Time flies doesn’t it? 28th February marks the end of another beautiful Summer. This month we’re in Queensland and have a list of three of the most amazing places you can experience, simply by jumping in the car! Whether you have a hatchback or a 4wd, the below places are easily accessible and will make you appreciate Australia just that little bit more after seeing them.
First stop – Springbrook Mountain, Gold Coast
1hr 35mins south of Brisbane. 23 million years ago a volcano passionately erupted and formed this beautiful mountainous forest wilderness. Standing on this elevation means you can tell your mates you’ve stood on a volcano, albeit ancient and dormant but it’s still a volcano!! This place is not just a mountain, it has look outs and waterfalls and canyons. Bring the swimmers and your mini BBQ to cook up a decent feed. A few other cool things about Springbrook that many people don’t know about is the rare wildlife and plants you see, including the glow-in-the-dark worms and mushrooms… Look out!
Second stop – Noosaville, Sunshine Coast
1hr 40 mins north of Brisbane. One would think we could steer you straight to the Gold Coast if you went to Springbrook Mountain. However, if you were to choose just one of the three places we’ve listed, this would have to be pushing for first place. Noosaville is a dreamy little seaside village located on the foreshore, a 5 minute drive from Noosa Heads. A must visit is Hells Gates, it really is heavenly and this place is home to dolphins and turtles. Need I say more? In relation to food, Thomas Street and Gympie Terrace are littered with cafes and restaurants. Try and get to Red Emperor for amazing fish and chips, yep, I said amazing. In terms of activities the world really is your oyster up this way. You can get on the Noosa Ferry, hire a jet-ski, kayak or boat, or even organise some surfing lessons if you’re keen to go a step above intense, gnarley!
Third stop – Somerset Dam, Somerset
1hr 30 mins north-west of Brisbane. Boating camping fishing is BCF’n fun. This really is the case at Somerset Dam. Even if you don’t have a boat/kayak you can camp and fish. And if you don’t camp or fish you can swim! And if you don’t do any of that you can simply soak up the sun and enjoy the surrounding mountains in the family BBQ and picnic areas. This dam is one of Brisbane’s most important water catchments and stores over 900,000 megalitres. The dam wall itself is stunning at a length of over 300 metres long. Somerset Dam really is a hidden gem. If you’re in Brisbane it’s city living with country benefits when you visit out this way.
So there it is, February 28th is fast approaching. Mark the calendar and give yourself a little bit of cruise controlling adventure before Summer comes to an end. Drive and discover safely!
