Locally owned and independent
April 7, 2022
The Northern Rivers Times
TRAVEL 29
Destination Queensland Brisbane The capital of Australia’s Sunshine State, Brisbane, invites you to kick off your shoes, rally your mates and enjoy the food, art, culture and natural playgrounds on offer. Dive into the River City’s eclectic arts scene, eat, drink and shop in hip inner city neighbourhoods, and take a trip to the beautiful islands across the bay.
Tropical North Queensland It’s the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, but there’s plenty more to discover in the heart of Cairns, including a chilledout café and bar scene, a bustling weekly market, and enlightening museums and galleries. Explore the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, day trip to nearby islands including Green and Fitzroy
Islands, head inland to the Atherton Tablelands in search of tasty local delights, waterfalls and tree kangaroos, or adventure further north to Port Douglas, Cooktown, and beyond. Fraser Coast Home to the largest sand island in the world, K’gari (Fraser Island) has superb scenery with massive shifting sand blows, sensational swimming spots and thrilling beach and rainforest 4WD tracks. Hervey Bay on the Fraser Coast is the world’s one of the best places to see baby humpback whales.
Gold Coast The Gold Coast is famous for its world-renowned surf breaks, and golden stretches of sand fringed by towering skyscrapers. Beyond the sand, discover vibrant beachside neighbourhoods, booming culinary and arts scenes, a plethora of shopping opportunities and the iconic heart pumping theme parks. Bundaberg The home of Australia’s most famous rum and an emerging agritourism industry, Bundaberg is also the launch point for exploring the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Swim alongside manta rays at Lady Elliot Island,
home to a popular eco-resort; and walk the shores of uninhabited Lady Musgrave Island, surrounded by vibrant coral reefs and home to an abundance of marine life. There’s also a turtle sanctuary right on Bundaberg’s doorstep, where visitors can witness mothers laying their eggs and babies hatching throughout the season.
Sunshine Coast Stretching from the coastal hub of Caloundra in the south, to the Great Sandy National Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast is home to relaxes seaside villages, pumping surf breaks, impressive mountain peaks and lush hinterland landscapes. Unwind at the popular holiday destinations of Noosa and Mooloolaba or discover the more laidback hinterland towns of Coolum, Eumundi, Maleny or Montville. Southern Queensland Country Slow down, breathe in fresh air and get a taste for the countryside when you escape to Southern Queensland Country, only 90 minutes from Brisbane. Eat and drink your way through some of the state’s food trails, savour the landscapes rich in colour, follow the Strange Bird wine trail, or get lost amongst the
blooms in Toowoomba.
The Whitsunday Islands An archipelago of 74 tropical islands, the Whitsundays lie just off Queensland coast, nestled between Airlie Beach and the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef. Protected from large swells, secluded islands beaches such as the iconic Whitehaven are ideal for sailing, swimming, snorkelling and relaxing. An island escape will leave lasting memories thanks to the likes of Hamilton, Daydream and Hayman Islands. SEE & DO Discover the world’s largest coral reef system One of the world’s most magical marine encounters awaits on the Great Barrier Reef, which stretches for more than 2300 kilometres along the Queensland coastline. Deep dive in the diverse ecosystem that is the Great Barrier Reef with hundreds of experiences on offer to explore this underwater wonder, home to more than 1625 species seven species of marine turtles.
Storytelling in the Daintree Rainforest Connect more deeply with the Daintree Rainforest by taking a tour of the world’s oldest living rainforest with a Traditional Custodian. Start your cultural journey with an Indigenous-guided walk in beautiful Mossman Gorge, where Kuku Yalanji people share stories of their 50,000 year relationship with
Mossman River to see the World Heritage-listed canopy from a different perspective. Red dirt, big skies and even bigger characters There are few better ways to experience the true spirit of Queensland than with a visit to an outback event. Held in the Simpson Desert each September, the Birdsville Races is a party where the remarkable sun rise rivals the main event and beers with fellow race goers and locals alike at the iconic Birdsville Hotel is the only way to end the day. Or if it’s music the moves you, the Birdsville Big Red Bash in July is a remote, family-friendly festival which brings together top Australian music acts against the backdrop of 60 metre high sand dune for a three-day event.
Photo: Tourism Australia
