I’ll admit, I was hesitant about Brisbane. I couldn’t have been more wrong. They’ve spent millions revamping this city, and that was obvious the minute we hit the new waterfront. They’ve got riverside boardwalks, tons of cafes, a really nice urban beach and one of the nicest ways to do city tours- they actually get retired volunteer locals to show you around.
Brisbane was smaller than I expected, which was actually really good. It’s compact enough to allow you to explore the sights in just a few days. The South Bank was really vibrant, there was a riverside pool and the city is really clean. You can Segway around, bike along the waterfront or see the sights like the Story Bridge.
It was a one-night stop, so I didn’t have time to visit Chinatown or Fortitude Valley’s live music, but I’m sure I’ll be back.
The drive north to the Sunshine Coast was an easy 1hr 50 minutes and the views were lovely. Once you get out of Brisbane, it turns very green (almost alpine) and that made the drive incredibly picturesque.
Noosa Heads was just so relaxing. It reminded me of Home & Away- just so laid-back, right by the beach, proper small-town charm, with some pretty impressive houses too. I really loved Noosa Heads. Everything here fronts the beach, including the main Hastings Street, where there’s loads of little boutiques, breakfast spots and places to sit. It’s quite upmarket, but with everyone walking around in flip-flops, it doesn’t feel pretentious. Surfing here is pretty big, so we gave it a try and I’m still massively proud of myself for being a first-time surfer and managing to stay standing! Tucking into local food was something I’m more experienced in, and doing it overlooking the bay was brilliant.
Staying in a large resort was definitely indulgent, but I mainly liked the Sofitel Noosa for its Beach House Restaurant. We also did a lovely sunset cruise along the waterfront homes.
Next up, was a drive north to Rainbow Beach to transfer to Fraser Island- the largest sand island in the world. Fraser Island was just stunning. It’s got over 100 freshwater lakes, bumpy sand dunes and a real wilderness feel to the beaches. I spotted lizards, dingoes and Blue Whales. With a human population of just 194, it’s not like the wildlife has much in the way of interruption. The full island day tour was brilliant, as was the light aircraft option- the runway is actually on the beach here which was unique. We also got to swim in Lake McKenzie which was amazing!
I also want to take a moment to recommend the Kingfisher Bay Resort I stayed in. The sunsets here are stunning, and its modern design blends really well with its rainforest setting.
I flew to Cairns next to transfer over to Port Douglas. A lot of people feel they should stay in Cairns for The Great Barrier Reef, but Port Douglas is much nicer in my opinion. I stayed in the Peninsula Boutique Hotel. It’s family run, right by the beach and an easy 10-minute walk into town. Again, it’s really relaxing. The Four Mile Beach overlooks mountains, the main Macrossan Street has loads of busy restaurants and the Ballyhooley Steam Railway is here.
I then visited the Daintree Rainforest, which is the oldest rainforest in the world. You’ll see saltwater crocodiles popping their heads out the water here, plus loads of bird and plant species. Temperatures were hotter here, so the greenery was refreshing, as was the Mossman Gorge.
The absolute highlight of my trip though, was The Great Barrier Reef. After seeing it on TV, it was pretty much what I expected, but seeing it in the flesh was something else. I did the Quicksilver Tour, which offers scuba diving and an underwater experience. Definitely something I’ll never forget.
The snorkelling was amazing and I couldn’t stay out of the water! There’s clownfish and tropical varieties, and the waters are crystal clear. I then got to see a bird’s-eye view from the helicopter tour over the Pontoon.
Australia wasn’t actually on my bucket list, but I’m so grateful I got to go, as it completely changed my opinion of it. There’s so much culture, diversity and natural beauty there, so lots of possibilities for unique itineraries. For more inspiration take a look at our most popular Australian Multi Centre Holidays or contact us here at the office for advice. A number of the team have been, so between us we’ve explored most the country… a couple of the guys have even lived out there, so if you are considering Australia give us a call and let us help you find something suitable.
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This is not the first time we have used the services of eShores for our tailor made holiday, having dealt with the company for several years now. Once again, we are totally satisfied with the speed and efficiency of the whole process. It has re-inforced our view that eShores is a must first call for…
I have been booking my holidays with Mr. Chris Eaves from eShores for the last five or so years. I have found Chris to be knowledgeable patient and helpful his advice has proven to be very useful on more than one occasion. Aside from his professionalism he is a very personable and friendly individual and…
Helpful, Informative, incitful.
Excellent service Hannah is very helpful and knowledgeable thank you.
Hannah as before when we've used eshores has been excellent at meeting our requirements Highly recommend
eShores have helped us with our travel plans a few times now and they are always helpful, finding us good places to stay and good value deals on flights, transfers and accommodation. Highly recommended.
They listened to all of our asks and we got just what we wanted!
Chris was fantastic! We wanted to visit Andalusia, especially Seville and Granada, but wanted some more free time than other tours seem to provide. Chris listened to our requirements, including which airports to use, number of nights at each hotel, rail transfers etc. Within 2 hours, Chris had put together a great itinerary for us,…
Excellent advice with very prompt responses
I was fortunate enough to stumble across eShores whilst googling Island Hopping holidays in Greece. From the very first point of contact with Leanne I have been nothing but impressed with the responsiveness and friendly professionalism I have received. All information provided has been clear and concise and the entire booking process has been a…
EShores are such a joy to work with. They take on board all requests and requirements, coming up with excellent holiday proposals that they are happy to refine as required. Have always been delighted with the friendly professional service, and have always been delighted with the holidays we have purchased. Highly recommended.
Matt was very knowledgable and put together an itinerary really quickly, which was competitively priced! Impressed so far!
I have used Eshores’s quite a few times now and they always come deliver a great service. Hannah was brilliant throughout our last couple of holidays and ensured everything went smooth. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend!
I have recently booked a multi centre holiday with Nick at eShores. He was great, he advised me with a few different destinations and timescales for each stop, with different price options also. Nothing was set in stone and I’m now looking forward to a wonderful holiday in Croatia.
This is the 1st time I have used Eshore or even booked a holiday online. Emily was so helpful. Nothing was too much trouble. Everything I asked for was dealt with by Emily professionally and with care and consideration. I would definately use her again in the future if this type of holiday was required…
Trip to Baltic capitals in June, options well presented and discussed and organised for me. Looks spot on & I've used eShores last year too so I expect it will prove to be a good trip.
Claire was fantastic at eShores. She managed to tailor my holiday exactly to my requirements and was well below my budget. She managed to find me hotels with easy train/airport access in the different cities I will be staying at in France. This was very important to me. Wonderful service and I will definitely be…
I recently booked my holiday and I couldn’t be more pleased with how everything was handled from start to finish. The entire process was smooth, efficient, and completely stress-free. Every detail was clearly explained, and all my questions were answered promptly and professionally. What really stood out was the excellent communication throughout. I was kept…
Excellent service, Anna was a joy to work with, very pleasant and polite, she couldn't do enough to help me find the perfect holiday. Much appreciated, thank you Anna.
Nick made the process easy, taking into consideration any requests. No pressure and we’re looking forward to our 2027 adventure!
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