There are plenty of things to see and do in and around Noosa, Queensland, Australia. Located on the Sunshine Coast, about a 90 minute drive from Brisbane, Noosa and its surrounds has something to offer everyone. Sports, shopping, or eating, the choices are plenty.
Surfing lessons.
The sheltered beach of Noosa, Queensland, is perfect for safe surfing lessons. The warm water temperature makes for comfortable surroundings, and the qualified instructors usually guarantee standing on the board in the first lesson. There are several surfing schools to choose from, catering for all ages.
Hastings St.
The lush shady street running along Noosa's Main Beach is world famous for its boutiques and eateries. Enjoy fashion shopping, or simply stopping for a cappuccino overlooking the stunning beach view. Hastings St features art galleries, jewellery shops, and the requisite souvenir shops all interspersed amongst exclusive boutiques. A great place to people watch.
National Park.
The Noosa National Park at the end of Hastings St offers plenty of walks of varying lengths. These walks run alongside coves, cliffs and remote surfing spots. A lucky bush-walker may even be able to spot a koala in the trees.
Fraser Island.
This 123 km long sand island is World Heritage listed. Fraser Island has over 100 freshwater lakes, and literally miles of unspoilt beaches and coastline. The sand cliffs are up to 200 metres in height and are home to pristine rainforest. Getting to Fraser Island is an adventure in itself. 4WD vehicles only are allowed on the island. Visitors can either go on a 1 , 2, or 3 day tour or hire a 4WD and drive themselves. There are various styles of accommodation there, ranging from camping to resorts. There is no bridge to Fraser Island and access is via a car ferry.
Australia Zoo.
This world famous zoo is "home of the crocodile hunter", the late Steve Irwin, and is located in the south west of the Sunshine Coast at Beerwah. This amazing animal park is open daily from 9am to 5pm. There are plenty of Australian native animals including koalas, wombats, and kangaroos, to see along with crocodile shows, bird of prey exhibits, reptiles, and mammals. Australia Zoo also offers a bus service from selected destinations for those who do not have access to a car.
Eumundi Markets.
20 kms west of Noosa is the historic inland town of Eumundi. Since 1979, the Eumundi markets have been operating, offering over 500 stalls to peruse. The Eumundi markets have become one of the largest of their kind in Australia. Food, fresh produce, handcrafted items, and live music can all be experienced. The Markets are open twice a week, Wednesdays from 8am till 1.30 pm, and on Saturdays from 6.30 am till 2pm.
Maleny & Montville Hinterland.
The towns of Montville and Maleny are situated in the Blackall Ranges, in the Noosa Hinterland. These towns are approximately 40 minutes away from Noosa, and are elevated offering majestic views over the Sunshine Coast. These historic towns are full of character and offer many cafes as well as antiques, galleries, and crafts. Hand crafted wooden furniture, patchwork quilts, glass-works, sculptures, pottery, and clocks are just some of the amazing merchandise to be found in these 2 towns.
Noosa River Cruises & Ferry.
One of the best ways to experience the beauty of Noosa is from the Noosa River. There are plenty of options from the cost effective ferry which can float you right past million dollar water front homes to more commercial ventures. Day trips can be taken up the Noosa River to the beautiful Everglades, a stretch of water with astonishing reflections.
Fishing.
Those keen on fishing are well catered for in Noosa. With a river and miles of beaches, there are plenty of varied options. There are also fish charters available for those seeking the possibility of a bigger catch from the outer lying ocean reefs.
Thriller.
For those looking for some high speed adventure, this could be for you. A 500 horsepower speed boat will take you on the ride of your life, bouncing over waves along the Noosa waterways and Noosa beach. Not for the faint hearted.
Conclusion.
Noosa, Sunshine Coast, offers plenty of variety for the holiday maker. From laid back to action packed, shopping to sight seeing, there is certainly something for everyone on a Noosa holiday.
The author and publisher Murray Maxwell is himself a Bed and Breakfast operator in the Noosa, Sunshine Coast region with several years experience with customer service needs and noosa accommodation
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Brisbane - Top Places to Visit With Your Car Hire
Before you head out and explore the rest of Queensland and Australia there are many must see attractions within the Brisbane itself. A nice place to start would be to check out Brisbane City Hall. This is probably the most significant landmark in the city and if you are lucky you might be in time for one of the number of free concerts they host there throughout the year. If not then a ride up to the top of the clock tower is recommended as the view is quite special. In the adjacent King George Square you can find the Museum of Brisbane where you can learn all about the history of the city and also see some art from local artists.
A great way to see the city with ease and in style is to take the CityCat river taxi and see most of the city sitting on the shores of the River Brisbane. The trip only takes a couple of hours and will cost you less that AUS$5 for the combo ticket! That same ticket is good for all the public transport in the city. Perhaps you could use this ticket to get you to Mount Coot-tha, Brisbane's tallest "Mountain". Here you will find a fine view over the city and it is also home to a Botanical Garden and a Planetarium.
One area that must be visited is the Queensland Cultural Centre, found in South Brisbane. Here you will find the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Art Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art and the State Library of Queensland. The Queensland Conservatorium and the Queensland College of Art are both located nearby as well.
And there is also the Southbank located across the river from the heart of the city. This was the site of the World Expo in 1988 and today you can find an artificial beach were you can swim for free on sunny days. There are also a number of shops, cafes, restaurants and a cinema in the area that make for a great place to hang out on a rest day.
What's to see in the Brisbane Area?
When you are done with the city there is still much to see and do in the surrounding areas. Brisbane is an excellent base from which you can explore Queensland and even into the neighbouring New South Wales. If you are travelling with children they may want to start with the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Here you can see Kangaroos and hand-feed them, you can cuddle one of the over 130 Koalas that make up the largest Koala sanctuary in Australia.
If you are willing to drive up the coast some 370 kilometres you will find the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest system of reefs in the world that stretches for 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (that's bigger than the combined area of the UK and Ireland!). The reefs are a sources of great natural beauty and is a must see for any visitor to the area.
On your way north you can drop into the Sunshine Coast or Redcliffe which are popular with surfers and swimmers that prefer a nice beach that isn't overcrowded like some of the other more famous beaches in the south west. There is a small village in the area called Beerwah; here you will find the Australian Zoo which is run by the family of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin.
For something a little different you can visit the Glass House Mountains National Park. This excursion will take you through the mountains which offer fantastic scenic vistas and the opportunity for a quick hike perhaps up Mount Beerwah.
An excerpt from an article at Ezine Articles Read more
A great way to see the city with ease and in style is to take the CityCat river taxi and see most of the city sitting on the shores of the River Brisbane. The trip only takes a couple of hours and will cost you less that AUS$5 for the combo ticket! That same ticket is good for all the public transport in the city. Perhaps you could use this ticket to get you to Mount Coot-tha, Brisbane's tallest "Mountain". Here you will find a fine view over the city and it is also home to a Botanical Garden and a Planetarium.
One area that must be visited is the Queensland Cultural Centre, found in South Brisbane. Here you will find the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Art Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art and the State Library of Queensland. The Queensland Conservatorium and the Queensland College of Art are both located nearby as well.
And there is also the Southbank located across the river from the heart of the city. This was the site of the World Expo in 1988 and today you can find an artificial beach were you can swim for free on sunny days. There are also a number of shops, cafes, restaurants and a cinema in the area that make for a great place to hang out on a rest day.
What's to see in the Brisbane Area?
When you are done with the city there is still much to see and do in the surrounding areas. Brisbane is an excellent base from which you can explore Queensland and even into the neighbouring New South Wales. If you are travelling with children they may want to start with the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Here you can see Kangaroos and hand-feed them, you can cuddle one of the over 130 Koalas that make up the largest Koala sanctuary in Australia.
If you are willing to drive up the coast some 370 kilometres you will find the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest system of reefs in the world that stretches for 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (that's bigger than the combined area of the UK and Ireland!). The reefs are a sources of great natural beauty and is a must see for any visitor to the area.
On your way north you can drop into the Sunshine Coast or Redcliffe which are popular with surfers and swimmers that prefer a nice beach that isn't overcrowded like some of the other more famous beaches in the south west. There is a small village in the area called Beerwah; here you will find the Australian Zoo which is run by the family of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin.
For something a little different you can visit the Glass House Mountains National Park. This excursion will take you through the mountains which offer fantastic scenic vistas and the opportunity for a quick hike perhaps up Mount Beerwah.
An excerpt from an article at Ezine Articles Read more
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