South Queensland

South Queensland is very much Australia’s holiday playground, with three main regions and fun island resorts attracting visitors year round.

Brisbane – Queensland’s state capital with a mix of modern and older buildings, fine shops and gardens and the lively Southbank Parklands.

Gold Coast – wide ocean beaches, the bright lights of Surfers Paradise and plenty of theme parks to keep families amused.

Nature Coast – stretching from Brisbane to beautiful Fraser Island, with sheltered beaches, a lush, forested interior and laid back resort towns.

Things to do in Brisbane and the Gold Coast

This fun holiday region enjoys year round sunshine and offers every activity imaginable, from trail walking in Lamington National Park to riding the waves at Surfers Beach.

• Stroll through Brisbane’s fine Botanic Gardens
• Travel by fast City Cat along the Brisbane River
• Enjoy the excitement of the Gold Coast theme parks
• See kangaroos, koalas and more at the Lone Pine Sanctuary
• Try your luck or watch a show at Broadbeach’s Star Casino
• Learn to surf in Surfers Paradise
• Relax like a local in Brisbane’s Southbank Parklands
• Walk through pristine rainforest in the Lamington National Park
• Shop till you drop in Brisbane’s Queen Street
• Feed the dolphins at Tangalooma’s Island Resort
• Party the night away on Surfer’s Cavill Avenue

Getting There

Public transport in Brisbane is good, with no need for your own car. There are also buses and trains to the Gold Coast but, to really explore the region, a rental car is best.

By Road – Brisbane is 570 miles from Sydney and 1050 from Tropical Cairns

By Rail – Day and night trains from Sydney or head north aboard the Spirit of Queensland.

By Air – direct flights to Brisbane from the UK and regional flights from most major cities.

South Queensland’s Nature Coast

Less than a mile north of Brisbane are the fine beaches and quiet country towns of South Queensland’s beautiful Nature Coast. The delightful seaside towns of Caloundra, Mooloolaba and Noosa have a relaxed holiday feel, with scores of outdoor cafés and restaurants and spacious seafront apartments.

Inland the forest clad mountains and rolling countryside of the Hinterland offers some great walking and exploring opportunities.

• Spot koalas and go skinny dipping in Noosa National Park
• Discover Fraser Island on a 4WD adventure
• Walk the scenic trails of the Glasshouse Mountains
• Visit Steve Irwin’s famous Australia Zoo
• Go whale watching in Hervey Bay
• Browse Eumundi’s famous markets
• Sip coffee by the ocean along Mooloolaba’s Esplanade
• Explore the historic pioneer town of Montville

Island Resorts

South Queensland’s Island Resorts are a mix of fun experiences and chilled out luxury and can be added to any Australia holiday. Your FREEDOM consultant can arrange transfers from Brisbane or other Queensland locations.

• Fraser Island – Australia’s largest sand island offers 4-wheel-drive exploring through the dense natural rainforest.
• Moreton Island – a short ferry ride from Brisbane, with sand boarding down its towering dunes and famous Tangalooma Dolphin Sanctuary.
• Heron Island – at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, with forest walks and great snorkelling straight from the beach.
• Lady Elliot Island – a nature lover’s paradise 80 kms from the coast, with superb snorkelling and glass bottom reef cruises.

Getting Around

By Road – Although there are buses and coach transfers to the coastal towns and Fraser Island, the best way to get around the Nature Coast and even the Gold Coast is by car or in a motorhome. The roads are wide and relatively quiet and parking is never a problem outside Brisbane centre.