Brisbane, The Gold Coast, Surfer's Paradise, Byron Bay, Lamington National Park,
The Sunshine Coast and Noosa - A Custom Travel Planner's View |
Brisbane is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia and is the gateway to a marvelous stretch of coastline. Attractions in the Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise area are geared towards lower end tourists as a rule, but there are some gems of genuine Australian culture to be discovered in Byron Bay, Lamington National Park and Noosa. The miles of unspoiled beaches on the sunshine Coast to the north of Brisbane are aptly referred to as "The Sunshine Coast".
This can be a good area to discover as a self drive, but there are also excellent transfer and driver/guide options. The Botanical Gardens in Brisbane are a feature of the city, set on a point of land defined by a loop in the Brisbane River. We have wonderful apartment accommodation choices adjacent to the center of the city and overlooking the Botanical Gardens that make for a very relaxed stay.
The climate is sub-tropical and mild. Byron Bay is an Artist's Colony of some renown, while the wildlife viewing opportunities at our preferred Lodge in Lamington National Park are just amazing. Colourful birds abound in a natural environment that makes them alsmost unafraid of man.
Fraser Island is famous as the largest sand Island in the world, but you will need to balance your time by cutting other areas if you want to include it. The Great Barrier Reef does not start until some distance north of Brisbane proper, and we do not consider it a good idea to try and drive all the way north to Cairns - it is far more effective in terms of time and money to fly.
The drive south to Sydney, however, is worth making, but time should be allowed to spend 5 days or so on the trip. We have driven it a number of times and will include our favourite stopping points for overnight in small towns on the way south.
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