Toowoomba in country Queensland lies some 130 kilometres by road from the Queensland capital, Brisbane.
It is Australia's second largest non-coastal city after the national capital, Canberra.
Toowoomba is the principal town of the farming region known as the Darling Downs west of the Great Dividing Range. Toowoomba is nicknamed The Garden City.
Carnival of Flowers
As a farming and garden community, Toowoomba celebrates its Carnival of Flowers in September, a festival that now takes place over 10 days bookended by two weekends.
The 2009 Carnival of Flowers runs from September 18 to 27 with its Grand Central Floral Parade staged on September 19 and the Flower, Food and Wine Festival in Queens Park from September 18 to 20.
Celebrations, competitions and community events take place throughout the carnival.
Driving to Toowoomba
Toowoomba is due west of Brisbane and the major route to Toowoomba is through Ipswich Rd and Ipswich Motorway and into Warrego Highway for some 92 kilometres.
Average travel time should be around two hours.
