Sitting back on a beach lounge. Perfect white sand, cloudless blue skies. The oversized umbrella shielding you from the shining hot sun. Freezing cold tropical cocktail in hand. The warm sea breeze warming your body as you relax in paradise. Makes you want to go on holidays, doesn’t it?
There is a reason Queensland is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Australians, it really is beautiful one day, and perfect the next. And if Australians need anything at the moment, it’s a holiday.
Whether you arrive in to Coolangatta, Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast, there is so much to explore and enjoy. How little or how much you do is up to you – and that’s the joy of holidays at home.
A Burleigh Heads local once said that if you come from Sydney you travel to the Gold Coast, while Victorians prefer Noosa and its surrounds. Either way you can’t go wrong.
The Gold Coast is the gateway to the theme parks: Movie World, Seaworld, Wet ‘n Wild, and Dreamworld to name a few. There’s the Surfers Paradise nightlife, the top restaurants in Main Beach and Broadbeach, or the sleepy joy that radiates from Burleigh. And then there are those world-famous beaches. Spectacular.
Further north, about an hour out of Brisbane lies the Sunshine Coast. Beautiful beach towns like Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Noosa await the ultimate beach holiday. No better or worse than the glitzy Gold Coast, just quieter and slower – perfect for that annual wind down.
Littered along the coastline, as a welcome bonus to the beach towns, are the islands. North and South Stradbroke Island, Moreton Island, plus Fraser and Bribie Islands. They all offer their own unique experiences, whether it be camping, fishing, off-road exploration or water sports. There’s so much to do.
And then there is the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Discover the volcanic peaks of the Glass House Mountains, the picturesque rainforests and unforgettable walking trails that open your eyes to the breathtaking.
Beerwah is home to Steve Irwin’s impressive Australia Zoo, Maleny and Montville have a tropical village charm that has to be experienced, and Woombye is worthy of your time thanks to the famous Big Pineapple.
Sandwiched between these great tourist destinations is Brisbane. They used to say Brisvegas was 20 years behind Melbourne and Sydney. Firstly, it’s not true, it’s a truly modern city with wonderful precincts like South Bank – name another city that offers a beach experience a few hundred metres from the CBD. And secondly, if someone wants to argue that the city is behind the times, no one will care. It’s a city that is filled with the exuberance and charms that any great city offers.
Whether its beaches, world-class hotels, nightlife, theme parks or sleepy relaxation that you and your family seek during your next holiday, Queensland and its lush coastlines have everything you need to create memories that last a lifetime.
Images: Tourism and Events Queensland
