Queensland Short Breaks and Holidays

Posts Tagged ‘national parks’

The following list of activities around Noosa are generally free to enjoy but I can’t vouch that you will not be lured into spending some money along the way. That will depend on how strong willed you are!

Mount Tinbeerwah Lookout
Located a few minutes drive out of Tewantin on the road to Cooroy road, this is THE premier lookout on the Sunshine Coast. A ten minute walk from the car park takes you to stunning views over Noosa, the river, lakes and the hinterland. It is well signposted at the top of a steep hill on the way to Cooroy.

Watch the sun set over Noosa River
Watch the sun set over the river along Gympie Terrace in Noosaville and be in awe as the sun gradually sinks behind Mount Cooroy. Noosaville used to play second fiddle to Noosa bit it is now known as “The Golden Mile”. This is a unique experience only made more enjoyable if you have a glass of wine in your hand!

Coastal track in Noosa National Park
An easy 40 minute walk along well made tracks takes you to the superb views offered at Hells Gates. Look out for Koalas perched high in the trees in the car park. Watch surfers compete for waves with the dolphins. Be fascinated with whales migrating in season. Other wildlife you may encounter are Turtles and Goannas. An unforgettable experience.

Tanglewood Track
This is an alternative track through the Noosa National Park that takes you through about three or more unique types of rainforest. Head off from the carpark on this track and return by way of the coastal track. You will need to allow about 2.5 hours for the return trip. Be careful not to be run over by the hordes of joggers exercising in this beautiful rainforest.

Fishing in the river
Noosa is blessed with superb river fishing , both upstream and at the river mouth. You can also hire motor boats that are fully equipped with fishing gear for low cost. The ultimate in fishing is to go out on one of the offshore fishing trips that guarantee that you will catch the big ones. Several boats operate from the Noosa Marina in Noosaville.

Eumundi Markets
The markets are by far the biggest in Australia with 500 to 600 stalls to explore. To be a stall holder, the catch cry was that you have to “make it, bake it, grow it, or sew it”.

The main markets are on Wednesday and Saturday mornings with a smaller, newer market open on Sundays. If visiting the markets, it is worth staying a night in one of the many lovely bed and breakfast accommodations in Noosa or Eumundi as there is so much to do and see around this historic little township.

Swim or surf in Laguna Bay
The Noosa main beach in the bay is unique for the east coast of Australia in that it faces north. It is therefore ideal and safe for swimming. It also has moderate waves out toward the river mouth for learner surfers with lessons available. The serious surfers have superb waves along the reef adjoining the National Park.

Barbeque on the river at Noosaville
The Noosa Council provides lots of BBQ cooking facilities, tables and shelters at many points along the river in Gympie Terrace, Noosaville. Best of all, they are free!

A great place to spend a relaxing few hours with family and friends. Good playgrounds for the children.

The author and publisher Murray Maxwell is a Bed and Breakfast operator in the Noosa, Sunshine Coast region with several years experience with customer service needs and noosa accommodation.

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Walking the Queensland Trails Queensland offers some of the most picturesque and enjoyable bushwalking experiences in Australia. There is such a diversity of walks to choose in South East Queensland, with wide coastlines, rainforests, waterfalls, mountains and vast plains all within easy driving distance from Brisbane.

Take the drive up to Cairns via Townsville and Rockhampton and you will be on the road to incredible camping grounds and walking tracks that are hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered. The benefit of travelling in a rental car is the freedom to choose when and where you are going to stop and for how long. If you are an avid bush walker, this is one of the best ways to enjoy getting from one park to another in comfort and with plenty of flexibility. Plan a rough itinerary ahead of schedule, with plenty of room to make changes along the way.

Most national parks in Queensland are closer to the coastline and run up and down the east coast of Australia. As the climate is mainly tropical, most times of the year are perfect for heading out and enjoying some of the most beautiful and hidden treasures the sunny state has to offer. Be careful in the middle of summer and bring plenty of water and sunscreen as the temperatures can rise quickly. You will also need to plan ahead if you are camping, with permits required in most national parks.

Queensland’s highest mountain, Mount Bartle Frere, is more for the advanced bushwalker but the views are certainly worthwhile. Located not far from Cairns, you will need to set aside a few days to reach the summit. Further north there are walks covering a few days in the famous Daintree rainforest. You need to plan well for these walks as they take two to three days, but cover some incredible scenery.

Fraser Island and Hinchinbrook Island are both worth visiting for their long walks and spectacular scenery. Both large national park islands, they have walks for all levels of fitness, from one day to five days on Hinchinbrook. Carnarvon Gorge has fantastic walks for the whole family. With a large and well maintained camping ground, you can set off straight from your doorstep to see some of the most breathtaking views and natural rock formations. It takes about nine hours from Brisbane via Roma, but stay at least a week and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of a true oasis in the heart of the outback.

Closer to south east Queensland, there are plenty of national parks in each direction. Mount Barney is popular to locals and tourists especially as it is the highest mountain in South Queensland. Set up camp below and then set of for a day or two to experience a diversity of terrain as you head up the mountain. This is not for beginners, with steep climbing involved in some sections, however the summit is worth the trek for a birds eye view of the surrounding park through to the coastline. We took the family to the lower portals on a day trip, it was still a trek taking close to two hours, but worth the rest at the rock pools.

If you are looking for a lot of walks in one area, Lamington National Park, located closer to the New South Wales border, is one of the best choices as there is so much available for all fitness levels, there is an abundance of birdlife and wildlife, and it covers an extensive rainforest area. There are a number of shorter walks leading to some incredible views, and there are a number of overnight walks for keener bushwalkers.

The Sunshine Coast offers some incredible walks in the Great Sandy National Park. The crystal clear streams running through pristine white sands is something you have to see, and there are a number of amazing camping grounds available, especially in Rainbow Beach and across to Fraser Island. The Cooloola Wilderness Trail is the most popular and from start to finish is a three day walk. It covers some of the best rainforest and freshwater sections of the park and is worth the visit. The Hinterland Great Walk in the Sunshine Hinterland starts in Montville and meanders over some of the most breathtaking mountainous scenery, including the famous Kondalilla Falls, ending in the Mapleton forest. You can enjoy this walk in sections or complete the full seven hour walk over a few days.

This is only a handful of some incredible walking tracks available in Queensland. Maybe choose a few and plan your driving holiday around them. There is nothing better than getting outdoors and enjoying nature at its best in spectacular surroundings, and there is no better time to start planning your bushwalking holiday than now.

Jenny Brewer is a travel agent whose passion is writing. After spending her leisure time writing time writing childrens stories, she now enjoys writing about travel destinations. For more of her articles visit Car Hire Australia

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