Got the NZ part of our trip organized and now discover that it's school holidays the week we'll be in Queensland. We're trying to find a nice 2br/2ba apartment from Sept 30-Oct6 or 7....Anyone have any suggestions? We were hoping to drive north from Noosa for a few daysto see the Whitsundays and then back to Brisbane for our early flight on the 8th. So much is already booked! It's hard to tell from the Serviced Apartments listings if they have 2 baths as well.
Anyone have any favorites in the area we might try? Thanks for your help!

Any favorite places to stay that are beach side from Noosa north to Airlie?
I've read that Airlie really isn't a beach...more a gateway to Hamilton Island. We're just looking for a nice hotel or apartment in a beach location where we can do day trips from. Are we better off just staying in the Noosa/Sunshine Beach than trying to drive farther up the coast?

I'd recommend just staying in Noosa or SE Queensland in general. Assuming you have about a week in Queensland, driving up the coast to Airlie Beach and back from Brisbane does not seem very practical. This is, at least, a long two day drive - one way. And, from what I have seen, there is relatively little to see on this stretch, particularly between Rockhampton and Mackay.

Noosa is a very nice place with beautiful beaches and lovely walks in the Nat'l Park. It is also a good base for day trips to the Glass House Mts, the hinterland (Montville, Maleny), as well as spots up and down the coast. An overnight trip to Fraser Island would also be feasible.

You could also consider, rather than heading north of Brisbane, heading south to the Gold Coast, Byron Bay or somewhere in between. Byron is more akin to Noosa in size and is also in a particularly beautiful location. The Gold Coast, while being very built up and commercialized, has very nice beaches and would be a great base for day trips....better than the Noosa, in my opinion. This is largely because of the relative proximity to great places like Lamington Nat'l Park, Springbrook, Mt Warning, Mt Tamborine, Byron Bay and the Scenic Rim. Early Oct should be a great time weather-wise for the area.

I have to agree with RalphR. Whitsundays are a long drive. Don't waste your days driving, use them for seeing SE Qld, which has a lot to offer. Here are some my suggestions:-
1. Drive to Redland Bay (near Brisbane)and get the water taxi out to Nth.Stradbroke Island, then a bus around to Cylinder Beach & Point Lookout, great for swimming & eating out.
2. Check out Bribie Island, jut north of Brisbane.
3. Drive to Rainbow Beach, north of Noosa, then return via Gympie (possibility of a ride on Gympie Rattler Steam Train).
4. Drive west to Maleny, then Kenilworth (cheese factory), then Imbil, Amamoor, etc (quaint scenic villages on the Mary Valley Way Road), then back to Gympie, then drive south towards Noosa, turning off to the villages of Cooroy & Pomona.
5. See if there are any flights from Maroochydore Airport, which have "one day" package to Lady Elliot Island on southern Great Barrier Reef.
6. Whilst at Noosa, don't forget to go on the little Noosa Ferry boat, which plys between Tewantin & Noosa (Sheritan Hotel quay), and which allows patrons to bring on wine & glasses for those lovely sunsets.
7. Hire a tinnie, and go boating along the Noosa River.
8. Walk the Noosa National Park around bays, like Granite Bay, etc.
9. Do the walk to the summit of Mt.Coolum (not far from Noosa)
10. Drive to Point Boreen for tranquility, and visit the local heritage pub, or take a cruise on the lake.
September/October is a nice time of the year for Noosa.

Ralph & Tropo you are the best! Thanks so much for the help. I've been floundering in plan-making hell and now see my way clear. We have friends in Maleny that we'd love to spend some time with so will definitely head in that direction. I'm off to check out all your other recommendations as well. Thanks again Marie