I need your advice!
In 3 months I will be on holiday in Queensland, and I need suggestions of touristy stuff to do. It’s been close to a decade since I was last there and my partner has never been, so hearing ideas from people who know what’s good and what’s not would be a great help.
@bubbysbub and @determamfidd are the two I know are Queenslanders, and I think there might be a couple of others as well?
Calling my fellow banana-benders 🙂
Sure thing, @thudworm! I only know the southeast region, but I can tell you what I like around the area!
So, first off – Surfers Paradise is a giant money-sink, and pretty unpleasant unless you’re there to get rip-roaring drunk. I avoid it (and Broadbeach) pretty much 100% of the time. If you’re basing yourselves anywhere around that area for a stretch of time, I recommend Southport rather than Surfers. Cheaper, and the lagoon is RIGHT THERE.
Still, there’s a ton of GORGEOUS stuff on the coast that isn’t the tourist-trap areas! Currumbin is absolutely STUNNING (ALSO – THE WILDLIFE PARK, MANY SMALL FUZZY CUTE THINGS. You can feed the kangaroos!). That whole lower end of the Goldie is just beautiful, seriously. Burleigh Waters is great too. Peaceful rivers and beaches, amazing seafood, none of the high-rise glitz and hustle of mid-coast.
You could totally go to a theme park, but they’re not my thing tbh. Still, out of the Big Three, WB Movie World probably has the most to do… idk! They’re VERY expensive, but i think if you pay online it’s a bit cheaper.
I also really enjoy going up to Mt Tamborine. It has some amazing local produce areas, wineries, chocolate and fudge makers, etc. Also – rainforest walks and the Skywalk. A lovely day trip to make. You could do Springwood the same day – check out the glow-worm caves and Natural Bridge!
Stradbroke Island is beautiful.
It’s always awesome to spend a night out at Straddie! The snorkelling and stand-up-and-paddle stuff is fun to do.
Brisbane is actually one of the easiest cities to walk around ever – even with a river slap bang in the middle of it. The Rivercat system is brilliant – buy a Go Card, load it up, and you’re good to go on any train, bus or ferry. I am fond of New Farm, the West End (you HAVE to check out the West End Markets!!!), and Red Hill. Amazing food, live music venues (without the crowds of Fortitude Valley). Also, the parklands, Arts Precinct and museums on Southbank are just. awesome. I go there over and over (also, the theatre tickets are a wee bit cheaper than they are in Sydney or Melbourne).
If you’re looking to get away from built-up areas altogether, it’d be dumb of me not to mention the Sunshine Coast. Talk about relaxing. The town of Mooloolaba is jaw-droppingly beautiful.
For the rest of Queensland, I’m not as well-versed, sorry. I only moved up here a few years ago myself! I still haven’t even managed to see the Reef *cringe*. It’s also a bloody big state. But here’s what TripAdvisor has to say!
The Northern NSW Tweed Coast also has some brilliant areas – I like zooming over the border to Kingscliff or to Lennox Head, and just inland is Bangalow (THE CUTEST PLACE I STG). Byron isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, unfortunately… but Nimbin DEFINITELY lives up to its reputation!!!
I hope that helps – ahhh, Thuddy, you’re coming up here! I am so excited 😀
Aw Yiss 