5 top things to do in Queensland in flood

Across the world images and stories of Queenslander’s caught in a devastating crippling flood are inundating the news.

It is a time of severe hardship. The rippling effect of the floods are felt not only within a local community but regionally, state and nationally. People have been left homeless, crops destroyed, men and women without work. It has affected people’s personal lives and the verve of businesses. Business is what keeps the pulse beating. 

Queensland is a vibrant state. Growing and maturing gracefully, as the second largest state in Australia it plays a major role in agriculture, mining and industry in the international arena. However, one of Queensland’s greatest assets is tourism. Sunny beaches, wide sweeping bays, magenta sunsets, world heritage-listed national parks, fun and adventure (and the list goes on and on) beckon all ages, sexes and nationalities to Queensland’s shores.

So should the crisis affect tourism? Well, unfortunately it has. So we have had the thinking cap and here's our top 5 places to visit  – there’s heaps more of course!

1.       Mon Repos

It will simply take your breath away seeing an endangered loggerhead turtle hatchling break the sand and start its flap towards the sea – in fact it could be followed by up to 200 more siblings!

Mon Repos supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland and is the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific Ocean region.

And the time to see them is now! From November to March, visitors to Mon Repos can witness one of nature's most fascinating spectacles—the annual pilgrimage of sea turtles. Each year, adult turtles come ashore to lay eggs on Mon Repos beach. About eight weeks later young sea turtles emerge from their eggs and race to the sea. The best time to see turtles laying eggs is after dark from mid November to February.

This is one of the best natural experiences I have encountered and that is saying something! It should suit all ages in your family or group and understanding the successful breeding going on here is so critical for the survival of this endangered species.

Top tip: Hop on over to Fraser Island – with a little dampness in the air the tracks are as smooth as..............

Loggerhead hatching at 1.00am on Mon Repos
Image by Danielle Lancaster (c)

2.       Stanthorpe Wineries

While talk of rains and floods threaten the home purse strings with rising fresh food costs there’s one thing in great supply – fine wine! Wine makers in the Stanthorpe region have their barrels full and better still the roads are open.

Vineyards, antique shops and characters beckon less than a two hour drive from Brisbane’s city centre. Expect the pace to be a little bit laid back if you are one of the city folk. Here the fires are flickering and there’s time to stop and smell the roses. In fact, the City of Roses Warwick, with its stately sandstone buildings, which you’ll pass through on your drive from Brisbane to Stanthorpe, has just a few added treasures to explore. Our top tip here is take the short drive to Rudds Pub.

 Enjoy!

Image by Danielle Lancaster

3.       Sunshine Coast

Only one hour's drive north of Brisbane and 5 kilometres from the Sunshine Coast Airport, Novotel Twin Waters is one of the best all round resorts for every budget and close to so many of the Sunshine Coasts unique attractions such as Australia Zoo, Underwater World, Eumundi markets and heritage-listed Fraser Island - the largest sand island in the world.

At the Novotel there’s more than 101 free activities, a top golf course, superb day spa, exclusive to Novotel Twin Waters Resort is Australia's first two wheel All Terrain Segway Xperience and even a cirque espace (that’s a circus school) so something to keep everyone in the family more than satisfied and you haven’t left the gates yet!

At Underwater World
Image by Danielle Lancaster

4.       Scenic Rim National Parks

While the rain may have scared some away nature lovers are loving it. Why? Rain means wildlife. In Queensland’s oldest national park and the third oldest in the world visitors and locals are being serenaded each night by a symphony of frogs.

There are tad poles everywhere. Red-eyed green tree frog and Orange Eyed Tree Frogs are breeding profusely so is reportedly the endangered Great barred frogs.

Check out the beautiful red and green King Parrots, the pastel blue and yellow Pale Headed Rosellas and the red and purple Eastern Rosellas still abundant in many of the parks and gardens on the mountain.

A top tip for visitors is the Tamborine Mountain Botanic Garden.

Image by Danielle Lancaster

King Parrot
Image by Danielle Lancaster

5.        Townsville and Magnetic Island

The changing weather conditions mean simply one thing – the chance of stunning sunsets and one of Queensland’s top spots for this is Magnetic Island a mere 8kms from Townsville, one of Queensland’s top cosmopolitan tropical cities.

Top things to do in Townsville are Reef HQ, the National Education Centre for the Great Barrier Reef, the Strand a first-class water front precinct, Flinders and Palmer Streets for dining, and Castle Hill for the best view. On Magnetic Island, affectionately called Maggie by the locals, don’t miss the bush tucker breakfast with the ‘locals’ at Bungalow Bay Koala Village, horse riding on the beach or sightseeing by mini moke. Whatever you do don’t pass up seeing a sunset from Picnic Bay.

Breakfast with the 'locals' on Magnetic Island
Image by Danielle Lancaster

Riding along the beach
Image by Danielle Lancaster

For more visit: www.queenslandholidays.com.au