Toowoomba

With more than 150 parks and a long line of green-thumbed home gardeners, Toowoomba is deservedly known as the City of Flowers. And every spring the city folk and garden-lovers from across the land come together to celebrate that heritage with the Carnival of Flowers when Toowoomba is in full bloom.

127 km west of Brisbane and 700m above sea level on the edge of the Great Dividing Range, Toowoomba has a temperate climate and is fast becoming the in-place for travellers seeking an alternative to the great Australian seaside holiday. With over 70km of shared pathways, cycling or walking is a pleasant way to see the city.

The town is a service centre for the Darling Downs with butter and cheese factories, sawmills, flour mills and a tannery. The name is derived from the Aborginal word "tawampa" meaning swamp.

Toowoomba and the surrounding area is noted for its antiques shops. Pick up an Antiques Trail guide and get ready to pounce on a bargain. The city also boasts the oldest public art gallery in regional Queensland, now housed in a smart new purpose-built building.

There are many historic buildings and several interesting museums in Toowoomba. The City Heritage Walk takes you past many of the city"s most striking buildings, including St Patricks Cathedral and St Luke"s Anglican Church. The Cobb & Co Museum pays tribute to the important role that Cobb & Co played in opening up the interior of Australia to settlers. It has one of the country"s finest collections of horse-drawn vehicles.

Highfields Pioneer Village is a working farm museum. The Museum of Australian Army Flying in Oakey has an extensive display of aviation memorabilia. Further west, Jondaryan Woolshed celebrates farming history on the Darling Downs, with sheep shearing, blacksmithing, vintage machinery and billy tea and damper.

Festivals: Agricultural Show (April), Carnival of Flowers and the Festival of the Horse (Sept-Oct)

Things to do:

Visitor Information - located at the corner of James and Kitchener St

Visit some of the town"s parks and gardens - Lake Annand, Scented Gardens in Laurel Bank Park, Botanic Gardens and nearby Queens Park, Japanese Gardens at University of Southern Queensland, Baker St Wetlands in World Park

Heritage Buildings - St Patricks Cathedral, St Luke"s Anglican Church

Museums - Cobb & Co Museum

In the area:

Walking, biking and driving trails - pick up a brochure from the information centre for some wonderful walks and scenic drives

Orchid Park - Danish flower art and Pioneer Village 12 km north

Cuckoo Clock Centre - at Black Forest Hill 19 km north

Museums - Highfields Pioneer Village, Museum of Australian Army Flying, Jondaryan Woolshed