Page 244 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

242  QUEENSLAND

Southern Queensland Coastline

An hour’s drive either north or south of Brisbane, the 2 Tewantin D
southern Queensland coast is Australia’s most popular This well-known town is in
the heart of the Sunshine
beach playground. The famous Gold Coast extends 75 km Coast area, with spectacular
(45 miles) south of Brisbane and is a flashy strip of holiday sunsets and beautiful
apartments, luxury hotels, shopping malls, nightclubs, a beaches. It is also the ferry
casino and, above all, 42 km (25 miles) of golden sandy access point to Cooloola Maryborough
National Park.
beaches. To the north, the Sunshine Coast is more
restrained and elegant. Inland, the Great Dividing Range
provides a cool alternative to the hot coastal climate, with
flourishing arts and crafts communities, superb
bushwalking and wonderful panoramas.

5 Maroochydore Beach
 S  D 7 m
An ocean beach and the
Maroochy riverfront make
the main commercial centre of
the Sunshine Coast a popular
holiday destination, with good
hotels and restaurants.
6 Mooloolaba Wharf
 S  D 7
The wharf at Mooloolaba is a
Burleigh Heads Na popular tourist development.
Burleigh Heads National Park is a tiny park that preserves the dense tional Park is a tiny park that preserves the dense tional Park
Burleigh Heads Na
eucalypt forests that once covered the entire region. The nutritious Underwater World, said to
volcanic soil stemming from Mount Warning, 30 km (20 miles) be the largest oceanarium
southwest of the park, allows the rainforest to thrive. in the southern hemisphere,
contains crocodiles and
barramundi.
The Gold Coast has three
theme parks. Sea World has
dolphin, sea lion and penguin 7 Bulcock Beach,
Caloundra S  D 7 m
displays; Warner Bros. Movie The central location of sandy
World features stunts and tours Bulcock Beach means it is
of replica film sets; Dreamworld often crowded with tourists
fairground park has wildlife such and families. Nearby Golden
as Bengal tigers. There are also Beach and Shelly Beach are
two water parks: Wet ‘n’ Wild® also beautiful, but quieter.
and Whitewater World.
8 Moreton Bay
S  D 7 m
This is the access point
to some 370 offshore islands,
the most popular being
Moreton, Bribie and South
Stradbroke. Fishing, bird-
watching and boating are
the main activities.
w Coolangatta
Australia Zoo began as a small,  S  D 7 m
1.6-ha (4-acre) park known as On the Queensland–New South
Beerwah Reptile Park. Its founder, Wales border, Coolangatta has
the late Steve “the Croc Hunter” some of the best surfing waters
Irwin, became a household name. in the area, but relatively
Today the zoo is a 28-ha uncrowded beaches. Surfing
(70-acre) wildlife haven with tuition and boards for hire are
more than 1,000 animals. available here.
For additional map symbols see back flap