Glen Innes to Stanthorpe road trip: Distance, drive time & stops

The Glen Innes to Stanthorpe drive covers a 148km distance in a driving time of around one hour and 44 minutes. The best stops to add to a Glen Innes to Stanthorpe road trip itinerary are Tenterfield and Ballandean.

A road trip from Glen Innes to Stanthorpe takes you from the New England region of New South Wales to Queensland’s Granite Belt.

To pick out the best Glen Innes accommodation, head here.

Stanthorpe is surrounded by national parks, near the Queensland border. For Stanthorpe accommodation deals, hunt here.

This guide is designed to help travellers plan their perfect Glen Innes to Stanthorpe road trip itinerary. Click through on the links for more detailed links about individual towns and attractions – and remember to stock up on your road trip essentials before setting off.

Glen Innes to Stanthorpe distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Glen Innes to Stanthorpe is 148km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 44 minutes.

Things to do in Glen Innes include seeing the peculiar Australian Standing Stones Monument and tackling the tough Tommy’s Rock Walking Track in the Mann River Nature Reserve.

Glen Innes accommodation

Glen Innes accommodation options are basically various iterations on the motel. The New England Motor Lodge is the strongest contender, here – it has the most central location and a surprisingly sprawling pool. The Clansman Motel on the New England Highway also has good reviews. Meanwhile the Great Central Hotel does cheap but decent rooms above a pub.

Glen Innes to Stanthorpe road trip: Glen Innes to Tenterfield

Continuing north along the New England Highway from Glen Innes to Tenterfield, you’ll soon pass the Beardy Waters Heritage Park. This is a fairly fancy name for what’s essentially a mundane free camping site.

The route then passes through Dundee towards Deepwater. The Deepwater Riverside Reserve is pleasant enough, but the star attraction here is microbrewer Deepwater Brewing. Try the seasonal beers if popping by.

Further north, the highway runs by the Bolivia Hill Nature Reserve, which has a few walkable fire trails but no tourist-focused facilities.

On the way into Tenterfield, there’s an impressive granite formation. Bluff Rock is one of the most striking landmarks on the New England Highway, and it can be viewed from the Bluff Rock Lookout next to the highway. Unfortunately, this looming mound of granite has a dark past – in 1844, settlers massacred a group of local Aboriginal people here.

There’s an arguably better lookout close to the town centre, however. The Mount Mackenzie Scenic Lookout in the Mount Mackenzie Nature Reserve is just under 1,300 metres above sea level. You can drive up, and enjoy the picnic tables and barbecues while there. The view takes in the town and the Goonoo Goonoo Tableland.

The best things to do in Tenterfield include tastings at the local wineries, and getting a better understanding of Australian history at the Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts.

Best Tenterfield accommodation

The top places to stay in Tenterfield are:

For a cheap, solid motel: Tenterfield Motor Inn.
For a little style and flair: Commercial Boutique Hotel.
For a great value four star: Golfers Inn.
For heritage charm: Stannum House.

Glen Innes to Stanthorpe drive: Tenterfield to Stanthorpe

From Tenterfield, you can detour north to Boonoo Boonoo National Park and Bald Rock National Park.

But the New England Highway continues over the Queensland border into Wallangarra. The Border Tree makes a decent photo stop here, but you’re better off continuing to Ballandean.

Ballandean offers several Granite Belt wineries, plus the bizarre Ballandean Pyramid. It is also the gateway to two national parks. You’ll realistically need a 4WD to explore Red Rock Gorge in Sundown National Park.

Girraween National Park is more accessible, though, with several excellent walking trails. The walks to the summit of the Pyramid and Castle Rock offer the best views, though.