BRISBANESun-soaked Brisbane still has traces of friendly,country hospitality underneath the cultural vibeof urban life yet offers a striking city centrecontained by the looping flow of the BrisbaneRiver, housing countless restaurants, theatresand cafés that spill happily onto the streets. Therolling hills that surround the city give a numberof viewpoints, while the region contains someof the country's finest tropical rainforest,reaching out to a string of glorious beacheswashed by the warm waters of the PacificOcean. This place of week-round 'sun-days'boasts great weather, exciting sporting events, athriving arts and cultural scene and casual, yetsophisticated dining.SUNSHINE COASTLess than two hours north from Brisbane youwill find the picture-perfect and aptly namedSunshine Coast. Tempting azure waters flankthe sweeping honey beaches and thrivingvillages are sheltered in emerald valleys. Acolourful selection of restaurants, galleries andmarkets provide distraction from the array ofheady outdoor choices centred, naturally, on anenviable collection of beaches; the surf-perfectrolling waters of Rainbow Beach and traditionalfavourites such as Noosa. Venture in to some ofthe best-preserved subtropical rainforest at MaryCaincross for some out-of-this-worldbushwalking, while a hike to the top of thevolcanic crags of the Glass House Mountainsrewards with a panoramic vista.Buderim White House,Sunshine CoastThis gracious manor house is inspired with just a hintof Victorian architecture refined by a smattering ofQueenslander flair - from the manicured gardens tothe warm interior with traditional timbers andantiques. Four sunny, spacious guestrooms, filledwith the aroma of freshly cut flowers, are beautifullyfurnished with king-size four poster beds. Thischarming property creates the perfect mood for aSunshine Coast escape.Queensland22Drenched in colour, tropicalQueensland daunted the early settlerswhose plants and cattle preferred thegentler climate further south.Queensland stretches from thetemperate south to the tropics and isunimaginably blessed with vaststretches of beaches, sheltered by theGreat Barrier Reef in the north androlling with surf in the south. On eitherside of this glorious coast are two greatwonders: the kaleidoscopic underwaterworld of the Great Barrier Reef and theancient rainforests that have carpetedthis land since time immemorial.Around the major cities of Brisbane andCairns, this is a region where you stillappreciate Australia's great scale andbeauty, but also the challenges faced bythe early settlers of carving a new lifeon a timeless land, as small towns aredotted in a vast landscape whereeverything - the plants, the animals,brightly-coloured birds, even the people- are just that little bit quirky andunexpected. Add in the remotepleasures of the sparsely inhabitedWhitsunday Islands and the immensepastures of inland Outback cattlestations and it's clear that Queenslandcan reward months of exploration.Buderim White House

LAMINGTON NATIONAL PARKThis UNESCO World Heritage National Park liesat the foot of the McPherson Ranges andstraddles some of Queensland's most impressivelandscapes. Take a bushwalk and you will see animplausible array of ferns and species of orchid.There is an abundance of colourful birdlife, fromthe noisy pitta to the glossy black cockatoosthat flit happily through the towering eucalyptuscanopy. A highlight is an amazing canopy walkthat meanders through the treetops. Make theclimb to the crow's nest and be rewarded with aview of the Green Mountains.O'Reilly's Guesthouse,Lamington National Park The O'Reilly family who own and run this guesthousecombine their passion and knowledge of theirsurroundings with friendly country hospitality.Environmentally friendly, this guesthouse commandsmagnificent views across mountains and valleyspunctuated by waterfalls. Guestrooms range fromthe elegantly simple garden view rooms, with redcedar shutters, to the spectacular suites overlookingthe rainforest. The family takes pride in its excellentnature discovery programme where bushwalks and4WD tours take you through vast rainforest, pastwaterfalls, outlandish ferns and orchid gardens.QUEENSLANDREGION |23FRASER ISLANDFraser Island is known to the Kabi Aborigines asGurri or K'gair, named after a beautiful womanso taken with the earth that she stayed behindafter creation. Possums, dingoes and wallabiesinhabit the island and you will find dugongsfeeding on sea grass, turtles nesting andhumpback whales using Platypus Bay as aplayground. The island is awash with colour;blinding white sands flank the milky turquoiseand inky blue-black lakes, the dense greencentre contrasting wonderfully. Don yourwalking boots and climb the dramatic sanddunes and take a dip in Eli Creek or amblealong Seventy-Five Mile Beach to the eerie ruinsof the 'Maheno' shipwreck. Regular barges sailto the island for those planning on exploring by4WD, or alternatively a fast ferry or a helicopterwill whisk you to the island if you wish to baseyourself at the resort.Kingfisher Bay Resort,Fraser Island Amidst sweeping tree-covered dunes, this resortteeters on the banks of the Great Sandy Strait. Itwould be a crime to miss any of the island's naturalquirks and intriguing history and this environmentalresort provides the chance to uncover the spectacle.An assortment of guestrooms offer something foreveryone; from rooms overlooking native bushland,to two and three bedroom villas with private decksoverlooking the lake. Guided tours on footaccompanied by a ranger, or by 4WD are on offer,to help you experience this island for yourself.O'Reillys Guesthouse, Lamington National ParkRegency bower birdFraser IslandFraser Island