy Gould art collection, packed with antique furniture, fine porcelain and glassware, gold and silverware, and other items from Europe, Asia and Australia dating from the 1700s to the 1930s.

Put your flora knowledge to the test at Laurel Bank Park, one of the prettiest things to do in Toowoomba. Spanning over 4 hectares, it boasts perfectly manicured gardens and giant carpets of bursting, bright blooms. Stop and smell the roses at the scented garden for an olfactory treat: to find it, walk towards the centre – it’s the garden within the garden, created by the Downs Association of the Blind for the visually impaired.

History oozes out of every wall, floor and bathroom tile at the heritage-listed Art Deco Empire Theatre. Australia's largest regional performing arts complex hosts everything from opera to comedy and musical theatre under its grand proscenium arch, so head here for your culture fix.

If you want to visit when flowers are at their peak, be sure to visit in September when the city comes alive for the annual, month-long Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers. From flower parades to sideshows to gourmet food tours and live music, there's so much to see and do during this festival, even once you've had your fill of the flowers.

Wine is served with altitude at Preston Peak Wines. Situated high on the Great Dividing Range and overlooking the Lockyer Valley, Preston has an elevation of 860m, making it the perfect spot to soak in the views. Their collection spans Shiraz and Serisier, which are distinctly richer in flavour due to the cooler climate. The nearby carefully restored Preston Village Chapel is perfect for a Queensland country wedding, too.

The Darling Downs Zoo cares for exotic species from Australia, Asia, Africa and South America – including the cute and cuddly capybara. Being the home of the only pride of African lions in Queensland means they have a special responsibility to keep these majestic big cats well and happy. The zoo specialises in captive breeding for many critically endangered and vulnerable species from around the world. It's also home to the only white lions permanently taking up residence in Queensland, and the largest herd of zebras and giant tortoises in the state.

Get back outside and get another panorama fix at Table Top Mountain. Used as a training track for hikers prepping for Mount Kilimanjaro and the Kokoda Trail for years, there’s a well-worn trail you can stick to if you’re unsure about carving a new path. The hike is all uphill, but the summit view is the ultimate reward.