HappyHeart Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 Having no knowledge of QLD really and thinking of planning a trip, where are the places to go and things to see? If you base yourself on Gold Coast is there still a variety of places/landscapes within driving distance? Is it worth flying anywhere (like FNQ) when in Brisbane...or are there batter bases than Brisbane? Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peachy Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 Depends very much on what you like doing. Places we have been and think are fab: Fraser Island - amazing place and I think is a must Sunshine coast - beautiful beaches. Noosa - smart coastal town, lovely beach Glasshouse mountains - fantastic scenery Montville and Maleny - attractive towns for little shops and pottering around in beautiful surroundings Australia zoo - expensive but well worth the money D'Aguilar National Park - mountains, lookouts, fab walks Haven't got further north yet, so interested to hear other recommendations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 Depends very much on what you like doing. Places we have been and think are fab: Fraser Island - amazing place and I think is a must Sunshine coast - beautiful beaches. Noosa - smart coastal town, lovely beach Glasshouse mountains - fantastic scenery Montville and Maleny - attractive towns for little shops and pottering around in beautiful surroundings Australia zoo - expensive but well worth the money D'Aguilar National Park - mountains, lookouts, fab walks Haven't got further north yet, so interested to hear other recommendations. Thanks Peachy that's a good start, we like walking and views, natural landscapes, not really into cities or busy but like smaller towns with small galleries and nice little shops and eateries, nothing too flash. Like mountains, so Glasshouse mountains was already on radar, like beaches and coastal areas. The Zoo sounds good too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 Accommodation options too? Hotel or apartments? Best areas to use as a base for a family? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PommyPaul Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 Brissy, gold and sunny coast would all be great bases, spent several years of my time in aussie in that area and it's awesome! Best view of the glasshouse mountains is abit of a secret haha, it's not actually sign posted as a scenic lookout or anything but is the most awesome spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 I don't like the sound of the area tbh... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest241083 Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 ........here.... http://www.oreillys.com.au/activities-events/tree-top-walk ......is very nice ime..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelensvaleHoward Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 Mount Tambourine is nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelensvaleHoward Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 (edited) Coolangatta is our fav place on the coast Up at Point danger its just ahhhhhhhhhh https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Point+Danger/@-28.1654341,153.5490572,881m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x6b91003c00800a17:0x7beb6dc731062343 Edited October 31, 2015 by HelensvaleHoward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 I would visit O'Reillys (accesed via Canungra) rather than Mount Tamborine, great views, good food, reasonable cost and a variety of walking trails. On saying that the Glow Worm caves at Tamborine are great to kill a couple of hours ,especially on a wet day. I would check the city and South Bank, preferably by parking somewhere like Bulimba and having a river ferry ride in. Maybe even stay the night in a hotel and book a trip to Tangalooma for Sand boarding, scenery and feeding the dolphins. I'd catch a flight from Gold Coast or Brisbane to somewhere like Airlie Beach, have a day there checking out and doing the harbour walk then a day boat trip to the barrier reef. Australia Zoo is great, not like any Zoo i have ever seen before and compared to the zoo;s i have visited i thought it was good value for money, even the food. Cal x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 The "must see" of Queensland is the Great Barrier Reef, obviously. Also the Whitsunday Islands - a lot of the smaller island resorts are a bit run down these days although their surroundings are lovely, so I quite like Hamilton Island even though it's more developed and less "Robinson Crusoe" - you can take day excursions from there to the other islands. Brisbane and the Gold Coast are nice places to live and there are certainly plenty of things to amuse yourself there, but nothing to make your jaw drop - so why would you spend most of your time there, with only a day trip to the most amazing place in the world? I'd be flying straight to Airlie Beach and planning to spend most of your holiday up there instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelensvaleHoward Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 The "must see" of Queensland is the Great Barrier Reef, obviously. Also the Whitsunday Islands - a lot of the smaller island resorts are a bit run down these days although their surroundings are lovely, so I quite like Hamilton Island even though it's more developed and less "Robinson Crusoe" - you can take day excursions from there to the other islands. Brisbane and the Gold Coast are nice places to live and there are certainly plenty of things to amuse yourself there, but nothing to make your jaw drop - so why would you spend most of your time there, with only a day trip to the most amazing place in the world? I'd be flying straight to Airlie Beach and planning to spend most of your holiday up there instead. Nothing wrong with them and loads to do here for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 (edited) Nothing wrong with them and loads to do here for sure Yes, not saying there's anything wrong with Brissie or the Gold Coast. My best friend used to live on Mt Tamborine so I was there often and it's lovely. However the OP did ask about "must sees" in Queensland. If I only had a week in Queensland, I'd spend the whole time up on the Whitsundays/Barrier Reef because it's such a unique area, nowhere else in the world quite like it. Edited October 31, 2015 by Marisawright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 I think we'll go for ten days. Want to see as much as possible. Maybe could do 5 days based in Brisbane and 5 elsewhere. Wanted to see Cairns also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 It'll be interesting to go to Airlie Beach. When QLD health offered me a job back in 2008 I had choice of Townsville, Mackay or Rockhampton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 So FNQ....is Airlie Beach a good base? Can I fly there from Brisbane. Is Sunshine Coast better than Gold Coast? What's the difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 It'll be interesting to go to Airlie Beach. When QLD health offered me a job back in 2008 I had choice of Townsville, Mackay or Rockhampton. and you picked boring Perth.... :dull: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 The Cyclones and humidity put us off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 I think the Sunshine Coast is quieter and less populated than Gold Coast and the Gold Coast has more 'touristy' things to offer, if you want it... There's no denying the theme parks are a hit if your holidaying with kids and a look around Surfers Paradise etc.. The advantage i feel the GC has is you can be in the peace and quiet of a rain forest or mountain walk and less than an hour later be right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of places like Surfers or the theme parks. On saying that if we want a relaxing beach break for a weekend we tend to head SC way now a days as the beaches etc don't get as packed. Cal x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 (edited) So FNQ....is Airlie Beach a good base? Can I fly there from Brisbane. Is Sunshine Coast better than Gold Coast? What's the difference? The Gold Coast is virtually one big city, even though the towns have individual names. Lots of skyscraper flats and theme parks. The hinterland is lovely, but otherwise it's too built up for me. The Sunshine Coast is much less built up, Noosa is gorgeous, not too big with a nice beach and lots of waterside restaurants. Edited October 31, 2015 by Marisawright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 I think the Sunshine Coast is quieter and less populated than Gold Coast and the Gold Coast has more 'touristy' things to offer, if you want it... There's no denying the theme parks are a hit if your holidaying with kids and a look around Surfers Paradise etc.. The advantage i feel the GC has is you can be in the peace and quiet of a rain forest or mountain walk and less than an hour later be right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of places like Surfers or the theme parks. On saying that if we want a relaxing beach break for a weekend we tend to head SC way now a days as the beaches etc don't get as packed. Cal x SC sounds heavenly and more us but would like to take son to theme park just for the experience, how far between the 2? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 The Gold Coast is virtually one big city, even though the towns have individual names. Lots of skyscraper flats and theme parks. The hinterland is lovely, but otherwise it's too built up for me. The Sunshine Coast is much less built up, Noosa is gorgeous, not too big with a nice beach and lots of waterside restaurants. It sounds delightful (SC) but will probably need to do one theme park, there are lots? Which is best? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dxboz Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 I would stay at Seaworld on the Gold Coast - free entry into Seaworld when you stay there. Great place. Then I would fly up to Cairns and head up to Port Douglas - just one hour up the road. Paradise! Sounds like you would love it - gorgeous little town with great eating places and stunning views. It is also the closest place to get out on the reef from. I used to spend every Christmas and New Year up there at one time - one of my favourite places in the world! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 So...where to fly to first? A few airports more than I'm used to in Perth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 Found flights at $500 per person return...wondering if that's about right, next Sept school hols Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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