QLD
Festival of the walks
Walking is a great exercise, low impact and free. Whether you’re a hiker, a rambler or just enjoy a casual stroll through the park, the Sunshine Coast’s Festival of the Walks has something for everyone.
Visitors to the Sunshine Coast from 29 August to 13 September can take part in the Festival of the Walks, enjoying a wide variety of walks, parks and attractions found in the picturesque Blackall Ranges. Featuring a variety of setting ranging from spectacular waterfalls, rainforests, and palm groves, the walks through the ranges are designed to suit all needs, speeds and abilities, with a few of the routes having wheelchair access.
During the two-week festival period, visitors can expect to meet artists, enjoy photographic displays and observe craft people at work. On the weekends, there will be free live entertainment in various locations and dinners featuring local produce to be enjoyed.
For more information, visit the Festival of the Walks.
All-inclusive Gold Coast
All-Inclusive holidays are a great way of budgeting your holiday expenses before you go. Marion, an AboutSeniors subscriber is keen to go all inclusive on the Gold Coast.
Q. Marion
Hi, I love getting your newsy emails, and I have a question.
About ten years ago, we had a super holiday at a resort in Southport, Queensland, all meals were included and outings arranged for most days, can you recommend a similar holiday in the area of the Gold Coast.
A. There are lots of all-inclusive holidays around, especially in the Gold Coast but it does depend on how active you wish to be. There’s no point paying for a holiday with lots of watersports and excursions included if you just want to laze by the pool and sip cocktails. Total Travel have a range of specials for the Gold Coast and surrounding area, some of which are all-inclusive, some you can add things to and some even have free night offers. For more information, visit Total Travel
If it’s luxury you’re looking for, then Club Med have some great deals on for their resort on Lindeman Island in the Whitsundays. For more information, visit AboutSeniors Travel page.
It’s fun and it’s free
The Brisbane Water Oyster Festival is actually on the central coast of NSW. It starts on November 9 with a swing band and some rock n roll, and there’s lots of great craft stalls and food and wine tasting – as well as the famous oysters
The festival will kick off with the great sound of the Wayne Cornell Swing Band. The afternoon will feature “On the Prowl” these are guys from “Old 55”, get ready for rockin’ and rollin’ on the dance floor.
There will be a Miss Charity Queen Competition in the “Queen of the Oyster Festival”. Also many arts and crafts stalls with an array of food and wine tasting stalls to satisfy everyone’s taste buds, and of course the famous local oysters will be on sale for all of you oyster lovers - be there early because they are in huge demand.
There is lots of family fun with amusement rides and a kids corner with clowns, free face painting and balloons. A vintage car display and hot rods, European cars from Central Coast Euro-cars of Gosford for all the dreamers.
The inaugural Brisbane Water Best Oyster Competition will be held centre stage at approximately 12.30pm.
2008 Brisbane Water Oyster Festival
Ettalong Water Front, Ettalong Beach, NSW 2257
For more information, visit Brisbane Water Best Oyster Festival
Tropical food fest
The tropical climate of far north Queensland brings to the region some of the tastiest and exotic fruits and produce that the world has to offer.
Food Trail Tours offers you the chance to see the sights of Cairns and surrounding areas and enjoy the food and wine of local producers. These tours will get you off the beaten track for a real taste of rural Queensland, visiting private farms hidden away from other tourists. You’ll be able to taste the buttery macadamias grown in this region, new and exciting blends of coffee and tropical fruits straight from the trees.
On the tour you’ll also get to enjoy the sights and sounds of the wildlife common to the area, even feeding the rock wallabies if you’re lucky. The tour departs three times a week and a seafood lunch is included. For more information, visit
Food Trail Tours.
Comfortable camping
Camping holidays are an Aussie rite of passage, with generations of children gritting their teeth at the thought of two weeks spent in a tent with their parents. Now the national holiday thankfully has just got a little more comfortable.
Located at Eurong on the famous 75 Mile Beach on Fraser Island, Base Camp Fraser Island has just the right balance of home comforts and life in the great outdoors to please the whole family. The undercover tented facility offers self-drive visitors well-priced accommodation, with a fully equipped kitchen and BBQ. All cooking utensils, linen and blankets are provided, making packing for your trip a whole lot simpler.
For younger members of the family or when the weather doesn’t quite meet expectations, there is a TV with satellite system and DVD player and hire available. The site offers private or dormitory style tents from $22 per person per night.
For more information visit Base Camp Fraser Island.
Not just rum
Best known for producing rum, Bundaberg is fast becoming a diving hotspot for those keen to check out the breathtaking and rare underwater life on the Great Barrier Reef.
The three main locations for diving in the area, Bagara, Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island, all offer the rare opportunity of diving straight off the beach. You can join a four day PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)-certified course, take a dive cruise, or don your flippers and snorkel and explore the underwater beauty that this region has to offer.
Bundaberg is a four-hour drive or 55 minute flight from Brisbane and this coastal region offers some of the least spoilt and colourful corals in the world and is consistently rated as one of the top 10 shore diving locations in the country.
PADI-certified courses start from just $219, making the chance to explore under the sea a little more affordable. Home to whales, turtles, rays, coral moray eels and many more species, the Bundaberg region makes a great alternative to the more visited northern reefs.
For more information on how to get there and where to dive, visit Bundaberg region.
www.bunabergregion.info
Up among the tree tops
Enjoy a walk through the tropical forests of Queensland before the weather becomes too hot to bear.
Ma:Mu Canopy Walkway is located on traditional land within Wooroonooran National Park and will officially open at the end of August, after 15 years of planning. Visitors will be given the opportunity to enjoy spectacular views of highland rainforest, mountains, gorges and rapids, all from within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
A 38 metre high observation tower is the goal of this 1.5km circuit, giving you views of the forest you could only dream about. A trip to the Ma:Mu Canopy Walk can be combined with other local attractions including Babinda Boulders and Josephine Falls.
For more information, visit the Environmental Protection Agency.
Hit the road
Explore North Queensland at your own pace and let someone else do the driving.
The Big Blue B&B Bus offers all the luxury and amenities of your above average bed and breakfast, but as it’s on wheels, you don’t need to stay in one place to enjoy all on offer. Based in the Townsville region, the bus can accommodate four, and comes with the driver thrown in, allowing you to relax and enjoy the scenery.
Featuring all the home comforts of your favourite B&B, you don’t need to go without TV, internet or housekeeping, and even your daily newspaper is provided. A hot shower and gourmet breakfast set you up for a day exploring the region and for those more active, there is full use of bicycles and sporting equipment onboard.
For more information, click here.
If you can’t make it to North Queensland but still fancy heading off in a motorhome, visit www.maui.com.au, for hire details in your area.
Hop to the Glasshouse Mountains
The Frog House conjures up all sorts of images of our amphibious friends, and you may spot one or two in the volcanic undergrowth of the Glasshouse Mountains.
Designed to resemble a wooden and glass frog, The Frog House B&B offers majestic views, and a five-star fully cooked breakfast for those wanting to kick back and relax in the foothills of the Glasshouse Mountains. This eco-friendly B&B uses triangular rooms to minimise heat loss and maximise the amazing views.
Once you’ve taken advantage of the swimming pool and spa, you can take in the views from the 360 deck at sunset, before curling up in front of the warm fire with a good book or DVD.
To stay in this truly unique B&B, call 07 5499 9055 or visit www.thefroghouse.com.au
Highlighting Queensland
Heading off to the Sunshine State for a romantic break or family holiday? Why not enjoy a walk through Brisbane or try spotting a platypus?
Tourism Queensland is highlighting some of the more unique things to do during your trip up north.
Brisbane walkabout
South Bank Corporation, Public Works, and Brisbane City Council have created a self-guided walking tour of Brisbane – the Brisbane City Walk. Take in 30 city attractions on this self guided walk, connecting Brisbane’s three inner-city parks, Southbank Parklands, Roma Street Parkland, and City Botanic Gardens and many historic buildings along the way. Best of all, the walk is free! You can pick up a copy of the map at the Queen Street Mall Information Centre in the Brisbane CBD or download from http://www.ourbrisbane.com/maps/brisbanecitywalk/bcwmaps.htm
Playful platypus
Take a twilight tour and see if you can spot a platypus at play! Tours depart every Thursday (with other days on request) and includes a stop at the Wetland Walkabout Sanctuary to hand feed barramundi and mud crabs before enjoying a barbecue lunch with a complimentary bottle of wine. Other highlights include Eungella National Park and platypus spotting at sunset at Broken River. The tour departs Central Motel at 1pm, returning at 7pm. Cost is $159 adults and $129 children. For more details contact Coops Travel & Tours on 07 4959 1543 or click here.
Heritage drive
The history of an area isn’t always obvious as you’re driving through it. The romanticism of the past can often be lost in the blur of the brake lights. That’s why Southern Queensland Tourism has developed a new, affordable ‘Heritage drive’, which includes entry to museums as well as car hire and accommodation.
Commencing in Brisbane, the drive aims to help visitors appreciate the significance of rail and horse-drawn coaches to the area. It suggests stops at The Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich, and follows the old Cobb and Co. mail route through Grandchester, Rosewood and Walloon to Toowoomba.
Prices start form $238.50 per person twin share, with a number of other add-on activities such as a hot air balloon flight or specials lunches available for extra cost. Discounts are available for those using their own vehicle. To find out more or book, call (07) 3856 4319 or click here
Find out more about the Cobb and Co Museum by clicking here
Find out more about the Workshops Rail Museum by clicking here
Caravanning in Queensland
At long last, a website for caravanning, camping and touring holidays in Queensland has been established, providing a one-stop shop for products, services and parks throughout Queensland.
Established by Caravanning, Camping and Motorhomes Australia, the site allows travellers to search for destinations, resource products and services, as well as download a rich selection of information on the "how to" of hitting the road, including checklists, codes of ethics, maintenance and much more.
Go there
