Granite Belt Christmas Farm
If you ever had a “real” Christmas tree growing up, you’ll know that the smell of fresh pine evokes happy, festive memories. At the Granite Belt Christmas Farm, walking through their fields of Christmas trees is sure to bring those memories flooding back.
The farm, which is run by locals Brendan and Katrina Fraser (along with their two children) is the only Christmas tree farm in Queensland that is open to the public. An annual family visit would make a lovely Christmas tradition, and help boost the economy of rural Queensland.
Things to do at Granite Belt Christmas Farm
The Granite Belt Christmas Farm hosts various events throughout the year, such as their annual Christmas in July picnic, so keep an eye on their events calendar for details. In addition, you can buy a real Christmas tree, feed Santa’s animals, visit their Christmas gift shop or enjoy a coffee or Belgian hot chocolate.
Choose a Christmas tree to take home
Families are welcome to walk through the avenues of trees and choose one to take home. The cost of the tree depends on its height and whether you require netting to transport it. The main harvest weekend is to be held on Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December in 2019 between 9 am and 4 pm each day.
During the harvest weekend, there will be all-day BBQs, face painting and visits from Santa. If you miss the harvest weekend, you can still visit the farm between 1st December and 23rd December from 9 am until 4 pm to choose your real Christmas tree.
The farm grows more than 10 000 Christmas trees which are shaped four times per year, so you’re bound to find one that is just right for your home.
Feed the Christmas animals
Admission to the Granite Belt Christmas Farm is free, and for just $2 you can buy a bucket of animal food to offer to the Christmas animals, including reindeer, donkeys, goats, sheep, ducks and chickens.
There’s plenty of wide-open spaces here for the kids to run around on this family-friendly farm, as well as plenty of Christmas themed paraphernalia to keep kids interested or to use as a photo prop. And although Christmas trees can only be purchased during December, the farm is open to visitors year-round, Wednesday to Sunday from 9 am until 4 pm (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays).
Visit the Mistletoe Christmas store
Stepping into the Mistletoe Christmas store you’ll find a wonderland of Christmas decorations, cards, ornaments and gifts. There’s also vintage collectables, jewellery, scarves, homewares and cookbooks. For the kids, there is a “Children’s Winter in Wonderland” book corner.
But undoubtedly the best thing about the Mistletoe Christmas Store is the large range of home-made, hand-crafted Christmas treats and chocolates. Chocolate lovers will rejoice at the Signature Chocolate Slabs with flavours like “Festive Midnight Snack” (Belgian chocolate oozing with caramel and lightly salted pretzels), or “The Perfect Crunch” (Belgian milk chocolate bound with honeycomb, topped with popcorn, caramel and salt flakes). There’s plenty of other drool-worthy options too, including rocky road, Turkish delight and “Rudolph’s magic freckles”.
Indulge with a Belgian hot chocolate
The Granite Belt Christmas Farm is located at 321 Aerodrome Road, Applethorpe (just north of Stanthorpe). For more information, visit the Granite Belt Christmas Farm website. For more ideas on things to do in the Granite Belt region, you can read our family guide to the Granite Belt Region.
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