What to Do in Queensland – According to Qantas Frequent Flyers
Warm weather year-round. Delicious food. And, of course, endless stretches of white-sand beaches. Qantas travellers share highlights from their recent trips to Queensland.
“I discovered a vibrant arts and culture scene in Surfers Paradise.” – Danielle Phyland, Bronze Frequent Flyer
“A friend’s book launch at Miami Marketta, a cool street-food market and bar in Surfers Paradise, was a good excuse for a mini-break from Melbourne.I booked a gorgeous Airbnb through Qantas Hotels within walking distance of Main Beach. The location meant I could dip my toes in the sea during daily morning walks. There were also great cafés nearby – Hyde Paradiso serves up beach views and eggs Benedict hash for breakfast – and a vibrant arts and culture scene at HOTA, the Home of the Arts. It’s a real community hub with 17 hectares of galleries, performance spaces, lakes and parkland to explore. I saw a sensational South Pacific dance performance then had a cocktail at The Exhibitionist Bar on the HOTA rooftop. The precinct’s Sunday market offers everything from locally distilled spirits to jewellery, produce from the hinterland and an excellent range of juices – one of which I sipped en route to the airport.”
Danielle flew Melbourne to Gold Coast.
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“Seeing a green sea turtle for the first time was a magical, mind-blowing experience.” – Justine Martin, Bronze Frequent Flyer
“I booked a holiday to Cairns for two reasons: I’ve always wanted to see a green sea turtle in its natural habitat and it was time to conquer my fear of putting my head underwater. I visited Cairns Aquarium for the Night at the Aquarium experience to learn about the Great Barrier Reef’s ecosystem before going on a full-day tour to Green Island, which included a snorkelling lesson. I was nervous during the 45-minute boat ride, but by the end of the day I was snorkelling by myself. The coral and fish were mesmerising – I saw Nemo-like clownfish, bright pink, lime green and orange parrotfish, and a giant trevally. When I encountered a green sea turtle, I screamed with joy underwater. It was a magical, mind-blowing experience. The island itself is stunning – it’s the only sand cay in the Great Barrier Reef that’s covered by rainforest. I spent most of my time snorkelling but I did get out long enough to enjoy an ice-cream on the sand.”
Justine flew Geelong to Cairns via Townsville.
“We did a kayaking and snorkelling tour of Moreton Island and saw school sharks as we swam around the shipwrecks.” – Mariah MacInnes, Silver Frequent Flyer
“We booked an Airbnb in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley through Qantas Hotels. It made an excellent base for exploring and eating. My partner and I loved the pulled pork toasties at Blue Bear Coffeehouse for brunch and prosciutto pizzas from Italia Lane for dinner. But our most memorable meal was fish and chips from Savige’s Seafood on Bribie Island. Bribie is a hidden gem, only 90 minutes drive from the city, it’s connected to the mainland by a bridge. Savige’s has its own trawler so the fish is super fresh. We ate on the beach while watching the waves – it was unbeatable. Moreton Island is another little paradise close to Brisbane. We did a kayaking and snorkelling tour and saw turtles and school sharks as we swam around the shipwrecks. For our next visit, we’ve decided to stay on Moreton Island and book Tangalooma Island Resort to watch the migrating whales.”
Mariah flew Melbourne to Brisbane.
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“Noosa was the best spot for a girls’ weekend filled with great food and fashion boutiques.” – Georgie Quigley, Silver Frequent Flyer
“I flew from Sydney to Noosa for a girls’ long weekend with my friends from high school. Even on short flights, I always look forward to the complimentary tea, coffee and snacks. It's just a little something but very much appreciated.
“We stayed in the villas at Peppers Noosa Resort, which was only a short 500-metre stroll to the hub of Noosa on Hastings Street. There was no need for a car as everything was within walking distance. We were close to all the fashion boutiques, like Bowery 475 and Palm Noosa, the beautiful Noosa Heads Main Beach, and all the great food spots.
“One of our top dining picks was pan-Asian restaurant Bang Bang, where we shared a delicious pad see ew and a spicy jalapeño-infused Miyagi Margi. The woodfired pizzas from Somedays were a treat: for something different, we tried the Arancio Atlas, which had guanciale, mozzarella, stracciatella, toasted pine nuts and fried sage on a pumpkin base. And, of course, we went to Massimo’s Gelateria for the best gelato in town – the cinnamon flavour is a showstopper.”
Georgie flew Qantas from Sydney to Maroochydore.
“There are so many lovely restaurants and bars to visit around South Bank and the Howard Smith Wharves.” – Sue Steel, Platinum Frequent Flyer
“I flew to Brisbane with a group of friends. We spent most of our time at South Bank, near the Brisbane River. The weather was a definite highlight; it’s such a nice warm temperature all year round. We stayed at the Sofitel Brisbane Central, where we had lovely croissants for breakfast and I spent every morning walking by the river.
“Dinner at Mr Percival’s at the Howard Smith Wharves was a standout with its good music, drinks and fantastic river views. We also enjoyed a Sunday lunch in Fortitude Valley at a rooftop Mexican restaurant and bar called Maya, where they wheel around a tequila trolley. Lula Loves Loco, their chocolate-flavoured cocktail was delicious – it’s a must-try.
“On both flights, the Qantas crew were very friendly and helpful.”
Sue flew Qantas from Sydney to Brisbane.
“We had the most unique experience river drifting down Mossman Gorge.” – Angela Liu, Gold Frequent Flyer
“My partner and I went to Cairns for a three-night getaway. He’s a Platinum Frequent Flyer and we were able to upgrade to Business using Qantas Points. The cabin crew on the flight were so friendly and went the extra mile to make us feel comfortable.
“We stayed at Silky Oaks Lodge right next to the Daintree Rainforest. Our room had a balcony with a stunning view, a relaxing hammock and a beautiful outdoor bathtub where I spent a lot of my time. When we weren’t relaxing in our room, we did the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk with a First Nations guide around Mossman Gorge, which was incredible. Another unique experience was river-drifting along the Mossman River where we learnt how to manoeuvre an inflatable board through the mangroves.
“The food was also spectacular. We dined on the tropical-inspired menu at Nautilus, a restaurant in Port Douglas covered by the rainforest canopy. But the real standout was the udon dish I had at The Hungry Wombat in Cairns. We got the Mentai Cream, which featured salty mentai fish roe mixed with a creamy carbonara-like sauce. I think their handmade udon might be better than some of the places I’ve tried in Japan.”
Angela flew Qantas from Sydney to Cairns.
