Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/725964
Much of Queensland is so modern and developed these days that it's easy to forget how wild it must have once been and how much human effort it must have taken to tame it. A great refresher is a visit to the trop- ical Daintree Rainforest, north of Mossman and Cairns. The best way to see it is via the Skyrail Rain- forest Cableway, spanning 7.5 kilometres. The Diamond View Gondolas have glass floors and the views aren't merely breathtaking, they might have you rethinking your place in the vastness of nature. THE NAUTICAL EXPERIENCE To go to Australia and not take in the Great Barrier Reef is like going to an ice-cream parlour and ordering coffee. You can do it, but it's just not right. It was a "bucket list" experience I didn't even know I wanted, but will never forget. Dip your face below the water (with your snorkelling gear on) and you'll discover a brave new land below the surface, with a seemingly endless variety of inhabi- tants—including a friendly giant, a fish that had survived a shark attack and now greets visitors to the reef with its large eyes darting around curiously. Quicksilver's Outer Reef Day Tour, though quite commercial, is efficiently run and offers activities like helmet diving (snorkelling is more fun and offers the same sights) and helicopter rides, which provide unforgettable (and unbeatable) views. For a more relaxed experience, Sailaway Reef & Island Tours out of Port Douglas operates a sunset sail, on which you can unwind as the tranquil waves smoothly carry you onward while hues of pink, grey and burnt orange sweep down as the sun sets. WHERE TO STAY Many hotels in Queensland offer a five-star luxurious experience at a fraction of what it would cost elsewhere, with a laid-back unpre- tentious feel that seems central to Australia's hospitality industry. Among my favourites, the Spicers Balfour Hotel has impec- cable and friendly service, the softest most comfortable bed that will keep you from having to count sheep, a slightly removed feel, yet central location, and a terrific restaurant. There's even a rooftop honour bar. A word of caution: Make sure to request a room farther away from the dining area, as many of the rooms awkwardly adjoin it. For a more fun vibe, QT Gold Coast offers breathtaking ocean- front views, fun touches like DIY lemonade in-room and self-serve iced tea in the lobby. It's also home to Bazaar, which serves an internationally inclined mosaic of scrumptious foods, and, inci- dentally, the most impressive breakfast spread of any hotel I've ever encountered. The Emporium Hotel is probably one of the more trendy and sleek-looking hotels I've experienced in Queensland, with its red- and-silver colour scheme, bold fabrics, Bose sound systems, Molton Brown toiletries and an extensive pillow menu . SIDEBAR TOP LEFT: Spicers Balfour Hotel in New Farm features 17 air-conditioned rooms, a rooftop terrace and well-appointed meeting rooms. Courtesy of Spicers Balfour Hotel SIDEBAR TOP RIGHT AND BOTTOM: QT Gold Coast complements breathtaking oceanfront accommodation with fun touches like DIY lemonade in-room and self-serve iced tea in the lobby. Courtesy of QT Gold Coast OPPOSITE TOP LEFT: At the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, not only can you see one of more than 130 koalas, you can even hug one. Katherine Brodsky OPPOSITE TOP RIGHT:The Gold Coast boasts some of the best and most consistent waves in Australia. Tourism and Events Queensland