Another Australia Thread!

Smurf71

Saffy and Ceejay Blue,

Thank you both for your suggestions!! Think we will spend more of the time in the north of Brisbane and do the Sunshine coast instead of the Gold Coast. The Schoolies week is really putting us off, but we want to have a relaxing holiday when we are in Oz. What you both describe sounds fantastic-thank you!

Will probably have more questions for you about our holiday so will post back on this thread if thats ok? Thank you all for your advice-its much apprciated!!:T

Smurf71

Safiya wrote: »

What you like doing depends on where you would be best going - Caloundra/Maroochydore/Mooloolabah etc on the Sunshine Coast have some gorgeous beaches and are much more laid back and less glitzy than their Gold Coast cousin (and much more preferable some would say). The Sunshine Coast hinterland has some beautiful little crafty villages worth a day out (Montville/Maleny) and there are fantastic markets on a Wednesday and Saturday at Eumundi, also round the same area.
Have a wonderful time - but yes, stay away from the Gold Coast if you can amend your plans at all, just won't be pleasant.

Saffy

Saffy or anyone that can help?

To do the Sunshine Coast-would you recommend basing ourselves in Brisbane to visit these places, or hire a car and go out and explore them in your own time?

Cheers again.

ceejayblue

Smurf71 wrote: »

Saffy or anyone that can help?

To do the Sunshine Coast-would you recommend basing ourselves in Brisbane to visit these places, or hire a car and go out and explore them in your own time?

Cheers again.

When we went we based ourselves in Brisbane because that's where our family live but the roads are great and its easy to get anywhere. We borrowed my brother in law's spare car and spent some really lovely days exploring the area. We also spent a weekend at a place called The Tweeds. Not quite sure where it is exactly - more to the NSW side of Queensland I think, but it was really good.

Just remembered you must visit Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin's place). They have enlarged it since we were there and have more animals but it is a wonderful place and well worth a day trip out there.

Chris

Safiya_2

Hi Smurf

The Sunshine Coast is an hour to hour and a half drive from centre of Brisbane so day trips probably best done from the Coast itself. Yes you would need to hire a car to get to see as much as possible.

What kinds of things do you like doing, what kind of holiday are you after - I could do some local research 'on the ground' as it were! The Sunshine Coast is more a relaxing/family type hub, whereas the Gold Coast is a bit more exciting. Caloundra family oriented, Mooloolabah more cafe style, Noosa more expensive shopping and fantastic restaurants...all about 30 minutes from each other. Touristy-wise there is a good aquarium, Australia Zoo (try to go before school holidays), Eumundi markets, Yandina ginger factory, Maleny/Montville craft/esoteric shops but mostly lovely clean beaches and lots of relaxing. Think glass of wine overlooking an orange sunset rather than going out until 3am in the morning!

Sounds like you are going to have a great holiday and see a lot - good on you.

Saff

Smurf71

ceejayblue wrote: »

When we went we based ourselves in Brisbane because that's where our family live but the roads are great and its easy to get anywhere. We borrowed my brother in law's spare car and spent some really lovely days exploring the area. We also spent a weekend at a place called The Tweeds. Not quite sure where it is exactly - more to the NSW side of Queensland I think, but it was really good.

Just remembered you must visit Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin's place). They have enlarged it since we were there and have more animals but it is a wonderful place and well worth a day trip out there.

Chris

Thats great-think we'll go ahead and hire a car to have a better chance of exploring the area.

Australia Zoo is a must visit by all accounts!

Many thanks for this Ceejay!:T

Smurf71

Safiya wrote: »

Hi Smurf

The Sunshine Coast is more a relaxing/family type hub, whereas the Gold Coast is a bit more exciting. Caloundra family oriented, Mooloolabah more cafe style, Noosa more expensive shopping and fantastic restaurants...all about 30 minutes from each other. Touristy-wise there is a good aquarium, Australia Zoo (try to go before school holidays), Eumundi markets, Yandina ginger factory, Maleny/Montville craft/esoteric shops but mostly lovely clean beaches and lots of relaxing. Think glass of wine overlooking an orange sunset rather than going out until 3am in the morning!

Saff

This sounds bliss! We are definitely after a nice, relaxing couple of days with plenty of places to visit in our own time, plenty of coffee and wine as well. Mooloolabah and Noosa souns lovely so they are a must visit by the sounds of things. Edmundi sounds great as well.

Thanks for all this advice Saff, its very much appreciated! If you can think of anything else we should do, please post!:T

Smurf71

Just another quick question about touring along the Sunshine Coast.

Am I better to book the accomodation prior to leaving, or just book it on the day that we are in that area that we might like to stay?

Cheers again

lozkate

Smurf71, I have been reading your post with interest as we fly into Brisbane and head up to the Sunshine Coast for 3 nights, I have just booked into a 2 bedroom apartment in Mooloolaba called Coco Mooloolaba Apartments. Found them on Trip Adviser and they get very good comments, in fact dont think I have ever seen accomodation with so many 5 star ratings and prices seem pretty reasonable.

AussieLass

Smurf71 wrote: »

Saffy and Ceejay Blue,

Thank you both for your suggestions!! Think we will spend more of the time in the north of Brisbane and do the Sunshine coast instead of the Gold Coast. The Schoolies week is really putting us off, but we want to have a relaxing holiday when we are in Oz. What you both describe sounds fantastic-thank you!

Will probably have more questions for you about our holiday so will post back on this thread if thats ok? Thank you all for your advice-its much apprciated!!:T

Be aware that the Sunny Coast is full of schoolies too. Most accommodation will be booked 12 months in advance and anything that is going will be very expensive and swamped with hormonal, drunken teenagers. Any place with a beach I'd avoid that week.

Smurf71

lozkate wrote: »

Smurf71, I have been reading your post with interest as we fly into Brisbane and head up to the Sunshine Coast for 3 nights, I have just booked into a 2 bedroom apartment in Mooloolaba called Coco Mooloolaba Apartments. Found them on Trip Adviser and they get very good comments, in fact dont think I have ever seen accomodation with so many 5 star ratings and prices seem pretty reasonable.

Great advice this Lozkate-many thanks!! Will look to do something similar I think. We fly into Brisbane and have 8 days around the place before we fly out to New Zealand for 13 days.

Thinking of spending two days in Brisbane and then hiring a car and touring about the Sunshine Coast.

Glad to know that this thread helped!:T