Mother's Day, Sunday 9 May

Great ideas for you to spoil your mothers!

Mother's Day is this Sunday, 9 May and anyone hoping to spoil that special mother in their life have many wonderful options on the day. Many local cafes and restaurants put together breakfast, lunch and dinner specials for mothers. There are also great activities and events organised for the day, three of which are below.

Head out for some action-packed Tennis
The Queensland Tennis Centre is hosting the Davis Cup this weekend. is the first time in over a decade the Davis Cup has been held in Brisbane and it promises to be an action-packed event with Australia playing against Japan. To read the rest of this article click here!

Mount Tamborine

Explore this scenic, artsy centre of S.E. Qld

Mount Tamborine
Located approximately halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Mount Tamborine is a fantastic inland location to explore. It is an easy drive in and beuatifully scenic, though watch out for the piano sliding its way down the hill!

Mount Tamborine provides breath-taking panoramas highlighting the beauty... click here to read the entire article.

ANZAC Day in Brisbane

Learn about the ANZAC history in Brisbane

Its a long weekend and a fantastic oppotunity for everyone to brush up on your Australian wartime history and take in a little culture this holiday. Whether you come from other parts of Australia or overseas, ANZAC Day represents a history that is relevant to everyone.

Dawn Service and ANZAC Day March
When was the last time you were up for sunrise? The Dawn Service provides a worthy opportunity to get out of bed early this Sunday and head to the Shrine of Remembrance in ANZAC Square on Adelaide Street. The Dawn Service begins at 4.28am and is followed by the ANZAC Day March beginning at the corner of George and...to read more click here.

Contemplate at a War Memorial
Take a moment from your day and visit one of the many war memorials around Brisbane. After the ANZAC Day March head back to ANZAC Square and check out the Shrine of Remembrance, Eternal Flame and World War II Shrine of Memories.

The Freedom Wall presents more than 15000 plaques honouring the individuals who gave their life during wartime. Located in the botanical gardens at the bottom of Mt Coot-tha, it’s also a nice setting for some deep contemplation and the past, present and future.

The Gallipoli Memorial at Roma Street Parkland has been designed to reflect the terrain of ANZAC Cove. One of Brisbane's newest war memorials, the Gallipoli Memorial acknowledges the sacrifices and bravery of both Australians, New Zealanders and Turkish soldiers.

Check out local museums
For those who would like to learn more about Australia's war history there are some great museums at all ends of Brisbane city to explore. From the Queensland Military Museum in the Valley, to Victoria Barracks Museum at Petrie Terrace, the MacArthur Museum on Edward Street, to the Queensland Maritime Museum at South Bank.

Best Brisbane Wildlife Day Trips

A mix of the deadly, cute and the plant life!

Great wildlife day trip suggestions in and around Brisbane...click here to read the full entry.

Australia Zoo and Glass House Mountains
A must-see visit for all overseas visitors, and a lot of fun for locals as well, is Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast. An easy one hour and 30 minute drive north of Brisbane - and well signposted so less chance of getting lost - Australia Zoo is a great place to start a day trip in the Glass House Mountains.

View some deadly Australian spiders and snakes from the correct side of the glass tanks, cuddle a koala or a boa constrictor (the latter a great photo to show your mother), laugh at a wombat waddling along and, of course, check out the crocs Steve Irwin was so famous for wrestling.

When you have had enough of the local animals check out the local flora, fauna and spectacular views along...to read the rest of the entry, click below.

Tangalooma Dolphin Resort and Moreton Bay Islands

Alma Park Zoo

To read the full entry please click here

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Brisbane to Melbourne Road Trip

Brisbane to Melbourne Road Trip
The Ultimate Aussie Adventure!

Great suggestions for visitors to explore Australia (and something all locals should do one day too!)

There cannot be a better way to really experience Australia than with a great Aussie Roadtrip. One of the best drives is all the way from Brisbane to Melbourne. It encompasses Australia's three biggest city, arguable the world's best beaches, wildlife, shopping, small towns, a giant banana and prawn, and so much more along its 1709km (if you take the quickest route).

Brisbane to Sydney

Start off in Brisbane and explore the city, get your thrills and spills at Dreamworld or Movieworld before heading for a swim or surf at Surfers. See the giant prawn at Ballina and enjoy a organic meal at Byron Bay. Visit the Big Banana at Coffs Harbour and enjoy a river cruise in Port Macquarie. Swing by a small town on your way and keep your eyes peeled for kangaroos (and if you are really lucky a koala) and don't forget to have a good Aussie BBQ on the way!

Sydney to Melbourne

Missed shopping? Shop your socks off in Sydney, climb the Harbour Bridge and visit the Opera House. Enjoy some world-class dining and stock up on supplies because you are really only halfway there. Go exploring in the Royal National Park south off Sydney, and try some dolphin spotting at Jervis Bay. Leaving the coast may be justfied with a trip to the capital city, Canberra to try and spot a politician. Head back to the coast and Batemans Bay for another swim, stop off at Phillip Island to see the penguins, and enjoy some fish and chips at one of the many fishing villages along the way.

Once in Melbourne you can indulge in culture, food, nightlife, sports and so much more all to your heart's content!

Experience the Ultimate Aussie Adventure without the one way fee - for a limited time only! Click Here.

Easter Weekend in Brisbane

Easter Weekend Adventures

Stuff yourself full of chocolate!

One for the kids

Nothing tops a good old fashioned Easter egg hunt for the young ones at Easter (and the young at heart in many cases). Broadbeach Waters' Platell Park is holding a Free Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, 3 April form 9.30am. Kids can search the park for chocolate eggs and a $50 Toys R Us voucher. The kid with the best Easter Bonnet will also win a large Easter Egg. Similar events are held all over the place this weekend and a quick google search will find you loads more so find the perfect one for your family this weekend.

Chocolate Shop

Willy Wonka eat your heart out! Cocoa Chocolat, a Eumundi retail shop and factory with a shop in Noosa as well, is open to the public throughout the Easter weekend and you can head along to check out the process for handmaking Easter Eggs, chocolates and truffles. Of course you can also indulge yourself in the shop at the end of the day. Find out more here.

Chocolate Buffet

For some serious chocolate indulgence you cannot go past Bistro Allure's Chocolate Buffet. Available for lunch or dinner up until the 11 April all you can in eat chocolate, in all sorts of forms is available for $20 per person. What better way to end your Easter than stuffing yourself full of chocolate again.

Bored in Brisbane?

Bored in Brisbane?

Here are some of our favourite places to go:

Somewhere Special to Eat:

Bretts Wharf Restaurant
http://www.brettswharf.com.au/
Bretts Wharf Restaurant in Hamilton is a renowned Brisbane seafood restaurant situated on the original site of the historic Hamilton wharves. It is one of the best known and most highly regarded restaurants in Brisbane.

Executive Chef Alastair McLeod is passionate about local seasonal produce. His contemporary menus reflect his commitment to quality fresh seafood, in particular, fish served simply, and a carefully selected and matched wine list including fine examples of Queensland wine.

Somewhere to cuddle a Koala:

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
http://www.koala.net/
Recently voted one of the 'Top 10 Zoos in the World" by AOL, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia, is the world's first and largest koala sanctuary, with over 130 koalas. Cuddle a koala anytime, handfeed kangaroos and encounter a large variety of Aussie wildlife, all in beautiful, natural settings. Pamper yourself silly:

Garth Day Spa
http://www.garthdayspa.com.au/
The contemporary Garth Day Spa menu and environment has been created for both men and women, finding the ultimate relaxation for today's hectic lifestyle...
Garth Day Spa is located at The London Quarter, Shop 4, 36 Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe QLD 4005.
Pet a Dolphin:

Tangalooma Island Resort
http://www.tangalooma.com/
Escape to beautiful Moreton Bay with a scenic cruise that in just over an hour will bring you to the crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches of Tangalooma Island Resort.
Check out the details and itinerary for the Dolphin Adventure Tour here: Dolphin Adventure TourThrow yourself out of an airplane:


Skydive Ramblers
http://www.skydiveforfun.com/
Skydive Ramblers at Coolum and Toogoolawah offers everything skydiving; Learn to Skydive lessons for beginners, both the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) skydiving course and the Static Line (S/L) parachute school; tandem jumps, night tandems, plus fun jumping for experienced skydivers including night jumping, instructor and packing ratings.

Fancy a drink - wine or beer your choice:

Sirromet Winery
http://www.sirromet.com/
Sirromet Winery offers wine and tasting tours, restaurant services and lots of bottles of wine for sale out at Mount Cotton.

XXXX Alehouse Brewery
http://www.xxxx.com.au/
The XXXX Ale House and Brewery Tours provide an unbeatable way to experience an Australian icon up close and discover its proud legend.

Hungry again?


Rydges, South Bank
http://www.rydges.com/hotel/0/RQSOUT/Rydges-South-Bank-Brisbane.htm
Check out the Seafood Buffet at Rydges Hotel, South Bank

Wet Weather Days

Wet Weather Day Ideas

Shop, immerse yourself or get seriously wet!

The forecast for the weekend involves rain, and possibly lots of it. So I thought you might be able to use some wet weather day ideas, especially those who were expecting Queensland's famous sunny days.

Stay dry

Brisbane has many fantastic indoor shopping spots. Malls can be found in many of the suburbs and stock many of the big brands including many Australian brands. For one of the biggest of you should visit Westfield Chermside. You can visit literally hundreds of different stores, check out new movies, and eat at restaurants, cafes or fast food stores.

Immerse yourself

For a different wet weather option, embrace the water without getting wet at Mooloolaba Aquarium on the Sunshine Coast. The 2.5 million litre Oceanarium with its 80 metre transparent tunnel provides opportunities to see sharks, rays, tropical fish, underwater plant life and much more form a unique, and dry, perspective. Other attractions include shark dives and seal swims amongst others.

Get wet

Embrace the rain! It's still warm and we are not aspirins, so for those who want to get out there - get wet and stay wet. Visit Wet 'n Wild on the Gold Coast, go swimming at South Bank, grab a raincoat and explore the rainforest and other gardens at Mt Cootha botanical gardens, just get out there and explore.

Quicksilver Pro

Surfs up!

Are you a spectator, learner or pro?

The Quicksilver Pro is now on at Snapper's Rock, Coolangatta from today until 10 March, 2010. This event starts the World Tour for 2010 and its the first time in 12 years for a world tour event to start there again.

The Quicksilver Pro is a fantastic spectators sport with a beautiful setting, great views along the coast and a chance to see some of the world's best surfers in action. From Kelly Slater to Mick Fanning and lots of upcoming surfers hoping to be the next big thing in surfing. So if you fancy a bit of sunshine (hopefully), sea air and some intense surfing competiton without needing to get wet, Coolangatta is the place to be until the 10 March.

For those who want to get a taste of surfing for themselves, the Gold Coast has lots of Learn to Surf options all along the coast (with a lot of options centred in Surfer's Paradise). If you are a complete beginner they will teach you the basic skills. Check out www.surfingqueensland.com.au to find great surf schools all along the coast.

For those with a bit more experience the Gold Coast is not world famous for surfing for no reason! So if you have your own board or want to hire one you should check out many of the surf beaches along the Gold Coast.

Valentine's Day in South East Queensland

Love is in the air!

Great ideas for your Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day is this Sunday, 14th February, and many of you may be looking for romantic excursions in and around Brisbane. The suggestions below may just make someone's Valentine's Day that little bit more special this year.

Romantic Sunset Cruise

Start off Valentine's Day celebrations the night before and watch the sunset from the sea on the Sunshine Coast. Numerous cruise operators run evening sunset and dinner cruises all along the Sunshine Coast. River cruises with wildlife and luxury-house spotting opportunities, eco-ocean cruises, and cruises with seafood dinners all offer beautiful ocean sunsets to end the day and welcome in the night.


Picnic in the Park

On Valentine's Day, pack a basket of fruit, breads, dips, chocolates and drinks and head off for more than just a picnic on Mount Nebo. Just over a one hour drive north-west of the CBD, Mount Nebo feels much further removed from the hectic city. The drive along Waterworks Road takes you through The Gap, with an excellent opportunity to check out the beautiful Queenslanders in the area and stop for a quick coffee at one of the cute cafes in the area. When Waterworks Road turns into Mount Nebo Road the sightseeing changes dramatically. Driving along the D'Anguilar Range allows for many opportunities to bird watch among the Eucalyptus trees. Bell Bird Grove is a fantastic spot to stop for your picnic and the food can be walked off on many of the bush walks in the area - two walks with spectacular views start at Jolly's Lookout.

Dinner at Surfer's Paradise.

People-watching, walks along the beach, shopping and numerous dining options make Surfer's Paradise a great spot to enjoy your Valentine's Day dinner. From Italian, modern Australian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Indian, Greek, German to Turkish and many more there are options to suit anybody's vision of a romantic meal regardless of tastes and budgets.


I hope you have a love-filled Valentines Day!

Must Do - Brisbane

• Spend an afternoon at South Bank


• Explore Brisbane from the water on a CityCat


• Climb the Story Bridge


• Experience the energising outdoor adventures of the Riverlife Adventure Centre


• Discover the delights of the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)


• Cuddle a koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary


• Hand feed wild dolphins on Moreton Island


• Spend a romantic weekend wining and dining in the Scenic Rim


• Check out the bands and night life in Fortitude Valley


• Explore the lovely inner city parks and gardens

Our Brisbane

The Great Sunshine Way

The Great Sunshine Way touring route is a new and adventurous way of experiencing the best of Southern Queensland. Along it you'll discover some of the earth's most treasured natural wonders like World Heritage listed Fraser Island, and the ancient rainforests of the Gold Coast hinterland. You'll also indulge in cosmopolitan culture, dining and shopping and of course meet the friendly locals. You can also play gold at internationally rated courses, chill out at a day spa, ride a roller coaster or even cuddle a koala - all at your own pace.

Great Sunshine Way