Gatton

Gatton & District Historical Society Museum: complex of 11 buildings depicting the social history of the region; open 1.30–4pm or by appt; Freemans Rd. Lake Apex: this park and complex include a historic village with preserved heritage buildings, memorabilia and Aboriginal carvings. Follow the walking tracks to see the diverse birdlife; Old Warrego Hwy.

Agricultural College: opened in 1897. Drive through the grounds that are now part of the University of Queensland; 5 km E. Helidon: town noted for its sandstone – used in many Brisbane buildings – and spa water; 16 km W. Glen Rock Regional Park: at the head of East Haldon Valley, this park boasts rainforest gorges, creeks and excellent valley views; 40 km S. Tourist drive: 82 km circuit through surrounding countryside that includes farm visits; contact visitor centre for details.

Lake Wivenhoe 39 km

Impoundment fishing for native species in southern Queensland has enjoyed phenomenal growth and it all began at Lake Wivenhoe. Situated about 80 km west of Brisbane on the Brisbane Valley Highway, Wivenhoe has a surface... Find out more

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Mooloolaba 128 km

It’s 6am on the Mooloolaba waterfront behind Kawana Waters Hotel. The temperature is mild enough to be wearing shorts and a shirt. All is quiet amid the moored boats except for the eager anglers sitting around the... Find out more

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Bjelke Petersen Dam 138 km

Lake Barambah is a 22 sq km water about 15 km south-east of Murgon. It is regarded as one of the state’s best waters for big bass, but also has yellowbelly, silver perch and saratoga. It is relatively shallow for a... Find out more

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Clarrie Hall Dam - Fishing Sub-region 141 km

Angling is a buzz when you are into a hot bite. It is also a buzz when discovering new territory or out hooking with other anglers, observing their methods and techniques on their home waters. So it was when I fished... Find out more

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Lake Boondooma 181 km

Situated on the Boyne River to the west of Bjelke Petersen Dam, this lake is about 15 km from Proston. Since its construction in 1983, a variety of species have been stocked here. Australian bass, silver perch and... Find out more

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Lake Lenthall 240 km

Anyone who has read about the barramundi boom in Queensland’s impoundments will know about lakes like Awoonga, Faust and Callide. But there are many, less- known waters that also offer excellent fishing, and one of... Find out more

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Mount Coot-tha Forest 68 km

The largest natural area in Brisbane, this 1500 hectares of open eucalypt forest holds more than 18 kilometres of walking tracks, 12 kilometres of mountain-biking tracks and a further 31 kilometres of multi-use tracks.... Find out more

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Westlander 75 km

Take the overnight train ride from Brisbane to Charleville or Quilpie, travelling over the Great Dividing Range and through some of Queensland’s rich farming areas.... Find out more

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Cycling and mountain-biking around Brisbane 75 km

Brisbane has a growing network of great cycling trails and some excellent rides for tourists – a five-to-20-kilometre ride along the shores of the Brisbane River comes highly recommended. There is also a great ride... Find out more

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Rock climbing around Brisbane 75 km

Brisbane’s Kangaroo Point is perhaps the friendliest city rock-climbing spot in the country, with views over the Brisbane River, a range of climbs for absolute beginners and upwards, and established anchor points... Find out more

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Tamborine Mountain Distillery 98 km

There is a multitude of chemical-free schnapps, gins and vodkas to try here, many of which come from the fruits grown on the farm. Try lemon myrtle vodka, the multifaceted choc’n’chili liqueur, forest... Find out more

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Cycling the Sunshine Coast and hinterland 105 km

Join a half-day or longer guided bike tour with Bicycle Tours of Queensland, particularly the popular Sunshine Coast ride or Maleny to Glass House Mountains. A back-up bus is included if it all gets too much.... Find out more

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Diving and snorkelling around Byron Bay 178 km

Although there is not much in the way of shore dives or snorkelling around Byron Bay, the nearby Julian Rocks Marine Reserve is a top spot if you can get on a boat, with sea turtles, eagle rays, corals, grey nurse and... Find out more

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Hiking on Fraser Island 232 km

Fraser Island, with its 1653 square kilometres encompassing 200-metre-high sand dunes, 80 beautiful lakes and pockets of rainforest, is a delight for those prepared to put on a pack. Hikers can camp beside some of the... Find out more

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Brookwater Golf & Country Club 62 km

Brookwater opened to considerable fanfare in 2002, with many observers quick to draw comparisons with Augusta National, venerable home of the US Masters. The varied terrain, inventive bunkering and undulating putting... Find out more

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Royal Queensland Golf Club 82 km

Of all the golf courses in this book, Royal Queensland has undergone the most dramatic changes in recent years. Originally opened in 1920, on reclaimed mangrove swampland on the north bank of the Brisbane River, ... Find out more

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North Lakes Resort Golf Club 82 km

Good course designers have tricks up their sleeves when it comes to spurring golfers to rise to the challenge. They can visually intimidate you with large schemes of bunkers or water hazards encroaching on the best... Find out more

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Pacific Harbour Golf & Country Club 104 km

Challenging the best players without alienating casual and beginner golfers is the fine line every course designer treads in coming up with a new creation. One designer who does it better than most is Ross Watson. His... Find out more

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The Links, Hope Island 111 km

When Hope Island opened for play in 1993 it was a unique addition to Australia’s golfing landscape. Here was a links-style layout seemingly uprooted from Scotland and transplanted on to the sunny northern... Find out more

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Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club (Pines course) 113 km

Sanctuary Cove’s Pines layout, designed by Arnold Palmer, has reigned for more than two decades as one of the Gold Coast’s best courses. At various stages during that time it has also ranked among the... Find out more

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The Grand Golf Club 114 km

Think of the Gold Coast and flashing images spring to mind: beaches, theme parks, high-rise apartments, hordes of tourists. The Gold Coast hinterland has none of these, and could be thousands of miles away. The... Find out more

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Pelican Waters Golf Club 114 km

It took 54 years for his dream to be realised, but when Pelican Waters Golf Club finally opened for play in 2000, not even the visionary behind the original idea could have imagined it would turn out as good as it... Find out more

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Lakelands Golf Club 121 km

As a player, Jack Nicklaus was a regular visitor to Australia for more than two decades. He won six Australian Opens and inspired a generation of young Australians to take up golf. When his playing career began... Find out more

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The Glades Golf & Spa 122 km

Ask Greg Norman’s former chief designer Bob Harrison to name one course that makes him feel proud when he sees the final result, and chances are he’ll say The Glades. Upon joining the Gold Coast golfing... Find out more

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Mondo Organics, West End 73 km

Australia’s first organic restaurant when it opened in 2000, Mondo Organics serves a range of organic meats, including beef, chicken, duck and lamb, and the fish is chosen for the sustainability of the catch. The... Find out more

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Castlemaine Perkins (Fourex) Brewery 73 km

The pages of Australian brewing history are littered with take-overs and acquisitions, and while Castlemaine Perkins sounds like a merger, it was, in reality, yet another buy-out. As the name suggests, the Castlemaine... Find out more

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Foster's Group (Yatala Brewery) 97 km

This brewery site, located at Yatala, midway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, was established by the Power Brewing Company, which launched Powers Bitter in 1988. Four years later a joint venture between Powers and... Find out more

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Mt Tamborine Brewery 100 km

As we went to press, one of Queensland’s more ambitious craft-brewing operations was about to come to fruition at Mount Tamborine, in the Gold Coast hinterland. The 24-hectolitre microbrewery is the original plant... Find out more

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Sunshine Coast Brewery 124 km

Queensland’s longest-running microbrewery has been operating from an industrial estate on the outskirts of Maroochydore since 1998. It was established by Jim Robinson and Queensland craft-beer pioneer Graham Howard... Find out more

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Burleigh Brewing Company 127 km

Queensland has generally suffered from a dearth of craft breweries so the Burleigh Brewing Company is a welcome and relatively recent addition. Co-owner/brewer Brennan Fielding boasts considerable experience as a... Find out more

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Stone and Wood Brewing 175 km

The popular coastal holiday destination of Byron Bay is the location for one of the country’s newest and most exciting craft breweries – Stone & Wood. The partners behind the venture include a trio of... Find out more

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Lake Dyer (Bill Gunn Dam) camping and caravan ground 13 km

The caretakers at Lake Dyer recently renovated the toilet block, installed new gas barbecues, a washing machine and built a new playground. There are 16 powered sites at the campground; visitors can enjoy the scenery... Find out more

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Atkinson Dam Waterfront Caravan Park 22 km

Anglers will like this freshwater sport-fishing hotspot, and holiday-makers will enjoy the kitchen, kiosk, cabins and other park facilities. An officially sanctioned local group has plans to stock the water with saratoga... Find out more

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Atkinson Dam cabin village and shoreline camping 23 km

Watersports enthusiasts can enjoy access to the shoreline of Atkinson Dam at this site, 8 km south-west of Coominya. There’s a general store for supplies, fuel and gas bottle refills, plus laundry facilities. Look... Find out more

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Centenary Park camping area 30 km

An electric barbecue is the new addition to this campground featuring 8 powered sites. Visitors can throw a line in at nearby Lake Dyer or enjoy the walking trails. To get here, follow the signpost on Mulgowie Rd in... Find out more

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Lake Cressbrook camping area 34 km

With excellent fishing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing on offer, it’s a watersports wonderland at Lake Cressbrook. For walkers, a 5 km circuit starts at the camping ground and loops around the lake... Find out more

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Captain Logan Camp 35 km

With as much water as 2.5 Sydney Harbours, Wivenhoe Dam is a major water storage reserve for south-east Queensland and a hub for watersports enthusiasts. With 57 unpowered sites, Captain Logan Camp suits both tent and... Find out more

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Crows Nest camping area 36 km

The eucalypt forests of Crows Nest provide a beautiful setting for wildlife watching, hiking and bush camping. You can look for platypus in the creek, spot brush-tailed rock wallabies, or take a walk across the gorge... Find out more

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Lumley Hill camping area 36 km

Just a short distance from Captain Logan Camp, Lumley Hill has powered sites. The campground is on Hay Rd, signposted off the Brisbane Valley Hwy. Wivenhoe Dam is a major water storage reserve with canoeing,... Find out more

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Poplar Flat and Manna Gum camping areas 47 km

On the banks of Dalrymple Creek, these large grassy campsites are big enough for 100 and 150 campers respectively. The eastern end of Manna Gum has walking tracks that lead to the lookouts. You’ll need to bring... Find out more

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D'Aguilar National Park camping areas (bush camping) 50 km

There are 10 areas for bush camping scattered throughout the national park suitable for self-sufficient campers, plus a more formal camping area in the Mt Mee section. A network of trails provides access between the... Find out more

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Toowoomba Motor Village Caravan Park 33 km

Located on the southern approach to Toowoomba, this is an older establishment but has good facilities and amenities and is an ideal base for exploring the local area.... Find out more

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BIG4 Toowoomba Garden City Holiday Park 34 km

Colourful, manicured gardens greet you at the entrance of this high-quality park in a quiet spot, about 3 km from the city. The park has great amenities and is a good base for exploring this wonderful city and... Find out more

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Crows Nest Caravan Park 39 km

Only 1 km south of Crows Nest on the New England Highway, the park has a popular licensed restaurant and offers easy access for vans and larger motorhomes. It is good value for money.... Find out more

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Lake Moogerah Caravan Park 60 km

In a picturesque setting on the shores of Lake Moogerah, nestled among the rugged peaks of the Scenic Rim, the park is 9 km south of Aratula along a sealed road. The lake is a popular destination for waterskiers.... Find out more

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Newmarket Gardens Caravan Park 73 km

The closest caravan park to Brisbane’s city centre, this older park has good basic facilities. With the city less than 4 km away, it is particularly popular with campers and backpackers.... Find out more

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Rose City Caravan Park 74 km

Located on the northern outskirts of town, this is a smaller, good quality, dog-friendly park. It is ideally located for an overnight stay but would be very comfortable for a longer period.... Find out more

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BIG4 Brisbane Northside Caravan Village 77 km

A good quality park close to the northern approach to Brisbane, this park is ideal for those wanting good access to the city’s northern suburbs. Minimum-booking periods apply.... Find out more

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Kahler’s Oasis Caravan Park 78 km

Located on the south side of town, this is a spacious park with good amenities best suited to the touring caravans and motorhomes passing through the area.... Find out more

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Brisbane Holiday Village 81 km

Easily accessed from the Pacific Highway (Mt Gravatt exit), this large, quality park is on the south side of the city. Facilities include minigolf, a tennis court, convenience store, cafe and lovely grassy sites. For the... Find out more

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Gateway Village Resort 82 km

This is a good quality park with easy access to all the major highways, including the Pacific Motorway, and is 16 km from the city centre. The good facilities include a resortstyle pool and tennis court. Bookings are... Find out more

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Destiny Boonah 66 km

Set on 80 hectares of Land for Wildlife property, this self-contained three-bedroom cottage is solar- and wind-powered. You are encouraged to bring a mountain bike or go bushwalking on the property, which is located near... Find out more

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Brisbane Marriott Hotel 75 km

By no means the greenest accommodation in this book, the Marriott still deserves inclusion as one of the better options in large hotels. It gained the Green Globe Benchmarked Bronze status and is AAA-rated for its water-... Find out more

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Glass House Mountains Eco-Lodge 97 km

The simple, down-market rooms here include the use of old train carriages for a communal kitchen and group area. An old church has also been recycled, and all greywater and blackwater is used on site to irrigate the... Find out more

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The Mouses House, Springbrook 123 km

Set in a beautiful rainforest at more than 800 metres above sea level, this luxury resort has 11 self-contained chalets, hot tub, sauna, tennis court and bikes, a sensible environmental policy and eco-accreditation. It... Find out more

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Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat 127 km

Located near Murwillumbah and surrounded on three sides by World Heritage–listed national parks, this secluded couples-only resort on the Queensland border has minimal-impact, self-contained bungalows and cabins.... Find out more

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Cottages on the Creek 131 km

This 2-hectare establishment is managed as a Land for Wildlife property and the two, onebedroom spa cottages have composting toilets, protecting Currumbin Creek with its turtles, catfish, platypus and yabbies.... Find out more

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Emerald Valley Villa 165 km

Nestled in the hinterland some 25 minutes drive from Byron Bay, this is way up the high end of ecotourism in this country. You can rent your own five-star palace (they call it a villa), complete with pool, courtyard,... Find out more

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Coochin Creek Camp Area 107 km

T/O 73 km N of Brisbane (R) or 95 km S of Gympie (L) Coochin Creek campground is located 5 kilometres east of the highway (via Bells Creek Road and Roys Road) in a pleasant forest setting in Beerburrum State Forest.... Find out more

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Landsborough Park Area 115 km

83 km N of Brisbane (L) or 85 km S of Gympie (R) Small area located 500 metres off the highway via Landsborough exit. Good shade. GPS: S26 46.409 E153 02.252... Find out more

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