Arcadia Australia

There are a stack of travel blogs, Buzzfeeds, websites and articles all bombarding tourists and study abroad students, with pretty pictures and overly descriptive phrases telling them they HAVE to see this place or that... So I decided I am going to compile a list of the"Top Things to Do & See" that I, as a true Queenslander have done/do often for fun.

Gold Coast

Surfers Paradise, Coolangatta, 4 theme parks – Sea World, Movie World, Dreamworld, Wet and Wild Water Park and Skyscrapers: Q1

These are what most tourists know about the Gold Coast (or GC as the locals say). They are fun and exciting, but in actual fact, a lot of locals avoid these areas and head straight to the quieter sections which are even better! Things like:

1. Currumbin Creek – Hire paddle boards/ kayaks/ bikes and cruise around
2. Burleigh Heads Point – Coastal hike and lookout
3. Tallebudgeera Creek – great for Stand up paddle boarding, snorkling and swimming
4. Picnic Rock – Green Mountains at Lamington National Park
5. Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area – a hidden wilderness in the middle of the gold coast, see kangaroos and koalas in the wild – not to mention the huge population of birdlife which uses this as a resting point on the great Southern migration
6. Tambourine Mountain – wine and cheese tastings, waterfalls and glow worms! What’s not to like?
7. Currumbin Valley Rock Pools – buses don’t go out here so get to know a local with a car!
8. Natural Arch Bridge – Gold Coast hinterland, a natural beauty
9. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary – with so many Aussie animals here, it’s the perfect place to get a selfie with a koala/kangaroo!
10. Snapper Rocks – great for a swim, but even better bike back to Kirra beach – the bikeways between these two are awesome and beach views the whole way! 

Brisbane

1. Mount Cootha Lookout – day or night this gives you the best top view of Brisbane – why not also check out the beautiful Mount Cootha Botanical Gardens while you’re there
2. Roma Street Parkland – need a “green” break from the business of the city – go have lunch with the ducks at these amazing parklands
3. Southbank Parklands – Food, markets, sandy beach and blue lagoon….with events on every weekend there’s always something happening here!
4. Wheel of Brisbane is also located at Southbank Parklands – for a fee you can even get a private cabin!
5. Qpac for Theatre, GOMA for Arts and the Queensland Museum are all a stone’s throw away from each other.
6. City Cat / Ferry – choose your speed and take a river cruise!
7. Rock climb / Abseil at Kangaroo Point – night time makes the cliffs cooler and the views are spectacular.
8. Queen Street Mall for shopping and eating.
9. Story Bridge Adventure Climb – so it’s not Sydney Harbour but it’s a great view of our City!
10. Live Music and clubs and pubs in the Valley – this is where it happens after dark in Brissy – and during the day it’s a great fashion mecca, there’s even markets on the weekend and China town for food. 

Sunshine Coast

1. Glass House Mountains – Hike the summit to Ngungun or Beerburrum or even get a group together and go abseiling or rock climbing!
2. Noosa National Park – plenty of hiking, never busy, always spectacular views!
3. Australia Zoo – Home of the crocodile hunter: Steve Irwin, a great place to meet a furry local
4. Maleny / Montville / Mapelton: the big 3 of the Sunnie Coast hinterland – something for everyone here. Maleny is still a quiet ‘local’ village, Montville is your shopping and food mecca for the “yuppies” and Mapelton has amazing falls and a great pub.
5. Dive the HMAS Brisbane off Moololabah
6. Eumundi Market – the best market in South East Queensland. Food, Fashion, Homewares, you name it…. It’s here
7. Hike Mount Coolum – great views of the entire Sunshine Coast!
8. Underwater World – a fabulous indoor aquarium filled with the local ocean–life – you can even dive with sharks here!
9. Surf / Swim at the point at Alexander Headland and afterwards check out the local eats at Mooloolaba
10. See the Coloured sands of Rainbow Beach – need more adventure? Sand–board the Carlos Sand blow!