Queensland

With a spectacular 7,000km coastline and the world’s oldest rainforest, Queensland draws thousands of visitors every year to its idyllic beaches and islands as well as its stunning natural wonders. But the Sunshine State also boasts a vast outback and some fascinating small towns brimming with history. If your Club is looking for a diverse travel experience, why not put Queensland at the top of the list?

BRISBANE & MORETON

Queensland’s vibrant riverside capital, Brisbane, is an ideal starting point to tour the stunning south-east of the state. It has undergone massive transformation to become one of Australia’s most desirable travel destinations, as well as a gateway to the beautiful Moreton Bay region just 25km from the city. Plus you can experience all the excitement of the Gold Coast with its popular theme parks, only a short journey south.

Try Brisbane’s shopping, art and gardens

Start your Brisbane experience with a great specialty coffee before you browse the shops along Queen Street, or the high-end luxury stores of Edward Street. Tour Queensland’s first public and Heritage Listed building, the grand Old Government House, to enjoy its restored 1860s architecture (ogh.qut.edu.au). Meanwhile, QUT Art Museum houses over 3,000 contemporary artworks including paintings, sculptures and ceramics (artmuseum.qut.edu.au). It’s located next to the lovely City Botanic Gardens, where you can find both guided and self-guided walks through a riverside urban oasis – all within walking distance of the CBD.

Make your way to Moreton Bay

Moreton Bay was declared a Marine Park in 1993 in order to protect the unique value and biodiversity of this region, which stretches 125km from Caloundra to the Gold Coast. Moreton Island is the third-largest sand island in the world and truly a gem of the south-east. Experience crystal-clear

1. Serene Japanese Gardens is a highlight of any trip to Toowoomba

2. The Gunsynd statue commemorates the famous Australia horse also known as the ‘Goondiwindi Grey’

3.Chinchilla is known as the Melon Capital of Australia and recently immortalised its reputation with installation of the ‘Big Melon’

4.Discover the achievements of Australia’s pioneer military aviators at the Australian Army Flying Museum

5. The Tangalooma Wrecks are a popular snorkelling and kayaking spot off Moreton Island lakes and lagoons, steep sand dunes, wildflowers and pristine beaches. See dolphins, whales and shorebirds, or snorkel among mysterious wrecks if you’re feeling more energetic. Whether you take a day trip or embark on a multi-day tour, Moreton Island is an unforgettable experience.

DARLING DOWNS

Travelling west of Brisbane and Moreton Bay you’ll reach the rich farming region of the Darling Downs, on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Incorporating the Southern and Western Downs, as well as the popular town of Toowoomba – where great attractions like the traditionally built Japanese Garden await – there’s so much for your members to see and do throughout this region.

Visit the Western Darling Downs

Visit ‘Big Sky Country’ on a trip to Western Darling Downs. Oakey is home to the country’s largest aviation museum, the Australian Army Flying Museum. Housing 22 aircraft on display, plus a number undergoing restoration, it’ll fascinate aviation history buffs (armyflyingmuseum.com.au). Chinchilla is the melon capital of Australia, producing 25 per cent of the country’s watermelons, rockmelons and honeydew melons. It celebrates its reputation with the biennial Chinchilla Melon Festival. And Dalby’s Pioneer Park Museum is home to Queensland’s largest collection of working tractors and big farm equipment, such as an 1800s working thresher, a 1930s model reaper and a pre-war hay baler (dalbymuseum.com.au).

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Discover the Southern Downs

Delve into the pioneering history of the Southern Downs. Considered a scenic gem of the Downs, Killarney boasts waterfalls, lakes, gorges and lookouts aplenty. But don’t miss the Killarney Heritage Centre, located in the old Commercial Bank building. Here you’ll find records of the early settlers, loggers, agricultural and family histories, artefacts, books and photographs.

Go to Goondiwindi

In this rich agricultural region you can discover the fascinating history of cotton production in Australia from field to fabric. The iconic Gunsynd memorial statue commemorates the legendary racehorse Gunsynd, known as the ‘Goondiwindi Grey’, possibly Australia’s most famous horse after Phar Lap. Goondiwindi Customs House Museum is located on the Queensland/NSW state border. Established to collect customs duties for goods coming into and out of Queensland prior to Federation, it’s the only inland customs house in Australia still in existence.

AT A GLANCE

Old Government House

07 3138 8005 ogh.qut.edu.au

QUT Art Museum

07 3138 5370 artmuseum.qut.edu.au

Australian Army Flying Museum

07 7514 7040 armyflyingmuseum.com.au

Dalby Pioneer Park Museum

07 4662 4760 dalbymuseum.com.au

Killarney Heritage Centre

07 4664 4289

Goondiwindi Customs House Museum

07 4671 3041

WIDE BAY-BURNETT, FITZROY AND MACKAY

As you make your way north you’ll pass through the Wide Bay-Burnett region extending from the Sunshine Coast to Bundaberg. It’s the gateway to stunning Fraser Island, but has so much else to offer enthusiastic travellers – from natural wonders to the cities of Bundaberg, Gympie, Hervey Bay and Maryborough, and plenty in between. Further north are the Fitzroy and Mackay regions, each with their own treasures.

Make time for Maryborough

This tiny town on the Fraser Coast oozes colonial-era charm. Aside from being the celebrated birthplace of P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins, there’s a lot to see and do here. The free Gallipoli to Armistice Memorial traces the birth of the ANZAC legend, drawn from personal perspectives of those who fought on the front line. The self-guided Maryborough Mural Trail has approximately 27 large-scale murals and installations adorning buildings and industrial sites, capturing the stories of Maryborough’s rich past (maryboroughmuralproject.org). Hop aboard the Mary Ann Steam Train, a full-size replica of the first steam locomotive built in Queensland in 1873 (maryboroughwhistlestop.org.au). Or for animal lovers, the Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary lets visitors interact with and learn about Australia’s largest landbased predator, the dingo (frasercoastwildlifesanctuary.org.au).

1. The Mary Ann Steam Train is a full-size replica of Queensland’s first steam locomotive

2. The Maheno Shipwreck is one of many highlights of the beautiful Fraser Coast

3. Savour the sweet sights, tastes and smells on a tour of Sarina Sugar Shed’s distillery

4. Paronella Park is an award-winning Spanish-style castle located near Innisfail

Travel the Capricorn Coast

It’s time to take a tour of the captivating Capricorn Coast. Starting in Rockhampton, you’ll see the beautiful Heritage Listed St Joseph’s Cathedral. To the east lies Emu Park, a quaint coastal town where highlights include Double Head, the Turtle Lookout at scenic Bluff Point, and the famous Singing Ship monument – a majestic sculpture commemorating the area’s legacy of historical explorations. Nearby Causeway Lake is another worthwhile destination.

Travel to Koorana Crocodile farm, the first commercial croc farm in Queensland (koorana.com.au), and experience the serenity of Capricorn Caves, a large privately owned cave system (capricorncaves.com.au). The sea breeze produces a musical sound through its fluted pipes. Nob Creek Pottery is a working studio that excels in quality craft, art and sculptural work from over 45 artists (nobcreekpottery.com.au). For food enthusiasts, a paddock-to-plate dining experience and cooking demonstration is something to savour in this region. If all this takes your fancy, Trade Travel’s 6-day, 5-night Capricorn Coast Discovery and Food Trail is guaranteed to be a popular choice for your Club (tradetravel.com.au).

Savour a taste of Mackay

Sweet tooths will relish a trip to sugar capital Mackay, home to the Sarina Sugar Shed. Enjoy a guided tour where you’ll learn how sugarcane is grown, processed and milled. End your visit at the Sugar Shed Cafe where members can indulge in ice creams and refreshing ginger beer or a cheese and tasting platter (sarinasugarshed.com.au). Inland

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from Mackay and high above the surrounding plains, check out the ecologically diverse Eungella National Park, a habitat for rare frogs and platypuses (parks.des.qld.gov.au/ parks/eungella).

NORTH QUEENSLAND

Arguably rivalling anywhere in Australia for natural beauty, North Queensland is one of our most beloved tourism destinations, home to stunning landscapes, idyllic towns and warm Queensland hospitality.

Be surprised by Paronella Park

For a truly unique experience take a day or night tour of award-winning Paronella Park, 120km south of Cairns and 20km south of Innisfail. After arriving from Catalonia in 1913, Jose Paronella’s dream was to create a Spanish-style castle on five hectares beside Mena Creek Falls. His dream became a reality in 1935 and this wonderland still has something for everyone, from its remarkable architecture and story to the tropical gardens and wildlife and a fully restored 1930s hydro electric generator – not to mention food and accommodation (paronellapark.com.au).

Journey from Cairns to Cape York

AAT Kings offers a 3-day Cairns to Cape York return tour that is truly special. The Cape Tribulation and Cooktown Wanderer tour takes you on a Daintree River cruise and guided tour of historical Cooktown. Visit the Cooktown Museum and Nature’s Powerhouse, an innovative building located in the beautiful, heritage-listed Cooktown Botanic Gardens. It houses the Vera Scarth-Johnson Art Gallery with the only collection of original botanical illustrations of flora from the region (aatkings.com.au).

AT A GLANCE

Maryborough Mural Trail

maryboroughmural project.org

Mary Ann Steam Train

07 4121 0444 maryboroughwhistlestop .org.au

Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary

07 4122 2080 frasercoastwildlife sanctuary.org.au

Koorana Crocodile Farm

07 4934 4749 koorana.com.au

Capricorn Caves

07 4934 2883 capricorncaves.com.au

Nob Creek Pottery

0428 192 601 nobcreekpottery.com.au

Trade Travel 6-day, 5-night Capricorn Coast Discovery and Food Trail tour

1800 034 439 tradetravel.com.au

Sarina Sugar Shed

07 4943 2801 sarinasugarshed.com.au

Eungella National Park

parks.des.qld.gov.au/ parks/eungella

Paronella Park

07 4065 0000 paronellapark.com.au

AAT Kings 3-day Cape Tribulation and Cooktown Wanderer tour

1300 300 911 aatkings.com/tours

Get the boat to Green Island

For members who are new to island travel, Green Island off the coast of Cairns is the perfect place to start. It’s one of only three true coral cays in the Great Barrier Reef, with sheltered snorkelling right off the beach. Whether you take a half or full day trip, or a resort holiday, you can explore the coral cay and rainforest, while also enjoying a range of entertainment and dining experiences. The Visit Green Island information centre (visitgreenisland.com.au) is a great place to begin.

CENTRAL WEST & SOUTH WEST

For a quintessential Australian experience, leave the coastal regions and head out to Queensland’s iconic outback, with its fascinating history, red hills, and unique flora and fauna. See the main Central West towns of Longreach, Winton, Blackall and Barcaldine, or the South West towns of Charleville, Roma, Augathella, Windorah, Thargomindah, St George and Cunnamulla.

Stop by Barcaldine

In the Central West, take the self-guided walk, ‘Between the Bougainvilleas’, an award-winning heritage trail passing through the town of Barcaldine’s significant historical sites. The trail is loaded with facts, stories and original photographs. Make sure your Club sees the Tree of Knowledge, renowned as the birthplace of the Australian Labour movement. Although poisoned in 2006, the tree is now splendidly preserved under an impressive timber structure and comes alive at night through the magic of modern lighting (treeofknowledge.com.au/history.htm). For hungry travellers, Barcaldine also has a reputation for mouth-watering pies, cakes, slices and fresh-baked bread, including the locals’ favourite ‘Barcy pie’. And if wildlife spotting is on your agenda, sprawling Lara Wetlands is a 16-acre oasis with approximately 200 bird species (larawetlands.com.au).

Tour the South West outback

Queensland’s South West outback is a wash of colour, open spaces, national parks, lakes and rivers, and of course abundant native bird life. Experience the excitement of a real cattle auction at Roma Saleyards, discover the history and unique landscapes of Quilpie on a locally guided tour with a fifth-generation pioneering family, and learn about Quilpie’s First Nation Maranganji people. Spend an idyllic morning on the Thomson River, part of Lake Eyre Basin. And who could resist the Charleville Bilby Experience? You’ll see adorable bilbies during their night-time activities and learn about the efforts made by passionate volunteers to save the bilby from extinction. Outback Aussie Tours (outbackaussietours.com.au) runs a 7-day Channel Country Discovery tour covering all these outback adventures and more. ■

1. Green Island is one of the best diving and snorkelling spots on the Great Barrier Reef

2. Get a taste of the outback at Roma Saleyards, Australia’s largest cattle selling centre

3. Barcaldine’s Heritage Listed Tree of Knowledge is a key location in the history of the Australian Labor movement

AT A GLANCE

Green Island

07 4037 2700 visitgreenisland.com.au

Lara Wetlands

0457 661 243 larawetlands.com.au

Tree of Knowledge Barcaldine

treeofknowledge.com.au/ history.htm

Outback Aussie Tours 7-Day Channel Discovery tour

07 4658 3000 outbackaussietours. com.au