Byron Bay to Noosa, Australia Travel Information

From A-list celebrities to backpackers, the region from Byron to Noosa is attracting world attention as a holiday destination.

With an idyllic climate, pristine surf beaches, spectacular mountains and rainforest, the Northern Rivers through to the Sunshine Hinterland is jam-packed with natural beauty as well as a lively cultural and nightlife scene. In the following article, Unique Places to Stay gives a guide to the region's major attractions both natural and manmade.

Byron Bay and Hinterland

Link to accommodation, cottages & bed and breakfasts around Byron Bay

Australia's most easterly point, Byron Bay is famous for its laidback lifestyle, fabulous beaches and for what it doesn’t offer – no parking metres, no traffic lights and no McDonalds!

With more than 22 types of national cuisine represented in over 125 eating establishments, Byron is both a culinary and cultural melting pot. Alfresco Indian takeaway, beachside brasserie or upmarket fine dining restaurant, Byron has it all – and with attitude. The fresh, local seafood from The Raving Prawn is excellent while Dish Restaurant and Raw Bar offers a quirky, fine dining experience. LeSiroccco has a strong European influence in its menu with several specialties from southern France. At the budget end of town, head to the Oz Bakehouse for a $10 Mexican all-you-can-eat-deal.

To help burn off those excess holiday calories, there are plenty of outdoor pursuits. Byron boasts seven world-class surfing beaches and has a coastline that stretches for 37 kilometres. Queues to surf decent waves are unheard of up here with so much open beach. The same applies to bushwalking, there are six World Heritage listed National Parks including Nightcap, Border Ranges, Mount Warning and Lamington National Park. The four-kilometre rainforest walk to the summit of Mt. Warning – the core of an old volcano – is a must. This is the point where the sun’s first rays hit the Australian continent each morning.

Many make the pilgrimage to Byron and nearby Nimbin, to experiment with alternate lifestyle options and natural therapies – growing numbers choosing to stay on indefinitely. The colourful locals and fun-loving atmosphere of Byron is today as great a magnet as its natural beauty.

Gold Coast and Hinterland

Link to accommodation, cottages & bed and breakfasts around the Gold Coast

Head a little further north and you'll hit the 'glitter strip'otherwise known as the Gold Coast. The undeniable pull of not only its golden beaches but glitzy nightclubs, world-class theme parks and thriving cafe scene make this a popular year-round haunt for both the rich and famous, as well as families.

Despite its abundant attractions, staying in the heart of the Gold Coast is not for everyone. A short drive, but another world away, is the tranquil beauty of the Gold Coast Hinterland with its rainforests, mountain villages and burgeoning bed and breakfast and unique accommodation providers.

Much of the hinterland area is National Park, with famous walks, caves, gorges, and stunning vistas of Lamington National Park. You’re sure to encounter wildlife like pademelons (small wallaby-like creatures), pythons, and bowerbirds. A 24 kilometre track connects two of the most popular sections of the park, Binna Burra and Green Mountains, but there are also many shorter walks.

At Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Fleay Wildlife Park you can make some new friends with Australian wildlife like koalas, kangaroos, dingoes, cassowaries and even...crocodiles.

South East Queensland

Queensland Coastal -Link to accommodation, cottages & bed and breakfasts in Coastal Queensland

Offshore Islands -Link to accommodation, cottages & bed and breakfasts in the Queensland Offshore Islands

Whitsunday Islands -Link to accommodation, cottages & bed and breakfasts in the Whitsunday Islands of Queensland

Inland is the region known as South East Queensland that includes the cities of Toowoomba, in geographic terms Australia’s largest inland city, and Warwick.
Backing the Great Dividing Range, this part of the state enjoys four seasons and is worth visiting year round. In summer, the trees and vines are laden with ripening fruit and there are fields of brilliant sunflowers. Autumn brings the wine vintage and the excitement of the harvest. Winter offers clean crisp mountain air and is a great time to spend a few cosy nights by the fireside while spring heralds the first blossoms of peach and apple trees.

Famous for its agriculture, it has in recent years also developed a reputation for producing some excellent wines. At Stanthorpe, visit winemaker Angelo Puglisi of Ballandean Estate, recognised as the father of the Queensland wine industry, and learn how the state’s best wines are made. His wines have won gold medals and are exported to England.

Sunshine Coast and Hinterland

Link to accommodation, cottages & bed and breakfasts on the Sunshine Coast

North of Brisbane lies the aptly-named Sunshine Coast, best known for its virtually perfect weather and sensational surf. The unofficial capital of the region, stylish Noosa, is arguably Australia’s most elegant beach resort. The famous Hastings Street is a Mecca for visitors drawn to its aesthetically pleasing low-rise mix of cosmopolitan cafes, delis, designer shops, fabulous restaurants and alfresco dining. There are more than 200 eateries of all kinds within walking distance of each other.

Just as enticing are the heavenly stretches of white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and rolling, green mountains in the surrounding region. The monolithic Glass House Mountains with a dramatic series of 13 volcanic crags has magnificent views.
The Sunshine Coast Hinterland is home to potters, painters, artisans in glass, timber, stone and precious metals, antique shops and galleries featuring some of Australia’s best-known painters. It is known as the creative heart of the region – little wonder with so much inspiration to draw upon. The town of Montville alone has 10 galleries, while the charming mountain town of Maleny has over 50 local artists’ work throughout art houses and studios.

Before leaving, be sure to include a visit to the Eumundi Markets that draw thousands every Saturday and Wednesday, with their appealing mix of organic fruit and vegies, home-baked muffins and breads, flowers and colourful arts and crafts.