Sirromet Winery, Mount Cotton, Qld

Why it works

Brisbane accommodation does not have to mean a tower, a buffet breakfast and circling a CBD car park. Around 30 minutes from Brisbane - traffic permitting, because this is still South East Queensland - Sirromet gives you a very different way to begin or end a city visit: a working winery experience, proper food and a night in the bush.

It is not exactly off the beaten track. In fact, that is the point. Sirromet is close enough to be easy, but once you turn into the Mount Cotton estate, the city drops away surprisingly quickly. The wines are mostly made from Granite Belt fruit, while the cellar door, winery experiences, restaurants and accommodation sit here on the large Mount Cotton property between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Wine and food

You can make Sirromet a straightforward day trip: book a tasting or winery tour, then settle in for lunch. The Cellar Door Cafe is the more casual option; Tuscan Terrace is the place for a longer meal, with a seasonal menu, Queensland produce and views across the estate. It is an outdoor venue, so dress for the weather rather than for an air-conditioned dining room.

The cellar door showcases wines made largely from Granite Belt fruit. I tasted across a number of styles and found the quality consistently high.

The better version, though, is to stay over. It removes the debate about who is driving and lets the wine and food become the point of the evening rather than something squeezed into a day of sightseeing. Sirromet also runs concerts, wine events and seasonal experiences, so it is worth checking the calendar before you book - both to find something appealing and to avoid being surprised by a very busy estate, with its many marsupial welcomers from the gate.

The stay

I have stayed at Sanctuary by Sirromet, and the appeal is the contrast between the winery and the bush. The tented ‘pavilions’ sit among native bushland rather than in a conventional hotel corridor. There is space, greenery and hordes of wallabies and kangaroos nearby. Inside, the pavilions function much like comfortable private hotel rooms, complete with ensuites and balconies; the canvas walls and zip panels retain the glamping feel. You’re far enough away from neighbours to feel like you have the place to yourself.

For travellers driving north or south, it can also work as a softer landing than going straight into Brisbane. Arrive, taste, eat, sleep, then tackle city traffic the next morning. Or reverse it: finish the urban part of the trip, retreat to the winery for a night, and leave feeling as though the holiday has not ended at checkout.

Good to know

Book the accommodation and your preferred restaurant together; do not assume that staying onsite automatically secures dinner because evening dining options are limited. Check which dining venues and tasting experiences operate on your dates, particularly midweek. If everyone wants to taste, transfers from Brisbane and the Gold Coast are also offered.

 Road & Table verdict

Sirromet is one of those useful places that can be three different trips: an easy winery day, a food-and-wine overnight escape, or an alternative to another night in the city. Hiding in plain sight, perhaps - but well worth knowing about.