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The ATDW website has had a makeover.
But our commitment to Australian tourism is as strong as ever.
The ATDW website has had a makeover.
But our commitment to Australian tourism is as strong as ever.
Point your bonnet in the direction of the Hibiscus Coast! Put exactly 20 sugarcane-filled kilometres between Mackay and The Leap, your first stop on this Hibiscus Coast road trip. The Leap has a significant history and the best place to hear it is the The Leap Hotel. Inside, they pay homage to the local woman, who gave The Leap its name after making the ultimate sacrifice off Mt Mandarana Cliff in 1867 (or so the legend goes). Wash lunch down with a stop at Leap Lychees, a roadside fruit and sorbet stand with refreshing flavours like mango, lychee and passionfruit. If you're not in a rush, check out what's on offer at That Sapphire Place. Before leaving The Leap, stock up on healthy snacks and farm gate produce at The Organic and Natural Store, especially if you plan to 'do it yourself' in the kitchen at Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park tonight.
If there were a race to get to the sunrise experience, Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park would be considered the pole position to explore Casuarina Beach in the morning. Their two-bedroom cabins offer every type of sleeping configuration under the sun with a queen bed, single beds and trundles all an option. Self-catering tonight allows more time to watch the sunset from Hideaway Bay, where the birdlife – like orange-footed scrubfowl, brush turkeys, kookaburras and colourful parrots – provide the soundtrack to this big nature experience.
Join Cape Hillsborough's most famous faces on the beach this morning to watch the sunrise over golden sands, as the wallabies fossick for seaweed and seed pods on Casuarina Beach. Not only is the experience completely family-friendly, it’s one of the only places in Australia where macropods are found on the beach and, good news for photographers, they silhouette perfectly against the rising sun. Don't let the nature experiences stop here, though. Make tracks through one of the many short walks in Cape Hillsborough National Park, which range from 1.2 kilometre to 5.2 kilometre return journeys, most with an easy to moderate grading. The Diversity Boardwalk is pram friendly for the first 300 metres, and offers a comfortable walk, even for little legs. After spotting middens and flora and fauna that was here long before Captain Cook laid eyes on Cape Hillsborough, enjoy morning tea at what was the Old Marian Train Station, which has been transformed into a tea house and gardens. The Old Station Teahouse is the perfect setting for kids to roll down the lush lawns and burn off energy, while mum and dad enjoy a cup of coffee in the surrounds of the lush tropical gardens.
Head north to discover the quaint seaside villages that line The Hibiscus Coast. Most locals know this as a fishing paradise, with plenty of quiet boat ramps from which to launch. Net-free fishing zones make this one of the easiest places to hook a catch like bream, whiting, grunter and barramundi (in season) - and provide perfect conditions for children who are learning how to fish. For families, secluded beaches at Ball Bay and Seaforth promise ideal sandcastle building territory. You can add further bragging rights to your day by setting up a picnic in the core of the ancient volcano at Pinnacle Rock, before settling into your accommodation of choice. Alternatively, pitch a tent at the campground at Smalleys Beach, where an adventure playground awaits. For an encore performance of the ‘roos and agile wallabies at Casuarina Beach, it's recommended to stay at Cape Hillsborough Tourist Park for another evening. For those wanting to move on, swap rugged mountains for sub-tropical rainforest and drive inland to the foothold of Eungella National Park, to cosy up at Shambahla Creek Cottage.
Whoever said blue and green should never be seen has not travelled between Cape Hillsborough, Seaforth and Calen, which swaps the beach for the bush seamlessly. This northern stretch of The Hibiscus Coast enjoys very different scenery, wedged between the two national parks - Cape Hillsborough and Eungella National Park. If you haven't done so already, check into Shambahla Creek Cottage, whose backyard opens onto the 512-square-kilometre Eungella National Park.
From your spacious family abode at Shambahla, enjoy a day of rest, swimming in the freshwater creek that runs along the back of the property and exploring the stunning natural surrounds of the homestead. I-spy works well at St Helen’s Creek located just 100 metres from your back door, where you can watch Penny Turtles wade in the water and spot Ulysses Butterflies as they dance against the green rainforest with their bright blue wings. Let your eyes adjust to the lush green wilderness of Australia's longest and oldest stretch of sub-tropical rainforest, Eungella National Park. Here, the 860 plant species, guarantee that no two glances at the rainforest look the same.
Dial up the action and explore Eungella National Park on foot. Good news for avid hikers and leisurely bushwalkers alike, walking options start from short 300 metre walks and gradually increase to the Mackay Great Walk, a 56-kilometre multi-day trek. The best views over the Pioneer Valley come from the Sky Window, which is a short pram-friendly walk from the car park on Eungella Dam Road. The views sweep over the farmland below thanks to Mount Dalrymple, one of Queensland’s highest peaks, which runs straight through Eungella National Park, giving the area an elevation of 1259 metres. If you’re prepared for something more intensive with the kids, be sure to save enough time to visit Finch Hatton Gorge. The reward for over 300 stairs to the top of both cascades is an emerald-green rockpool completely surrounded by rainforest. Packing plenty of water and snacks for this hike in tropical conditions is an absolute must.
For the ultimate game of I-Spy, try to spot the elusive platypus who inhabit the banks of Broken River. The viewing platforms are the best way to follow the river and station yourself for platypus viewing at sunset or sunrise. It’s not uncommon to see a number of Australia's most curious natives frolic and feed in these murky waters - best spotted by their bow waves and ripples when they launch from their bank-burrows into the water. Nearby, the Broken River Visitor Information Centre doubles as a gift store to buy all sorts of platypus paraphernalia as well as the spot to get the latest tips on the best vantage points for spotting the shy natives. If you wish to extend your stay, Broken River Mountain Resort offers cabins and restaurant facilities. Broken River bush camp (run by Queensland Parks and Wildlife) provides the perfect launch pads to explore this ancient rainforest and try your hand at platypus spotting another day. It’s also the perfect excuse to stick around for the Platypus Lodge Restaurant and Cafe’s opening hours to try the Swiss Yodel Burger, which comes with a complimentary yodelling demonstration from Oskar, the Austrian owner and chef.