You think  you would be dreaming when you walk into the old Wymans Department Store and friendly staff ask, “Can I help you?”, and you’d simply have to be fantasising when you eat an award-winning fetta cheese & spinach pie at Café Delish knowing it was freshly made that morning? 

 

 

 

Patrick Street, the main street of Laidley

 

Does the thought of a long, leisurely, paper-reading brunch make your mouth water or something so simple as eating a doughnut whilst window shopping “do it for you?”.  

 

What about the sight in the early morn of cattle and horses snorting the air to see what is about while their owners push bales of lucerne from the back of trucks and their cattle dogs keep the beasts in line, and just to watch these dogs work is as good as being back in nature “big time” and strangely the city seems so far away.

 

 

The Laidley Post Office - Postcode 4341

 

Well wonder no more!  Step back, “just a little” in time and let the atmosphere of the past gently float around you when you visit Laidley in the beautiful Lockyer Valley.  Just a hop, skip and a jump from almost anywhere, Laidley is a must see destination.  If you are scooting along the Warrego Highway, even with only an hour to spare, then the Laidley turn-off at Plainland is something you just have to do!  How many times have you driven past and wondered…..?  Take your foot off the pedal, inhale the fresh country air and be ready to enter another world as you drive down Laidley-Plainland Road.

 

You will see a huge green frog on the right; our local nursery known as “Froggies”; take a photo with the kids and you can always grab a tree on your way home as a reminder of your adventure.

 

There is an old German house, painted bright pink with a big horse out the front which is now a museum.  They serve German cakes, amazing coffee and mango smoothies to die for, and yes, you do have to buy that token crocheted face washer and a jar of jam.  At Café Sorella you can have a home-made Italian meal and gorge yourself on Italian desserts, all while you are sitting in what was once an old General Store.  It’s amazing.  You could always wander up the road and visit Rob who has a shop full of irresistible “junk”, if you can get in the door that is.

 

 

 

 

  When was the last time you saw a real Fire Station that looked this cute ?

 

Wander around Narda Lagoon early one morning and you might see Ludelle who walks the local pound dogs because she can’t bear to see them locked up.  You could drive up to Cunningham’s Lookout and get an eagle eye of the countryside and see where your vegies grow, then drive past one of the local farms and see if the temptation to “nick” that cob of corn does not occur to you!

 

There are cattle studs, horse studs and I cannot think of one person who would be put out if you knocked on their door to ask what they do and could you have a look around.  Kids will be amazed to find that milk does come from cows before it goes into cartons, and crops actually grow in the ground and not in the freezer at Woollies.  See baby calves and foals running to keep up with their mums and wallabies eating on the sides of the road.

 

  Scratch beneath the surface; the gold in Laidley are the people.  Don’t be disappointed when you arrive in Laidley and think it’s similar to so many small towns you’ve driven through; stay in one of our wonderful b&b’s and you’ll be glad you took the turnoff.  Wake up to a wonderful breakkie, converse with the locals, and drown yourself in that “small town” syndrome that everyone always seem to worry about.  What the problem here is that neighbours care about neighbours; communities worry about their local hall and wonder if it can be saved; lawyer fathers are presidents of the local under 11’s sport clubs and mothers who work in town, run the farm and raise a family still have time to bake for the local church fete.

 

 

The end of the road - notice there are no roundabouts or traffic lights here, actually there are no cars, but the school bus picks up and delivers.

 

 

 

You won’t be disappointed with a weekend getaway in Laidley and I guarantee that you will chatter about it, and smile all the way home!

 

 

 

The other end of the road - beautiful isn't it ?

 

 

Laidley Links

 

 

Thornton Country Retreat - The Best Bed & Breakfast I know

Laidley Shire Council

Guide to Real Estate in Laidley