We headed to our favourite sea-side holiday spot for Australia Day Long Weekend, Hervey Bay. Hervey Bay and Fraser Island are two gems in Queensland’s crown. You can take the scenic route by taking the Bruce Highway north, then onto Glass House Mountains Road via the Glass House Mountains. You’ll then pass Australia Zoo, home to a wide range of Australian and International Wildlife. Continue and close to Landsborough is Ewen Maddock Dam with walking trails and picnic spots, as well as the rustic villages of Maleny, Montville and Mapleton. You can either then take the inland route along the Bruce Highway or the coastal route via David Low Way.  The inland route takes you past Eumundi, famous for its Wednesday and Saturday markets as well as galleries, pubs and restaurants. The Sunshine Coast route takes you through Mooloolaba and a string of beaches, including Coolum Beach, Castaways Beach and Sunshine Beach. At Noosa, indulge in some fine dining or retail therapy. Then your options are the Cooroy-Noosa Rd out of Noosa, returning to the Bruce Highway just past Cooroy. In Gympie, check out the relics from the gold rush days, including the Valley Rattler steam train. After Gympie, if you’ve got time for a detour, there’s a road back to the coast at Rainbow Beach for the colourful sand cliffs, spectacular Wolf Rock for divers, while Tin Can Bay offers the chance to feed dolphins by hand off the boat ramp. Continue north via Cooloola Coast Rd to the grand old town of Maryborough, then to Hervey Bay. Whale watching is the name of the game here from August to October with sightings guaranteed.

 

If you’re looking for a gentle yet rewarding way to move your body and soak up nature, the Deception Bay Heritage Walk in Moreton Bay is a fantastic choice. This 3–4 km coastal walk along the bay blends history, nature, and fitness into one unforgettable experience. Whether you’re after a mindful stroll, a brisk walk, or a family adventure, this trail delivers fresh air, movement, and a connection to Queensland’s unique environment.

Today’s walk was from the seaside village just 25 minutes from home, Margate to Redcliffe’s jetty.

If you’re after a true taste of Brisbane it’s in the South! There are plenty of activities to get up to within the banks of South Brisbane. Okay so I am being Captain obvious here listing South Bank as a place to walk, yet I know many people who have visited South Bank but never gone beyond. South Bank though is a great starting or ending point for walks along the river. Brisbane’s RiverWalk covers more than 20 km of roads, bridges, parks, and paths along the River. As such, it is a great option if you want to tour the city on foot. The City of Brisbane provides a RiverWalk map that makes planning your personal trail easy. While the Riverwalk officially starts at the end of Boundary Street under the Story Bridge, the most popular place to access it is via the city.

One of our favourite walks is the foreshore walk between Wynnum and Manly. It’s about 4.5km one way with a smooth path suitable for strollers and scooters. There are plenty of playgrounds on the way along with picnic shelters.

We are blessed with amazing weather in Brisbane making the greater Brisbane area the perfect place to get out and about and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. A great way to discover what this beautiful city has to offer is to think like a tourist and get into discovery mode.

Maroochydore oh how we love thee. Maroochydore is the cultural capital of the Sunshine Coast where you can enjoy an ocean dip during the day and a cocktail at night with its funky cafes, multicultural cuisine and thriving live music scene. Maroochydore is, in many ways, the heart of the Sunshine Coast. A long walking track runs from Sunshine Plaza to Cotton Tree and through Alexandra Headland, right up to Mooloolaba, and is always pulsing with people stolling, jogging  and cycling along the waterfront. We took the 1 hour early morning drive to Maroochydore first stopping at Murrays Café, Sixth Avenue, for breakfast.

A definite bucket list item ticked off was to experience the unique sea walk between King Island and Wellington Point at low tide. Perched on the tip of a peninsula, Wellington Point has a bustling, friendly atmosphere where the water and seaside are enjoyed to the fullest by locals and the many people who visit this village on weekends. With plenty of grassy spots and tables, it's the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic and bask in the sunshine. Bordered by water on both sides, Wellington Point is, not surprisingly, known as a great spot for fishing, boating and various water sports.

Walking is the most basic form of exercise and it costs as little as a pair of good walking shoes. Brisbanites love to walk, and so will you, as you discover the city and suburbs. A long walk is a chance to move slowly through the suburbs, stop at the vistas, listen to bird chatter and appreciate the flowers' fragrance. Some Brisbane walking tracks that you must visit include Holman Street to Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Kangaroo Point City Walk, Art and the River public Art Trail, Brisbane River Run and New Farm to Tenerife.