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Queensland
Queensland

This is the famous 'Ginger Town' of the Sunshine Coast hinterland, which boasts some of the most beautiful country in Queensland. Yandina lies just to the north of Nambour, the centrally-located retail and service town for the central Sunshine Coast hinterland. This area is extremely rich in natural rainforest parks and reserves. Native animals such as kangaroos, koalas and wombats, which can often be elusive in the wild, are on constant show here. Yandina is home to the Ginger Factory, where you can sample all things ginger, and taste the delights of the award-winning Spirit House restaurant. Yandina is 107 kilometres north of Brisbane.

Queensland
Queensland

Conondale, like many rural towns in South East Queensland, is pretty. The town might be a great spot for a chance to catch your breath during what is a very scenic drive but there is something about Conondale that is as subtle as it is magic. When travelling from Maleny, Conondale is the first opportunity to take a close-up and easy look at the river that gives its name to the valley through which it passes - the Mary River. Just near where the Maleny-Kenilworth Road crosses the Mary River, Fritz Park offers the chance for a picnic and time to contemplate exactly why this little village is so special. Conondale is distinctive because of its proximity to the rugged beauty of the range to its west called the Conondale Range. Within the Range a national park called Conondale National Park is an unspoilt and undeveloped park of harsh beauty. Conondale National Park protects important remnants of grassy open Eucalypt forest, tall wet sclerophyll forest and subtropical rainforest that once covered large areas of the Sunshine Coast hinterland. The park is the central undisturbed core of an extensive area of forest reserves in the Conondale Range and an important refuge for many rare and threatened animals, including the Mary River Turtle, which, until recently, had not been discovered. It is important to remember that this park is suited to very experienced walkers only. The turn off to the national park is about 15 kilometres north of Conondale at Sunday Creek Road. The turn is marked by a pretty park called Keith and Ivy Boon Memorial Park.

Queensland
Queensland

Nerang is the gateway to the Gold Coast Hinterland's Rainforest Reserves. The Nerang district was originally settled back in 1863. As it was situated on the river and also on the coach route, it soon became a flourishing trading centre. Nerang meaning 'little' was the euphonious name given to the beautiful river flowing through the scenic and fertile country of Ward, by its Aboriginal inhabitants. The Nerang River is a popular location for fishing, boating and picnics. A great fishing platform is located at Arthur Earle Park. You may come away with bream, flathead, whiting and trevally; or just enjoy the beauty of nature here.

Queensland
Queensland

Perseverence is an area east of Crows Nest and Pechey, where day-trippers enjoy barbecue picnics by Perseverence Dam and groups find excellent camp and conference facilities at Perseverence Lodge. Opposite Perseverence Lodge is a public park with barbecue facilities and playground equipment. At the Dam itself the picnic grounds is a lovely spot to stop to admire the tranquil waters and the dramatic drop from the roadway across the dam wall. Guests of Perseverence Lodge can also enjoy a huge range of activities, including canoeing, kayaking, orienteering and tennis.

Queensland
Queensland

The township of Cloncurry in North West Queensland occupies a key hub point in the Outback. Known as 'the friendly heart of the Great North West'. Cloncurry was founded in 1867 by Ernest Henry. It was built upon copper mines in the surrounding district, which quickly led to it being one of the most prosperous towns in the Outback. Today, Cloncurry's core industries include grazing, copper and gold mining, transport and mining services. Qantas was conceived in Cloncurry and their aircraft hangar still stands at Cloncurry Shire Airport. The Royal Flying Doctors Service was launched Cloncurry with the first flight on 17 May 1928. The John Flynn Place Museum pay homage to this crucial part of Outback life. Visit a working open-cut mine with the Ernest Henry Mine Tours, departing from Mary Kathleen Park every Wednesday and Friday from May to September. There is too much to see in just one day, so spend a couple of days in 'The Curry' and don't miss out on seeing some of the area's most popular attractions. Mary Kathleen Memorial Park and Museum houses history and memorabilia on Cloncurry, Mary Kathleen and surrounding districts. A 'must see' is the Burke and Wills history display, including Burke's water bottle in the Explorers Corner. The mineral and gem collection is ranked by experts as one of the most comprehensive in Australia. Also on display are Aboriginal artefacts and a portrait and breastplate of George, King of Friezland. Cloncurry now services the sheep and cattle properties in the surrounding district and is an important sales centre for livestock.

Queensland
Queensland

The Gulf Savannah is an interesting region to visit all year. However during the monsoon season, transportation methods must be carefully considered, as some parts of the Gulf Savannah region suffer from a lack of road infrastructure. Burketown sits on the Albert River and on the east-west dividing line between the wetlands to the north and the beginning of the savannah grass plains (Plains of Promise) to the south, some 25 kilometres from the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Albert River is tidal and the Gulf is accessible from Burketown by boat. Surrounding environs include flat, grassy plains to the south and immense salt flats and wetlands to the north. The Nicholson River is some 17 kilometres to the west and is fresh water and perennial. The wetlands are breeding grounds for crocodiles, barramundi and prawns and a vast amount of bird species which are prolific during the summer months. The grasslands to the south are the habitat of a great array of wildlife including emus, kangaroos and birdlife. Burketown is 425 kilometres north of Mt Isa.

Queensland
Queensland

Spring Bluff is a beautiful valley tucked in the ranges north of Toowoomba and best known for its picturesque Railway Station. Spring Bluff Railway Station is a favourite day trip for visitors and locals alike. Its gardens are magnificent during Spring and Summer and steam train rides are a feature of September during Toowoomba's Carnival of Flowers. The Railway Station features a coffee shop in the station master's cottage. It's worth visiting Spring Bluff just for the interesting drive down the range off the New England Highway through to Murphy's Creek. The road meanders through lush bushland, following the path of the creek.

Queensland
Queensland

Yuleba was involved in the last Cobb and Co coach run on the 16th of August 1924, when the coach ran from Surat to Yuleba. You can retrace the route, but check at the Shire office in Yuleba first as it is a dry weather road only. Just five kilometres south-east of Yuleba is scenic Judd’s Lagoon which features some magnificent flora and fauna. The locals also know it as a good fishing spot. Yuleba is situated four and a half hours travel from Brisbane and has a population of approximately 280 residents. Yuleba's main industries are Beef, Cropping and in recent years also mining, since the opening of a Silicon Mine.

Queensland
Queensland

Bordered by 40 kilometres of pristine beaches, Hervey Bay is one of Queensland's best natural holiday destinations offering convenient access to World Heritage listed Fraser Island - the largest sand island in the world, and Lady Elliot Island - the first coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef. Hervey Bay is Australia's whale watch capital. Between mid-July and early-November whales can be sighted breaching and playfully chasing each other in the warm waters off shore. Visitors can choose an aerial tour or take one of the many day-long or half day whale watch cruises, which depart from Hervey Bay Marina daily during the season. From Hervey Bay escorted tours to Fraser Island depart daily or self-drive packages are available with a flight or barge crossing option. Hervey Bay is also a major access point for Lady Elliot Island, first of the Islands of The Great Barrier Reef, with flights running several times a day. In perfect, stinger-free water enjoy kayaking, yachting, diving, water and jet skiing, wind surfing and snorkelling. Boating and fishing enthusiasts enjoy estuary, beach, jetty, reef and game fishing. Join a tour or charter your own vessel, yacht or houseboat. Enjoy a bicycle ride along the picturesque foreshore, visit places such as the Orchid House within the beautiful Botanical Gardens, the Marina area or one of the many restaurants and cafes situated along the Esplanade. Visitors to Hervey Bay can choose from a range of accommodation styles, catering for all tastes and budgets. Several of the accommodation houses, attractions and general facilities are also accessible for people with disabilities.

Queensland
Queensland

The old Gregory Downs Hotel holds court as the centre of town society. Originally built to serve passengers on the coach run from Burketown, the hotel is in the historic village of Gregory Downs which accesses the perennially-flowing Gregory River. At one time it was a Mounted Police post. In World War II, officers at this station won fame when they searched with Doomadgee Aboriginal trackers for the crew of the ditched plane Little Eva. The crew flew out of Iron Range Airport for a bombing run to then-New Guinea and they became disoriented in a tropical storm. Gregory Downs Station was one of the first cattle runs in the Gulf Savannah. It was one of a range of properties established on Lort Stokes' Plains of Promise, a vast monsoonal savannah stretching from Gregory to the Leichhardt Rivers. The peaceful waters of The Gregory remain a natural attraction. Here you can canoe year-round the site hosts thousands for the annual May Labour Day weekend canoe race. While camping has traditionally been in the riverbed, public hygiene has prompted discussions to move away from the river's edge. Rent a canoe or time your visit to coincide with Gregory's racing and rodeo calendar. The Gregory Ball is a not-to-be missed social event. It may take a while to get here, but you will be guaranteed a load of fun.