Set off from Ballendean around 12:45 AM for the run up the New England Hwy to Warwick — it’s about 1 hour 15 minutes on a clear night, with the roads quiet and easy to follow. Expect long dark stretches, so keep the fuel tank topped up before you leave and plan a calm, direct drive rather than rushing. Pull into town with enough time to park once in the CBD and settle in for a proper morning reset; street parking is usually straightforward this early, and the best thing to do first is stretch your legs and get the coffee moving.
Start at the Warwick Visitor Information Centre in the CBD for local maps, road updates, and the kind of practical advice that saves time later; allow 20–30 minutes here. From there, walk or drive a few minutes to St Mary’s Catholic Church, one of Warwick’s prettiest heritage landmarks, and spend 30–45 minutes taking in the architecture and quiet interior. After that, grab breakfast or brunch on Main Street Warwick — look for one of the local cafes near the centre of town; expect to spend A$20–35 per person and about 45–60 minutes. It’s a good place to linger over coffee before the drive north, especially if you want a proper sit-down meal rather than a servo stop.
Continue on to Toowoomba, aiming for the Toowoomba Visitor Information Centre in the tourist precinct for a quick mid-afternoon stop — about 20–30 minutes for toilets, local advice, and a reset after the highway run. Then head to Queens Park, Toowoomba in East Toowoomba for a relaxed 45–60 minute wander among the lawns and gardens; it’s one of the nicest places in town to shake off the drive before the final leg. Parking around the park is generally easy, and the short walk is enough to feel refreshed without burning too much time. From there, roll north toward Kingaroy with a comfortable buffer in the day, aiming to arrive without feeling like you’ve spent the whole day behind the wheel.