by Loreena Walsh | QLD Destinations & Activities
It is unbelievable to me that what was supposed to be a 2 week stop last June, has turned into an almost year long halt to our travels as we’ve spent time with Matt’s Nan. I wouldn’t change that time we’ve had to spend with her for the world, but I really have to admit we are keen to get back out exploring and travelling. I have itchy feet! So, we’ve been living vicariously through TV travel and 4wding shows, and recently watched a Pat Callinan episode on Fraser Island, and all I have to say is wow! Friends who have gone to Fraser on a tour with Sunset Safaris had a great time and had already tempted us with all their tales of adventure, but watching the landscapes unfold last weekend on T.V., well let’s just say that Fraser is now at the top of our list for first places to visit when we hit the road again.
We’ve been researching great things to do, and are sharing some of our ideas here with you. We’d love to know if you have any other hot tips.
Top Tips for Fraser Island
Fraser Island, located on the Queensland coast near Hervey Bay, is the world’s largest sand island and is World Heritage Listed. It’s a natural paradise spanning some 166,000 hectares with over 100 fresh water lakes and a beach highway stretching 120 kilometres. You can visit Fraser Island independently and explore as the master of your own adventure. For those taking their own vehicle, there are daily barge services from River Heads and Inskip Point. There is camping available but National Park permits will be required, as will 4wd permits for driving through many areas. For those wanting to explore with a local’s view, then you can look into a collection of Fraser Island tours like we mentioned above that our friends have done in the past. While you’re there, make sure you tick off as many of these things as you can, because it’s a truly unique Aussie destination.
Indian Head
Drive along almost the entire stretch of 75 Mile Beach to Indian Head, the coastal headland on the eastern side of Fraser Island. Marvel at the giant headland from below or get your walking shoes on and climb the track to the top for panoramic views and the perfect vantage point for spotting whales and dolphins around the point.
Lake Wabby
If you’re not afraid of a little exercise, visiting Lake Wabby will get your heart pumping. Lake Wabby is slowly being filled in by the sand dunes that surround it, so you should make it the top of your list.
Lake McKenzie
Lake McKenzie is pure paradise with soft white sand and crystal clear water. You can park close to the lake and walk down the track for a swim and then back up to the picnic area for a bite to eat.
Eli Creek
Eli Creek is refreshingly cold, even on a hot summer’s day. Follow the crowd and walk up the boardwalk before floating back down the creek with the current. It is quite shallow, so just relax and enjoy the tranquility.
The Champagne Rockpools
Located at the very top of 75 Mile Beach, you have to drive up and around Indian Head to access the Champagne Rockpools. Splash around in the salt water pools, but watch the sea as it crashes over the rock ledge.
Kingfisher Bay
Take the inland 4WD tracks from 75 Mile Beach to Kingfisher Bay and relax in the guest section of the luxurious resort. Walk along the jetty with an ice-cream in hand and dip your toes in the water after a long lunch.
The Maheno Shipwreck
What was once a washed up shipwreck is now a rusted landmark as you drive from one end of 75 Mile Beach to the next. Pull over, have a look around, and learn about the ship’s history and how it came to be stranded on Fraser Island shores.
Lake Birrabeen
Much like Lake McKenzie, Lake Birrabeen is a crystal clear lake surrounded by soft white sand and a lush green rainforest inland from the main beach. Lake Birrabeen is popular among tourists for its calm and cool water.
The Coloured Sands
The many colours of sand you’ll spot on Fraser Island is breathtaking as you drive from Hook Point right up to Indian Head. There’s mustard yellow, sandy brown, burning orange and bold red, burgundy, brown, camel and white.
Central Station
On your journey across island on the inland tracks, you’re likely to come across Central Station. It is the perfect place to stop for a snack amongst the lush greenery and loud wildlife before continuing on to your next destination.
Are you now inspired more than ever by the amazing landscape and things to do on Fraser Island? Spend a week in a holiday home or camping on the beach as you explore hidden parts of the island as well as Fraser’s most loved locations. You can get lots of other information from the official Fraser Island tourism website, and I bet you’ll be as keen to get there as we are. We can’t wait to explore later this year and uncover what we find and share it with you!
If you’ve been to Fraser, please let us know how much you loved it!
by Loreena Walsh | QLD Destinations & Activities
While I would love to say we were up in Queensland relaxing in the sunshine and readying ourselves for the eclipse this week, unfortunately we weren’t one of the lucky thousands of tourists, media and scientists who were there in person to see the eclipse spectacular.
Never fear, if you, like us, weren’t able to be there, we’re sharing the amazing footage supplied by Tourism Queensland so you enjoy the spectacular sight right in the comfort of your home, which is always better than not experiencing something this amazing at all!
It’s estimated that 60,000 eclipse chasers, including scientists, astrologists and the general public swarmed into various venues across Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef to witness the solar eclipse first hand, with this being the first full eclipse of this kind experienced by the region in around 1300 years!
Were you lucky enough to be in attendance? We’d love to hear about it! For those like us who missed out, immerse yourself in the footage below 🙂
Video streaming by UstreamImages & video courtesy of Tourism Queensland
by Loreena Walsh | QLD Destinations & Activities
You all know we love our family holidays, and we’re really passionate about the environment. We really feel it’s important that both tourists, and tourism industry operators understand the immense value that comes with the process of being eco friendly.
While we haven’t been to this destination, we love Queensland holidays and, the Great Barrier Reef is at the top of our dream destinations to visit and write about one day, so we were really pleased to read this news, and wanted to share it with you all:
Today, it was revealed that Lady Elliot Island has stopped selling plastic water bottles to help reduce it’s carbon footprint even further.
We think it’s a great initiative, especially as the island is equipped with a water desalination plant that produces perfect, untainted, pure water available for guests from drinking fountains or taps.
Here’s some interesting information:
“In 2009-10, approximately 373 million water bottles ended up as waste in Australia alone. If we can encourage our guests to live by the mantra of refill not landfill and engage with them to go water bottle free, hopefully this will spread to other communities around Australia and the World.”
“The extracting, packaging and transporting of a litre of bottled water can emit hundreds of times more greenhouse gases than a litre of tap water, so not only are we reducing the amount of bottles but also helping to save the environment. We all need to take a bold stand” said Sonya Mroz, Sales and Marketing Executive of Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort.
The resort has many other initiatives in place including the implementation of a solar power station that has reduced fuel burn by over 70%, which makes you really wonder why every resort can’t do the same!
It’s important to think about the big picture:
It’s not only tourist destinations that should be implementing changes such as this, but within our personal lives, or during any holiday journey, it’s really important to be aware of how we may be affecting the environment.
Being environmentally conscious goes much further than putting your rubbish in the bin, it takes real consideration as to how our entire lifestyle choices from production to consumption may affect the environment around us.
About Lady Elliot Island
Lady Elliot Island is the only resort island on the Great Barrier Reef with a direct flight access to the island airstrip. It’s one of three island resorts located within the Great Barrier Reef, and is situated within the Marine National Park zone. This zoning means that visitors on Lady Elliot are treated to a wonderful year round display of live coral and the iconic Manta Rays along with other amazing wildlife.
There’s lots to do on the island including guided tours in glass bottomed boats, snorkelling, scuba diving, reef walks, beach strolls and even kids activities such as the Reef Rangers Club that runs in NSW/QLD school holiday periods. Seasonal opportunities exist to see dolphins, turtles, whales and a range of bird life.
Lady Elliot Island is on our MUST VISIT destination list (very high up!) we especially can’t wait to see turtle nesting and hatching.
Have you visited the Great Barrier Reef before? We’d love to hear about your experience.
by Loreena Walsh | QLD Destinations & Activities
Known for the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree National Park as well as its many beaches, holidaying in Queensland is a popular paradise for winter holidays and family excursions. The climate is tropical to subtropical on the coast and arid and dry to the west. With many things to see and do, there’s something here to ensure that every member of the family has a great time. Here are some of the best places in Queensland for family holidays:
Arlie Beach – For visiting the amazing Whitsunday Islands, Arlie Beach is a beach resort town in the Whitsunday Region. The scenic harbor provides easy access by boat to Gloucester Island and Whitsunday Islands National Parks. Three other national parks are also reachable by water or land. These National Parks are Dryander, Molle and Conway. Area beaches, lagoons and reef are spectacular. These natural places have wide spaces for families to gather and take part in any kind of water sport, picnics and BBQs as well as relaxing on the sands.
Brisbane – The lovely city of Brisbane has much to offer adults and children taking a break together. Downtown and South Bank Parklands offer hours of free fun for all from parks and playgrounds to covered BBQ areas with nearby cafes, restaurants and museums. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is a terrific to get close to native wild animals. Mt. Coot-tha and the Botanic Gardens at its base provide a place for easy and adventure hiking and many opportunities for photographing the views.
Cairns – One of the best cities from which to take day trips to explore the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns has play areas like Muddy’s Playground and the Esplanade Swimming Lagoon as well as numerous places to discover nature. Some of the nearby natural spots of interest are the Botanic Gardens, the Atherton Tablelands and islands like Fitzroy.
Gold Coast – Just less than 100 kilometers south from Brisbane, this city has shopping as well as beaches and outstanding resorts. For families on Gold Coast holidays, the beautiful coastal area offers many attractions like Rockpools and Springbrook. Rockpools is a superb water park where children can play in the water and the playground equipment. Springbrook National Park has a remarkable natural bridge and waterfall, a great place for hiking and nature photography.
Port Douglas – About 70 kilometers to the north of Cairns, Port Douglas is a good place to stay for trips of discovery into the Daintree Rainforest. The coastal village is bordered by the natural port area offering a peaceful beach, cafes and water sports. Fishing and boat tours are especially popular. Horseback riding, golfing and watching native birds and animals in the Wildlife Habitat are some of the other pursuits in the region.
So no matter what type of holiday you’re searching for, Queensland offers a great range of options for anyone looking for a memorable family holiday. Whether you’re heading off on an epic adventure around Australia with kids, or just taking a well-earned family holiday there’s something in Queensland for every family.
