Travel Australia

The purpose of this series of Guides is to introduce you the reader or new traveler as to what is available in the different parts of Australia and New Zealand and what types of Activities you might like to know about and where they are available.

The Guide is not intended to be the authority on traveling and visitor information for the whole of Australia. We recommend that you use the Tourist Information Centres around Australia for more specific aspects of the local regions.

 Guide 2 – The Central Coast

The Central Coast area of Australia extends from has been a destination of travelers from all over the world and from within Australia for many many years. has such a diverse range of things to do and see it’s no wonder it is such a popular destination.

Places to See and Activities offered – By Area

Harvey Bay

Hervey Bay is situated on the Fraser Coast, and is a popular point from which to visit nearby Fraser Island. Hervey Bay is also a great place to go whale watching, during the whales migration further north and south between July and November.

Hervey Bay is an attractive place, with its many beaches backed by pretty parkland and greenery. There are several picnic areas within the parkland, making it a great place for a picnic.

Other than joining one of the cruises, there are several other attractions around Hervey Bay. If you enjoy fishing then head to Urangan Pier which is a great spot for fishing. Hervey Bay also offers diving courses, which are a good idea if you are on your way to the Great Barrier Reef. Around the town are a number of animal museums and parks which you can visit including Hervey Bay Nature World, Neptune's Reef World, and Vic Hislop's Great White Shark Expo.

Fraser Island

The name Fraser Island came from Eliza Fraser, who was shipwrecked on the island along with her husband. By the Aborigines the island is known as K'gari meaning 'Paradise', which suitably matches the islands beauty. The Aborigines were forced off the island, when timber cutters started cutting down the trees. This has stopped since, and luckily beautiful forested areas still remain. You can find out about the islands forestry from the Central Station, near Wanggoolba Creek. Although deforestation took place on the Fraser Island, it is now listed as a World Heritage area.

The Northern half of the island is made up of the Great Sandy National Park, with several pretty lakes dotted around the park. More lakes continue on the southern half of the island, with a total of 24 freshwater lakes that cover the whole island. They are all different, featuring magnificent colours. A refreshing experience is to swim in one of the many lakes, which is very rewarding after walking to the lake.

Fraser Island is also a haven for wildlife, which you will see all over the island. There are over 200 different species of birds around Fraser Island, as well as a number of different other animals. Dingo's would be the most common animal found on Fraser Island, although you may also see Fying Foxes, Possums, Snakes, Turtles and Wallabies.

There are plenty of activities on the island from bushwalking, fishing, swimming (in the lakes as the sea is too dangerous) and exploring the island by 4WD. There are various 4WD tours which you can join, or if you'd prefer to travel independently then you can hire a 4WD (or bring your own) either on the island or before you get there. To hire a 4WD there are a number of local companies you can choose from.

Getting around the island is easy, grab yourself a map and start exploring. There are some fantastic walking trails around the island, which really allow you to experience the beauty of Fraser Islands natural environment. Many of the walking trails start near the end of another walking trail, making it easy to explore and get around the island. If your time is limited you can also drive to the start of individual walking trails, and follow these.

Gympie

Gympie is an old gold mining town situated along the Bruce Highway on the Fraser Coast. You can find out about the mining industry in Gympie at the Gympie and District Historical and Mining Museum.

Other attractions in Gympie include the interesting Woodworks Forestry and Timber Museum. Gympie also holds two great festivals. The Country Music Muster is held in August, while the Gold Rush Festival is held in October. Both of which are great fun.

Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast starts just north of Brisbane and continues north along the Queensland coast until the magnificent Cooloola National Park. There are some great places to visit along this section of coastline, and some splendid National Parks which you can enjoy. A couple of popular attractions include Australia Zoo, which is home of the famous Terri and Bindi Irwin as well as plenty of animals, and Underwater World, which hosts a wide range of underwater creatures.

Surfing is a popular activity here as the Great Barrier Reef no longer influences the ocean swells.

Brisbane

Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, is a cosmopolitan and lively city that is home to many different types of scenery, including skyscrapers, parkland and even an artificial beach. Brisbane is a river city, although close to the coast, with Brisbane River running through it. It is surrounded by hills and full of bridges. Brisbane also gives easy access to a number of attractions as well as the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

The Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is the small coastal area between Brisbane and the New South Wales border. The Gold Coast offers fabulous beaches stretching for around 35km, and is a very popular tourist spot hosting fabulous beaches, fantastic nightlife, great surf and a sub tropical climate with an average of 330 days of sunshine each year.

The Gold Coast is also home to the famous Surfers Paradise and a number of well known theme parks, as well as a wide range of adventure activities including bungee jumping, para-sailing, and water skiing. The Gold Coast also hosts the Gold Coast Indy 300 during October each year. A wide range of racing cars fill the streets of Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, with plenty of action and entertainment for the whole family.

If you'd prefer a quieter and more relaxing sport then visit one of the 36 Championship Golf Courses along the Gold Coast. There are also a number of art and craft markets held throughout the Gold Coast, with the Gold Coast Flea Markets and the popular Carrara Markets held every Saturday and Sunday.

The area north of here is where you will find all of the amusement and theme parks, including, Dreamworld, Movie World, Sea World and Wet 'n' Wild.

Dreamworld is a theme park offering fantastic rides and rollercoasters, and plenty of fun. Movie World is like Hollywood's Warner Brothers Film Studio, and is also known as 'Hollywood on the Gold Coast'. Sea World offers a number of rides, as well as animal performances. Wet 'n' Wild is a fun water park, with plenty of different slides to choose from.

Moving further South

Byron Bay

If you are looking for a great surfing spot along the east coast or just a pleasant beach to sit down and relax then Byron Bay could be the place for you. Byron Bays unique and colourful town attracts many visitors to the area, so be prepared for congestion especially in the summer months. But it is definitely worth visiting Byron.

Byron Bay has plenty of cafes and bars as well as some great music venues. And of course surf shops which sell surf products as well as hire boards and give surfing lessons. If you want a change of scenery then all you have to do is head inland towards the hinterland and nearby bush. There are a wide range of activities to keep you amused.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour offers practically any activity that you are looking for, both in the water, air and on dry land. The setting is attractive and the beaches are also good. The main beach is Park Beach, just north of the town, which starts off a row of decent beaches all along the coast. Jetty Beach is the closest to the town and is good for both swimming and surfing. However, if you want great surf then head to Diggers Beach, Headland Beach and Macauleys Beach.

Coffs Harbour also has several good diving spots in the area, particularly off of the Solitary Islands where there are a variety of unusual fish species. The Goolang and Nymboida Rivers are also popular, where white-water rafting is a speciality. There are also plenty of other tourist attraction companies in the area.

If you are looking for excitement but on a more relaxed scale then head to the gorgeous rainforest and gardens around Coffs Harbour. From the North Coast Botanic Gardens you can join the Coffs Creek Walk which takes you along the creek into the town centre. It is a very popular walk where you will see plenty of different species of plantlife. There are also numerous Aboriginal sites in the nearby rainforests which should be visited. From the towns breakwater you can get to Muttonbird Island, aptly named due to the growing number of Muttonbirds on the island. It is also a great place to spot whales from during the migration both north and south along the coast.

 The remaining areas of the east of Australia are covered in our otherTravel Guides.