Queensland Travel Itinerary
Brisbane / Gold Coast / Hinterland
Brisbane
Brisbane is the third biggest city in Australia and the biggest in Queensland. It is situated on the Brisbane River between Moreton Bay and the Great Dividing Range. Brisbane is a city that offers great shopping, vibrant cafes, botanical gardens and parks, art galleries, museums, an inner city beach, and some great river side walks. The hinterland behind the city offers many opportunities for trekking in nearby subtropical rainforests and on the cooler highlands of the Great Dividing Range. Down on the coast, located only 25km from the Brisbane's CBD, you can explore Bribie Island to the Southern Bay Islands.
Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is one hours drive south from Brisbane. This city is built along Queensland's coastline from the New South Wales and Queensland border north to Southport. The city's most famous attraction is the beach and it is impressive. Long stretches of white fluffy sand and huge surf make it a kind of surfers paradise of which the main centre of the Gold Coast is named. Other suburbs with great beaches include Southport, Main Beach, Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Miami, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, Currumbin, and Coolangatta. Surfers Paradise the centre of the Gold Coast is an area of intense high-rise development with apartments and hotels all fighting for the best views of the beach. The world'shighest residential block is located here. The city is similar to Miami and Miami Beach in the USA.
Hinterland
If you have the time, you could head west to the hinterland behind the Gold Coast (referred to as the Green behind the Gold). This area offers spectacular views with great trekking opportunities. Lamington National Park for example, is Australia's largest reserve of subtropical rainforest and offers nearly 160km of walking tracks. Other notable areas include Springbrook National Park and Mount Tamborine.
Brisbane / Sunshine Coast / Fraser Island
Brisbane
Brisbane is the third biggest city in Australia and the biggest in Queensland. It is situated on the Brisbane River between Moreton Bay and the Great Dividing Range. Brisbane is a city that offers great shopping, vibrant cafes, botanical gardens and parks, art galleries, museums, an inner city beach, and some great river side walks. The hinterland behind the city offers many opportunities for trekking in nearby subtropical rainforests and on the cooler highlands of the Great Dividing Range. Down on the coast, located only 25km from the Brisbane's CBD, you can explore Bribie Island to the Southern Bay Islands.
Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast and Noosa is quieter and more natural than the commercialised Gold Coast to the south of Brisbane. This coastal region approximately two hours drive north from Brisbane has a ban on highrise developments unlike the relaxed building regulations on the Gold Coast. The Sunshine Coast offers nice beaches, expansive coastal views, and forests with Australian fauna. There are many renown beaches such as Noosa, popular surfing areas, national parks such as Glasshouse Mountains National Park and Noosa National Park, and Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. Noosa the main town caters well for tourists with great accomodation options and its own superb beach.
Fraser Island
If time and budget permit, Fraser Island just north of the Sunshine Coast is worth visiting. Tours to the island can be organised from Noosa and other surrounding towns. Fraser Island has a World Heritage listing because it is the largest sand island in the world and the only place on the planet where rainforest grows on sand. The island is surrounded by beaches with highlights such as Champagne Pools, Indian Head, and Eli Creek. Tiger Sharks are known to inhabit the sea making it unsafe for swimming, but don't fear, there are plenty of safe swimming opportunities at over 100 fesh-water lakes on the island, including some of the most pristine in Earth. The most popular is Lake McKenzie which is so perfect it actually looks artificial. The beach sand is nearly pure silica which is good for washing hair, defoliating the skin, and cleaning jewellery.
Cairns / Port Douglas / Wet Tropics
Cairns
Cairns resides in Far North Queensland putting it in the tropical zone. Although the city itself isn't impressive, the surrounding area is. Not only is Cairns the likely airport that you will fly into if you come to this part of Australia by plane, it is also a great base for exploration further afield. The city offers a great variety of accomodation, transport, tours, restaurants, and shopping. Tours to the Great Barrier Reef (including Green Island) can be organised here as well as access to the Wet Tropics area.
Port Douglas
Port Douglas is a beautiful tourist town just north of Cairns and like Cairns, it is a great base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics area. In fact Port Douglas offers easier access to both places than Cairns and is much more of a resort town too. With superb accomodation, food, and tours, this town is an attraction in its own right. Even the local beach called Four Mile Beach is special. With miles of sand, palms, and no beach front development this is one of the best places for taking a dip in the Coral Sea.
Wet Tropics
If time and budget permit, and only after seeing the Great Barrier Reef (not to be missed) you could strike out further afield. Fortunately both Cairns and Port Douglas are conveniently situated in the Wet Tropics area. Attractions here include: The Daintree Rainforest - the oldest rainforest on Earth, The Daintree River - a place to see crocodiles in their natural habitat, Kuranda - a town in the rainforest, Cape Tribulation - the only place on Earth where two world heritage areas meet, i.e., the rainforest and the reef, and Barron Gorge - a spectacular gorge in the rainforest with some great waterfalls. If you have the time for one more thing, you could visit Davies Creek, where you can view a beautiful waterfall, swim in natural rock pools, and enjoy nature with less people, (even by yourself on a good day).
Airlie Beach / Whitsunday Islands / Hamilton Island
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach is a town in the Whitsunday Region of Queensland. It is one of many departure points for the Great Barrier Reef, it usually takes about 2-3 hours to get out to the reef from nearby Shute Harbour. The town use to be a backpacker haven but has now been discovered by Australians and has consequently become more commercialised in recent years. Although the town doesn't have spectacular beaches it offers great views and easy access to the Whitsunday Islands which is the real gem in this area. Airlie Beach is a great base for exploring the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef. Unless you are tavelling by car, it is best to fly to Prosperpine an inland town close to Airlie. Regular domestic flights can be taken from Sydney, Brisbane, and Cairns.
Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands is a collection of 74 islands of various sizes off the coast at Airlie. The island group is centred on Whitsunday Island, while the group's commercial centre is Hamilton Island. The islands are part of the Great Barrier Reef and there are many tours of the reef and islands to choose from. The vast majority of islands are designated national parks and major attractions include access to coral reefs for snorkeling and diving as well as pristine beaches backed by tropical rainforest. Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island for example is absolutely stunning with its clear aquamarine warm waters and 6km pure silica white sand. It presents the image that is used more often in tourism brochures for this area. There are a number of options for accommodation on Hamilton Island and other islands, from hotel rooms and suites to houses that can be rented. Accomodation on Hamilton island is expensive compared to Airlie Beach on the mainland.
Hamilton Island
If you can afford it, you could swap staying at Airlie Beach for Hamilton Island and because it has its own airport, you can fly there directly from most east coast cities. Otherwise you could visit the island as a day trip by boat from Airlie Beach. If you do that,you are entitled to use all public facilities including a number of swimming pools, restaurants, and transport services. This island is quite expensive if you decide to stay, but is also situated next to Whitsunday Island and hence transport costs to this and other islands as well as the reef is cheaper, making it a good base for exploration. Hamilton Island is not everyone’s cup of tea, but is a good option if you want luxury or activities or facilities for children. It is best described as a combination of tourist developments surrounded by natural bushland and encircled by beaches and small reefs. Accommodation ranges between 3 to 6 star and there are a number of quality restaurants, bars, and nightclubs in an area called Marina Village, (the commercial centre of the Whitsundays). Buses on the island are free to use and the main mode of personal transport are golf buggies which are easy to hire. There is also 20km of scenic walks where you have the opportunity to see local animal and bird life as well as stunning views of the surrounding Whitsunday islands and coral coloured sea below.
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Author & photographer: David Johnson (Virtual Australia). Providing a credit or link is appreciated.
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