Queensland Travel Guide
5/08/2008 at 9:30 AM
Tags: Australia Travel, Islands, Sharks, Animals (all tags)
Most travelers exploring the Queensland coast Down Under are looking for the Great Barrier Reef, but they might be missing a beautiful spot that we heard about in the weekend papers: Hinchinbrook Island, off the coast between Townsville and Cairns.
The first explorers actually thought Hinchinbrook was part of the mainland, which gives you an idea of how close it is to the coast, and that makes it easy to get there by boat. Nowadays you can splurge at the resort, go hiking and beachcombing, or you can hit the Thorsborne Trail.
The 20-mile hike takes four days and there's a good chance you won't see another human--only 40 people are allowed to be on it at any one time. Whether you'll see crocodiles, sharks or just gorgeous scenery depends on which of the locals you believe. We vote for scenery.
Related Stories:
· Living It Up on Hinchinbrook [Sunday Mail]
· Queensland Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: RedHQ]
by amandak
4/14/2008 at 9:15 AM
Tags: Qantas, Australia Travel, Death (all tags)
In "Rainman," Dustin Hoffman famously said that Australia's national carrier Qantas was his preferred airline because he considered it the safest: "Qantas never crashed." Not 100 percent true but certainly in the last 57 years, no passenger has died as a result of a crash involving the carrier.
Unfortunately, the same can't be said of Qantas staff. A catering employee involved in loading meals onto a Qantas aircraft in Brisbane yesterday fell through a gap in the airbridge and died after hitting the tarmac.
The victim was a 63-year-old woman and nobody's sure if she was wearing the safety harness that's usually required up there. In any case, it doesn't make Qantas's record look so pretty, and it was just another reason for delayed flights out of Brisbane yesterday.
Related Stories:
· Woman Worker Falls to Death [Daily Telegraph]
· Qantas Coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: SpacePotato]
by amandak
3/21/2008 at 9:00 AM
Tags: Theme Parks, Amusement Parks, Australia Travel, Roller Coasters (all tags)
In a week, Australia's Gold Coast will host an "After Dark Park" night at one of the biggest amusement parks there, Dreamworld. That's the place we know as home to the Tower of Terror roller coaster, although it's also got a new big thrill ride called Motocoaster, a nearly 45-mile-per-hour roller coaster where you're strapped in to a replica 500 cc motor bike.
But next week, on March 28, the attention will be centered on the Zero to Hero contest, the annual FlowBoarding competition. That takes place on the FlowRide attraction, a mix of surfing, skateboarding and bodysurfing which is definitely exciting to watch.
Entry to the After Dark special opening is by reserved ticket, and the final of the FlowBoarding takes place at 9:30 pm. Some attractions will be closed but all the big scary rides will be open. We're holding out to see if anyone will cross the Motocoaster with the FlowRide to get some kind of swimming motorbike experience.
Related Stories:
· Dreamworld Gold Coast [Official Site]
· World's Scariest Roller Coasters: The Tower of Terror [Jaunted]
· Amusement Parks coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Soapstar D'Lux]
by amandak
2/15/2008 at 9:30 AM
Tags: Sailing, Australia Travel, Whitsunday Islands (all tags)
At first you might've thought it a really good idea, sailing Australia's beautiful Whitsunday Islands on a schooner named "Romance" during Valentine's. But that feeling probably changed when the Romance ran aground on rocks earlier this week.
The yacht had 37 people on board, most of them backpackers enjoying a sail combined with some snorkeling and diving around the Great Barrier Reef. But stormy weather made the trip turn quite unromantic and everybody had to be winched off the boat.
The nice thing is that although the backpackers ended up at Airlie Beach, many of them without money or passports, the local Queenslanders rallied round and provided them with accommodation and meals. And to make sure they go home with good memories of cruising the Whitsundays, local operators have offered them all another cruise, for free. Presumably, after the storms have passed.
Related Stories:
· 37 People Rescued from Sinking Yacht [Brisbane Times]
· It's Summer Somewhere: Whitsunday Islands [Jaunted]
· World's Most Dangerous Airports: Hamilton Island [Jaunted]
[Photo: hiddenfromview]
by amandak
2/08/2008 at 3:59 AM
Tags: Movie Set Travel, Australia Travel (all tags)
We'll admit it, when we see the giant building-size posters for "Fool's Gold" every day in our neighborhood, we feel the need to suck in our stomach just a little bit. Damn Kate Hudson and her airbrushed tan. Matthew McConaughey's no better; somehow his pecs peer through his t-shirt. Anyways, we might have to see this one purely as a diet tool.
"Fool's Gold" is the story of an estranged married couple who receive a clue about the whereabouts of lost treasure and of course decide to go after it. This means hooking up in a church, hanging out on a megayacht and spending an inordinate amount of time a) soaking wet or b) scantily clad.
Shot primarily in Queensland, Australia, we offer you some cool things to check out in the area. Just make sure you work out first!
Where To Stay: Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island Right on the Southern tip of the Great Barrier reef, Kingfisher Bay is a sprawling resort with just about everything. You can shack up in a villa with family or friends, stay in the hotel for a nature-related experience or pop into the "Holiday House" which sleeps up to 12 people. With four pools, four bars, a cafe and a nightclub, we don't think you'll have time to be bored.
Where To Eat: E'cco Bistro, Brisbane This is the fine dining restaurant in town, serving up seasonally-inspired dishes like field mushrooms on olive toast with arugula, truffle oil and lemon and salmon poached in tomato, chili and lemongrass broth. Make sure to check out the space as it was once an historic teahouse.
What to See: City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane Just a 15-minute walk from the city center, these botanical gardens are Brisbane's original. Stroll through the Bamboo Grove or down Weeping Fig Avenue on your way to Mangrove Boardwalk. Yes, these are the real names: It's like a green Candyland.
Related Stories:
· Movie Set Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Queensland Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: wbmoviesgirl]
by sedona
1/04/2008 at 9:30 AM
Tags: Green Travel, Australia Travel (all tags)
When the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway was built to take tourists through the rainforest to Kuranda, in Queensland, back in 1995, locals protested about possible environmental damage to the rainforest. It is, after all, a World Heritage Site.
But the Skyrail has just achieved a Green Globe Gold Certification for its excellent environmental performance, so the critics have probably been quieted for a while. There are only 18 groups worldwide who have achieved such a rating, so the Skyrail is definitely doing a good job at protecting the environment.
If you want to check the green credentials of Skyrail yourself, a ride will have you floating above the rainforest in a 6-person gondola for about 1.5 hours, longer if you take the return route. We've got no doubts that it must be an eco-friendly project: All you can see is green!
Related Stories:
· Skyrail Rainforest Cableway [Official Site]
· Skyrail: Certified Gold Status [eTravel]
· Queensland Travel Guide [Jaunted]
[Photo: lonely radio]
by amandak
12/21/2007 at 9:15 AM
Tags: Art, Art Galleries, Australia Travel, Exhibitions, Andy Warhol (all tags)
Andy Warhol fans are in for a treat if they can get to the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, Australia in the next few months. A major new exhibition featuring pieces from a number of galleries across the world will come together from January 4 to March 28, 2008.
Along with a bunch of Warhol artwork, including his famous Campbell's soup cans, the exhibition will include a Warhol Up Late program every Friday evening, an interactive activity for children and a freely downloadable Audio Guide to the Warhol exhibition on the gallery website.
We know he coined the phrase, but Warhol always seems to get much more than his fifteen minutes of fame.
Related Stories:
· Warhol's Fifteen Minutes of Fame [Courier Mail]
· Andy Warhol at Gallery of Modern Art [Official Site]
· Warhol's Fifteen Minutes at the AGO [Jaunted]
· Brisbane Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: wallyg]
by amandak
12/13/2007 at 9:00 AM
Tags: Gay Travel, Australia Travel, Islands, Cruises (all tags)
Heading out on a gay cruise was already a bit yesterday when Aussie company AllGayCruises started up earlier this year, but now they've taken things to the next level. The company's now creating Australia's first gay island.
Strictly speaking, the island already exists--it's Lindeman Island off the Queensland coast--and it will only be gay for a week. But it sounds like it'll be a particularly colorful event. For six days immediately following the Sydney Mardi Gras in March 2008, AllGayCruises has basically rented out the whole of Lindeman Island for a massive gay party.
Seven big dance parties, a swimwear model contest, comedy nights and even the Gaylimpics will make sure that the fun really doesn't stop on Lindeman. You can already book accommodation, meal and party packages starting at A$1,299 per person ($1,150). Btw, the whole event is called Shipwrecked!, which we hope is not a bad sign of things to come.
Related Stories:
· Shipwrecked Island [Official Site]
· Australia Will Have First Gay Island [eTravel]
· Gay Cruising Catches Up Down Under [Jaunted]
[Photo: St. Murse]
by amandak
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