Bordy

Any ideas of places for a relaxing beach holiday in Qld?

My Brother & his family are coming out in July next year, now not being short of a dollar or a million he is coming to Melbourne for a week then wants to take us up to QLD for some sun.
Ive not been past Sydney before so I'm looking for any recommendations. He has two young daughters so it can't be any of the adult only islands or anything.

Any thoughts?

Greg, Michele and Bella

You can't really go wrong with Noosa

bigjugs

If you head for Brisbane jump on the ferry to Moreton Island, its fab!
You can feed wild dolphins and there are sunken wrecks just of the coast with fabulas snorkeling to keep the kids happy(and you).

If you travel further north to townsville, Magnetic island is also paradise.
Plenty of secluded beaches many safe for swimming, you can hire a mini moke and explore.

Hope this has been some help.

Suni&Jay

Gold Coast?. They have some theme parks there. Try and stay near Tedders Ave on Main Beach, Some great restaurants, expensive but if he's paying who cares

TITSUP

Try Yepoon An unspoilt version of sunshine coast with great Kepple Island in easy access great 4x4 if you're into that sort of thing

MrsDagboy

Bordy, if its in July you will be able to go to FNQ safely as there wont be any stingers. The crocs are a different matter though . And coming from the UK & Melb, you guys will be happy to swim in the SE corner, even though most locals will look at you as if you are crazy .

Seriously, it depends on what you want - relaxing/busy/pretentious/laidback/simple/flashy?

Gold Coast is like Florida (say no more :scared: ), Noosa is pretentious Yuppiville, somewhere like Caloundra is more laidback but a bit suburban, if you go to FNQ, Cairns is lovely as is Port Douglas & there are heaps of things to do up that way that are more interesting than theme parks or you could try Hamilton Island or South Molle Island.

Personally I would choose Port Douglas or South Molle, but you might be looking for something completely different.

spalen

Hyatt have two resorts that are supposedly really good - we stayed at the one near noosa - it wasnt really good , in fact it so wasnt really good that they've given us a free week back again to see how much better they can be .... say no more.. (Staff were rubbish, service was crap -uniquely so compared to our experience thus far for australia).

The one on the gold coast near to sea world is meant to be much better.

Gold Coast at the main-beach resorts isnt so much like Florida as a sunny clacton or brighton. Noosa itself is really crowded but beach is nice. SeaWorld resort is a pile of pants and very dated.

Encouraging eh...

Hels

You could always look at Fraser Island? its gorgeous!!

Can get a bit touristy tho....

floweroscotland

Hi Bordy, it depends how relaxing you want it, if someone was paying for me I would be heading for the hamilton islands!!, why not try the Gold Coast, if you have kids its great as there is loads to keep them occupied, its nothing like Florida! if you want busy you can have busy if you want the quiet then you head down the coast or into the hinterland, it has something for everyone

Lisa

diddy

Port Douglas definitely. It's changed a bit apparently since I lived there (1996/7) but it's got fantastic beaches, the reef, rainforest and it's gonna be hotter than SE Qld at that time of year. Plus if someone else is paying then go that bit further.

Paul.

NickyC

Don't underestimate how cool it can be in July - particularly in the South Eastern corner. We even went to Hamilton Island once in July and it wasn't swimming weather - we needed jumpers on a couple of days and I only got into my swimmers once.

Definitely go as far north as possible if you want to guarantee a warm, beachy-type temperature. Cairns or Port Douglas, preferably.

brisnick

nobodiy has mentioned how cold it is in SEQ in july. i would definately head further north to the warmth, and i reckon port douglas/cairns for sure. if you want a bit more quiet, go to cape tribulation. i loved it there!

MrsDagboy

Well nobody apart from nicky in the post right above you .

Come on, the guy is coming from Scotland, he's going to think that the water in the SE corner is like a bath!

NickyC

Phew, thanks for that! I was seriously beginning to think I was invisible...

brisnick

lol. long delay between me writing the reply, and hitting submit. the post wasn't there when i started it!!!