Where to Go on a Day Trip Up North
Take a road trip up Crows Nest way, stopping for antiques, breakfast, homewares, olives, wine and more.
Published on 21 February 2019
Written by Phoebe Tully
Photography by Morgan Smith
While we love Toowoomba, we also love the surrounds of Toowoomba. We’re not picky.
We took a day trip up North to visit some of the almost-local businesses in Cabarlah, Hampton and Crows Nest – and we’re here to tell you that it is so worth a Saturday to drive up north. There’s a burgeoning community in all these towns, with incredible restaurants, inspiring little boutiques, and plenty of wine to taste. It’s even convinced us that we need to do an overnight trip soon, just so we can fit more in.
Here were our highlights.
Cyrano maison de france
This antique store is an absolute hidden gem. And with no website, you could be forgiven for never having heard of it.
On your way up north, we highly recommend stopping by this store-within-a-home. The owner, Margaret, was born in France and has maintained her deep love of all things French. Ranging from crystal decanters to 19th Century sideboards, Cyrano’s collection is worth the 20 minutes drive by itself. But keep in mind that this is not a bargain bin; it’s full of serious, beautiful antiques. There’s even some stunning handmade furniture by Margaret’s late-husband, whose skilful work looks right at home among the 200-year-old pieces. An absolute treat for the eyes, and a beautiful way to start your day.
Cnr New England Highway & Evans Road, Cabarlah (near the Cuckoo Clocks)
Wednesday - Sunday: 9.00am – 5.00pm | 4696 6141
—
Emeraude
Only a year or so old, Emeraude is already an institution – and for very good reason.
We stopped in for brunch, which well and truly lasted us until dinner. The servings are very generous, the coffee is outstanding, and the service is formal but friendly. You’ll see blueberries from down the road, chocolate from Metiisto, and other delicious wares from local growers and producers. The attention to detail is amazing, and the results are memorable. We will absolutely come back.
Hampton is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can plan your trip accordingly.
8616 New England Highway, Hampton
Thursday - Sunday: breakfast - late | 4697 9008
—
That Shop at Hampton
Just across the road from Emeraude, make sure you pop into this lifestyle store.
Full of a carefully curated selection of gifts, accessories and homewares, That Shop at Hampton is the sort of place you could browse for hours. The prices range from the extremely affordable to the luxurious, ensuring there’s always something you can choose for a memento. There were leather bags, horn bowls, silver earrings, silk scarves… the list goes on.
We’re going to bring our mothers next time.
3 Station Street, Hampton (across the road from Emeraude)
Thursday - Sunday: 9.00am – 4.00pm | 0427 411 516
bunnyconnellen
Just outside of Crows Nest is the very-Irishly-named Bunnyconnellen, known to local market goers for their olives and oils.
We popped in to try their selection of wines – taking home a bottle of each, oops! – and nibbled on all the different varieties of olives available.
If you time your meals better than we did, you can order a cheese board or a wood-fired pizza to complete the experience. We could have sat under the tree for the entire afternoon, enjoying the crisp Chardonnay and spicy Shiraz. It was absolute paradise, with a soft breeze and a view for miles. We’ll be going back very soon (and checking into the B&B so we don’t need to worry about a designated driver!).
The shop at Bunnyconnellen is definitely worth a visit while you’re there. Ann from Bunny also owns That Shop at Hampton, and you can expect the same beautiful curation of homewares, with the addition of some antiques. There is little stock crossover between the stores, so it’s worth going to both.
286 Swain Road, Crows Nest
Saturday - Sunday: 10.00am – 4.00pm | book the B&B
Crows Nest Soft Drinks
The Crows Nest Soft Drinks factory has been making cordials and soft drinks for over 100 years.
If you love an old-fashioned sarsaparilla or lemonade, you can purchase ready-to-drink bottles or a cordial to mix your own concoctions at home. The cordials can also be used to make milkshakes or to pour over ice-cream. We walked out with a case load of bottles to store in the pantry for parties, as well as a few bottles of the cordial to give to cocktail-loving friends.
The factory is right in the heart of Crows Nest, but look out for street names as the GPS took us to the middle of nowhere…
8 Charlotte Street, Crows Nest
Monday - Friday: 8.30am – 4.30pm + Saturdays: 9.00am – 2.00pm
We so enjoyed our day away, and can’t wait to visit again soon. This post was not sponsored in any way. The Field Guide paid for all meals and goodies.
