Laidley

Das Neumann Haus Restored and refurbished in 1930s style, this 1893 historic home is the oldest in the shire. It was built by a German immigrant, whose carpentry skills can be seen in the excellent detailing of the building's facade and interior. It houses a local-history museum and exhibits local art and craft; open 10am–3pm Mon–Sun; William St.Historical walk: self-guide walk to heritage sites; contact visitor centre for details.

Laidley Pioneer Village: original buildings from old township including blacksmith shop and slab hut; 1 km S. Narda Lagoon: flora and fauna sanctuary with picturesque suspension footbridge over lagoon; adjacent to pioneer village. Lake Dyer: beautiful spot for fishing, picnics and camping; 1 km W. Lake Clarendon: birdwatching area; 17 km NW. Laidley Valley Scenic Drive: attractive drive to the south of Laidley through Thornton.

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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Clarrie Hall Dam - Fishing Sub-region 127 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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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 148 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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Lake Boondooma 194 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 247 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 58 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 65 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 65 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 65 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 85 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 107 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 164 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 236 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 50 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 72 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 77 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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The Links, Hope Island 98 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) 99 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 100 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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Pacific Harbour Golf & Country Club 100 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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Lakelands Golf Club 107 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 108 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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Pelican Waters Golf Club 112 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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Mondo Organics, West End 63 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 63 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) 84 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 86 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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Burleigh Brewing Company 113 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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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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Stone and Wood Brewing 161 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 2 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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Centenary Park camping area 21 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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Atkinson Dam Waterfront Caravan Park 23 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 24 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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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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Lumley Hill camping area 35 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 39 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) 45 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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The Gorge camping reserve 45 km

Camp by the water at this campground on Reynolds Creek, a fantastic swimming spot near Lake Moogerah. It is 3 km south of Aratula on Gorge Rd, off Charlwood Rd from the Cunningham Hwy. You need to bring your own... Find out more

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Yarramalong Camping and Outdoor Recreation Centre 45 km

There’s no shortage of space for comfortable camping at this 65 ha property, with 2 campgrounds: The Main and The Island. Both have private fireplaces (bring your own wood) and shady trees. There are 8 hot showers... Find out more

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Toowoomba Motor Village Caravan Park 44 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 45 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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Lake Moogerah Caravan Park 48 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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Crows Nest Caravan Park 52 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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Newmarket Gardens Caravan Park 64 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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BIG4 Brisbane Northside Caravan Village 69 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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Brisbane Holiday Village 70 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 71 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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Rose City Caravan Park 71 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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Kahler’s Oasis Caravan Park 76 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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Branell Homestead B&B

This homestead on the outskirts of Laidley is part of a working cattle property. Guest rooms are luxuriously furnished with antiques and feature ensuites, large private verandahs and a roomy deck with views of the... Find out more

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Frog Hollow Barnstay

Stay in Geoff and Jill Williams’ cosy, converted barn on a small rural property in the Lockyer Valley. Accommodation is in one large room, sleeping a maximum of five, plus kitchenette and ensuite. Collect eggs for... Find out more

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Destiny Boonah 53 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 66 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 96 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 109 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 112 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 117 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 151 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 105 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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Sleepy Hollow Rest Area 141 km

61 km N of Ballina (L) northbound only Large area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S28 25.457 E153 31.220 ... Find out more

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Yelgun Rest Area 146 km

50 km N of Ballina (R) or 42 km S of Tweed Heads (L) Large area just off the highway. GPS: S28 29.489 E153 31.356   ... Find out more

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