DESTINATIONS AUSTRALIA | ROAD TRIP
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Gold Coast; Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary; Urunga, New South Wales; Paradise Jet Boating, Gold Coast PICTURES: Tourism and Events Queensland
going to the bakery for lunch, playing in the surf for hours and tucking into fish and chips for dinner. By the main beach is what seems to be a signature addition to many North Coast towns – a big, free, public swimming pool hewn from the rocks and fed by the tides. Perhaps the most famous beach town in New South Wales is Byron Bay, where Cape Byron serves as the easternmost point on the Australian mainland. The walk up to the lighthouse brings unexpected wildlife encounters, with brush turkeys scuttling through the bushes and adorable water dragons sunning themselves on the rocks. In the shadow of Cape Byron’s lighthouse, it’s possible to see that Byron Bay’s main beach is accompanied by several smaller ones. It’s also clear that between Byron’s boardshorts and floaty dresses, there’s a wealth of activities on offer from a variety of local operators – once again, commissionable through Viator. In the water, novices attempt to stand on their boards during beginner surfing lessons, while kayak tours hang out with the dolphins beyond the breaking waves.
34 7 MARCH 2024
New in t
w in town The Queen’s Walk
Brisbane, opening in phases throughout this year from April, is set to transform the city’s central business district into a waterfront
culture capital. It will feature new-build hotels (including a Rosewood), shops and more than 50 restaurants, plus cultural spaces in
revitalised old buildings and pretty mangrove parks.
FABULOUS FOOD From Byron, it’s a short drive towards the Queensland border. Glorious sandy beaches at the likes of Kingscliff and Cabarita Beach are backed by the fertile, jungle- like greenery of the Tweed Valley. Tropical Fruit World in Duranbah is a prime example of the region’s bounty, growing dozens of species of often-obscure tropical fruits. The cafe allows visitors to make their own ice cream with the likes of
black sapote (a type of persimmon), custard apple and dragonfruit, while the farm tour throws in a wildlife cruise between fruit tastings. There’s a change of tone after arriving on Queensland’s Gold Coast. The coastal strip is often bold and glitzy, but it throws plenty of family-friendly entertainment into the mix. The expansive Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary brings wholesome vibes, allowing guests to hand-feed kangaroos and hold koalas. More exciting, though, is
zooming along the waterways in a jet boat. Paradise Jetboating’s half- hour trip does involve spotting some wallabies on South Stradbroke Island, but it’s mainly about twists, turns and high-speed stunts.
HIGH-OCTANE AUSTRALIA There’s more daredevilry during the Hollywood Stunt Driver Show at Warner Bros Movie World. This is one of several theme parks on the Gold Coast, but it’s the one that puts as much emphasis on shows and parades as rides. Not that thrill-ride enthusiasts will feel short-changed – the DC Rivals Hypercoaster is the longest, tallest and fastest
coaster in the southern hemisphere. The initial 89° drop, in particular, is a white-knuckle test of nerve. The Gold Coast slowly morphs into the southern suburbs of our final destination, Brisbane. The capital of Queensland has certainly come a long way from being a penal settlement, with a series of multibillion-dollar developments set to transform the skyline ahead of the 2032 Olympics. At the end of an epic drive, though, nothing beats the amiable, easy-going nature of Brisbane’s South Bank. Here, restaurants serving cuisines from across the world line up behind carefully tended gardens. More impressively, a giant lagoon pool stretches out along a man-made beach. Time for one last swim. TW
BOOK IT
Audley Travel sells a tailor-made, 16-day By The Beach trip that heads up the coast from Sydney to Brisbane, via Port Stephens and Byron Bay. Prices start at £5,480 per person, including flights, car hire and four to five-star accommodation.
audleytravel.com
travelweekly.co.uk
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