Expert: Frank Denison - 3/1/2006

Question
Hello Frank, chanced upon your site. We are planning to drive up as a family of 5 (kids aged 6,11+13) from Sydney to Brisbane in April 2006. We would appreciate any tips you can give us on places to visit, good restaurants, hotels and family entertainment along the way to Brisbane. What is the weather like during that period? Thank you for your help. Kind regards.

Answer
G'day Manfred & Suzanne,
                        Hi again.
Hawkesbury, Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay are 3 places worth a visit on the way from Sydney to Brisbane. As I said before, the Gold Coast theme parks are also good for kids.

When in Brisbane you will have lots to do.

Science Centre - George St - Lots of hands on stuff for the kids.

South Bank Parklands - Nice gardens, beside the river, fantastic man made beach for the kids. Lots of restaurants. Maritime museum is in South Bank Parklands

Nuseeum - Next to South Bank Parklands. The exhibits are always changing.

Cith Botanic Gardens - Are next to the Brisbane River. you can hire bikes and explore the gardens, or just stroll and enjoy the beautiful spot right in the city.

Mt Cootha (5km's from city)- The best view of Brisbane city, worth a trip at night as well.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - Bus or ferry trip

City Cat - Travel the Brisbane river by city cat and get a different view of the city. Get a day rover ticket and you can get on and off as many times as you like in the one day.

Australian Woolshed - Ferny Grove (25 mins from City). Nice picnic spot and you can watch a sheep being shorn.

Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin) is just over an hours drive from Brisbane, and is a lot of fun.

Stradbroke Island is a beautiful as well and you can spend the day there. It is about a 40 min boat trip to Stradbroke Island.

If you are heading north of Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast, I would recommend a place called Mooloolaba beach on the Sunshine Coast.  It is about 70 mins drive from the centre of Brisbane. We holiday there at least once a year.
See link - http://www.mooloolabamagic.com/

The beach is great, and Mooloolaba is central to a lot of attractions on the coast. There are plenty of other beaches to try only minutes away from Mooloolaba, but they are more exposed, and the surf can be quite big at times at the other beaches.

Underwater World is right in the heart of Mooloolaba, is ideal for families, and has a hands on touch and feel tank of some sea creatures for the kids. Very good value too.

A link for value accommodation is http://www.wotif.com/
This link offers all types of accomodation from 5 star to backpackers.  There are penalties if you cancel. You will have no problems getting accommodation at that time of the year though.  I am not sure of your budget, but the major inner city hotels are always good.

The restaurants in the Casino are good. The best restaurants are on the river at Riverside Centre, which over looks the Story Bridge and river. Very expensive though. Cha Cha Cha has very good steaks though. The  Breakfast Creek Hotel (Spanish Garden) is also the place to go if you want a steak.

If I have not given enough info, or you want to clarify something, email me direct at - franksue@bigpond.net.au

Good luck and have a great stay in Brisbane.

Regards,
Frank