The cool, high country of the granite belt is located on Queensland's southern border.

The boom in wine tourism has been a key driver, and while winter is popular, the region benefits from being a cool contrast to coastal humidity in the summer.

Despite spring frosts and variable soils Granite Belt grapes and wines are considered high quality.

[1] The regions soils are derived from the parent rocks of Ruby Creek Granite and Stanthorpe Adamellite that form the northern section of the New England Batholith.

Many of the fifty-plus wineries in the region have enjoyed significant success with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay for some years.

Recently Verdelho has performed very well and many wineries are experimenting with alternative grape varieties, including Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Petit verdot.

[7] The botanical group known as the Stanthorpe Rare Flower Consortium has been established as a result of the region's significant floral heritage.

The granite boulders of the region attract rock-climbers, and bush-walkers like to explore the little-known Underground River.

[citation needed] The possibility of experiencing snow on the ground in Queensland is another tourist attraction for the region.

These Indigenous people groups inhabited the land for ten's of thousands of years prior to European exploration and settlement.

A number of large pastoral stations were established in the region:[10] During the following decade, mining of gold, copper and tin brought permanent European settlement to the district.