Brisbane Forum: Staying near Brisbane

the sunshine coast one and a half hours north of brisbane is a great place to visit, if you have children,kings beach, moffat beach or mooloolaba are great family destinations. or one hour south you have the gold coast which has all the theme parks but is more built up and crowded. depends on what sort of stay you want.

Hi there,

If you have 5 nights, and you want some time at a nice relaxing beachside location, then perhaps consider 2 or 3 nights at the Sunshine Coast, then the other 2/3 in Brisbane. For example, Mooloolaba (1 hour 15 mins drive) or Noosa (1.5 hours drive) are popular spots with good beaches, nice eating spots, casual shopping, lovely walks etc. Transport can be arranged from Brisbane airport.

If you don't want this option, then the other option is to take a trip to Moreton Island or North Stradbroke (as mentioned in the post above). You have to ferry out and they are long day trips or you can arrange accommodation - Tangalooma resort at Moreton Island has various accom options, and fun things for the kids to do such as sand-tobogganing, snorkelling, quad-biking etc.

Brisbane itself doesn't have great beaches, but it has a nice relaxed atmosphere. Southbank opposite the city centre is a nice day out for the kids if you want to relax, there are various eating spots, and its close to the Gallery of Modern Art/Museum etc, and they have markets there Friday-Sunday.

A flight to Cairns from Brisbane is 2 hours, a nice trip if you want to go out to the islands and snorkel etc but not good beaches in Cairns itself - you have to go further north to Palm Cove/Port Douglas. Further south is the Whitsundays - centred around Hamilton Island which has an airport - and probably my pick over Cairns if you are planning to fly north and want to do the Great Barrier Reef. Beautiful beaches and lots of islands.

As you say, too much choice!

Tangalooma is wonderful have been there a couple of times ........however there was reecently a very large bush fire on Moreton Island so i am unsure how much of the island was effected , or whether activities frm the resort will be limited......worth checking beforehand

Thank you for all your help. I'll work through all your suggestions.

Also, I keep hearing talk of lots of jelly fish at this time of year( I'm there in 2 weeks time) are they a problem?

Many thanks

The bushfire on Moreton Island is now out and it didn't affect the area near Tangalooma Resort.

Campers at Yellow Patch and North Point campgrounds had to relocate. Those grounds are located up near Cape Moreton

Sadly a large area of bushland was burnt, but will hopefully re-generate quickly with all the rain we've received in the last 24 hours.

Jemima, I think the reports you mention of "jelly fish" were box jellyfish up in North Queensland. Beaches between Cairns and Port Douglas were closed, because of the dangers.

cairns.com.au/article/…200995_local-news.html

Box jellyfish aren't found in waters around Brisbane or our islands, or the Sunshine or Gold Coast.beaches

LTB

I'm all for the north coast at this time of the year. Only about 1hr north of the airport is Caloundra which is geared for kids along the beachfront and only a half hour drive north to Mooloolaba, Alexandra headland, Maroochydore and further on the coast road north to Coolum beach and then up to Noosa (trendy and parking limited).These are some of the favourite north coast beaches.On the way up you'll see the Ettamogah Pub which is from an Aussie Cartoon. Just before the turn off into Caloundra from the highway is Australia Zoo and you'd need a day nearly to see it all...if interested. So could drive back to it from Caloundra. At Caloundra the ships turn the corner to go into the Port Of Brisbane.So always on the horizon. Also the beauty of Caloundra is that it has Pumistone Passage, which is still water and so the kids could swim there as well as the surf. It is around Golden beach area.

There are plenty of highrises there with ocean views...the Sunshine Coast is not skyscraper area as the Gold Coast is and smaller in comparison...a nice place to unwind though.

You can also drive up into the hinterland across the highway from the Caloundra turnoff. It takes you up to some of our small Aussie villages of Maleny, Montville (restaurants,cafes, boutiques, arts crafts). They are up on the range and so a bit cooler usually.Eumundi has markets on twice a week but very hot at this time of the year.

Below is a trip list of a circle drive we did from Brisbane and back to the north coast....could be done in a day ( bit rushed) or as long as you like. Or just pick the drive up to Maleny and Montville for an outing.

Also a Trip Wow of Caloundra when we stayed for a weekend deal on Golden Beach overlooking Pumistone Passage and drove up to the other beaches as well.

tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g255068…

…tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-00f1-4caa-899e

This is convenient to the airport but if you are interested in the Gold Coast, which is about the same distance south from the airport and perhaps a bit further depending on where you stay. I'd pick somewhere around Main Beach as the Marina Mirage is right nearby and from there you can get boat cruises over to Stradbroke Island, Moreton Island ( Tangalooma). If you have a car you can get the car ferry to Stradbroke. It is not so inhabited as Gold Cost City but has a nice pub up at Point Lookout with views and walks around the area. Also there is a nice beach just below it and usually has a wading pool area in front.

The beach the other side is very long.

Moreton Island is quiet and has the resort of Tangalooma and a lighthouse.

Also just over the border from the Gold Coast (20 mins by car) is a quieter beach area called Kingscliff which has a nice coast drive along a few other beaches. Kingscliff has resorts but a car is needed around this area.

If interested in any of these email me

Enjoy our SE Queensland.

Try this site for last minute accommodation deals for the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast...even Cairns

www.wotif.com/?country=AU&stlcmpid=16064

Edited: 21 January 2012, 10:52

Meant to add the car ferry runs from a Brisbane bayside suburb.

Here is the link if interested.

www.bigredcat.com.au/…

Hi. Sorry to highjack this thread but as a Brisbane Girl born and bred I disagree with staying at gold Coast. If you stay in Brisbane, you have a lot more option of either visiting Gold Coast (1 hour car ride) or Sunshine Coast (45 - 1 hr car ride). So, I believe staying in Brisbane is so much more advantages.

Firstly, get your hire car from Abel Rent-A-Car. They are by far the cheapest here in Brisbane and any of my family and friends that visit use them. They are great. The only bad thing is that they aren't in the Airport so to speak - the are off-site, but they come and pick you up out front in a bus when you arrive and take you to their depot (2 minutes away).

Next, I wouldn't recommend staying in the City. It is fantastic to visit for the day but you don't need to be there any further. The shopping is cheaper at the DFO (near the airport), and Southbank is better on the weekends, rather than during the week with entertainment, markets etc. Also, you really don't need to pay for 'city accommodation'.

I can recommend a stunning B&B in my area when once again, my family and friends have stayed at. Their website is www.firstavenuebb.com.au

There are several reasons I would recommend staying here. Firstly, you are within walking distance to shops, restaurants and the sea front which has a beautiful esplanade. You can even walk the esplanade to a children beach, playground in Shorncliffe (maybe 10 minute walk).

Secondly, and most importantly, the B&B is 2 minutes away from the Gateway Motorway, which is our main freeway which will take you directly to Gold Coast and/or Sunshine Coast. Only 15 minute drive from City too.

This B&B is really popular so if you choose to stay here, it would be worth calling asap.

Weather in July - It is our winter. My kids were born on 3rd July and we have a pool, and we have never been able to have a 'pool party' because it has been too cold. I would envisage it will be too cold to do the Water Parks but you may be lucky and get 'one day' where it is really hot, then you rush to them with everyone else!

As far as what to see and do:

GOLD COAST

1. Dreamworld - voted the best by the locals. Has all you want, rides, shows, games, zoo. I love it! (45 minute drive)

2. Movieworld - don't bother! As you can see on the reviews here, it is dated and does not cater for the public any more and a waste of your money.(55 minute drive)

3. Wet n' Wild -go there only if hot day - it is all water rides. (55 minute drive as next door to Movieworld)

4. Seaworld - Absolutely Fantastic for the oceanic wildlife experience. Good rides, food, shows. (1 hour drive)

5. Visit Surfers Paradise, namely Cavill Avenue (main mall part). Good fun right beside the beach. Lots of restaurants, shopping, Ripley's Believe it or not!

SUNSHINE COAST

1. Australia Zoo - voted Australia's No 1 Tourist Attraction - and so well deserved! It is well worth the visit/money. It is so well organised, set out, and it is always the highlight of my visitor's trip. Don't leave without going there (1 hour drive)

2. Mooloolaba - the social hub of the Sunshine Coast. good food, shopping etc.

BRISBANE

1. Southbank - it was built after we hosted Expo 88. During the week, it is really just restaurants and a man-made beach. On the weekends, there is street entertainment, markets etc. A great day out for the family.

2. Mt Cootha Lookout - this place is stunning. If you want a little drive up to the highest point in Brisbane, and 360 degree views, it is beautiful. There is also a restaurant here called The Summit. Pretty fancy and little expensive, so if you want a nice meal, definately worth booking and ask for a nice view table.

3. I wouldn't bother wasting your money going to any of our local Zoo's etc like Alma Park Zoo etc, I would dedicate your money and time to Australia Zoo.

If you want to stay in Noosa - stay on the main drag, Hastings Street. It is the 'posh' part of the Sunshine Coast. So expensive, but anywhere along here will be beautiful and great views.

Like I said, Mooloolaba is the more 'general social' part of Sunshine Coast. The locals love it (as do I). And Australia Zoo only 15 minutes away from here. Anywhere in Mooloolaba will be fine.

Sorry for waffling on, hope this helps. Feel free to email me if you need further info.

Tracey