The Best Hotels and Places to Stay in Toowoomba, Queensland

The Burke and Wills Hotel wants to talk about love, indulgence and leaving you and your beau alone in a luxury suite and with nothing but a box of Belgian chocolates and a deep soaking spa bath. A welcome platter is waiting on your bed to be devoured – although your sheets will be filled with treats again soon enough. Have a go at the minibar and profess your love on the balcony overlooking Toowoomba.

Potter’s Boutique Hotel is one of the best places to stay in Toowoomba for families who need to keep the kids entertained. The connecting king room gives the tots their own space to play video games and jump on the bed. Take advantage of the few meters of privacy to make a cup of coffee and actually drink it. When the kiddos start to break the walls down, Laurel Bank Park has playgrounds and plenty of green space to run around in.

With just a few minutes drive from the annual Carnival of Flowers, you can practically smell the seasonal flowers of Laurel Bank Park from Avenue Motel Apartments. Self-contained stays are the norm in the executive rooms with full kitchens and generously sized bathrooms. No time to stop and smell the roses? The quick-stay overnight queen room is ideal for a short stopover in Toowoomba before heading back to the airport.

With City Golf Club a long putt away from the City Golf Club Motel, you can be your own caddy but live like you’ve got a gold jacket in your closet. A queen studio room overlooking the championship course has all you need – satellite TV, a small kitchenette and a spa bath – essentially everything short of a pack of range balls. Only have time for a tiny 18? There’s a mini-golf course, too. The City Cellars Bottleshop will send you back to the motel with a loaded Arnold Palmer that will soothe your high scorecard.

The mountain views from Inspire Boutique Apartments will rival the scene on stage at the Empire Theatres. It may not be art-deco, but the hardwood floors and marble kitchen island give these apartments a modern vibe. Grab views from your bedroom balcony or on the terrace before the show – before taking a quick cab to the theatre. After the encore, enjoy another round with late-night drinks and elevated food at Encores at the Empire.

The Sunray Motor Inn is one of those hotels in Toowoomba where all you’ll want to do is throw your keys on the counter and dive into the bed. Plan ahead and bring a bag of groceries with you to the self-contained unit so you’ll hardly need to move a muscle to grab dinner. No worries if you choose a standard room – room service will send breakfast or dinner your way. Although it looks enchanting, you will have to leave the room if you want to visit the Fairy Garden.

Just 0.3km (0.18mi) from the centre of Toowoomba, Vacy Hall surrounds you with historic charm. Take it all in at a snail’s pace, especially on Slow Down Sundays when you can arrange checkout at 5pm. What will you do with all of that spare time? Savour every bite of the famous breakfast porridge, thumb through a few chapters in front of your suite’s fireplace, or sleep in beneath the raised ceiling with zero guilt whatsoever.

What tops your list when scoping places to stay in Toowoomba? If a poolside bar, a 24-hour gym and a game room with big screens playing football are must-haves, then the Athena Motel Apartment is a must-stay. The cheers and laughter from these fun spaces won’t filter into your whisper-quiet room either – so you’ll never lose a wink when snoozing on your pillow-top bed.