Most visitors think of Toowoomba in spring, when the Carnival of Flowers takes over and the crowds follow. But the shoulder seasons earn their own case. Autumn in Toowoomba — April through June — brings mild days, genuinely beautiful foliage, and a city that isn’t stretched at capacity.
If you’ve been putting off a visit, the next few weeks are worth looking at.
Queens Park in autumn
Both Bannockburn Lodge and Bannockburn Cottage sit directly opposite Queens Park, so we’re not exactly neutral observers here. But the park in autumn is worth the mention.
The large trees along Queens Park’s main avenues were planted in the 1870s. In autumn they turn, and the park takes on warm golds and reds that aren’t what most people associate with Queensland. Early mornings in particular are quiet and pleasant. The sealed walking tracks, all-abilities playground, and open lawns are there year-round, but the combination of cool air and coloured canopy in April and May makes it a different experience to a summer visit.
The Toowoomba Autumn Leaf Trail
Toowoomba has a self-guided Autumn Leaf Trail that takes in some of the best deciduous trees across the CBD and inner suburbs. It’s a good way to spend a morning, and it passes through some of the older residential streets around East Toowoomba that don’t otherwise get much foot traffic.
The trail is free. You don’t need to book anything. All you need is a morning, comfortable shoes, and somewhere to come back to.
What’s on in May
A few events worth noting if you’re planning a May trip:
- May Twilight Makers Market (9 May) — Toowoomba Showgrounds. Local makers, food, and evening atmosphere.
- Toowoomba Orchid Society Autumn Show (15 May) — a long-running fixture in the Toowoomba events calendar.
- DownsSteam Super Saturday (15 May) — steam trains and heritage vehicles at the Showgrounds; good for families.
Worth checking the Visit Toowoomba Region events calendar closer to your dates for anything added since publication.
The Labour Day long weekend
Queensland’s Labour Day falls on Monday 4 May this year, making the weekend of 2-4 May a natural three-day window for a trip.
Long weekends at Bannockburn tend to book up reasonably quickly, particularly when both properties go to the same group. If you’re coming with family or a larger group of 8 or more, checking availability now is worth doing.
Practical things worth knowing
Autumn temperatures in Toowoomba are comfortable by Queensland standards. Days are warm without the humidity of summer, evenings are cool. The elevation (roughly 700 metres above sea level) means Toowoomba runs a few degrees cooler than Brisbane year-round — a fact most visitors find more pleasant than not.
If you’re bringing a pet, both properties are pet-friendly (downstairs and hard floors only). The park across the road is a natural starting point for morning walks.
Check-in is from 2:00 pm; check-out is 10:00 am. Early check-in and late check-out requests need to be made the day before — we can’t confirm them earlier due to turnover scheduling.
Book for May
Bannockburn Lodge sleeps up to 6 guests. Bannockburn Cottage sleeps up to 8. Both can be booked together for groups up to 14.
Check availability and book direct — no platform fees.
Jess and Jeremy, Toowoomba Homestays
