How to Buy from the Bush this Christmas

Want to buy from the bush this Christmas? Swap online deliveries and busy shopping centers for a weekend away in the country where you can #SupportLocal. Stock up on berries straight from the farm, buy a real Christmas tree, or attend a festive market.

Here’s our top tips for buying local from the Southern Downs and Granite Belt this Christmas:

Get a real life Christmas tree

An image showing people buying a real Christmas tree at the farm.

Queensland’s biggest and most magical tourist Christmas tree farm is in Stanthorpe and word is spreading fast that it’s the ideal place to trip to with the family in December and return with a fresh-cut tree. Granite Belt Christmas Farm grows over 10,000 real Christmas trees and are open everyday for harvest of trees from 27 November to 23 December 2021.

Stroll through the rows of trees and savour the fresh smell of pine! The Christmas trees are hand pruned 4 times a year to create thick, lush foliage and the perfect shaped Christmas tree. Find your perfect tree, then Santa’s helpers will measure, tag, cut down your tree and bring it back to the barn.

Attend a Christmas Market

Stanthorpe Christmas Market Day
Hit the road and head to the Stanthorpe Christmas Market Day on Saturday 4 December from 9am to 2pm. The Market will take over the main street, with local stalls selling everything from handmade goodies to local wine and everything in between. Don’t miss the pet friendly Santa photos! Lucky shoppers will enjoy $1500 in shop local EFTPOS gift cards that will be drawn onsite at 11am and 1pm.

Need transport? Crisp’s Coaches is operating a day trip with pick ups from Brisbane, Yamanto, Warrill View and Aratula – guaranteed to make it a comfortable and stress free festive day out supporting local businesses on the Granite Belt. Keep the party going by heading to the Stanthorpe Music and Arts Festival on the same day from 2pm-10pm in Weeroona Park.

Allora Bush Christmas & Markets
The small town of Allora, between Warwick and Toowoomba, will come alive on Friday 3 December from 4:30pm for the annual Bush Christmas and Markets. There will be family activities, jumping castles and over 40 local vendors, making it easy to #SupportLocal this Christmas!

Buy from the Bush Christmas Market
On Saturday 4 December, Buy From the Bush QLD will be hosting a boutique market full of amazing bush businesses from all over Queensland at the Granite Belt Christmas Farm.

Buy direct from the maker

Up your pavlova game this year by picking your own strawberries direct from the farm. The Southern Downs and Granite Belt is a mecca for lovers of fresh seasonal produce and hand-crafted wines. Fill your basket with these goodies that will be sure to up your Christmas lunch game:

Pick your own strawberries at Ashbern Farms, Stanthorpe
Try an alternative variety of wine (we call them Strangebirds here) by stopping in at one of our many cellar doors
Gift a six pack of locally brewed beer from Granite Belt Brewery or Brass Monkey Brewhouse
Head to gourmet favourites Jamworks, Stanthorpe Cheese or Truffle Discovery Centre for special gifts (or to eat yourself!)
Country town local butchers are renowned for having some of the most delicious, fresh meat you can get your hands on. And Christmas hams are no different! We have plenty of butchers in our towns, but if you need a hand deciding, give our Visitor Information Centres a quick call.

Give a Shop Local Gift Card

woman holding a gift card that says Warwick and Surronds Shop Local

If you’re stuck for gift ideas this year, or you can’t fit in a trip before Christmas, check out the region’s Shop Local Gift Cards. They work just like an EFTPOS gift card, meaning you can load it with any amount. They can only be spent at participating stores in the region, meaning the money stays local, supporting our businesses and giving a true #ShopLocal experience this Christmas.

The Warwick & Surrounds gift card can be spent at over 40 participating stores. It can be bought online or at Warwick Credit Union or Coopers Menswear
The Stanthorpe & Granite Belt gift card can be spent at nearly 100 participating stores and can be bought online or at Bendigo Bank Stanthorpe.