Explore Australia

Burleigh Head National Park: take the 2.8 km Ocean View circuit to experience the coastal vegetation, rainforest and mangroves or go to Tumgun Lookout to watch for dolphins and humpback whales (seasonal); access from Goodwin Tce; 1300 130 372. David Fleay Wildlife Park: displays Queensland's native animals in a natural setting with the only display of Lumholtz's tree kangaroo and mahogany gliders in the world. The park also has crocodile feeding in summer and Aboriginal heritage programs; West Burleigh Rd. Paramount Adventure Centre: enjoy a rush of adrenaline and adventure at the Gold Coast's largest adventure centre. Choose from indoor rock climbing, kayaking, mountain-biking or take part in a learn-to-surf program; Hutchinson St.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary This 20 ha reserve is owned by the National Trust. There are free-ranging animals in open areas, the Crocodile Wetlands with raised walkways over pools of freshwater and saltwater crocodiles, a walk-through rainforest aviary and a miniature railway. A highlight is the twice—daily feeding of wild rainbow lorikeets. The 'Wildnight Tours' are interactive tours to see the nocturnal wildlife. 8 km SE.Springbrook National Park, Mt Cougal section This small section of the park contains a subtropical rainforest remnant and is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Mt Cougal's twin peaks and the Currumbin Valley are an interesting and diverse landscape. There is a scenic drive through the valley and a walking track through rainforest, past cascades, to the remains of an old bush sawmill. End of Currumbin Creek Rd; 27 km SW. Springbrook and Natural Bridge sections: see Nerang.Palm Beach: popular golden-sands beach that has won Queensland's Cleanest Beach Award in previous years; 4 km SE. Superbee Honeyworld: live displays, Walks with Bees tour, honey making and sales; opposite sanctuary; 8 km SE. Olson's Bird Gardens: large landscaped aviaries in subtropical setting with a lilly pilly hedge maze; Currumbin Creek Rd; 16 km SW. Greenmount and Coolangatta beaches: sheltered white-sand beaches with beautiful views of the coast; 13 km SE. Rainbow Bay: sheltered beach excellent for swimming. Walk along the coast to Snapper Rocks; 15 km SE. Snapper Rocks: top surf area with the 'Superbank', one of the world's longest point breaks; 15 km SE. Point Danger: named by Captain Cook as he sailed by. It offers excellent panoramic views over the ocean and coast. Catch a glimpse of dolphins from the Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse; 15 km SE. Tom Beaston Outlook (Razorback Lookout): excellent views; behind Tweed Heads; 16 km SE.

Clarrie Hall Dam - Fishing Sub-region 43 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 Wivenhoe 121 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 159 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 241 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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Coffs Harbour - Fishing Sub-region 247 km

My introduction to fishing north of Sydney was at Coffs Harbour, an area with a diverse range of options. The first time I fished here I was into land-based game and spent most of my time on the ledges of Mutton Bird... Find out more

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Tamborine Mountain Distillery 32 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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Diving and snorkelling around Byron Bay 63 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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Rock climbing around Brisbane 79 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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Cycling and mountain-biking around Brisbane 80 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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Westlander 81 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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Mount Coot-tha Forest 84 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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Cycling the Sunshine Coast and hinterland 159 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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Cycling around Armidale and Coffs Harbour 247 km

A 5-kilometre bicycle track leads from Harris Park in Armidale to the University of New England. Bikes can be hired from Armidale Bicycle Centre or the University’s Sports Union. The 26-kilometre-return ride from... Find out more

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The Glades Golf & Spa 9 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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Lakelands Golf Club 9 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 Grand Golf Club 17 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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The Links, Hope Island 26 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) 26 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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Brookwater Golf & Country Club 73 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 81 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 106 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 121 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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Pelican Waters Golf Club 143 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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Vecchia Roma

A local favourite, the Vecchia has been in the Consalvi family for 30 years, serving fine Italian food. Choose from a variety of specials and wonderful crispy-crust pizza, which are also available as takeaways. Be... Find out more

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Fish & Wine

Canberra’s loss is the Gold Coast’s gain, with owners Dean and Jo Sammut leaving their award-winning Artespresso to open a very special seafood bistro on the beach, and taking Shane Felton with them as head... Find out more

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Mondo Organics, West End 80 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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Burleigh Brewing Company 4 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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Mt Tamborine Brewery 31 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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Foster's Group (Yatala Brewery) 43 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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Stone and Wood Brewing 62 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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Castlemaine Perkins (Fourex) Brewery 82 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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Sunshine Coast Brewery 163 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 Beach Tourist Park

Set on a prime location directly opposite Burleigh Beach, this tourist park has 72 powered sites and 12 unpowered sites. Facilities include a modern amenities block, laundry, free wireless broadband access, and tour... Find out more

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Main Beach Tourist Park 13 km

<p>This large, busy tourist park - across the road from Main Beach and just two minutes' drive from Surfers Paradise - has 95 powered sites and an additional 24 ensuite powered sites. Facilities on-site include a... Find out more

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The Settlement camping area 21 km

Well-defined sites here are suitable for caravans and campervans, but the area is not well shaded. Hikers should note that walking tracks near this site lead to the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk. Each campsite has a... Find out more

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Sharp Park camping area 28 km

Only 30 min from the Gold Coast’s theme parks, this no-frills family site is conveniently nestled by the Coomera River, 4 km south of Canungra, which in turn is 27 km east of Beaudesert. Ideal for daytrips to Mt... Find out more

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Binna Burra Mountain campsite 29 km

A south-east Queensland gem, this mountain-top site has long been a favourite with campers for its stunning panoramic views of the Numinbah Valley. Activities at Binna Burra include guided bushwalks, abseiling, flying... Find out more

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Lamington National Park camping area (bush camping) 31 km

For experienced, self-sufficient campers with good navigational skills, there are a small number of camping sites in the bush along the walking trails in the national park. These are walk-in only, limited to around 6... Find out more

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Green Mountains Campground 35 km

Close to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Resort, this hillside campground in forest surrounds has designated campsites on terraces on the slope. It is suitable for camping beside your car, walk-in camping or... Find out more

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Mount Warning Holiday Park 35 km

Surround yourself with lush and up-tempo rainforest and mountain streams in this verdant mid-north-coast holiday park at the foot of Mt Warning. Accommodation options include deluxe, ensuite and budget cabins, and... Find out more

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Darlington Park camping area 42 km

Sensational for families, this well-shaded campsite has the added bonus of a cricket oval (with artificial turf cricket pitch) and kids playground on a glorious 12 ha site. The kiosk is handy for basic supplies,... Find out more

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Stinson Park camping area 46 km

In 1937 local legend Bernard O’Reilly led the Stinson air crash survivors to safety from this historic site. After being lost in the mountains for 10 days, O’Reilly found the wreckage in dense rainforest... Find out more

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Burleigh Beach Tourist Park

This is one of the older council parks on the Gold Coast but it has recently been upgraded with new amenities. It is very popular with holidaymakers as it is across the road from a patrolled beach and within walking... Find out more

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Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park 1 km

A favourite of ours, this park fronts onto the Tallebudgera Creek and is just a short walk to the beach. It is among the Gold Coast’s best parks, centrally located with good amenities and a wide range of... Find out more

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Ocean Beach Tourist Park 3 km

This is one of several good quality Gold Coast City Council parks. It is smaller than many and has very good facilities. Just across the road from the beach, the access from the Gold Coast Highway is also excellent. This... Find out more

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Kirra Beach Tourist Park 11 km

Easily accessed from the Gold Coast Highway, this is a spacious, good quality caravan park, popular with beach devotees, backpackers and international travellers. It is very close to some of the Gold Coast’s best... Find out more

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Pyramid Caravan Park 13 km

This is a well-maintained, good quality park on the southern end of the Gold Coast. It will suit those chasing the winter warmth and who do not wish to be right beside the beach. Bookings are required in peak periods and... Find out more

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Main Beach Tourist Park 13 km

This is a unique park set amid the famous Gold Coast high-rise buildings. Across the road is a patrolled beach, and the fashionable Tedder Avenue restaurant strip is a short stroll away. The park is neat and well... Find out more

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Boyds Bay Holiday Park 14 km

This is a large riverfront park, with easy access to the highway. It is well managed, council owned and conveniently located for exploring the Tweed coast and southern Gold Coast. Bookings are required in peak periods... Find out more

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BIG4 Tweed Billabong Holiday Park 14 km

This is a very good quality, award-winning holiday park boasting its own large and popular tidal billabong. It is a great place for the family as it offers a kids club during school holidays and many other appealing... Find out more

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Broadwater Tourist Park 15 km

Position is everything, and this spacious council-owned park fronts the Gold Coast’s Broadwater. It has very good facilities and outstanding views across the water to Marina Mirage and the Palazzo Versace. There... Find out more

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Fingal Holiday Park 16 km

The beach is right at your door in this quiet, out-of-the-way spot. The park has good basic facilities and is ideal for a family holiday or a few days at the beach. Bookings are required in peak periods and a... Find out more

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Hillhaven Holiday 
Apartments

In a great position on a cul de sac right beside the Burleigh headland, these one- and two-bedroom self-contained apartments are free of the traffic noise that can be an issue at this end of the coast. The apartments... Find out more

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Sands Mediterranean Resort

This resort is good value because of its location on The Esplanade overlooking the ocean. Although there is a road to cross to the beach opposite, it is very quiet and has pedestrian crossings. Cooking facilities are... Find out more

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Bella Mare Holiday 
Apartments

Close to Greenmount and Coolangatta beach, Rainbow Bay beach and an easy walk to Twin Towns Services Club, you can also hop on a bus from a stop nearby to the coast’s major tourist attractions from this low-rise... Find out more

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Gwinganna Lifestyle 
Retreat

A 15-minute drive from the beach at Burleigh, and a long way from your average resort, you need to set aside preconceptions about lifestyle boot camps here and let go of your laptop, your coffee and your wine. If... Find out more

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Sanctuary Beach Resort

Right on the beachfront, with no roads to cross, this is a good family place. It’s close to two surf clubs, cafes and shops, and the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. The self-contained apartments are either poolside,... Find out more

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Sanctuary Lake Apartments

On the shores of Currumbin Lake, next to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, this resort is only a short walk to beaches patrolled by Currumbin and Tugun Surf Life Saving clubs. The lake is not safe for children’s... Find out more

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Cottages on the Creek 16 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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The Mouses House, Springbrook 23 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 23 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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Emerald Valley Villa 58 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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Destiny Boonah 79 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 81 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 139 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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Sleepy Hollow Rest Area 38 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 45 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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Tyagarah Rest Area 57 km

38 km N of Ballina (L) northbound only Large area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S28 35.902 E153 32.663   ... Find out more

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Coolgardie Rest Area 94 km

89 km N of Tyndale (L) or 14 km S of Ballina (L) Large areas just off the highway on both sides. Limited shade. GPS: S28 56.104 E153 28.307 ... Find out more

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Woodburn Park Area 109 km

Middle of town Parking area on the highway beside the river. Good facilities. GPS: S29 04.297 E153 20.575 ... Find out more

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Tuckombil Road Rest Area 113 km

40 km S of Ballina (L) southbound only Large area just off the highway. GPS: S29 06.209 E153 20.400 ... Find out more

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New Italy Rest Area 119 km

56 km N of Tyndale (L) or 47 km S of Ballina (R) Large shady area adjacent to the highway near the museum and cafe. GPS: S29 09.205 E153 17.930... Find out more

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Tabbimoble Creek Rest Area 134 km

65 km S of Ballina (L) southbound only Small area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S29 16.940 E153 12.911... Find out more

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Coochin Creek Camp Area 140 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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