Just a 5 minute drive from your lodging at Boulevard Motel, you’ll find a fantastic attraction: the Queensland College of Wine Tourism. This educational centre offers students the opportunity to study viniculture, oenology, business, tourism, and hospitality. With a multi-million dollar facility and exceptional training, it’s a great place for young people to get a head start on their career. However, it’s not only a place of learning, it’s a major site for visitors to the region. Offering dining, fine wine, and more, a fantastic culinary experience is mere minutes from your Stanthorpe accommodation. To enhance your holiday, why not take a visit to this wonderful spot?

An Award-Winning Restaurant

The Varias Restaurant & Function Centre is one of the highlights of the QCWT campus. Open to the public, this operates as a real-world training opportunity for the college’s students, while providing exceptional food and beverage to guests. Open 7 days a week with a spectacular luncheon menu, Varias Restaurant emphasises locally-sourced products and regional flavours. The college’s students prepare and serve everything on the menu, consistently maintaining the highest level of professionalism. Enjoying your meal in a well-appointed environment, you can cosy up to the fire or take in the views of Stanthorpe from the outdoor patio. It is truly a remarkable dining experience not to be missed.

After you’ve settled into your Stanthorpe accommodation (with Boulevard Motel, of course), a short drive will bring you to the Varias Restaurant. Open daily from 9:00am until 4:00pm, the restaurant opens early on Sundays (8:00am) for breakfast. Due to popularity and high demand, Varias has also begun offering Friday and Saturday evening dinner service! Book a reservation in advance to ensure you get a table at this local hotspot.

Sample the Local Varietals

Here in Stanthorpe, we are in the heart of Queensland’s Granite Belt wine region. Also functioning as part of the college is nearby Banca Ridge Wines. Offering hands-on training to students by allowing them to observe and manage wine production, this is a great asset to the institution and to the community as a whole. Pay a visit to the cellar door to sample many of the local varieties produced at Banca Ridge. The cellar door is open for tasting daily from 9:00am – 4:00pm. In 2000, a student vineyard was planted, boasting tempranillo, petit verdot, merlot, and marsanne grapes. This winery is a must-do for any visitor to Stanthorpe.

Host an Event or Business Function

Perhaps your stay in the area is for more than just a holiday. If you’re travelling in Stanthorpe to hold a business event or other occasion, the Varias Conference and Function Centre may be your ideal venue. Weddings, conferences, meetings, and more can find a place here at Varias. Large groups of up to 250 can be accommodated theatre style, with smaller parties appropriate for banquet style catering. Modern architecture, spacious grounds, and a beautiful environment make this a prime spot for hosting an event in Stanthorpe.

As you can see, there is a lot going on here in our region! After selecting your comfortable and affordable Stanthorpe accommodation, it’s time to start planning your itinerary. We hope you’ll make time to visit the wonderful Varias Restaurant and the campus of Queensland Wine Tourism College.