Australia hidden Treasures
 

I lived in Queensland Australia and found some amazing hidden destinations, waterfalls, rock pools, and natural water holes, anyone looking for tip that aren't touristy please ask I have great destinations!!

What! And fill up our few remaining special spots with TOURISTS!

OK, I am interested. I will be in Queensland late February and early March 2010 for about 8 Days. This is part of a two month trip to Australia. I have planned stays in Toowoomba, Hervey Bay, and Noosa Heads. Although my itinerary at htese location is somewhat preplanned I am always looking for new ideas to add. anything special you can suggest that is not overly touristy would be greatly appreciated by this tourist.

Z

I suppose it might help for you to respond if I provide my itinerary for Queensland.

Day 1. Glen Innes to Toowoomba 292 Km. Travel via Tenterfield, Geraween NP a possible stop, Warwick, Stanthorpe.

Day 2. Day trip from Toowoomba to Bunya NP, 300Km
Day 3. Another day trip to Bunya NP, 300Km

Day 4. Toowoomba - Hevey Bay 357 Km, via Kilkivan and Maryborough.

Day 5. Fraser Island tour

Day 6. Bundaberg, 300Km

Day 7. Hervey Bay - Noosa Heads via Gympie Kenilworth drive, 280 Km

Day 8. Noosa Heads open day
Day 9. Fraser Island day tour
Day 10. Noosa Heads to Ballina 380Km

I hope this helps. Anything in the area that I missed that might be a worthwhile consideration?

Many thanks,

Z

Please allow time to walk through the little NP at Noosa [southern end of Hastings St, ie the headland]. It's a gem.

I second the Noosa NP, and the sunset view from the lookout. On your way south from Noosa, call in to the local surf club at Marcoola for a great $10 fish and chips and salad lunch, as the locals and local tourists do. The calamari was also good. Just had some this weekend. Marcoola is not nearly as touristy as Noosa.

I hope I'm not doing gypsy09 a disservice, but I wouldn't be holding my breath waiting on that advice. So far as I can see his/her only other posts on Fodors have been devoted to promoting an apartment booking operation in Paris. (If I have maligned you, gypsy, my apologies.)

Z from Winnipeg - why are you doing 2 day trips to Bunya National Park from Toowoomba? There is accommodation at Bunya NP and unless you are staying with friends/relatives in Toowoomba you can certainly do its highlights in about 2 hours - I know as I lived there for 4 years. Your trip looks like you will be seeing the very backblocks of Australia. Not only that but you are going to Bundaberg, a nice enough place but hardly an international destination. My point here is that you seem to be driving around the 3rd rate spots of that area and not seeing the best. My opinion for what its worth.

To ivenotbeeneverywhere;

What do you consider to be the best Queensland spots? I would welcome a list as I am not locked in on the indicated itinerary.

Thanks,

Z

Z: A few comments on your itinerary. I am very to quite familiar with all the places you cite. I really like Girraween NP, in the Granite Belt near Tenterfield -there are some very good walks, including the Pyramid and Castle Rock, and there's a lot of wildlife about. Also, dont miss Bald Rock, not far from Girraween. It is very impressive, as is the climb up it and the trail that loops around the back (can be done in about an hour). And not far from Bald Rock is Boonoo Boonoo (pronounced "Bunna Boonoo") Falls, also well worth a look. You could easily spend a day in the Granite Belt area.

After Granite Belt, a much more interesting and scenic route north would be along the Mt Lindsay Hwy to Beaudesert. It's not a highway really, as it is unsealed for some miles out of Tenterfield. The scenery is especially pretty after you go through Woodenbong and you climb up over the ranges, passing through rainforest. By all means take the short side road that goes into Mt Barney - wonderful views of this impressive mountain, the highest in SE Queensland. Queen Mary Falls is another fairly short detour worth taking off the Mt Lindsay Hwy.

As far as the Bunya Mts go, I also do not see why you would go there and back from Toowoomba twice. We spent an afternoon in the Bunya and did a couple of walks there. Nice enough. Also, why do you have two Fraser Island Day tours on days 5 and 9? Seems strange. In any case, I would stay at least a couple of days on Fraser - it's a big place, a lot to see - hard to do in a day, including taking the barge over to the island and back. Unless there is some special reason to go to Bundaberg, I'd forego that part and devote it to Fraser.
Noosa is nice, though upscale touristy - the beaches and Nat'l Park there are gorgeous.

Have you been to Laminton Nat'l Park before? If not, well worth considering - would be a the natural place to visit after Girraween, Mt Barney, etc.

Disagree with ivebeeneverywhere somewhat. It's nice to get away from the international destinations (for example Port Douglas, Kuranda, Noosa, Uluru, and Katoomba) and the associated commercialism. And there are indeed many hidden gems to find like Bald Rock, Girraween - mostly unspoiled and quiet.

This will be my fourth trip to Australia and I have been to Lamington NP. Some of the suggestions above are useful and I will take them into account.

Thanks, Z

My reasoning for the two Fraser Island day trips is that a day trip from Hervey Bay and Noosa Heads provide somewhat diferrent perspective (although with some duplication). A multiday single trip is a possibility that I may consider, but our preference was to stay at an apartment which would also give us a safe location to park our rental car and leave our luggage. I will have to review the Fraser Island options again as at the moment I am uncertain as to which way to lean.

Z

Why be so mysterious Gypsy09, just publish your list!

"Why be so mysterious Gypsy09, just publish your list!"

As I say, don't hold your breath...

I am not holding my breath for a response from Gypsy09. I thank the rest that provided useful comments, as a result I revised my itinerary as follows:

Day 1. Inverell to Stanthorpe 215 Km. Stop on the way at Geraween NP.

Day 2. Stanthorpe to Bunya NP 293Km. Stay at Bunya NP.
Day 3. Day spend at Bunya NP

Day 4. Bunya NP - Hervey Bay 291 Km, via Kingaroy, Kilkivan and Maryborough.

Day 5-7. Three day Fraser Island tour.

Day 8. Hervey Bay - Noosa Heads via Gympie Kenilworth drive, 280 Km

Day 9. Noosa Heads open day

Day 10. Noosa Heads to Ballina 380Km

Thank you for your helpful comments.

Z

Z: Staying in Stanthorpe, I can recommend the Beverley Vineyard Bush Cottages just south of town. We've stayed there 3 times now - lovely. The restaurant, in an old "Queenslander" house, is nice too.

http://www.whiskeygullywines.com.au/Beverley/index.html

Itinerary looks good, though I would exchange the full day at Bunya for a full day at Girraween/Bald Rock/Boonoo Boonoo (i.e., two nights in Stanthorpe), especially if you intend to do some bushwalking.