QLD

Fresh country air, sprawling hillsides, bloody good wine and 14 of your closest friends. Here, unique country houses perfect for group getaways. By Alissa Jenkins and Megan Arkinstall Hilly Ridge, Boonah, QLD Where: Located 105 kilometres from Brisbane, in the Scenic Rim area. What we like: This Queenslander house is perched on a mountain ridge in the middle of the Scenic Rim, with views of the surrounding 160 private acres of rugged bush and cattle grazing property. The house itself is traditional, with white weatherboards, a large wraparound verandah, simple furnishings and all the amenities you need (gas barbecue, woodfire...

Queensland It seems Queensland is a year-round destination for AT readers, crowned your favourite destination in both summer (thanks to the Gold Coast) and winter. With winter temperatures still generally reaching the mid-20s, it’s perfect for escaping the southern chill. The (slight) drop in tourists are also a major drawcard for many, meaning more beach space, shorter queues, discounted airfares and better rates on accommodation. Cairns and Port Douglas received particular mention for their close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef – a very Australian winter wonderland. queenslandholidays.com.au   Finalists NSW Snowy Mountains (snowymountains.com.au) is Australia’s go-to destination for skiing and...

Each issue Australian Traveller captures a stunning Aussie location. This time, we look at Spicers Hidden Vale in Grandchester, Qld. It’s not hard to imagaine reclining back in this poolside sunbed, local drop in one hand, good book in the other. But if that’s too much effort for your likings, just slip off the end and into the view-hogging rock pool below. All the while watching as the sun sinks behind this Lockyer Valley vista. We are of course at Spicers Hidden Vale, Grandchester, 75km south-west of Brisbane’s CBD. Set on a 12,000 acre farm, the property boasts luxurious colonial-style...

Can train tracks lead you up a food trail? Clementine Ford heads up Queensland’s coast... and discovers a new way to travel by tastebuds We think of them now as antiquated, but when you’re travelling in style, you really can’t beat the olde worlde lure of chugging along a trusty railway line, sipping on a boutique wine and listening to the hypnotic clicking of the sleepers as they deliver you  to another time and place.    Happily, the dedicated tour boffins at Queensland Rail have put together a selection of Masterclass journeys for foodies and travel lovers alike, all of whom...

Is this The Whitsundays' best kept secret? Georgia Rickard finds out... There’s a little-known secret in these aqua islands. Around 175 of them, in fact. You’ll see them dotted around the blindingly white beaches, hidden in sheltered, untouched coves, moored metres away from the fantastic colours of the Great Barrier Reef; hired by the savvy among us who’ve already cottoned on. They’re yachts – the kind of sleek, gorgeous cruisers that most of us associate with the rich and the very famous; complete with bedrooms, bathrooms, and of course, champagne. But here’s the secret: they’re available for hire. Often, for...

Theresa Cronk takes a road trip through inland QLD, seeing the sights and delights from Mackay to Alice Springs There is something about the Australian outback that appeals to those seeking an adventure. Why else would two twenty-something girls armed with a map and a couple of tourist brochures want to drive a camper van across western Queensland? We were asked that same question many times during our fourteen day adventure. The idea had been born as we chattered over a cup of tea at Uluru when we discovered a mutual interest in exploring western Queensland. Twelve months later saw...

It’s often considered just a jumping-off point to the Whitsundays, but Airlie Beach is all grown up and now a destination in its own right, Georgia Rickard discovers WHERE IS IT? Airlie Beach is located on the north-east Queensland coast, between Mackay and Townsville. The coastline is flanked by the Great Barrier Reef, and dotted with the 74 idyllic islands that make up the Whitsundays. Easy access to these two attractions makes Airlie an ideal escape for those seeking watery fun in the Whitsundays sun, minus the island price tag – although a growing number of luxury accommodation providers also makes...

 Rebecca Taylor returns to her childhood holiday destination and finds Rainbow Bay, QLD, still hasn't lost its charm. After recently graduating from a photojournalism degree, Rebecca Taylor took her skills to her childhood holiday destination at Rainbow Bay, nestled on the Southern end of the Gold Coast, just past Greenmount Beach. "[This area] holds a special place in my mind because my family and I have been going there ever since we were young. We went there again over Easter and I just let myself loose with my camera. Through these photos, I wanted to convey the natural beauty of the bay,...

Aneta Nedimovic ditches all her mod cons and gets back to nature on Lady Elliot Island   A secluded island with no reception is everyone’s worst nightmare.  How are you supposed to update your Facebook and Twitter statuses and tell people the amazing time you are having right at that very moment?    Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef, a 25-minute plane ride from Hervey Bay, is one such secluded getaway with a island maximum of 100 people and the aforementioned lack of connectivity to the outside world.    Once the initial panic attack subsided, I began to...

Where is it?  Off Cork Mail Road, 85km south-west of Winton, 970km west of Rockhampton How to see it for yourself? From Winton, follow Kennedy Development Road in the direction on Boulia, then turn left at  Cork Mail Road for 45km and the entrance to Carisbrooke Station is on the left. The station also has a 1100m airstrip, with light aircraft flying to Winton. This view was taken from the top of an escarpment that runs parallel to Jundah Road, bordering the back of the property, looking back towards the station. The escarpment reaches 80m in places, giving great views area. It can be accessed by car from Carisbrooke, but...

Each issue Australian Traveller captures a stunning Aussie location. This time, we look at Ocean Farm on NSW's South Coast. Right, so let’s address what you’re probably thinking upfront – the holiday home you see pictured here is expensive. Really expensive. Think $1000 per night, or seven grand a week. But, if you had the budget, by jeez it would be worth it. Alinghi is a privately owned retreat perched on a steep hillside thick with native bush. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean 6km south of Agnes Water and 1770 on Queensland’s Discovery Coast (a six-hour drive from Brissie). It’s part...

Peter Russell-Clarke heads up to Queensland’s lush Cassowary Coast to check out why it’s the perfect place to celebrate tropical fruit – and plans the perfect exotic menu. The Cassowary Coast’s exotic Feast of the Senses festival doesn’t set out to rival Rio’s Mardi Gras, nor is it a Bacchanalian love-in at some modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah. No sir, it’s a festival of the exotic fruit produced in the subtropical region around Innisfail and Mission Beach. The Cassowary Coast is named after the similarly exotic flightless bird, which is a threatened species. Shy and hard to spot in the wild,...

From road trips to secret beaches, day hikes and sunset sails: Alissa Jenkins gives a rundown on hot activities to keep you on the go in Queensland this summer. Enjoy the outdoors 01. Watch newly hatched turtles scrambling across the sand to the sea at Mon Repos Beach in Bundaberg from mid-November to February. bundabergregion.org 02. Head to the hippy town of Woodford for the annual six-day Folk Festival, from December 27 to January 1. Music, markets and lazy days in the sun. woodfordfolkfestival.com 03. Hire a board and go sand tobogganing down the giant dunes of Moreton Island. Sit,...