ESCAPE FROM THE CITY
SURF A-frame waves on the Gold Coast, hit the cafes in Caloundra and EXPLORE pristine PARKS just a few hours from Brissie.
LAMINGTON NATIONAL PARK
For nature in abundance head to Lamington National Park, a 1.5-hour drive from the city in the verdant Scenic Rim.The area makes up part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest area, with some of the most extensive stretches of subtropical rainforest in the world. Take the kids on the brilliant Tree Top Walk, 500 metres of steel walkway laced through the canopy 30 metres above the ground, and then learn about the winged wildlife in these parts on a guided bird walk.
MORETON BAY
The islands dotted around Moreton Bay are like a pick-and-mix selection of idyllic destinations. While Moreton Island and Tangalooma Island capture a lot of the attention, we recommend Bribie Island, the smallest of the three major sand islands; Peel Island, with its wrecks at Platypus Bay; or Coochiemudlo Island, the ‘jewel of Moreton Bay’ where you can hire an aqua bike or kayak.
TAMBORINE NATIONAL PARK An hour or so from Brisbane, Tamborine National Park is another of Queensland’s emerald-green jewels, made even more compelling with the arrival of the ecodesigned Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk , a 1.5-kilometre walk that combines forest floor trails, 300 metres of steel bridges suspended in the highest points of the canopy and a 40-metre-long cantilever bridge that soars 30 metres above the rainforest. The Eco Gallery also has lots to grab the kids’ attention.
THE GOLD COAST
Hop on a bus and head to the Gold Coast for a day of thrills and spills: Warner Bros. Movie World, Dreamworld and Sea World all offer rides and amusement by the bucket load. In fact, there’s so much fun to be had at each that you are only going to be able to tackle one per day so do your research and book ahead. If beach days are more your thing, head to Burleigh Heads or Surfers Paradise. destinationgoldcoast.com
CALOUNDRA
While the Sunshine Coast town of Noosa is well known for its cafe culture, the beachside town of Caloundra has a simple halcyon-days charm that hints at beach holidays of old. Family fun here revolves around the water: wading in the calm waters of the Pumicestone Passage, spotting whales making their way up and down the coast (June to November); dodging the water spurts at the Kings Beach saltwater fountain, and walking the coastal pathway before finishing the day with what else but fish and chips.
It would be a wasted opportunity to not spend the day at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast while in town. The passion project of the Irwin family, the zoo has a breathtaking array of animals, from tigers to exotic birds to crocodiles, of course. Take a tour, book a wildlife experience and find out how you can help conserve and protect the world’s wildlife in the future. australiazoo.com.au