The Great Sunshine Way

The Great Sunshine Way is a new international touring route that affords visitors of all kinds - whether travelling by car, rail, coach or boat - to experience the best of all the Australian experiences in Southern Queensland.

Southern Queensland could well be Australia’s best holiday experience. Breathtaking natural places, cosmopolitan cities and a warm welcome typify the appeal of this unique part of the world.

Holidaying in Southern Queensland is a bit like choosing from the menu at the best restaurant in town.

Some of Australia’s premium holiday experiences are laid out before you - pristine beaches, luxury resorts in exotic locations, clean cosmopolitan cities, food and shopping to rival anywhere in the world, and a range of adventures in untouched wild environments that you simply can’t find anywhere else on the planet.

In fact, some of the earth’s most treasured natural wonders like World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, and the ancient rainforests of the Gold Coast hinterland are found here. You can even access the Southern Great Barrier Reef with ease.

And it’s not just the trappings of sophistication or the natural beauty that makes this region so desirable. It’s the feeling you get when you’re here. It’s one of freedom and possibility. Add to that sublime weather and warm, friendly people, and travel takes on an easy relaxed rhythm.

You’ll discover it’s the perfect touring destination with a range of options radiating from the state’s cruisy capital, Brisbane.

From here you can easily access the other key locales of the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, and the Fraser Coast where you’ll find a fascinating mix of cities, country towns, coast and hinterland.

You can of course experience the essence of Southern Queensland within a few days, but to truly savour it, ten days are recommended.

Touring is an easy self-drive experience following some or all of the Great Sunshine Touring Route or you can join organised tours that take in the highlights. There is so much on offer and it really is like selecting from a good menu. You can tailor an itinerary to suit your time, personal tastes and budget. Accommodation caters to the full range from luxury seekers requiring five-star stays to outdoorsy types who will love camping under the stars in simply gorgeous natural surrounds.

Brisbane is a vibrant place and there are several things you simply must do in and around this city. It’s perched on the tranquil Brisbane River so when you first arrive hop aboard a CityCat for a thorough orientation.

You could spend a few hours or a whole day canoeing on the river, climbing Kangaroo Point Cliffs and scaling the cities iconic Story Bridge. Have at least one meal al fresco at a riverside restaurant and don’t miss the fashion and shopping in the city centre or the chance to cuddle a koala at Lone Pine Sanctuary. A day on Moreton Bay and Moreton Island is easily done from the city and walking and bird watching in the serene Boondall Wetlands is a wonderful experience that even many locals are unaware of.

Nowhere is the region’s diversity of experiences better seen than on the Gold Coast, just an hour south of Brisbane. You can learn to surf, indulge in resort-style shopping, play golf at more than 40 courses, rediscover the kid in you at a variety of state-of-the-art theme parks and when the sun goes down partake in the coastal strip’s vibrant nightlife and dining. Within half an hour of all this you can discover the awe-inspiring natural wonders of the ancient World Heritage-listed rainforest hinterland. Walks, waterfalls, art galleries, restaurants, cosy mountain lodges and supreme camping spots will calm and soothe your soul.

An hour to the north of Brisbane is the Sunshine Coast, also a place of contrasts. You’ll find a more relaxed vibe here, and while the pace is slower, there’s no shortage of things to do. The coastal strip promises calm-water and surf beaches, seaside national parks, casual or upmarket waterfront dining and shopping (the resort enclave of Noosa is a must), and family attractions such as the famous Big Pineapple. The cooler hinterland villages just half an hour inland offer day spas to luxuriate in, mountain retreats, art galleries, cafes restaurants, cooking schools and access to stunning national parks.

Nature makes the biggest statement on the Fraser Coast, easily accessed from Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast. A day or extended tour of World Heritage Fraser Island is a must. You can go whale watching from the island or mainland Hervey Bay from June to early November; explore coastal Cooloola National Park and the unspoilt beauty of Rainbow Beach. Get to know the locals in a country pub or soak up the well-preserved heritage of Maryborough on an eerie ghost tour or a day exploring the historic Wharf Street precinct.

From Hervey Bay you can even do an aerial tour north to the islands, coral reefs and crystal clear aquamarine waters of the spectacular Southern Great Barrier Reef.

From untouched wild places where nature reigns to the best of shopping, dining and city chic, Southern Queensland is a rare gem that once experienced leaves an indelible impression and a compelling desire for more.