Wow, the barrier reef isn't the short drive away I expected. What are the most beautiful daytrips from Brisbane (with children)? Or what spots do you suggest for culture, photography and fun?

Gold Coast is the best spot for kids and its not bad for adults either - depending on what you like.

islandmom, I wondered about your intention to visit Brisbane but assumed you had a particular reason (not that there's anything wrong with Brisbane and SE Queensland generally, it's just not the first choice of visitors making their first trip to Australia).

It now appears that you really wanted to see the Great Barrier Reef - right? Pity you didn't get onto this site earlier - we could have set you straight. Either that or consult a map - flying to Brisbane to see the Reef is somewhat akin to using Richmond, VA, as your hop-off to the Florida Keys.

Is it too late for you to head straight to Cairns after arriving in Sydney?

Should have said I have free points for a hotel along the Gold Coast and my young children wish to see the Australia Zoo. I was thinking it was all much closer together. This trip is for them mostly.

Well, in that case, you'll find lots for kids to do in that part of SE Qld, there's all sorts of tourist parks around Gold Coast and Australia Zoo at Beerwah isn't too far. Kids should love Seaworld on Gold Coast also.

Islandmom...when on the Gold Coast definitely take the kids up to O'Reilly's Guesthouse on the edge of Lamington National Park. It's a 1.5-2 hrs drive from the Gold Coast, or you can book a tour. It can be a day trip or, if you can afford it, a great overnight stay. It's a very beautiful spot, a place we've taken our kids many times over the years. The kids will love all the colorful wild birds and getting to feed them by hand. There is also a cool elevated rainforest walk and there are spectacular views from the cafe. Stop at the alpaca farm on the way home (not far from O'Reilly's), let the kids pet the alpacas, enjoy a cup of tea from the balcony, take in a wonderful view and, if you wait 'til near dusk, you'll see wild kangaroos grazing in the fields below. It's a great trip to enjoy wonderful scenery and see some of Australia's wild attractions actually in the wild.

BTW, Australia Zoo is at least 2.5 hrs north of the Gold Coast, on the other side of Brisbane. if I had to choose between a trip to O'Reilly's and Australia Zoo, it would definitely be the former.

Thank you so much for the tip. I'll look up the Guesthouse now. They were huge Steve Irwin fans so that's why we're going to the zoo to see the crocs. I'd like to see more natural area than Sea World etc. We just spent July in San Diego doing that kind of thing.

I'd prefer Lamington Nat Park to Australia Zoo any time too, but so many kids want to see Steve Irwin's zoo (you won't see crocodiles in wild anywhere in SE Qld). Australia Zoo is at Beerwah - there's a train service from Gold Coast or Croc Express coach which picks up at Gold Coast hotels and takes you to door. Its a little over a couple of hours each way - the Croc Express gets you there by about 10.15am.

Well if the kids are more into seeing crocs etc than being fussed about seeing Irwins's actual zoo, there is the Currumbin Bird Sanctuary on the Gold Coast. We took our boys there last year and had a great time. It's much more than a bird sanctuary - koalas, kangaroos (roaming freely to pet), huge crocs, snakes, lizards, cassowaries, dingos and so on. Nonetheless the big attraction is the daily bird feeding...everyone is given a dish of sugar water which attract hundreds, if not thousands, of rainbow lorikeets, which land on your head and arms eager to get a drink. (Beware of the odd poop!)

We took the boys to Irwin's place several years ago. Didn't see Steve, unfortunately. I would say from my experience, Currumbin is easily on par with Australia Zoo, though with less emphasis on crocs. Definitely worth considering as a time saving measure but still not as rich an experience as a visit to Lamington.

We're leaving the Gold Coast tomorrow and I just wanted to thank everyone that suggested Currumbin. I held a koala and we played with kangaroos and their joeys. What an amazing experience. Worth the whole trip! And at the Australian Zoo we saw Bendi and Terry! What a joy for our kids. It also feels like we spent money and time towards a good cause. It was too hot and we weren't feeling well enough to see the whole zoo, but what a memory. When the kids are older I definately plan on doing Fraser Island and the rainforest parks too.