As the gateway to Australia’s Sunshine Coast and only an hour’s drive from Brisbane, this town is an excellent getaway for travelers. Families will love the close proximity to the Australian Zoo, home of the Crocodile Hunter, as well as the Big Kart Track, Australia’s largest go-kart track. Also a family favorite is Aussie World, a diverse theme park where you can ride the second largest ferris wheel in the Southern Hemisphere. The park is also home to the Ettamogah Pub, a recreation of the pub from the Ken Maynard cartoon series. Visitors are drawn to the pub’s caricature architectural style. Aussie World also boasts the Sunshine Coast’s largest collection of Aboriginal art and artifacts. Another excellent stop is the Queensland Air Museum, where guests can explore the history of aircraft back to World War II.
Caloundra is also an wonderful place to enjoy Australia’s beautiful great outdoors. Pumicestone Passage Marine Park is full of mangroves and sea grasses, and is home to more than 350 species of birds. Local tour guides offer boat cruises in the area, or you can kayak or even walk along the coastal beach trail. The Glass House Mountains are also nearby, and can be enjoyed by taking a scenic tourist drive. The Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve is a forty hectare area of protected land that is home to many different species of wildlife. Guided tours are available and it is also a popular picnic and barbecue spot.
Dining is an experience in Caloundra and there is cuisine to suit everyone’s taste. The Velvet Waters restaurant is similar to a Hard Rock Café, and also is home to the Walk of Stars, a tribute to Australian musicians. The walk extends to the top of the hill and includes commemorative plaques.
The Gold Coast is a famous area of Queensland, and home to three of the state’s best beachfront areas – Main Beach, Surfer’s Paradise, and Broadbeach. Main Beach is well known as the Malibu of Queensland with its upscale and relaxed lifestyle. Enjoy the multitude of cafes and restaurants, luxurious accommodations such as the Palazzo Versace or the Sheraton Mirage, and trendy shopping boutiques. The area is home to several resort hotels, and even the Sea World Resort where the classic theme park is combined with a family friendly hotel. If you enjoy water sports, surfing and diving are popular in the area.
Surfer’s Paradise is another fantastic holiday destination. This famous coastline often shows up in Australian photographs, and is one of Australia’s most famous beaches. The surrounding centre is chock full of accommodation options in all price ranges, from backpacking hostels up to five star hotels, and there is much to see in the area, including the Dreamworld theme park that is a great family destination. The nightlife in Surfer’s Paradise is varied and exciting, with live entertainment featured everywhere. Every October the area is home to Indy 300 racing.
Only a few kilometers south of Surfer’s Paradise is Broadbeach, a wonderful area for families to enjoy. The quiet beaches are patrolled by lifeguards, and the local parks are not only child friendly but a great way for families to enjoy the area cost-free. Dining is known to be a little cheaper in this area as well, making it an ideal place to find affordable vacation packages. Outdoor craft markets are held on the beach on the first and third Sundays of the month. For the adults there is still plenty to see and do, including the large casino and entertainment complex. For those of a more adventurous sort, try Dracula’s Cabaret, a dinner theatre show where guests are taken to their seats on an old fashioned haunted ghost train and are treated to a three course dinner and two hour horror-comedy show.
Although the downtown core of Brisbane has much to offer tourists, the outlying suburbs are not to be missed. These individual pockets are chock full of fun and unique things to do and see.
Although small, Rosalie is a very enjoyable district in Brisbane known for its fine dining and creative menus. Additionally, the area is home to the Blue Room Cinebar, a boutique movie theatre with intimate and luxurious cinemas, a full restaurant, and where wine, beer and food can be ordered and served to you at your seat. After catching a film, head over to the Cold Rock Ice Creamery for world-class ice cream.
If a Beverly Hills experience is more your style, head over to Milton, an upscale suburb that was one of the first around Brisbane to undergo revitalization. The unique shops are very ritzy, and sports cars are not hard to find! Don’t miss the Cora Hotel, a refurbished historic landmark, as well as the Castlemaine Brewery built in 1878. On the other end of the spectrum is Fortitude Valley, known for its large arts community and progressive and funky designers. Brunswick Street Mall is an eclectic variety of shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes, and a great place to start your trip to The Valley, as it is known. The Valley is also home to Brisbane’s Chinatown. For a variety of ethnic experiences, the West End is also a great place to visit with its diverse mix of cultures.
If you enjoy outdoor activity, be sure to spend some time at Kangaroo Point, where you can picnic, kayak, or try rock climbing. New Farm is another lovely stop, and is home to the fourteen-acre New Farm Park. Also of note is the Brisbane Powerhouse, a building of remarkable architecture that is home to many of Brisbane’s concerts and performances.
