Art enthusiasts can experience stories of Somerset and a farm that’s anything but calm as part of two new exhibitions at The Condensery. ‘Colourful Chaos II’ is full of vibrant 2D colour pieces featuring animals and the occasional human. Each piece is inspired by Sandi Harrold’s country upbringing. Get carried away in the colourful chaos […]
The Somerset Bendigo Bank Art Awards returns to Somerset this Saturday, 27 and Sunday, 28 July. Showcasing entries from South-East Queensland and New South Wales, this exhibition provides a visual feast at Somerset Civic Centre in Esk. Mediums include 3D/sculptures, textiles, painting, works on paper, photography and more. EXHIBITION TIMES Saturday, 27 July | […]
Looking for a great day out with family and friends? The Esk Cultural Festival is a free event on Saturday, 27 July at Pipeliner Park, Highland Street, Esk. The festival celebrates the diverse histories, foods and cultures of Somerset and its neighbouring regions. Come along and enjoy a day full of cultural activities showcasing international […]
Bring the family and celebrate with us at the Somerset Rail Trail Fun Run or Ride festival from 9am to 12pm this Sunday, 14 July. There will be free activities galore including jumping castles, rock climbing wall, slide, baby animal farm, live music, DJ and more. All welcome! Food and drinks available for purchase. […]
Come and enjoy some of Queensland’s finest regional racing at Esk this Saturday, 13 July. Treat your family to an action-packed day of racing, fashions on the field with cash prizes and more. Gates open | 10.30am First race | 12.45am Fashions on the field | from 1pm Last race | 4.15pm Food and drinks […]
Just because the weather is getting cooler doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the beautiful outdoors in Somerset. If you’re a keen cyclist, warm up your legs and keep active by joining the BVRT 100 Challenge Bike Ride in June, on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. BVRT 100 CHALLENGE BIKE RIDE This Brisbane Valley […]
Enjoy all the family fun of a rural show. Treat the children to rides, activities, games, stalls and more. Oh, and did we mention the laidback country atmosphere? LOWOOD SHOW Held on Friday, 14 and Saturday, 15 June. Features horse, cattle and pavilion displays. Saturday features fireworks, demolition derby, children’s entertainment, facepainting, live music […]
Enjoy a day out in the winter sunshine at the Esk Garden and Lifestyle Fair on Saturday, 15 June from 8am to 3pm. This family friendly event will cater for people of all ages, with more than 100 stalls featuring plants, gardening products, hand crafted bush furniture and more. Free lectures by Claire Bickle, […]
Warm up this winter with a drop of wine at one of Somerset’s boutique country wineries. Set among the rolling pastures and native landscape of the stunning Somerset countryside, our wineries are sure to surprise. WINYA WINES Visitors to Winya Wines can drop into the cellar door and choose from a selection of eight […]
Treat your family to an action-packed day of racing, fashions on the field, raffles, prizes and more at the Kilcoy races on Saturday, 15 June from 10am. Enjoy the spectacle of harness and gallop races held throughout the day, and delight in the mini trots featuring children aged from six to 15 years of […]
With Mother’s Day fast approaching on Sunday, 12 May 2019, it’s time to start planning something special to let mum know just how wonderful she is! Here are a few ideas to get you started… FOR MUMS WHO LOVE MARKETS AND MUNCHIES Take mum for a stroll through the Fernvale Country Markets this Mother’s Day […]
If you’re looking for a special gift, why not drop into one of our country markets and choose from a range of handmade treasures and treats. SATURDAY, 4 MAY 2019 Esk Markets 7am – 12pm, Pipeliner Park, Esk Linville Hall Markets 7am – 12pm, Linville Hall, Linville SUNDAY, 5 MAY 2019 Fernvale Country Markets […]
We can’t wait to celebrate the arts, of all kinds, at the inaugural Somerset Art Beat Festival. Held at the Somerset Regional Art Gallery – The Condensery in Toogoolawah on Saturday, 1 June 2019 the free festival will be a family friendly event celebrating all things creative. The festival will offer a range of art […]
The 2019 Somerset Rail Trail Fun Run or Ride will be held on Sunday, 14 July 2019. This event is back for its seventeenth year and will, for the third consecutive year, include a 24km bike ride in addition to the popular 8km and 3km run/walk events all held on Australia’s longest recreational rail trail. […]
Winter is coming and we all know there’s nothing better than relaxing in front of a warm fireplace to beat the chill. So be sure to book your next cosy winter stay in Somerset. THE HOLLOW LOG COUNTRY RETREAT AND KOALA SANCTUARY Perfect for families or small groups, The Hollow Log Country Retreat and Koala […]
We sat down with Jim and Naomi McKenzie, owners of the Blacktop Motorcycle Works in Esk to chat about living and working in Somerset. DESCRIBE BLACKTOP MOTORCYCLE WORKS We are a family owned and run business and we work hard and believe in producing quality products. To put it simply, we restore and repair pre-1980’s […]
Somerset will host the 2019 Reel Wivenhoe Classic at Captain Logan Campground, Lake Wivenhoe from Saturday, 17 August 2019 to Sunday, 18 August 2019. The event is open to competitors and day visitors and is perfect for families with free family fun festival including jumping castles, slides, rock climbing wall, live music, fireworks, kayak and […]
It’s that time of year again, when Lowood comes alive with creative flair and cultural experiences. All are welcome to join in on all the fun at the Lowood Art Cultural Festival on Saturday, 27 April 2019. Get the chance to immerse yourself among the cultural performances available on the day including unique fire dancing, […]
Lace up your boots, grab your camping chairs and get your mates together and travel to the Toogoolawah Showground on Saturday, 13 April 2019 for the 24th annual Toogoolawah Charity Rodeo. Starting at 11am with some of Australia’s best cowboys and cowgirls this rodeo is going to be an event you do not want to […]
Treat the kids to a host of outdoor adventure activities in Somerset during the school holidays. HORSE RIDING ADVENTURE – NASH HORSE TREKKING Nash Horse Trekking can tailor packages to suit families with children from as young as three years. Children can brush, feed and interact with their horse as they ride the Brisbane Valley […]
Lace up your boots, grab your camera or binoculars and head outside for some wildlife spotting in Somerset. Somerset is a wildlife watcher’s paradise with regular glimpses of koalas snoozing in the trees and kangaroos grazing in grasslands. Make sure to keep an eye out for elusive echidnas meandering along our trails or the shy […]
Get back to basics with a camping trip to remember this Easter school holidays. Somerset boasts caravanning and camping spaces galore to suit families of all shapes and sizes. NRMA LAKE SOMERSET HOLIDAY PARK NRMA Lake Somerset Holiday Park offers the perfect family getaway with family friendly facilities including a large playground, basketball court, sporting […]
The inaugural Reel Somerset Classic is a family friendly, non-professional fishing competition held at Somerset Park Campground, Esk Kilcoy Road, Somerset Dam, from Friday, 29 March 2019 to Sunday, 31 March 2019. Come along for a great weekend at Lake Somerset, spend the day fishing and relax with live music each evening. Food will be […]
The Colours of Somerset Arts and Culture Festival is on Saturday, 16 March 2019 from 10am to 3pm, giving you the opportunity to indulge and enliven the senses. Feel like you need to add some flavour, unique experiences or perhaps a bit of colour to your life? At this art and cultural festival, you will […]
Attention all country, blues and rock music lovers! Camp and Jam – Country, Blues and Rock Festival is on Friday, 15 March 2019 to Sunday, 17 March 2019 at Esk Showground. With headlining acts like Sista Burley, Caravan and Vix and the Slick Chix it is a weekend not to miss. Come for the day […]
Pick up a copy of the new Somerset visitor guide to experience a real country adventure. The Somerset Visitor Guide, hit the shelves in February and is now available at our visitor information centres in Esk, Fernvale, Kilcoy and Toogoolawah. Flip pages to discover information about Australia’s longest recreational rail trail – the Brisbane Valley […]
For Dan Owbridge, owner of the One Tree Canoe Company, trees are more than bark and leaves. Trees are a symbol of everything that he holds dear; his tree change to Somerset, his family tree and his ‘One Tree’ philosophy. DESCRIBE ONE TREE CANOE COMPANY To put it simply, One Tree Canoe Company create classic […]
Have you made a new year’s resolution to be fit and healthy? The Fernvale to Lowood section of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail is a great place to kick start your fitness, keeping you on track to achieve your health goals. This section of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail is 8km and is suitable for […]
Enjoy an event for the whole family at the Fernvale Junction Feast and Trade Village on Saturday, 2 March 2019. This event is held at the Fernvale Showground, Banks Creek Road from 4pm to 9pm. Held quarterly to coincide with the changing seasons, you have a great opportunity to enjoy delicious food, live entertainment, children’s […]
What do you remember about your first holiday? The smell of sausages sizzling on the barbie? Gripping the slippery scales of the first fish you ever caught? Unzipping the tent and seeing a sunrise over the lake for the first time? Relive these unforgettable moments by taking a trip down memory lane with Experience Somerset, […]
Jody Davis, co-owner of The Girls Coffee Bar in Fernvale, spills the coffee beans about making quality coffee and serving it with a smile. Nestled in amongst the shops along the Brisbane Valley Highway in Fernvale, Queensland you’ll find The Girls Coffee Bar. Outside, a couple of gents and their pet dogs are seated in […]
Esk is a beautiful country town known for its friendly atmosphere, backdrop of Glen Rock and abundance of cafes. But, there’s more! Esk is home to the heart and soul of the Somerset Art Society group with their displays on show at the Glen Rock Art Gallery. In 2009 a group of Somerset artists formed […]
Before becoming Australia’s longest recreational rail trail, the Brisbane Valley railway line was built to access timber resources from the Brisbane Valley. It was an extension to the Brisbane and Toowoomba railway line. The first section of the railway line opened in 1884 connecting Wulkuraka (previously known as Brisbane Valley Junction) to Fernvale and Lowood. […]
Are you a keen angler? Looking for a great opportunity to spend a weekend away fishing with family and friends? Register for the Reel Wivenhoe Classic family friendly fishing competition held at Captain Logan Campgrounds at Logan Inlet, Lake Wivenhoe on Saturday, 18 and Sunday, 19 August 2018. With $20,000 in prizes to be won […]
Looking for place to launch your boat or go kayaking on calm waters? Hamon Cove is the ideal location for you. Located along the Brisbane Valley Highway in Somerset only 12 minutes south of Esk, Hamon Cove is great place to spend a relaxed day by the water. FACILITIES Hamon Cove, Lake Wivenhoe features toilets, […]
Green thumbs unite for the Esk Garden and Lifestyle Fair this June. Thousands of people are expected to arrive at Pipeliner Park, Esk on Saturday, 16 June 2018 to enjoy everything garden related. Come along and wander through the garden stalls, enjoy the abundance of food offerings that will at the fair or enjoy a […]
For a fun-filled family day out, head to Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield on the weekend of 26 to 27 May for the Red Thunder Air Show. The air show has something for everybody including vintage military aircraft, modern aircraft shows, skydiving displays, joy flights, military vehicles, hot rod cars, live music, food and beverages. […]
The Somerset community is a resilient one and that camaraderie is integrated into an artistic display in Fernvale’s CBD known as the Fernvale Murals. The murals were created post 2011 floods. Through difficult times, the Fernvale community and Somerset Regional Council banded together to create something incredible. The Fernvale Murals, a touching ode to Fernvale’s […]
Nestled beneath magnificent Glen Rock, Esk is a scenic country town with a range of cafes, shops and historic sites to explore. The township was established in 1872 and originally known as Gallanani, which is thought to be the Aboriginal name for the Eastern swamp hen. In 1886 the second section of the Brisbane Valley […]
We sat down with Ian and Dot Roy, owners of Coolana Olives at Minden in Somerset, Queensland to chat about life, love and olives. Nestled in the peaceful hills of Minden range in Queensland, you’ll find Coolana Olives. Since 1985, Ian and Dot have toiled to pave a way for their unique Australian made gourmet […]
Located next to Kilcoy Visitor Information Centre, Yowie Park provides a tranquil lagoon, scenic parklands to explore and Kilcoy’s Yowie statue. FACILITIES Yowie Park features toilets, barbecue, picnic tables, playground, parking, large open spaces, grassed areas, shady trees and a lagoon abundant with birdlife. KILCOY’S YOWIE AND IT’S SIGNIFICANCE A Yowie is a […]
We catch up with Bill and Lyn Rose, owner operators of the Old Fernvale Bakery in Fernvale, Queensland to talk pastries, pies and the past. Sydney has the Opera House. New York City has the Statue of Liberty. Likewise, Fernvale has the Old Fernvale Bakery, and it wouldn’t be the same without it. Home to […]
Located five minutes drive north of Fernvale, the Spillway Common provides unique views from Spillway Lookout below the dam wall of Lake Wivenhoe and access to Atkinson’s Crossing, a true fishing, kayaking and canoe lovers paradise. FACILITIES Spillway Common, Lake Wivenhoe features a viewing platform, toilets, barbecue, under cover picnic tables, parking, large open spaces, […]
We sat down with Camilla Brown, over a cuppa of course, to find out about the Timbarra T House in Esk, Queensland. I’ve never been to a tea house before so didn’t quite know what to expect. I have however, visited a coffee shop or two in my time and anticipated a similar routine: Open […]
EXPERIENCE ART AND CULTURE IN SOMERSET Nash Gallery and Cafe, located in the main street of Esk in the historic Lars Anderson house, is a combination of everything owners Gavin Nash and Sandee Boyd enjoy most. They thrive off creating hand thrown crystalline pottery and flavoursome food infused with fresh herbs and local produce. As […]
Construction of the dam started in 1935 but had to be suspended in 1942 due to World War II. The dam was finally completed in 1959 and holds a 904,000-megalitre reservoir of water at full capacity. The site for the dam was first recommended by Henry Plantagenet Somerset after the 1893 Brisbane Floods. Henry Somerset […]
Nestled amongst the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, surrounded by the beautiful Somerset country side, you’ll find the Old Church Gallery Moore. Originally built in the early 20th century, the church has been transformed by gallery owners David Mackenzie and Deborah Johnston-Booker, into a beautiful contemporary art space, retaining the buildings character and providing […]
History buffs make sure to experience Somerset’s Churches and Memorials Trail for a fascinating drive through the region. Go back in time and explore the religious and social history of the area. Allow a full day to travel the 160km trail, as we guarantee you will be stopping every chance you get to take in […]
Celebrate Australia Day, the Somerset way! If you are looking for a great day out with the family come along to our Somerset Australia Day Pool Party, join us for a swim and lots of fun activities. Held between 10am to 5pm at the following locations in Somerset: Kilcoy Aquatic Centre – Corner Mary and […]
Come out and explore O’Sheas Crossing, a truly beautiful stretch of the upper Brisbane River at the northern end of Lake Wivenhoe. Located between Lake Wivenhoe and Lake Somerset, O’Sheas Crossing offers a relaxing picnic spot and the ideal place to launch your kayak or canoe to go on a natural river adventure. Bring a […]
As I walk into the Esk Wivenhoe Motor Inn, my eyes sweep across beautifully hand crafted rocking horses, an old peddle car and an array of antique toys that would ignite the inner child in anyone. This is not your regular motel reception area. With a bold backdrop of red, black and white and in […]
Located at the southern end of Lake Wivenhoe, Billie’s Bay and Hays Landing offer the perfect destination to spend a day by the water. Enjoy a relaxing swim in the calm, cool waters of Billie’s Bay. Bring a fishing rod, launch your boat, kayak or canoe from the boat ramp adjacent to the swimming area. […]
Owner operator of the Brisbane Valley Tavern in Fernvale on keeping the pub scene family friendly. It’s 2pm on a Tuesday and the lunch time rush at the Brisbane Valley Tavern in Fernvale is over. Around the tavern a group of office staff are just finishing off their lunch and are preparing to return to […]
Many Christmas events are being held throughout Somerset region this December and you are invited to attend. SOMERSET CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TRAIL Plan an evening with friends and family to experience the Somerset Christmas Lights Trail. Homes throughout Somerset will be lit up from Friday, 1 December 2017 to Monday, 1 January 2018 for viewing. […]
The Somerset Regional Art Gallery – The Condensery is situated in the small town rich in country hospitality, Toogoolawah. A magnificent structure, rebuilt and restored to its original glory, Somerset Regional Art Gallery – The Condensery is certainly hard to miss. This building is known to many as the cultural footprint for Somerset providing visitors […]
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ESK | 07 5424 2923 |
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FERNVALE | 07 5427 0200 |
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KILCOY | 07 5422 0440 |
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TOOGOOLAWAH | 07 5423 1036 |