Summer’s Golden Gleam

The Australian obsession with the perfect beach life starts here in Queensland, where sun-drenched coasts, trendy riverside towns, and lush green hinterlands will beckon you to lay back, relax and take root

Australians call Queensland ‘The Sunshine State’ for good reason – with 300 sun-filled days a year, it’s the spiritual home of the Aussie beach holiday, with thousands of swimmable areas dotting its breathtaking coastline. Stretching nearly 7,000 kilometres, Queensland’s coast is only just shy of the distance between New York and Los Angeles! From its southern cosmopolitan shoreline where you’ll find the international playground of the Gold Coast, to the tropical northern extremities of the shimmering Cairns beaches, and the chic and stylish beachside attractions of Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, there are countless activities to experience and fabulous towns to explore, all set against a backdrop of brilliant days, balmy nights and a deeply entrenched beach culture.

Diving into the Great Barrier Reef

While many may extol the virtues of her pretty shores, others will argue that the real star of Queensland is actually just off her coast. A visit to this northeastern state simply wouldn’t be complete without a dip into one of the great natural wonders of the world – the Great Barrier Reef, home not just to some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling, but also more than 900 islands some of the best luxury resorts in the country. No matter how many images you’ve seen or stories you’ve heard, nothing compares to a personal encounter with this spectacular miracle of nature. Stretching some 2,300 glittering kilometres up the Queensland coastline, from the town of Bundaberg to virtually the tip of Cape York, the Great Barrier Reef is world-renowned as the only single living structure visible from space. Come November, the entire Great Barrier Reef erupts into life with spawning coral. This usually happens on the weekend after the full moon, and it’s an amazing sight to behold, wherever on the reef you happen to be.

As one of die world’s largest coral reef systems, the Great Barrier Reef is home to thousands of marine species, including dugongs, turtles, dolphins, whales, more than 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of molluscs. Not just restricted to underwater critters, there are also about 200 species of bird dial thrive (and depend) on the reef for survival. Its sheer size means there are virtually dozens of different ways to experience this incredible wonder, with tour operators operating in towns up and down the Queensland coast (including Bundaberg, Airlie Beach, Townsville and Cairns). You can fly overhead and sail directly on top of it, or even sleep on it – yes, sleep on it – if you like.

But snorkelling or diving those clear turquoise depths offers a magic all of its own, giving you an intimate look at the kaleidoscopic colours, unbelievable array of marine life and crystal clear waters which stretch seemingly into infinity. In some parts of the reef you can dive with green turtles or manta rays, while others offer the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim with rare dwarf minke whales. Be sure to tick off your scavenger list of the reefs Great 8: giant clams, turtles, down fish, manta ray, potato cod, Maori wrasse, sharks and whales. Fat, friendly potato cod appear every day at the famous Cod Hole, expecting treats from visiting divers. The coral here is arguably some of the reef’s best, too.

Want a truly unique experience? How about a dive into a shipwreck? The historical SS Yongala shipwreck has become the adopted home of hugely colourful marine life, and is definitely something to add on to your bucket list. Get here by boat from Townsville, or through various other day trips available for charter.

Reefsleeping In the Whitsundays

We’re going to let you in on one of Australia’s best-kept holiday secrets: it’s possible to hire your own yacht, without any prior boating experience, to sail freely around the Whitsunday Islands all on your own! A dazzling collection of 74 stunning islands and a handful of world-class resorts, the Whitsundays not only offers some of the world’s best sailing conditions, it’s also wonderfully safe and sheltered so even first-time captains can drop anchor and easily spend a week or two on its waters. Sleep, cook and eat on board, and spend your days snorkelling, fishing and exploring the many beautiful islands, sailing from one to the next whenever it pleases you. Locals call this ‘bareboating’, as you’re not supplied with a crew, but vessels are certainly well equipped: you’ll find everything from bed linen to bottle openers on board. Be sure to drop by the Heart Reef if you can, roughly 40 nautical miles from the mainland.

Where to Stay

If sleeping on a yacht isn’t your cup of tea, there are a myriad resorts and accommodation options along the length and breadth of the Great Barrier Reef. While there are many suitable for all variety of budgets and getaways, we hope recommend indulging in a stay at the One&Only Hayman Island Resort. While you can look forward to exceptional level of service, and no less than Perrier-Jouët as the house champagne, what makes this retreat so special is that the entirety of Hayman, the very northernmost island in the Whitsundays, is dedicated to this resort, leaving you free to roam about from tip to toe, exploring walking tracks, partaking in aquatic activities such as fishing and snorkelling, and finding bliss in one extremely lovely spa.

Find sanctuary at Whitehaven Beach

The views here are so breath-taking that arriving visitors often forget – just for a moment – to take photos of this incredible scene. Instead, they’re too busy mentally filming the translucent blue waters that glitter like a million diamonds, and the seemingly endless stretch of greenery-fringed beach and silica-white sands here on Whitehaven Beach’s seven-kilometre stretch. This regular contender in Top Ten beach lists around the world is one of those all-too rare locations that actually looks better in real life than the way it’s depicted in brochures or on postcards – it’s just that difficult to do it justice. Take a short bush walk to the lookout at Tongue Point to see the magical swirling of aquatic colours in Whitehaven’s ocean inlet.

Visitors aren’t usually allowed to stay overnight on this beach (unless you’ve received a special camping permit or are commandeering your own yacht), so the beach is always sparkling clean. Add to that the area’s pristine, azure waters, which are protected by the Great Barrier Reefs UNESCO World Heritage listing, vast swathes of untouched, lushly green foliage and that famously white, glitteringly pure sand, you’ve got the perfect formula for paradise. There is a fantastic walk at the northern end of the beach called Hill Inlet Walk, a short trek that will take you up to a lookout offering expansive views over Hill Inlet and Whitehaven.

There are several options for exploring the area, including a full-day cruise that will bring you sailing through the sparkling islands with the wind in your hair. Arrive with a picnic lunch and you can explore the beach at your leisure. Alternatively, make a grand entrance by chopper as you’re whisked through the skies to land directly on Whitehaven’s sparkling sands before the champagne cork is popped for a celebratory drink. Take things up a notch and sail in by seaplane – voted one of the world’s best aerial tours, guests can zoom over the Great Barrier Marine Park and many of the islands before making a gentle landing on the warm, shallow water and stepping out onto the beach. There’s something thrilling about the idea of soaring past one of the world’s most incredible natural wonders that seems to sail above (pun intended) all others – all the more so when you’ve snorkelled the Great Barrier Reef.

Far From the Madding Crowd In Noosa

The epitome of coastal chic, and a welcome alternative to the more crowded beach cities such as Gold Coast, Noosa has a star quality all its own. Like any A-lister worth their salt, Noosa knows how to show off those natural good looks to full advantage – chic restaurants beckon and local markets and cute boutiques hold the promise of the perfect holiday memento, all stretching along a pristine beach filled with ridiculously good-looking surfers. Not all of the ‘beautiful people’ wearing dark sunglasses in Noosa are celebrities, but don’t be surprised if you spot one.

The sophisticated café and shopping strip of Hastings Street offers great views; start your day with a hearty breakfast at aromas noosa (so hip they’ve eschewed capital letters in their name), be dazzled with breathtaking beach views at Bistro C and Season or revel in the superb people watching at Miss Moneypenny’s, a funky restaurant and cocktail bar where chill-out tunes and a hip clientele come together to create an exciting vibe.

But if you want to eat like a local, head to the deck of the surf club at the northern end of the main beach, aptly named Sunshine Beach, a favourite spot for avid surfers. And if you want to work off some of that excellent dining, you can also do some kayaking or stand-up paddling and explore the pristine waterways. Those who prefer to recline in quiet comfort can still explore the waterways with Malu Os Eco Boat Hire, the cleanest and greenest way to enjoy the beauty of the Noosa River. The electric boats are quiet and non-polluting; the ideal way to explore one of Australia’s most diverse waterways without leaving an impact.

Mornings are the best limes to go for a stroll down the famous Noosa National Park Coastal Track, keeping an eye out for koalas overhead and dolphins in the sparkling ocean below. Plunging into the crystal clear waters of Little Cove or Laguna Bay on the return journey is pure bliss, and stop at the curiously named Hell’s Gates. There are tons of secluded little beached notched into the coast that make for a great little resting spot.

Wildlife fans will want to discover the Noosa Biosphere Reserve, a spectacular series of freshwater tidal parklands covering 150,000 hectares. Noosa Everglades Discovery runs serene boat tours where the dark tannin-stained water acts like a mirror, reflecting the beauty of the surrounding bush. There’s usually a midway stop where the captain will unpack a picnic basket to fix your munchies (and where the only loo stop will be, so be sure to make full use of that). A hungry goanna or two may wander up to your picnic site, but be sure not to feed them any junk food!

For the aquatic at heart, Noosa is a great place for you to get up close and personal with one of the world’s most gentle sea creatures, the humpback whale. The ‘Swim with Whales’ experience with Sunreef is suitable for all; don’t your sense of adventure is greater than your swimming ability, simply grab hold of the line attached to the boat and float alongside these beautiful marine mammals.

Glimpse the Beauty Of Queensland’s Hinterlands

Enjoy an adventure on the road less travelled during a picturesque drive through the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Sample light-as-a- feather scones at Montville or visit a boutique cheese factory or family-run vineyard at Maleny.

Maleny Dairies is a family-owned business situation in its picturesque hills, one of the few that own the distinctly brown spotted Guernsey cows rather than the more commonly-seen black-and-white Holsteins – their milk is much sweeter and creamier than usual, resulting in a higher quality product. You can opt for a tour of the facility that includes a hand-feeding experience of the calves (and the resident pigs and chickens) and a sampling session of its award-winning milks, yogurts, and creams.

Surrounded by magnificent rainforests with spectacular views of the Glass House Mountains, the Maleny Botanic Gardens  is a passion project that was first started a few years ago by a botany enthusiast who emigrated from South Africa. Today, it currently boasts four kilometres of walking paths that meander through various themed gardens and water features (many a couple have said their vows here), where you can catch a glimpse of some of the rarest cycads and orchids in the world.

On your way inland from the coast, be sure to make a stop at Australia Zoo, home of the Crocodile Hunter (the late Steve Irwin, whose 10-year death anniversary falls this year). Watch a show, get your photo taken with something wild or become a keeper for a day – Queensland is the only state in Australia where you are allowed to hold a koala, so be sure to do so!

There is also an enclosure of free-ranging red and grey kangaroos whom you can feed and pet; we recommend visiting in the early mornings before they get their daily feedings so these critters will be extra excited to see you. Pioneered by Steve Irwin himself, the Australia Zoo also houses one of the busiest and most well-equipped wildlife hospitals in the world. The facility rehabilitates and releases over 7,000 wild animals a year, including marine life and reptiles! Be sure to make a donation if you can and become a Wildlife Warrior – Justin Timberlake has.