Fraser Island
Part of me doesn't want to write this post because I want to keep the secret, but the other part of me cannot wait to share the amazing spots you can find on the world's largest sand island.
Many flock to K’gari (Fraser Island) for the beach driving and pristine freshwater lakes but they tend to stay on the East Coast which is easily accessible from the Inskip barge and has plenty of camping or accommodation options. Those looking for a little less 'roughing it' land from Hervey Bay at Kingfisher Resort and barely even have that 'covered in sand and sunscreen' feeling.
There is so much to see and do on this relatively small island, from the sand driving to the famous blue waters of Lake McKenzie, you won't be bored but for us, it is a chance to escape the crowds and live off the grid for a little while.
It takes a little more effort and a lot more gear to spend 10 days hours from any sort of civilization. But it is so worth it.
Once we hit the sand from the barge from Inskip, or Rainbow Beach, on the mainland, you drive an hour or two north then another hour or so driving across the island before we hit the quieter, calmer West Coast of Fraser Island. To get to where we want to camp, you need to really pay attention to the tides as the rivers and creeks on this side are a lot bigger and changeable than on the popular East Coast and you might get stuck unable to drive across them at high tide.
You could also get here by boat from Hervey Bay if you have your own.
Once on the coast again we continue to head north - to the northernmost campsite on this side of the island before Wathumba Creek. It is unlikely you will see anyone else camped here and that is the biggest part of its appeal.
All we need is our tent, a fridge, a gazebo (essential for that scorching midday sun) and whatever else floats your boat. For us this was fishing rods, a hammock, my SUP and the tinny. Cue 10 days of pure, isolated bliss.
You will see some people driving past on occasion - usually people fishing but they will return further south to their campsites. In 10 days, our only visitors were dolphins (daily!), turtles and the Fraser Island Ranger who came once to check our permits were in order.
You will be forced to make friends with all manner of insects but that is just part of island life.
Pack enough water and food (pending the fish catching of course) to last you, your stay unless you plan to drive to the other side of the island because there is nothing to buy here. We also rigged up a little shower from the small creek that runs behind the campsite. This was perfect for rinsing the salt and sunscreen off or just cooling down.
Our days started with brekkie and a swim for me and some pre-brekkie fishing for the man. Your body is truly guided by the sunshine so up early and early to bed.
Within walking distance of camp, we had the 'coffee rock' - made up of ancient sands and river sediments - providing a haven for smaller fish and large sand dunes to either admire or run up. All depending on your energy levels.
We fished a bit and caught a range of things, some we kept to each and others we released for another day.
We snorkelled a bit further out, seeing turtles and stingrays enjoying the warm waters as much as we were. It was serene and peaceful.
An added bonus of camping on the West Coast was that we got to watch sunset every night, always will a keen eye out for dolphins of course.
On this trip, my favourite after dinner activity of stargazing was curbed somewhat by the full moon blazing in the sky but this did mean evening walks before bed didn't require a torch!
Mt Ngungun
It doesn’t matter if you are heading north from Brisbane or south from the Sunny Coast, you really can’t miss the Glasshouse Mountains.
It may be one of the hardest to pronounce - I am still not entirely sure how - but Mt Ngungun is probably the easiest of the bunch to hike up and the view from the top is spectacular!
The walk to the top of this mountain is just over 1.2km so there will be some steep bits and you will sweat – especially if you decide to tackle this is the humidity that is Queensland summer.
No matter when you decide to climb, you will be rewarded with 360-degree views of everything around you at 253 metres above sea level. You can spy Brisbane in the distance on a clear day and look out to the ocean as well the nearby Mt Tibrogargan and Mt Beerwah.
The path is well-marked and well-maintained and about half way up you will come across an overhang that looks like a cave. This is a good spot for a break from walking, the sun, or both!
I would recommend that you apply bug spray before getting out of the car and starting the hike as the mozzies around here seem not only extra hungry but huge!
Once you make it to the top, keep an eye on any smaller people you have brought along for the journey as there are some sheer edges with no barriers.
The summit is rocky but with enough spots to sit back and soak up the incredible views.
It is easy to see why this climb is super popular at sunrise and sunset – I want to do it again just to watch the sun come up from the east! I might have to pack a head torch just to make sure I don’t lose my footing.
We made our way down pretty quickly on my first visit as there was a storm approaching but that didn’t seem to stop the people we passed racing to the top – the walk is popular with those looking for a bit of fitness.
On the descent, we did spot some people making the trip down a little quicker – abseiling. It turns out abseiling clubs use Mt Ngungun as one of their practice sites with quite the highway going up and down the rock face.
Whichever way you go up and down, this is a mountain worth visiting.
Gardners Falls
If there is one thing you know about a Queensland summer, it is that it gets hot! This means that everyone is looking for the quickest way to cool off.
Enter the natural swimming holes you can find right in the heart of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Just a stone’s throw from downtown Maleny, you can find Gardners Falls.
You won’t have to work up a sweat getting to this natural beauty, as a short, level walk of about 400 metres is all it takes.
On our visit, it hadn’t rained in a while so the falls themselves were just trickling down but the pool at the base is deep and wide – perfect for swimming anytime.
For the brave an adventurous, there are a couple of rope swings on either side of the large pool to swing and flip and jump to your heart’s content – just make sure you check the depth beforehand and exercise common sense!
The shallow rock pools at the top are perfect for small kids to splash about in, and the grassy banks, rock formations and picnic tables make a great spot to while away a summer’s day.
We also explored a little further downstream just to see what we could find and the peaceful sounds of trickling water and the serenity of the surrounding bush just make me happy. You will need to be careful if you want to head down that way as the rocks are small and slippery – in my mind it is definitely worth a bit of scrambling.
There is something magical about swimming amongst the trees. The cool water is refreshing, the surroundings are peaceful and somehow the whole experience is more special than a dip in the ocean.
That is not to say there aren’t other people here. On a hot summer day, the pools and grassed area around Gardners Falls can get pretty busy so plan your visit accordingly.
We combined our trip to the falls with a visit to some of the local cheese, wine and beer makers in the area – all in all a perfect way to spend a day in the hinterland.
Mapleton Falls
If there is one thing the Sunshine Coast hinterland isn’t lacking, it is short walks to waterfalls!
Not far from the coast, near the quaint village of Mapleton, you will find Mapleton Falls National Park.
Just 50m from the car park there is a lookout that offers spectacular views over the Obi Obi valley and the canopy of the rainforest below.
To the right, the Mapleton Falls cascade 120 metres down to Pencil Creek. Unfortunately our visit was after months and months of dry conditions so we could barely see a trickle of water. I can imagine the falls seriously flowing after some rain!
After you have taken in the view from here, you can head around on a short 1.3km walk along Woompoo Circuit which takes you through the upper parts of the rainforest here.
The pathway is not very long compared to some other coast walking tracks and it is well marked, with plenty of signs pointing out the different flora and fauna found in the area.
Along the way, you will see some of the biggest trees in the area, reaching for the skies, and hear the sounds of many birds.
You will have to be still and quick with the eye to spot some of the small black and yellow birds. They are so quick, darting here, there and everywhere, that there was no chance of capturing a picture of them flitting about the rainforest floor.
The walk will only take you 45mins to an hour, depending on how much time you spend taking it all in. There are a few steps but nothing overly strenuous.
Once you are done walking and exploring Mapleton Falls National Park, you take the time and have a picnic. There are picnic facilities not too far from the car park.
There is no overnight camping in the park but you could choose to stay some nice in Mapleton if you wanted to spend more time exploring the area.
North Stradbroke Island
It is amazing how many things are within easy reach of the Sunny Coast. Luckily for me Stradbroke Island is one of them!
From where we are on the Sunny Coast it will take you under 2 hours to get to the ferry crossing at Cleveland. From there you can jump on the car ferry (prices vary depending on time of day and year…) and 45 minutes later you will be enjoying your adventure on Straddie.
Ours was a spur of the moment camping trip and we wanted to get away from it all a bit so we chose Flinders Beach, right on the northern end of the island. To get to this section, you will need both a 4WD and a beach driving permit – these are just over $42 each but will last you a whole year.
These camp sites have no facilities but the benefits are that they are huge – so no close neighbours – and are right on the beach for the best way to wake up.
An added bonus for me is that you are allowed campfires here which is seriously one of the best parts of camping!
Another advantage of being away from any lights and not to close to any other campers is that after dark, the sky comes alive. You tend to forget how many stars are out there when you are in a built up are. You might even get a sore neck from admiring it.
If camping isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other options all over the island so you won’t miss out and you won’t have to lug all your belongings like we did.
Once we set up camp it was time to do some exploring!
Even without a 4WD, you can explore most of North Stradbroke. Some of the highlights are Point Lookout, North Gorge Walk and dolphin spotting at Amity Point.
Let’s start with Amity Point, mostly because I am OBSESSED with dolphins. About an hour to half an hour before sunset, you are pretty much guaranteed to see some dolphins in the calm waters off Amity Point. In my brief time there, I saw several pods playing further out and one bub just swimming around the jetty! This is because they are on their way north to Moreton Island for their regular feeding time at Tangalooma.
Along the North Gorge Walk – which is super easy and had a convenient raised path - look out for dolphins, whales, sea turtles, kangaroos, koalas, and manta rays. The Kangaroos we saw were not afraid of us and barely even moved despite their proximity to us.
On this visit we weren’t able to walk all the way down to Main Beach because the end was closed off for the filming of Aquaman. Can’t wait to see that footage.
The other thing about Straddie that just takes your breath away are the beaches! The island is pretty small so there is always a beach that will suit the conditions.
Cylinder Beach is fairly protected and offers up some surf and if you want to try some beach fishing Flinders has some gutters if you look for them.
We didn’t make it this time (just another reason to come back…) but the freshwater of Blue Lake sounds like an amazing spot to cool off at after a bit of a hike.
Of course there are many activities that you can do on the island; and a simple Internet search will enable you to view and book for example kayaking experiences, sand boarding or diving trips.
Deep Sea Fishing
Given that my man has a thing for fishing, it was inevitable that we would head out on a deep sea fishing adventure sooner or later.
After a bit if Internet research, we headed out one sunny Monday on board Wild Thing with Noosa Charters after an early drive to get there.
On the day we headed out, there were only a couple of other keen anglers which meant there was heaps of room – something I need so I don’t tangle my line with anyone else’s!
We picked a full 9-hour trip because, according to people who love to fish, the time really flies and I can honestly say it did.
As we sped out of Noosa Heads, a whale sighting was a good omen for fish-catching…
We bounced along for a bit and enjoyed some cheese and bacon pull apart before dropping some lines on an offshore reef somewhere along the Noosa North Shore. Almost immediately, small, but pretty, red emperor were being bought on board the boat.
The crew have obviously been fishing around here for a while, because not only do they know where to fish, they can tell almost at a glance if the catch is a legal keeping size.
I couldn’t keep up with everything being hauled in which made for a pretty exciting experience.
I did stop my own fishing when someone else managed to snag an octopus who was sent on his way as soon as he was free of the line and hook.
When the frenzy died down, it was rods away and up with the anchor to find a new spot where the fish were biting.
Aside from the red emperor, moses perch were being caught left, right and centre.
On our way north toward Double Island Point, we headed out into much deeper water – up to 60 metres – to try and catch something much bigger. Unfortunately, it wasn’t our day for it.
After a late lunch of ham and salad rolls and some chips, - all supplied - we were losing some daylight so the trip back to Noosa was swift but entertaining as we bounced along and even saw some more whales.
Nine hours really did fly by and the final moments of the trip were exciting as we crossed the Noosa bar at almost low tide – something only for the experienced boat captain to attempt.
The sun was setting as we pulled back into the pier and took our weary bodies home – along with a few fish to have for dinner of course!
Strawberry Fields
Right now it is Strawberry Season and there is nothing better than being out in the winter sun picking your own to take home and devour.
Luckily for Sunny Coasters, you can definitely PYO (pick your own) down at Strawberry Fields – and it certainly tastes sweeter.
Located just east of Aussie World, an hour picking some berries is the perfect family activity. Given the sheer numbers of people there on the day we visited, it is clearly pretty popular too.
The plan is simple, grab a tub and wander to the allocated field and get picking – you are charged by weight so it is up to you how much you fill the tub.
The price is a little more expensive than some shops at this time of year - $16 per kg when we were there - but you get the freshest possible berries!
My motto was 'the redder the better! I even managed to take home a whole kilo of goodness. The hardest part was not shoving a sample in my face before paying up!
The farm site offers more than just strawberry picking too. There is shop and café as well as a large playground complete with its own set of swings and a slide, shaded and sunny sitting spots for when the kids get bored of hunting for the perfect berry.
Get your fill of all things strawberry with ice cream and milk shakes galore on offer – not to mention a lunch menu for a savoury break. They also stock a range of local crafts and locally grown produce to complete your picnic.
Picking season runs from June to November each year.
Mantra Richmont Hotel
One of the great things about the Sunshine Coast is that if you crave that bit of action that a city has to offer, Brisbane is less than an hour and a half away.
After nearly six months in my new home, I decided to visit some friends in good old Bris-Vegas and chose to stay close to where we had dinner planned in Fortitude Valley.
The Mantra Richmont Hotel opened just last year in Kennigo Street, Spring Hill and is just a short walk from all the hustle and bustle of Brisbane’s CBD and, of course, all the bars and restaurants of Fortitude Valley.
While part of the Mantra chain, this hotel has a bit of a boutique feel about it which is nice – especially for the price!
There is a gym at the hotel if you are so inclined but no pool, and also a small café located in the lobby for those in a hurry to get out and about.
In the renovated Queenslander right next door (and linked by a 2nd level walkway), you will find Kennigo Social House if you are looking for something more substantial, or a stiff drink.
The building was once a men's boarding house but now it serves up delicious breakfasts, lunch and dinner. The dinner menu is designed to share – my favourite!
The hotel itself has a 24-hour reception desk which means you can sort yourself out any time of day.
I had a very comfortable stay in a hotel room at the back of the building – the room was on the small side but more than enough space for one person. The queen bed was super comfortable, it had a decent bathroom with amazing shower pressure and Urban Skincare products (although the lighting could be better for makeup application), Vittoria coffee machine and tea making facilities.
All rooms are air-conditioned with LCD TV and iPod docking facilities.
If, like me, you have driven into the city, the hotel offers 24-hour parking for $20 but on the weekends, parking on the street is free and unlimited – a rare find in a busy city!
The Mantra Richmont is the perfect city getaway hotel, close to everything but far enough away to feel like you are getting away from it all and the price is right for those wanting to save some cash for all the shopping and eating and drinking...
