10 trendy guesthouses: Garden city’s best kept secret stays

Bookings are soaring for accommodation venues across the garden city. Here’s just some hot spots offering a home away from home.

Here are just some of the sweet cottage stays in Toowoomba, offering guests a home away from home.

With Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers, Food and Wine Festival and school holidays just around the corner, bookings are soaring for accommodation venues in the garden city.

Here are just some of the sweet cottage stays in Toowoomba, offering guests a home away from home.

Banksia Cottage

Described as enchanting and romantic, this warm and charming cottage sits on a street lined with trees and is just a short stroll from the CBD.

Featuring two bedrooms, a large kitchen and wood fireplace, the historical home can accommodate both short and long stays.

The pet-friendly property also welcomes furry friends on approval, with a fully-fenced yard for them to play in.

For more information click here.

Banksia Cottage.

Elder-flower Cottage

Nestled in the garden of a Flagstone Creek property is this sweet cottage with its own outdoor bathroom.

Hosts Bruce and Mandy Storey have been running the guesthouse on their seven acre property for more than four years.

“Once our kids grew up and started leaving home, we thought it would be great to offer the cottage as an Airbnb,” Ms Storey said.

“We’ve always loved meeting new people but with Covid meaning we can’t travel too far, we’ve actually had a lot of locals or people from Brisbane come and stay.”

After purchasing a caravan and transforming it into a one-bedroom cottage, the husband and wife created an outdoor bathroom with a claw foot bath, surrounded by tranquil gardens.

With a fire pit on site and outdoor cinema onsite, guests are encouraged to bring some marshmallows to toast, while watching their favourite movies.

“We have goats, so I like to make soap out of their milk which we provide to our guests,” Ms Storey said.

“The bathroom is definitely a big selling point because it’s so relaxing to hop in the bath and take in the surroundings … sometimes we have mums come and stay for a weekend away and they just love it.”

Over the years, the couple have hosted honeymooners and weddings, including their own nine years ago.

Visitors are welcome to pick vegetables and fruit growing in the gardens, as well as eggs from the chook pen and use the barbecue to cook dinners.

Stepping stones that have been painted by the pair’s 16 grandchildren have also been scattered throughout the gardens for guests to check out the cactuses, salvia flowers, macadamia trees and pond.

For more information click here.

Bruce and Mandy Storey own Elderflower Cottage Airbnb in Flagstone Creek. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Keeler Cottage

Live in luxury while staying at this newly renovated 1920s cottage.

With three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large living space and spacious deck, guests will be able to make themselves at home.

Offering lovers of food all the essentials needed to cook up a storm, the kitchen is fully-equipped with recipe books, electric mixers, baking utensils and pantry staples.

For more information click here.

Keeler Cottage.

Pinbarron Cottage

Enjoy a cool breeze and listen to the sounds of the birds singing while staying in this charming, fresh and newly renovated Queenslander cottage.

Situated near Queens Park, Cobb n Co Museum and the Botanic Gardens, the house is in a convenient location for visitors to check out the local area.

Offering three bedrooms with airconditioning, the property also consists of an open plan living area, fully-equipped kitchen with a breakfast nook and laundry.

For more information click here.

Pinbarron Cottage.

Norwood Roses

Make yourself at home in this whimsical cottage filled with flowers, art, antiques and vintage furniture.

Originally a corner store, the dreamy, pink property which was built in the 1890s has been fully-restored and sits beside an award-winning rose garden.

But the hotspot which guests often describe as their dream home, hasn’t come without its fair share of hard work.

“We always intended to make the cottage an Airbnb, but it required a lot of restoration work and took about four and a half years to complete,” owner Caitlyn Mason said.

“When we first bought it was deemed as inhabitable, but we were able to bring it back to life and open it up in November 2020, which meant we could share the garden all year round.”

Ms Mason said there was a lot to love about the house full of heart, with the quirky interior and incredible garden enticing visitors from near and far.

And while the recent lockdowns in Brisbane and New South Wales has presented challenges for the guesthouse owner, things are starting to look brighter.

“We’ve been fortunate because people have been holidaying at home and winter was quite busy with people seeking out cottage stays during the cooler months,” Ms Mason said.

“The next month is going to be a busy one for us – we can’t say enough good things about The Carnival of Flowers and we can’t wait for people to come and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere that is Toowoomba in September.”

Featuring a luxurious claw foot bathtub, spacious garden and front veranda, guests looking for a romantic weekend away in the garden city, will find everything they need in this sweet home.

For more information click here.

Caitlyn Mason at Norwood Roses.

The Blue House

You won’t miss this stunning baby blue coloured house in Newtown.

Providing guests a private retreat to escape to for the weekend, the sweet cottage sits beside half an acre of private gardens and is within walking distance to shops, restaurants and parks.

With plenty of areas to sit and relax in the gardens or on the front veranda, guests will instantly feel at ease at this two-bedroom getaway.

For more information click here.

The Blue House.

Jampot Cottage

Full of character and charm, this little cottage is perfect for all seasons with a wood heater during winter and airconditioning when temps start to heat back up again.

With high ceilings, three spacious bedrooms, a bathroom and ensuite, the property makes the perfect place for wedding parties, family getaways or business travellers.

For more information click here.

Jampot Cottage.

Isabell Cottage

Newly refurbished, this 1920s worker’s cottage is pink in colour with a white picket fence.

Featuring retro wallpaper, leadlight glass windows and an exposed brick design statement, the boutique-style accommodation offers guests a luxurious and cosy place to call home for both short and long stays.

Owner Charmaine Manteufel and her husband purchased the property at the start of Covid-19, with the intention to keep themselves busy with the renovation project.

And while it took a little longer to complete than they expected, the couple are very pleased with the final result.

“We changed the kitchen and bathroom significantly – I wanted to keep it looking neutral and fresh with a bit of quirkiness here and there, through the wallpaper and lighting,” Ms Manteufel said.

“Every weekend in September is currently booked but we still have vacancies throughout the week available … we’ve had people travelling from all over Australia to stay.”

And while Isabell was a very special find, the English rose coloured cottage had a few hidden surprises.

During renovations, the couple found The Courier Mail newspapers from 1948, under the lino flooring – a special memento that is now framed in the property’s entry.

A weighty copper bullet shell was also found in the garden shed.

The two bedroom house has a spacious backyard with a large tree offering plenty of shade.

For more information click here.

Charmaine Manteufel is proud of Isabell Cottage. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Renwick Cottage

Uncluttered and clean, this stunning historical home is a holiday goer’s dream.

Located within walking distance from the Empire Theatre, museums, walking trails and parks, this sweet abode offers comfort through its homely feel.

An entertainers dream, the house has a large deck which adjoins the main living area and kitchen through stunning French doors.

Use the pizza oven and fresh herb garden to make your own dinner, before spending the night sitting in front of the fireplace.

For more information click here.

Renwick Cottage.

Holroyd House

Guests will be welcomed to this heritage home with a complimentary packed picnic basket or platter on arrival.

Despite undergoing a renovation, the century aged Holroyd House in North Toowoomba, maintains its traditional charm and character with original fretwork and VJ walls paired with polished timber floors.

For more information click here.

Holroyd House.