I am looking for a little help planning a trip that will take us from Brisbane/Queensland, down to Sydney. We are going in late May. We already have a good idea of what we are going to see in Sydney, but what to do in Queensland is the big question.
Can anyone suggest a good place to go snorkeling, and is the Great Barrier Reef far enough north that driving there isn’t feasible? What guided tours of rainforests? I have seen the name Daintree several times, but I get the feeling it is farther north than I wish to travel at this point. Any highlights in and around Brisbane that are must sees?
Thanks
Brandon
Brisbane / Queensland
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The daintree,where "rainforest meets the reef" is in far north queenland..a long haul ex Brissy.
However it is possible to visit several sub tropical coral cays that are at the southern end of the reef ex Brissy.In fact you can take a small plane ex Brissy to Lay Elliot.Now periodically debate rages here over whether these islands are worth it or not or the water temp in july etc etc but I would have thought they were a good option for you.
Lady Elliot
Lady Musgrave
maybe Heron.
There are excellent sub tropical rainforests on the flanks of the Mt Warning caldera a short drive to the south of Brissy.Climb Mt Warning...walk to the edge of the caldera from Oreilly's or Binna Burra.
Or a little further south..walk thru the rainforest and go for a swim a the base of Minyon falls in the wonderful "big scrub" area of the Byron Bay hinterland.
To be controversial...it is possible to see rainforest and reef a "short" distance from Brissy.
Brandon, John is right in what he says in his posting. The coral cay islands of Lady Elliot or Heron Island both have accommodation, and are worthy of a 2-5 days stay (depending on how much time you have). Lady Musgrave consists of "day trip" out from Bundaberg or the town of 1770 near Agnas Waters. (I used to camp on the Capricorn/Bunker Group Islands, and this April I will be taking my wife to lady musgrave for the day, as she hasn't visited before) The sea temperature in May should be fine (I live in nearby Hervey Bay, and I swim all year round). The water temperature at lady elliot island at the moment, is around 26 degrees celius. The above islands will give you an excellent insight into some of the best corals of the reef (very pristine) and the sealife/birdlife etc.
As John said, the the rainforests west of the Qld/NSW border are a gem, quite often overlooked.
I can't help notice that a lot of tourists coming from overseas, travel the well worn tourist track, ie Sydney, Gold Coast, Cairns, GBR, Rainforests, then home again, without "realising" whilst flying between these destinations, they are missing out of some of our "gem locations", without the tourist crowds.
Are you driving a rental car on this trip? if so, I may be able to recommend a few locations, and places of interest, to make your journey just that bit more memorable.
Regards
Thank you both for your suggestions.
tropo - Yes, we are renting a car, and any destinations that will be out of the ordinary are always welcomed.
Brandon, I take it you have a map of southern Queensland? if not, it will pay to have something, to follow some of my suggestions.
I don't think you have to drive any further north than Hervey Bay. You really need 4 nights in H/Bay, allowing you to go on a day trip to Lady Elliot Island on the GBR, and one day trip to Fraser Island (much closer to the mainland, than Lady Elliot)
Also enroute from Brisbane to Hervey Bay, make a point of visiting the Sunshine Coast, and especially their hinterland. Might I suggest, after leaving Brisbane & heading north on the Bruce Highway, turn off the highway, and go to Landsborough, then take the road to Maleny, Kenilworth, the village of Imbil, then stay on Mary Valley Way to Gympie, then from Gympie go out to Rainbow Beach & stay 1 night. The next day drive out of Rainbow Beach, and take the road to Maryborough (this road is off the main highway, & passes through pine forests), then at Maryborough, turn off to Hervey Bay. (Rainbow Beach to Hervey Bay - approx.1.5 hrs drive)
* When returning to Brisbane, take the main highway south, and 14 kms south of Gympie, turn off to Cooran, Pomona, and Cooroy, then into Noosa Heads & the Sunshine Coast. You will probably need 3 days along this coastline.