Old Moaner Travel
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list
Queensland
If Queensland were a country it would be the 17th largest in the world, smaller than Indonesia but larger than Libya,
Stretching from the northern tip of Australia at Cape York Tip to halfway down the East Coast at Coolangatta at the southern edge of the Gold Coast and stretching almost 1,000 miles inland.
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It has a population density of only 7.78 people a square mile, although that doesn't tell the full picture as large swathes of the state are all but uninhabited with the majority of the country living along the coastal margin.
This review will concentrate on the bottom quarter of coastal strip from Gladstone in the north to the Gold Coast in the south.
On the face of it Gladstone would be a place to avoid as it is a major industrial shipping port supporting the mining industry, exporting coal and gas products as well as aluminium smelting.
Your preconception would be the city is grim and dirty - the reality is the complete opposite.
Very green, very clean it is a great place to visit and live and makes a good base for visiting the Great Barrier Reef.
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Indeed its popularity is such the city has begun welcoming cruise ships.
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The nearby town of Tannum Sands has lovely, almost deserted beaches and plenty of cycle and walking routes.
Go for a stroll round Tannum Sands any evening and and you're almost guaranteed to see some kangaroos in peoples gardens or the local parks.
Heading south the next major town is Bundaberg, a centre of sugar cane production. which leads to the towns most famous export its eponymous rum.
It's not only rum but soft drinks as well, the most well known internationally being the Bundaberg Ginger Beer but there are other great flavours as well - especially the peach.
Hervey Bay is a lovely small port on the Fraser Coast.
The Fraser Coast is named after nearby Fraser Island, which is a lovely nature reserve.
It is at the southernmost end of the Great Barrier Reef.
What singles out Hervey Bay from the other towns along this stretch of coast is it is the whale watching capital of Australia.
The bay is a gathering point for humpbacked whales with an estimated 33,000 visiting each year between April and October.
August heralds the arrival of mature females along with adolescent whales, whilst September and October sees mature females with their calves. The whales are quite content with the whale watching boats and, if your lucky, the teenagers will happily show off.
Half of Queensland's 5 million population live in Brisbane, which despite looking very modern is one of the oldest settlements in Australia.
It is also an incredibly diverse city with 32% of the population being foreign born.
Named after the Brisbane River, which passes through the city, the city very much has the river as the centre of its life.
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There is a Riverwalk covering most of the city, including some sections on walkways over the river itself. The city has an extensive cycle network, most of it following the river.
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South Bank Parklands is a park alongside the river and home to the Wheel of Brisbane.
The cities Botanic Gardens are worth a visit
Australia's ANZAC Day commemorations began in Brisbane and the appropriately named ANZAC square is the main square in the city.
For an oooohhhh and ahhhhhh factor then a visit to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is a must.
Like most cities with rivers Brisbane has its share of river cruise trips and dinner cruises. I can thoroughly recommend the Kookaburra Dinner Cruise on a paddle steamer. Good food and great views of the city at night.
It isn't just cities in Queensland there are many delightful small towns which you will stumble across if you come off the main highways.
For example most visitors travelling to the Gold Coast from Brisbane along the M1 motorway. OK it's quick but it's also congested and boring.
Instead take the backroads, through forested mountains and you will come across towns like Canugra - not quite a one street town but a single road with a handful of side streets.
It has restaurant's, café and gift shops and friendly locals - the postmistress greets you like a long lost friend.
There are plenty of other towns like this and it's a shame to miss them by sticking to the main highways and motorways.
Some towns have delightful names, my personal favourite being Gin Gin.
The Gold Coast is the main coastal drag, stretching some 70 km (43 miles),
With a sub-tropical climate and great surf the coast is a magnet for surfers and the young and beautiful people.
One of the main resorts on the Gold Coast is Surfers Paradise - I didn't like it. Too brash, too many beggars and homeless and the sort of place that attracts hoards of youngsters, which is OK if you're a youngster or a Peter Pan character who doesn't know how to grow up, but if you want a more sedate time there are plenty of more chilled and relaxed resorts.
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