I’ve just returned from a trip to Queensland, and I can tell you that now is the perfect time to travel to this amazing part of Australia. In fact, there’s never a bad time to visit this gorgeous state, as it enjoys year-round sunshine and balmy temperatures. However, the exchange rate is very much in our favour, meaning that everything seems really cheap in comparison to the cost of living in the UK right now. Absolute luxury hotel rooms for £150 a night? Yes, please! Eating out, fine wines, great shopping at half the price you’d pay in London.
My focus was on sustainable travel, and I’m pleased to report that eco practices are very much in place everywhere and there’s huge awareness about preserving the planet and its wildlife. In Queensland, people love the great outdoors and enjoy it whenever they can. They want to keep their beautiful beaches, mountains and rainforests in peak condition and protect the wildlife that inhabits them.
So, what is there to see and do? Great stretches of beach, such as Noosa Beach, with beautiful sand, yes, but also mountains to hike and rain forests to visit, usually on marked walkways. You don’t just walk into the wild hinterland, as there’s wildlife out there and dangerous plants, but don’t worry, it is safe to visit as long as you follow the rules and stick to the paths.
A highlight for me was visiting the Australian Zoo, founded by the great conservationist Steve Irwin. Since his death, his wife and family have carried on the good work of protecting indigenous animals. It’s not a zoo as we know it and it’s amazing to get up close with the likes of kangaroos, possums, koalas and wombats, knowing they are being properly cared for.
The Gold Coast is where serious surfers head to and it is super cool, as you’d imagine. Lots of fancy high-rise apartments and hotels here. I visited the former Versace Hotel, now the Imperial Hotel and even saw the suite where Beyoncé stayed. Very glamorous and right now you can stay here for the same price you’d pay for a modest four-star hotel in the UK!
Brisbane itself is an amazing city, simply buzzing with excitement as it prepares to host the 2032 Olympic Games. New hotels are going up everywhere and the skyline is impressive, especially from the top of the Brisbane Bridge! The city is bursting with restaurants, bars and cafés and it has great shopping and museums. It is also very walkable. I loved it.
I definitely need to mention one particular hotel, the Crystalbrook Vincent, which stood out for me as a model eco-friendly hotel. They have thought of just about everything, from coat hangers made of recycled plastic bottles to recycling bins in the rooms, even calculating how their staff travel to and from work. Not only that, but it also sits right under the Brisbane Bridge, with stunning views, particularly at night when the bridge is lit up. The hotel walls are simply covered with beautiful art, so it’s almost like a cross between an art museum and a hotel. Spectacular!
So, Brisbane and its surrounding areas get a huge thumbs up from me. Please contact me if you’d like to know more.
by net effect