Top Places to Spend Christmas in Queensland

Believe it or not, but thanks to Australia’s unique climate, around Christmas, the weather gets warm and balmy. That is when it is the ideal time to make a beeline for Queensland. The tropical atmosphere will be excellent to celebrate with the kids awaiting Santa’s gifts in stockings. As the food, fun, and fantastic time spent together makes for memories, there is something for everyone to be happy about. 

Starting, there is shopping for Christmas gifts in Cairns. Trees are lit with all sorts of colourful lights, and the stores will be open late at night to accommodate eager shoppers. The pavements in the streets are made with polished concrete Newcastle and are lit up with colourful lights so you can take walks late into the night. There is a carol singing event in Fogarty Park. A Christmas mime exists in the form of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” in Munro Martin Parklands’ theatre. On 25th December, that is the very day Christmas, and many choose to celebrate with plenty of good food. There is nothing wrong with that. Who doesn’t like to sink his or her teeth into some pulled pork, roast turkey, or butterfly prawns? Yet for the sensation seekers among us, there is always the attraction of boating tours of the Great Barrier Reef. Also, beachcombing is another activity many choose to enjoy instead of passive consumption. The wonders of Fraser Island will thrill your senses beyond your wildest expectations. Queensland is Australia’s Sunshine State, and if you haven’t experienced Fraser Island around Yuletide, you have not seen anything. Stay at the Kingfisher Bay Resort, and we promise it will be a time of your life which you won’t regret. Fraser Island is on the to-do-list of so many tourists who want to travel the world before their final day on earth. While this year, the atmosphere has been a little low-key thanks to the Coronavirus Pandemic, still things get pretty impressive around the Christmas season at Fraser Island. 

December is a time when the rates of lodging are slashed. This works in tandem with the off-peak season tourists who do venture in Queensland at this time of the year. Don’t forget to explore: 

  • Daintree Forest: This is one of the world’s most ancient rainforests, and it is the repository of many plants and animals. 
  • Kuranda Village: Then there is Kuranda Village which is situated in a hilly area. The Koala Gardens and Barron River are two features of Kuranda Village. Also, the aboriginal culture found here will amaze and amuse you.  
  • Brisbane: The city is the central hub of Queensland. The seasonal festivities are at their peak in Brisbane in December. There are fireworks in the sky on New Year’s Eve and also cruise tours of the waterways. 

Other places to try out include: 

  • Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park: The locals have a primitive culture which is a rarity in today’s world. Their culture is rich in symbolism and possesses certain rituals such as dancing, magical incantations and body tattoos. 
  • Undara Experience: This is a lodge that you will appreciate once you stay here for a night or two. It comprises huts, tents, camping facilities and a park with trailers in it. It is a railway carriage which now serves as a restaurant and hotel. 

Your Christmas will not be complete without a foray into the Gold Coast. You can play sports, bask in the sunshine or swim. Next comes holiday season in the Whitsundays. These are many small islands that have silver sand on their beaches and deep blue waters full of marine life forms. Go yachting here. It will be an experience you won’t regret. Besides this there are a few other places you can visit while you have the time: 

  • Bundaberg
  • South Queensland Country
  • Townsville
  • Mackay 

Don’t forget to send a postcard home from Queensland. It will make your near and dear ones wish they had spent their Christmas in Queensland as well.

Top Islands in Queensland

Queensland is a tropical paradise situated in Australia where tourists flock year-round for some fun in the sun and a beach within reach. The marine life, the seafood and the scuba diving that the islands of Queensland afford the tourist make for a memorable experience. There is no single island which is the best in Queensland. There are several islands worthy of being visited in Queensland, and they include the following ones: 

  • Hamilton Island: Among the Whitsundays, this island lies near the Great Barrier Reef. Koalas, kangaroos and kingfishers roam all over the place. You can also scale Passage Peak for a panoramic view of the rest of the Whitsundays surrounding Hamilton Island. 
  • Fitzroy Island: Close to Cairns, this island has everything you can dream of from hospitality to wildlife to opportunities for some stress relief. 
  • Fraser Island: This happens to be the largest island in the world. Possessing fantastic scenery, it is the ideal location to go angling or on a surfboard against the high tidal waves. Also, you can enjoy picnics with your family beneath the palm trees.
  • Moreton Island: Lying close to Brisbane, this is not an island but a jewel in the sea. It has a national park and a ton of activities for children. Take your four-wheel drive with you since there are only dirt trails and no macadamized roads on this island. It is indeed a pristine tropical haven for wildlife.  
  • Magnetic Island: A short distance from Townsville via large boat service, this island lives up to its name by being a tourist magnet. The indigenous people call it by the nickname of “Maggie”. You can relax and let go of all your tension and worry once you arrive on this island. Some guides will take you on a tour of the place. 
  • Heron Island: Located close to Gladstone, this island boasts a marine national park that is world-class. Many avian species exist on this island and so do amphibians such as turtles on the endangered species list. It happens to be the best place to go scuba diving. 
  • Stradbroke Island: The “in” site for families, there are many camping spots, and so many romantic couples come here for the beauty of Nature at its finest. The beaches have silver sand and fishing, and surfing remains the two most popular activities for tourists. 
  • Lizard Island: This island possesses an extraordinary high-class resort. It is just an airline trip away from Cairns and a few meters from Solar Panels Lake Macquarie. The lodging is reserved beforehand so book a room before it is too late and you are left high and dry. You can dip into the aquamarine waters for some exploration of marine life that lies beyond the beaches. 

So these were some of the best and most beautiful islands in Queensland. Book a ticket now and be one of the lucky ones to experience enchantment on the beaches of any one of these islands.

Best Australian Destinations for Christmas

Christmas comes but once in a year. So why not celebrate the festive season in the Land Down Under. Its big city life, tropical islands, unique wildlife, beautiful culture and genuine hospitality, is enough to lure any tourist. For someone who wants to spend their Christmas holidays in weather that is balmy instead of cold, nothing beats Australia. The Aussies are a friendly bunch who will welcome anyone visiting their country with open arms. 

It is the season to give and many times, and entire families travel by plane to Australia to enjoy Yuletide. Australia is chock-a-block with sites and spots which will make your Christmas worthwhile. Here are a few:  

  • Sydney: This city has bright lights and all sorts of colourful sights. The opera house in the bay area is world-famous and the musical events, night fireworks on New Year’s Eve, and carol singing make for an exciting experience. Visit the local fish market for some fresh seafood to cook and enjoy eating later on. The advice from the people at Decking Newcastle, is to not miss the chance of sunbathing while lying on the warm sands of Bondi Beach.  
  • Melbourne: A large-scale festival takes place here around Yuletide. Take your family for a tour of the city with its thousand and one attractions. The Melbourne Christmas Festival will be an ideal place for you to taste-test some of the myriad desserts available in sample form for travelers.  
  • Tasmania: Nature is preserved in its original state here in Tasmania. The beaches have white sands which will entice any tourist who wants some quiet. 
  • Northeastern Victoria: There are promontories here ranging from Mount Beauty to Mount Buffalo. Also, there is a ranch where the kids can interact with the domesticated animals and even feed them some food scraps. A winery exists where adult visitors can enjoy tasting some classic vintage bottles of liquor. 
  • Lake Mungo National Park: A genuinely mystical and magical place, this abode is replete with Aboriginal culture and traditions. The lake, which appears in the place’s epithet, is left today in its dehydrated state after drying out thousands of years ago. 
  • Lord Howe Island: There is a boatload (pun intended) of activities for kids and adults on this island. These include scuba diving, angling, following the bush trail, and riding bikes all over the terrain. The children can sit on Santa’s knee and get Christmas presents. Lunch may consist of succulent pieces of barbecued meat. Also, you could take leisurely walks through the jungles lined with thick foliage. There is even a golf course and cruise tour facility available. This island may be small in size, yet it makes up for this by offering a sense of unity among its inhabitants. There is friendliness and heart and soul in the air at Lord Howe Island. 
  • Esperance: This is a place that is a source of fun and games for the entire family. There are scenic beaches, exotic wildlife, and scads of other uniquely beautiful things to explore. You can camp for the night or choose to live in a cabin. Also, you get to do some birdwatching via a pair of binoculars. 

Best Time to Visit Queensland

Queensland is worth a trip or two to refresh your senses and experience nature in the raw. Yet one thing that you, the enthusiastic tourist, must be careful of is the right time and season to venture into this territory. The primary reason for this is that Queensland has a humid subtropical climate that can sometimes become a pain in the neck for cooler temperatures. So selecting the right time is key to enjoying your stay in Queensland. If you want to go during the summer months, remember that there will be heavy precipitation and a great deal of humidity. Also, there comes a time when the climate is relatively dry. This is the ideal time to go on vacation in this spot. It is between June and October. Both temperature and rainfall may vary in accordance with the region within this territory. 

In the far northern regions, the heat and humidity are a bit too much. Yet towards the south and east, it is relatively cool. One thing which is favourable to tourists is the fact that it is never cold in Queensland. Thus tourists may stroll along the beaches or swim in the waters of parts of Queensland without sweaters or jackets. 

We will break up the year-round climatology of Queensland for the average traveller:

  • Summer: This season is usually quite wet and humid and lasts from December to February. Besides rainfall, there may be many storms and cyclones, so it is good to remain at home during such a time. 
  • Autumn: A much-needed reprieve from the summer days is a time of relatively calm weather (even in Cairns). It lasts from March to May. While in the north it is still balmy, the cold breeze in the south allows tourists to enjoy their activities in the Great Outdoors. 
  • Winter: Now, this is the time when the climate hits the sweet spot. It is a calm and dewdrops settle on plants and flowers in the morning. It lasts from June to August, and the rainfall is sparse too. 
  • Spring: Here, the days of Autumn seem to return, so it is okay but not ideal for trips. As this season progresses, the days get more humid and hot, and the rainfalls come back. 

Therefore the right time to go would be between June and September. It may get a little congested. This is the peak holiday season, and the lodgings have their rates sky-high. It is also the best opportunity to view the whales diving and coming up for air in the waters along the beaches. The Great Barrier Reef is accessible, as well. From December to March it is not so favourable a season. The heat can get to you (alongside the mosquitoes), and there is a lot of discomfort due to the humidity. Even swimming in the seas and oceans may be hazardous due to stinging jellyfish and sharks. Finally, there is the third season which lasts between April to May and October to November. It is slightly hot but not to the extent of extreme discomfort. The beaches are vacant, and the lodgings have slashed their rates due to a scarcity of tourists. 

Whatever the case, the bottom line is that the average temperatures in Queensland vary throughout the year. So it is best to adjust your trip’s timing accordingly.

Best Holiday Places in North Queensland

Australia is a land of many wonders. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. You have to go to Aussie Land and take some photographs of the tourist spots to enjoy the process instead of vicariously reading about it in books. So, what are you waiting for? Book that ticket and explore Australia for all its worth. The one destination we would recommend is North Queensland. It is a tropical paradise and has a warm balmy climate. The following are some of its major attractions: 

  • Cairns: This outdoorsy place is a Nature enthusiast’s dream come true. There is dining in the open and also a Botanical Garden. Enjoy the delicious seafood with gusto. It lies close to the Great Barrier Reef, which is teeming with all sorts of marine life forms. 
  • Atherton Tablelands: A photographer’s heaven, this tropical lush green haven is the rainforests site and other examples of greenery. The wildlife is colourful and comes in myriad shapes and sizes. There is many a farmer’s market in the region which will fuel your nutrition plans. Also, the coffee in the area is globally recognized. 
  • Port Douglas: You will get a chance to swim in the pools and bodies of water to your heart’s content. There is a beach that is full of seashells. The nightlife is worth a gander, and for the foodies, there is no lack of something tasty to eat. Also, it is an excellent place to go on shopping sprees. 
  • Palm Cove: Many colonial buildings and plantations exist in this region. It is named after the palm trees which are present in a great state. Sufficient dining opportunities are tasty and memorable. The beach is the ideal place to go barefoot and when you are tired you can sleep on a hammock. 
  • Cape York: There are many hiking trails and dirt roads where you can take your four-wheel drive anytime you feel like it. Also, the nature reserves and parks are stunningly panoramic. A historical museum exists, and it holds artefacts and objects of interest from a bygone era. 
  • Torres Strait: This is a water world where everything is in its pristine state. The blue waters will entice you to venture into them whether by boat or personally with scuba diving equipment. There is lots of wildlife, and the aboriginal culture here is rich in its scope. 

Some other sources of amusement are listed below: 

  • Mission Beach
  • Normanton
  • Karumba
  • Cooktown
  • Cape Tribulation
  • Wallaman Falls
  • Kuranda
  • Mareeba
  • Boodjamula National Park
  • Croydon

The primary sources of fun in your holidays in North Queensland will be the sense of adventure and the rest & relaxation. In this magnet for tourists, it is not only the destination that counts but also the journey. The place is filled with spectacular magic, and the trip will be one where you will have countless memories to recount to the people back home. 

Another unique point to be considered is the waterways in the region where you can go swimming or dip into for the sheer heck of it. Some of these are given below. Explore them and refresh your body, mind and soul: 

  • Davies Creek Falls
  • Halls Falls
  • Stoney Creek Falls
  • Musgrave Trail
  • Josephine Falls
  • Cardwell Spa Pool

We will leave you with two other nooks and crannies worth going in North Queensland:

  • Cape Hillsborough: A place full of kangaroos and other forms of wildlife, you can walk along dirt trails and even climb a cliff or two if you are fit enough. 
  • Airlie Beach: There is so much to see here. Besides the beach, there are a waterfall and palm trees under which you can eat a locally-cooked lunch with your family