| Unique Stanthorpe accommodation TWINSTAR GUESTHOUSE & OBSERVATORY B&B with an astronomical observatory |
FEATURES
Stargazing facilities; beautiful
garden; close proximity to Girraween
National Park and wineries
ACCOMMODATION
Three ensuite guestrooms with a
reverse cycle air-conditioner and
other essentials for guest comfort.
THE NIGHT SKY TOUR
A stargazing session to introduce
guests to the beauty of the night sky
through an 18-inch telescope.
OBSERVATORY
Twinstar Guesthouse Observatory
introduces staying guests to the
beautiful night sky.
Stargazing facilities; beautiful
garden; close proximity to Girraween
National Park and wineries
ACCOMMODATION
Three ensuite guestrooms with a
reverse cycle air-conditioner and
other essentials for guest comfort.
THE NIGHT SKY TOUR
A stargazing session to introduce
guests to the beauty of the night sky
through an 18-inch telescope.
OBSERVATORY
Twinstar Guesthouse Observatory
introduces staying guests to the
beautiful night sky.
| Twinstar Guesthouse & Observatory 28146 New England Highway, Ballandean, Queensland 4382, Australia Email: twin-star@bigpond.com Phone: 07 4684 1135 |
| Site Overview |
TARIFFS & BOOKINGS
Room rates and booking conditions
LOCATION
3 hours drive from Brisbane and 4
hours from the Gold Coast;
15 minutes from Stanthorpe (Qld)
35 minutes from Tenterfield (NSW)
LOCAL INFORMATION
What is available in Ballandean
HOW TO FIND US
Detailed directions handy for finding
us!
OUR GARDENS
More than 100 roses in bloom during
warmer months
WILDLIFE
Abundant wildlife around the
guesthouse
OUR MEALS
Samples of breakfast and evening
meals
GIRRAWEEN NATIONAL PARK
15 minutes to Girraween National
Park; Bald Rock and Boonoo Boonoo
National Parks are not far
GIFT VOUCHER
Excellent gift for your relatives and
friends
Room rates and booking conditions
LOCATION
3 hours drive from Brisbane and 4
hours from the Gold Coast;
15 minutes from Stanthorpe (Qld)
35 minutes from Tenterfield (NSW)
LOCAL INFORMATION
What is available in Ballandean
HOW TO FIND US
Detailed directions handy for finding
us!
OUR GARDENS
More than 100 roses in bloom during
warmer months
WILDLIFE
Abundant wildlife around the
guesthouse
OUR MEALS
Samples of breakfast and evening
meals
GIRRAWEEN NATIONAL PARK
15 minutes to Girraween National
Park; Bald Rock and Boonoo Boonoo
National Parks are not far
GIFT VOUCHER
Excellent gift for your relatives and
friends
| Stanthorpe accommodation; Ballandean accommodation; Unique B&B accommodation in Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt in Queensland, Australia Twinstar Guesthouse & Observatory |
General Information about Stanthorpe and Ballandean
History of Stanthorpe & Ballandean
Allan Cunningham, who is a botanist and explorer, discovered the country where Stanthorpe is located. Stanthorpe was founded by tin minors,
who came from many countries to mine tin since the "tin rush" in early 1872. Stanthorpe literary means "tin town", as Stannum is Latin for "tin" and
thorpe is Middle English for "town."
While the first (table) grapes were planted at Ballandean around 1840, it was not until 1931 that they were used to make wine. Since then,
wineries gradually have grown to emerge and Ballandean is now recognised as a premier wine producing region on the Granite Belt.
Climate
At an altitude 800~950m, the Stanthorpe and Ballandean area, also known as the Granite Belt, is frequently "the coldest area" in Queensland.
From frosty winter to fresh summer, this area displays four distinctive seasons with unique characters.
Industry
The main industry today includes agriculture such as apple / stone fruits / vegetable productions, and cattle / sheep grazing. Recently, the
Stanthorpe and Ballandean area is the centre of a booming wineries with more than 50 wineries. Wine and tourism are very important part of the
area's economy. There are great national parks nearby including Girraween National Park, where visitors can marvel at massive granite outcrops
and balancing boulders. A wide range of accommodation places from caravan parks, B&Bs, motels, guesthouses to luxury cottages can be found
in Stanthorpe and Ballandean.
History of Stanthorpe & Ballandean
Allan Cunningham, who is a botanist and explorer, discovered the country where Stanthorpe is located. Stanthorpe was founded by tin minors,
who came from many countries to mine tin since the "tin rush" in early 1872. Stanthorpe literary means "tin town", as Stannum is Latin for "tin" and
thorpe is Middle English for "town."
While the first (table) grapes were planted at Ballandean around 1840, it was not until 1931 that they were used to make wine. Since then,
wineries gradually have grown to emerge and Ballandean is now recognised as a premier wine producing region on the Granite Belt.
Climate
At an altitude 800~950m, the Stanthorpe and Ballandean area, also known as the Granite Belt, is frequently "the coldest area" in Queensland.
From frosty winter to fresh summer, this area displays four distinctive seasons with unique characters.
Industry
The main industry today includes agriculture such as apple / stone fruits / vegetable productions, and cattle / sheep grazing. Recently, the
Stanthorpe and Ballandean area is the centre of a booming wineries with more than 50 wineries. Wine and tourism are very important part of the
area's economy. There are great national parks nearby including Girraween National Park, where visitors can marvel at massive granite outcrops
and balancing boulders. A wide range of accommodation places from caravan parks, B&Bs, motels, guesthouses to luxury cottages can be found
in Stanthorpe and Ballandean.
Twinstar Guesthouse & Observatory is unique
motel-style Bed and Breakfast accommodation
located at Ballandean 15km south of Stanthorpe
and 40km from Tenterfield (NSW) provides clean
and affordable accommodation.
The Guesthouse features an astronomical
observatory where the interested guests are invited
to join the night sky tour, an introduction to the
wonders of the night sky.
Twinstar Guesthouse & Observatory is a small
B&B with only 3 guestrooms. Each room is
equipped with a reverse cycle air-conditioner,
microwave oven, fridge and other essential items
for guest comfort.
Each guest room has its own entrance from the
common verandah, which is very convenient for
stargazer guests to go in and out for all night
stargazing activity without worrying about disturbing
other guests.
Breakfast is usually placed in the guestroom before
their arrival so that the guests can have breakfast
in their own room at any time. This makes a
stargazer's "life" easier, particularly after an all
night stargazing session.
Twinstar Guesthouse Observatory is equipped
with an 18-inch (46cm) reflecting telescope housed
in a dome behind the guesthouse. The night sky
tour will be conducted from the observatory using
this large telescope, weather permitting. For
serious stargazers, a 10-inch (25cm) Dobsonian
telescope and 100mm binoculars are available for
their overnight use free of charge.
Twinstar Guesthouse & Observatory is situated
in the village of Ballandean away from large towns.
Stanthorpe and Tenterfield (NSW) are some
distance away from the village and the skies over
Ballandean are very dark, little affected by light
pollution (sky glow caused by artificial light sources).
Twinstar Guesthouse & Observatory is also
ideally located for visits to Girraween and Bald
Rock National Parks and others on both sides of
the state border. The region around Stanthorpe
called the Granite Belt is well known for its
production of wine with many of the wineries found
within a few minutes drive from the guesthouse.
motel-style Bed and Breakfast accommodation
located at Ballandean 15km south of Stanthorpe
and 40km from Tenterfield (NSW) provides clean
and affordable accommodation.
The Guesthouse features an astronomical
observatory where the interested guests are invited
to join the night sky tour, an introduction to the
wonders of the night sky.
Twinstar Guesthouse & Observatory is a small
B&B with only 3 guestrooms. Each room is
equipped with a reverse cycle air-conditioner,
microwave oven, fridge and other essential items
for guest comfort.
Each guest room has its own entrance from the
common verandah, which is very convenient for
stargazer guests to go in and out for all night
stargazing activity without worrying about disturbing
other guests.
Breakfast is usually placed in the guestroom before
their arrival so that the guests can have breakfast
in their own room at any time. This makes a
stargazer's "life" easier, particularly after an all
night stargazing session.
Twinstar Guesthouse Observatory is equipped
with an 18-inch (46cm) reflecting telescope housed
in a dome behind the guesthouse. The night sky
tour will be conducted from the observatory using
this large telescope, weather permitting. For
serious stargazers, a 10-inch (25cm) Dobsonian
telescope and 100mm binoculars are available for
their overnight use free of charge.
Twinstar Guesthouse & Observatory is situated
in the village of Ballandean away from large towns.
Stanthorpe and Tenterfield (NSW) are some
distance away from the village and the skies over
Ballandean are very dark, little affected by light
pollution (sky glow caused by artificial light sources).
Twinstar Guesthouse & Observatory is also
ideally located for visits to Girraween and Bald
Rock National Parks and others on both sides of
the state border. The region around Stanthorpe
called the Granite Belt is well known for its
production of wine with many of the wineries found
within a few minutes drive from the guesthouse.
