Queensland bucket list: The 26 things everyone in the Sunshine State needs to do
THE Australia Day long weekend may not be long enough to tick all 26 of these items off your list, but there’s no doubt every Queenslander worth their salt should get out there and do as many of these things as they can.
Outdoors
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IT’S one of Australia’s last great pilgrimages. To make the 1000-odd-km road trip by 4WD from Cairns to the tip of Australia is a rite of passage.
“It’s something every trueblue Aussie should do once,’’ said local Lea-ann Mears, mother of Benji, 5, and Jaxon, 6. “Like life, it’s about the journey, not the destination.’’
The Mears family, who own the Croc Tent souvenir store at Cape York, are among a handful of residents who live closest to the top of mainland Australia, which is marked by a signpost.
The Courier-Mail drove the 2500km round trip for the obligatory photo and a dip in the rock pools overlooking the sea.
“Some days, there can be a queue of people lining up for a photo,’’ Mrs Mears said. “Other days, no one but the birds.’’
For many, the signpost marks the turning point on a 4WD odyssey through the world’s most ancient rainforest, past some of the oldest rock art and living indigenous culture, into one of the last great savanna wildernesses.
Be quick, though. There are plans to floodproof and seal large sections of the Bloomfield Track and Cape York Peninsula Development Road by 2020. It won’t be the same without all that red dirt.
QUEENSLAND BEST STREET ART
VIBRANT murals have been popping up across Brisbane but there is one area in the city’s fringe that has become a must visit site for art enthusiasts.
Empty walls surrounding the restaurants, cafes and bars at West End have been given a colourful new lease on life thanks to some of Queensland’s best street artists.
The abstract paintings and towering portraits are the perfect backdrop for a selfie with hundreds of visitors and locals stopping to take pictures in front of the artwork every day.
Many of the newer works were painted as part of the West End Street Art Festival in October last year.
Event organisers opened up several laneways off Boundary St to renowned artists, including Sofles, RND creative and Reuben Stocks, who were given “free reign” to create their works.
Aspley’s Phoebe Lewis visited the mural on Boundary St for a photo with friends.
FERRY RIDES CREATE TOURISM STORY
BRISBANE residents are becoming tourists in their own back yards and enjoying a day on the water.
For the best views of the city’s skyline, a free ride along the Brisbane River on a CityHopper ferry cannot be beaten for value.
The CityHopper stops at popular Brisbane tourism hot spots, including South Bank, Eagle Street Pier, New Farm and Kangaroo Point.
Salisbury mum Casey Boyd took her son Oskar, 4, for a ride under the Story Bridge, making the most of the cooler temperatures out on the river.
Ferries run between 6am and midnight seven days a week, which means this family-friendly activity is a must for any Brisbane holiday bucket list.
HELI-VA TIME ON THE REEF
FEW living legends are as synonymous with big game fishing and helicopters as Dennis “Brazakka” Wallace.
The 72-year-old helped put Cairns on the map, taking Hollywood star Lee Marvin and author Wilbur Smith out hunting the highly prized “grander” black marlin on the outer Great Barrier Reef in the 1970s.
The larger-than-life gameboat skipper then built his reputation on heli-fishing safaris into the wilds of Cape York.
“There’s nothing like flying off and having a fish,” Brazakka said. “Even if you don’t catch anything, it’s worth it for the adventure and visuals of the spectacular landscape.”
Bluewater heli-fishing is the new “must-do” bucket list item off Cairns.
Nautilus Aviation chief executive Aaron Finn said customers, at a cost of about $1250 for a day trip, fish the outer reef for half a day before flying to the Daintree to chase jungle perch.
“It’s the ability to get out quickly; they can be fishing on the reef within 30 minutes of leaving the hangar,” he said.
SPORTING BUCKET LIST
AN ITEM on every Queenslander’s bucket list should be to visit the hallowed ground of Suncorp Stadium for a game of rugby league.
The home of the Brisbane Broncos and the Queensland Maroons has hosted so many incredible footy moments that it is hard to pick one.
The site on Milton Rd, in Brisbane’s inner-west, was once the North Brisbane Burial Grounds before being transformed into the state’s top sporting ground.
The man responsible for looking after the hallowed turf is head groundskeeper Malcolm Caddies. His tireless work maintaining the ground for the past decade has resulted in one of the best playing surfaces in the country.
The 52,500-capacity stadium is filled with fans during the NRL season. Even Broncos players get behind the noise inside “The Cauldron”, with many often crediting a win to the support of the crowd.
Suncorp Stadium general manager Alan Graham even told The Courier-Mail last year an NRL grand final should be played here, such is the support for league in Brisbane.
“I think there’s definitely the passion and motivation for the public,” he said.
BIG PLANS DISHED UP FOR ICON
IT’S an almost mandatory part of any Queensland road trip – the tourist snap at the Big Pineapple.
Since the 16m giant fruit was unveiled in 1971 beside what was then the main highway north, the yellow and green icon at Woombye, on the Sunshine Coast, has featured in tens of thousands of road trip pictures.
Launched during the heyday of “big” attractions, the Big Pineapple attracted everyone from locals hungry for the famous parfaits to Prince Charles and Princess Diana on a royal visit.
At the height of the “big” craze, the big macadamia nut cropped up beside the Big Pineapple. Visitors could ride the Nutmobile. On the northern side of Nambour, the Big Cow opened at Kulangoor, while Superbee was a buzz at Tanawha.
Now the fibreglass pineapple’s new owners, Queensland businessmen Brad Rankin and Peter Kendall, hope to revisit the glory days with new features such as special events and glamping.
With the Big Cow and Superbee gone and big things getting thinner on the ground, for the dedicated “big” selfie collector, there’s still the iconic Commonwealth Games mascot Matilda.
She found a new home at what was then a Matilda service station at Kybong, south of Gympie, 60km further north.
VISIT THE XXXX BREWERY
ONLY one thing is more euphoric than seeing the XXXX sign illuminated against a Brisbane sunset and that is visiting the brewery inside.
The Queensland icon, which has been around since 1878 and was founded by brothers Nicholas and Edward Fitzgerald, has developed a cult-like following around its local brew.
The treasured “Milton Mango”, the XXXX Gold, is now Australia’s best selling beer and the brewery allows a glimpse inside its creation process.
Not only are the four-exes an icon in Queensland, but so too is the Fourex Man, who is one of the most recognised symbols in the state.
XXXX brewery director, and the most senior female brewer in Australia, Irene Bell said it was a privilege to work at such an icon.
“Everyone who works at XXXX knows we’re part of a Queensland icon,” she said.
“It’s a privilege to be part of the long line of people who have brewed our beers for more than a century.
“The team feels very passionate about all the beers we brew.”
Tours last 90 minutes around the brewery and conclude with a beer tasting session for those who work up a thirst as part of it.
REEF’S A DOWN UNDER WONDER
SIR David Attenborough rates it the “most magical place on Earth” and soon Australian audiences will get to see it like never before.
Blue Planet II, to be aired in Australia this year by Channel Nine, is his latest ode to the spectacle of the world’s largest living structure. “I’d go back tomorrow if you’d give me the chance, to places on the Great Barrier Reef,” the 91-year-old narrator said.
Port Douglas-based underwater filmmakers captured stunning cinematography in the documentary to inspire millions worldwide to visit the natural icon.
And Tourism Queensland is ready to cash in with a free ebook, 101 ways to do the Great Barrier Reef, to help visitors tick it off their bucket lists.
It includes the underwater equivalent of an African safari with the Great 8 iconic marine encounters and there are also tips for Instagram photos such as “the turtle photobomb”.
COASTING A COOL 160KM/H
IT’S one of the jaw-dropping thrill rides luring millions of thrillseekers a year. As the first roller-coaster in the world to reach speeds of 160km/h, Dreamworld’s Tower of Terror raised the bar sky-high – literally.
Now called the Tower of Terror II after a 2010 revamp, the ride reaches 161km/h in seven seconds flat, rocketing thrillseekers out of a 260m tunnel, ascending 100m into the sky before rocketing back down in a vertical free fall, face first.
Since the revamp, more than eight million people have ridden the roller-coaster.
The roller-coasters at Dreamworld and its Gold Coast rivals Movie World and Sea World have attracted crowds for generations and should be on every Queensland bucket list of must-do experiences – if you dare.
TOURISTS GO WILD OVER BEACH SCENE
CUTE native wildlife, stunning sunrises and pristine beaches – any one of these is enough to make an enticing Queensland experience.
But at Cape Hillsborough National Park about 50km from Mackay, you can find all three attractions combined.
Every morning at sunrise, wallabies can be found foraging for food at Casuarina Beach.
Mackay Tourism general manager Tas Webber said it was a unique experience, luring visitors from far and wide.
“It’s really breathtaking to see,” Mr Webber said.
“It’s been a bit of a hidden secret until about 18 months ago and now it’s getting a lot of traction and really taking off.” The group of about 13 wallabies and two kangaroos arrive on the beach every day at sunrise to forage for salty seed pods.
“Our international guests when they come to Australia they want three things – good sunrises, nice beaches and interaction with our wildlife – and this experience has all three in one,” he said.
BREKKY CREEK A CITY ICON
WHETHER it’s a rump, rib eye, eye fillet or fillet mignon, having a steak at the Breakfast Creek Hotel has become a Queensland tradition.
And few people understand that more than Sue Butler.
The 50-year-old has been working at the iconic Brisbane pub for almost 20 years, taking care of tourists and locals alike in the venue’s famous Spanish Garden.
“I do love my job. It doesn’t feel like work,” Ms Butler said.
In fact, she even had her 20-year-old twin daughters Grace and Ellie get involved, with the pair working alongside mum in the restaurant for almost a year after they finished school.
“I love the people, the regulars – you just make really good friendships ... so to me it’s just like socialising,” she said
Ms Butler said everyone should come and have a steak at the 128-year-old Brekky Creek – especially in the Spanish Garden.
“There are so many steakhouses around but they don’t have this decor,” she said. “Not many places are like us ... and the steaks are damn good, too.”
DOLPHIN GIG A JOB TO FLIP OVER
FORGET the old Queensland tourism campaign – Chrissa Athousis reckons she has the best job in the world.
The 26-year-old works as a dolphin trainer at Sea World on the Gold Coast and is constantly reminded that her job is the envy of all – and, with apologies to the international competition which gave a lucky winner the job of caretaker in the Whitsundays, she thinks this gig is better.
“Every single day people tell us we’ve got the best job in the world,” she said.
“In the middle of winter it can get pretty cold and you smell like fish a lot of the time, but we go home with a smile on our face every single day.”
She certainly had no complaints during a quick dip with Scooter, a 34-year-old offshore bottlenose dolphin who was born at Sea World, before park opening hours this week.
For more than 25 years people have been enjoying encounters with dolphins at Sea World, and it goes down as one of the 26 things all Queenslanders should have on their bucket list.
A VIEW LIKE NO OTHER
SEE the Sunshine Coast in its full glory by tackling one of the most underrated and rewarding walks in the nation – Mount Coolum.
The 360-degree views to be enjoyed from the top of this mountain are well worth the hike and effort.
The walk up is short, but it is rather steep.
Standing 208m high, it will take about 1-1½ hours for moderately fit people for a return journey.
The super fit, though, can tackle the climb in less than eight minutes, as is the current track record.
Sunshine Coast man Marshall Morrison said it was a feature for all people – visitors and locals.
“There are a few highlights from the top,” he said.
“People enjoy watching the planes come in to land and the magnificent coastline.
“The 360-degree views are fairly unique.
“It has such a safe track up to it as well, so everyone always has a go.”
GET ON YOUR BIKE
WITH their yellow helmets, clunky frames and bulky baskets, these CityCycle bikes are hard to miss.
But they have become an iconic fixture of the River City since they were introduced in 2010 and are a must-do for any Queenslander who wants to enjoy a leisurely ride through their capital.
They are easy to find as well, with 150 stations in must-visit locations across Brisbane, including New Farm Park, South Bank and the Botanic Gardens.
They also make for a suitable alternative to those who are tired of the daily grind of catching the bus and train to work or waiting in traffic.
Much maligned when they were first introduced because of costs, the bicycles have become increasingly popular with locals and tourists, taking more than half-a-million trips on the bikes in the 2016/17 financial year.
Kathryn Al-Dhafeeri, from Nundah, enjoyed a ride along the Botanic Gardens last week with Emma Donaldson. “It was lovely,” Ms Al-Dhafeeri said. “I think they’re a really good idea. They’re great for tourists.”
BUGGING OUT FOR SEAFOOD
THE Moreton Bay bug has become a Queensland culinary icon and there’s no better time to eat them than in summer. Fishmongers across the state say the crustacean is currently at its best, and far superior to the much-lauded lobster.
“Bugs are a lot better, especially if you’re a Queenslander,” said Greg Kalligeros from Hamilton’s Fresh N Wild. “I think we all grew up on Moreton Bay bugs instead of lobsters, not because of the price but because of the flavour.
“I think they’re a lot sweeter and a lot more enjoyable to eat.”
Mr Kalligeros says punters can usually get six bugs for the price of one lobster, with bugs selling at about $8 each.
At Mooloolaba Fish Market on the Sunshine Coast, they are one of the most popular sellers, with the outlet selling tonnes every week.
Manager Christian Penny said the Moreton Bay bug was also far better than the Balmain variety, as they had longer tails with more meat.
“It’s a cross between a prawn and a lobster – it’s got that nice, tender, prawny meat taste to it but it doesn’t get as chewy as the lobster or the crayfish does,” he said.
Brisbane teacher Alida Haagsma said eating bugs while overlooking Moreton Bay had become a quintessential Queensland activity.
“Moreton Bay bugs are amazing to eat during summer, as they are fresh and pair deliciously with my favourite wine while relaxing by the water,” she said.
TO INFINITY AND BEYOND AT GOMA
A POPULAR art exhibition in Brisbane is proving smoke and mirrors really can be magical.
The space-altering “infinity rooms” by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama are on display at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane until next month.
Life is the Heart of a Rainbow features works from Kusama’s decades-long career, making it a highlight of the city’s summer exhibitions.
Spending a day exploring GOMA and the surrounding South Bank cultural precinct is one of The Courier- Mail’s 26 Queensland must-dos.
Thousands of international and interstate tourists as well as Queensland residents have visited the gallery so far this season, with Kusama’s large installations proving a hit with visitors of all ages.
Exhibition co-curator Reuben Keehan conducts a free guided tour of Kusama’s work every Sunday.
The Children’s Art Centre also hosts the immersive and interactive “obliteration room”, a collaboration between Kusama and QAGOMA that has been visited by more than 5 million people around the world since its 2002 debut.
Entry to the exhibition is free and will remain on display until February 11.
CLIMB THE STORY BRIDGE
THERE are few people who could say they have a better view from their “office” than Tabetha Taifalos-Ross.
The Brisbane woman is a climb leader for Story Bridge Adventure Climb and said the view from the top never got old.
“I’ve climbed it nearly 300 times now and it’s still just as beautiful as the first time,” Ms Taifalos-Ross said.
Climbing the Story Bridge is one of The Courier-Mail’s top picks for the best things to do in Queensland. Climbers take in spectacular views of the Brisbane River and city, to Moreton Bay and the hills of the Scenic Rim.
“I climbed it twice before I started working there and on my second climb I jokingly asked if they were hiring and they said yes,” Ms Taifalos-Ross said.
“There are lots of good stories, people like to hear about how the bridge was built to create jobs during the great depression and that it was built two degrees off perfect north because no one wanted to knock over the pub.”
The climb is a special memory for Valentino Ronsisvalle and Lucia Crino, who were engaged atop the bridge two weeks ago.
“Our son was born here in Brisbane and the Story Bridge is a special place in Brisbane, so I thought it would be nice to propose there,” Mr Ronsisvalle said.
LAGOON A SPLASH DAY OR NIGHT
SWIMMING under the stars while the city lights of Brisbane twinkle across the river is a Queensland experience that’s hard to beat.
The South Bank lagoon is one of the Sunshine State’s top attractions and can be enjoyed from sunrise to sunset – and even by moonlight.
It is Australia’s only inner-city man-made beach and has views of the Brisbane River, CBD and lush gardens.
More than 11 million people visit South Bank each year.
West end resident Sara Gerritsma was enjoying an evening swim with friends this week.
“We couldn’t work out where to have a gathering at a pool and then we realised South Bank is just at our doorstep,” she said.
“The water temperature was perfect and I was surprised how many people were around so late.”
Mel Letourneau from Canada visits Brisbane regularly and can be found doing laps every morning at sunrise.
“It’s wonderful really,” she said. “There’s nothing like this at home.”
SNUGGLE WITH A KOALA
HUGGING a furry marsupial at Queensland’s Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is such an iconic “must-do” that even international celebrities can’t miss out.
The wildlife centre was the world’s first and largest sanctuary, just 12km west of the Brisbane CBD and is currently home to more than 130 koalas.
Amy Swinn works at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and said between 800 and 3000 people visit every day.
“It’s a place where you can get up close with the koalas … it’s an experience you can’t get elsewhere,” she said.
Famous artists including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and John Travolta have all had their photograph taken with a koala at the sanctuary in recent years.
“Holding a koala is on many people’s bucket list when they’re visiting Australia,” Ms Swinn said. She said there are many locals who return to the sanctuary “again and again” and build “close connections” with some of the koalas.
VISIT WHERE TWO WORLD HERITAGE AREAS MEET
IT’S where the lungs of the earth meet the womb of the sea.
Few places on the planet hold such pristine vitality as the ancient forests of Gondwanaland.
Known as the Daintree, the world’s oldest rainforest, at about 135 million years old, stretches from Mossman Gorge to the Bloomfield River in far north Queensland.
It is the only spot on the globe where two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest – meet.
For the sheer, raw emotion of “awe”, the Daintree is rated by Lonely Planet in the world’s top three places to be.
Stunning drone images captured by The Courier-Mail at the mouth of the Bloomfield River show a bird’s-eye view of the unspoilt jungle, mangroves and sea.
“There are parts of the Daintree rainforest where Gondwanan plants still survive, making this one of the most primeval corners of the planet,” said the latest Lonely Planet guide book, released last month.
SURF THE WORLD’S BEST BEACHES
IT’S the original Queensland beach babe.
Routinely voted among the most beautiful beaches in the country, Burleigh Heads is one of Queensland surfing’s gems with almost 200 of the world’s top surfers ready to descend on the famous point break for the annual Burleigh Pro, starting on Australia Day.
Professional surfing competitions have been held at Burleigh for more than 50 years, with past winners of the Burleigh pro including such names as Julian Wilson, Taj Burrow, Owen Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons.
Currumbin’s Lucy Callister is hoping to add her name to the honour roll as she attempts to kick off her World Qualifying Series campaign in winning style.
The 19-year-old has surfed all around the world, but finds few beaches as enticing as Burleigh.
“It’s such a beautiful spot,” she said.
“It’s an amazing backdrop with the headland and the national park.
“I grew up just down the road so I have spent a lot of time surfing here.”
The Gold Coast’s southern points of Kirra and Snapper Rocks are arguably more famous, but none of them match Burleigh for beauty.
It’s part of the reason why a surf at Burleigh should be on every Queenslander’s bucket list as one of the 26 best things to do.
And if you can’t surf, a swim is just as good.
DUNES A BOON FOR MORETON
IT’S the island wonderland that has been luring travellers for hundreds of years.
Moreton Island or Moorgumpin’, means “place of sandhills” in the local Aboriginal dialect. It isn’t false advertising.
Moreton’s sand dunes, known as “the desert” on tours out of Tangalooma Island Resort, stand up to 30m and have been a tourist attraction for adrenalin junkies since someone ripped open a beer carton to slide on in the last century.
Now hundreds of people every week take the plunge on more sturdy masonite boards, hurtling down the dunes at up to 60km/h.
The resort’s assistant hotel manager, Henk Loosschilder, said it was a three-minute walk to the top of the dunes and a five-second ride back down.
Mr Loosschilder said the sand dunes, wreck dives and dolphin-feeding experiences constantly blew visitors away.
“Every day we get people who say they have lived in Brisbane all their lives and never been here and they can’t believe what they’ve been missing out on.”
Tangalooma Island Resort alone received more than 270,000 visitors last year, with thousands more visiting the beaches and national park on the island.
OUR HIGHEST PEAK LURES FIT FANATICS
IT IS one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions, but Mount Coot-tha is also a firm favourite among local fitness junkies.
With its steep inclines and, at times, rugged terrain, it is a must-do for any Queenslander who wants to work up a sweat. The stunning view of the city from the lookout is the ultimate reward for cyclists and hikers.
Bicycle Queensland chief executive Anne Savage said Mount Coot-tha was the state’s most popular training ride for hill cycling.
“At 287m above sea level, it’s Brisbane’s highest peak, providing a massive drawcard for cyclists and bike riders of all ages,” she said.
Thrillseekers are also in for a treat, with Mount Coot-tha soon to be home to Australia’s longest treetop canopy tour at 1500m.
ON ROAD TO EXPLORE A NATURAL WONDER
IT’S their Great Sandy Adventure – a family trip to Fraser Island where the road is like no other.
The Cridlands – dad Chris, mum Viv and kids Molly, 8, William, 7, and Casey, 5, were yesterday headed along the sand of 75 Mile Beach – one of the few southeast Queensland beaches in Queensland you can drive along.
“I was here 30 years ago when I was growing up,” Mr Cridland – originally from Redbank Plains – said outside Eurong, where the family waited for the tide to drop enough to drive along the sand for a dip further north in Eli Creek. “You don’t see beaches better than this.”
Mrs Cridland said the kids were loving the trip. “We’re calling it our Great Sandy Adventure,” she said.
The beach is open to four-wheel- drives with a Parks and Wildlife permit. It feels like the middle of nowhere, but there are rules – obey the speed limit, let down your tyres to avoid bogging in the soft sand, and drive around the low tide.
RAISE A GLASS IN THE OUTBACK
BIRDSVILLE Hotel is dubbed Australia’s most iconic Outback pub, and the large sandstone walls decorated with Akubra hats have welcomed travellers around the world for more than 130 years.
Perched at the beginning – or end – of the Birdsville Track, this quaint pub is nestled in the corner of southwest Queensland, only 14km from the South Australian border.
Founded in 1884, having a cold one at the Birdsville Hotel is a must-do for Queenslanders enjoying a trek in the Simpson Desert, or as a stop along the way during an Aussie road trip.
The humble town is home to about 140 people, but the population can reach more than 6000 during the Birdsville Races held every September – their biggest event of the year.
Birdsville can reach well above 40C in summer, so having a cold one is doubly appealing for any Queenslander who visits this part of Australia.
Local Kerry Morton was enjoying a beer after a long day under Birdsville’s scorching sun, getting ready for the Australia Day long weekend.
COOL OFF IN CRYSTAL WATERS
SHE was born in Biloela, modelled in Milan and now the crystal-clear lakes of Fraser Island have called Elly-Grace Rinaldis home to Queensland.
The 20-year-old accompanies tour groups discovering for themselves the island known as K’gari to traditional owners the Butchulla.
While the whole island could be described as fascinating, Lake McKenzie is top of the list for Queensland must-do experiences.
It sits as a gem in the middle of the island, the precious freshwater suspended above the sand by a thin layer of organic matter.
For the Butchulla, Boorangoora – the “waters of wisdom” was a place for decision-making.
As the wind blew across the waters, it would carry messages from the spirits.
Today, tourists and locals swim in its water and cleanse their skin with the area’s super- fine sands.
“It’s different every time you come here,” Ms Rinaldis said.
“It gives you a really wonderful feeling when you get here.
“It’s one of the top experiences in Queensland and Australia.”
McKenzie is one of more than 40 freshwater lakes on the island but one of the biggest drawcards.
After a history that included logging and mining, the island is protected as a national park and on the World Heritage register.
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