Gold Coast Travel Forum

Hi all,

I'll be travelling to Brisbane in January and will be staying for 2 weeks. I will be working in Brisbane for the first 4 or 5 days and I have the rest of my time to do/see whatever I want, but I will be spending my last couple of days in Sydney. This leaves me with about 4 or 5 days to travel around. I would like to see the Gold Coast and Fraser Island, but am having a hard time planning the itinerary. Seeing as I will be by myself, would you suggest seeing the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast??? Also, how do I make my way to Fraser Island and is one day enough to spend there?? Can you suggest any other spots I should see while I'm in this area? I would like to take full advantage of my time there, but unfortunately have to pack it all in to a short period of time! :( Any help would be greatly appreciated! I'm also on a budget, but won't be backpacking (I'm 32 years old), so I prefer to stay in hotels. So any suggests that way would be great too.

Thanks!!!

Hi,
The Gold Coast is more touristy, neon lights and trendy people. The Sunshine Coast is more locals and relaxed so it depends what you are after. Surfers Paradise is where the action is on the Goldie. Mooloolobah is a good spot on the Sunny Coast. Fraser Island is further north so will be a big day if you try to make it in a day trip! If you can manage to fit in a 3 day tour or something like that you could go direct from Brisbane and be dropped off back there and then you could head down the Gold Coast after that.
This website has a few options for you.
http://www.fraserisland.au.com/tours-guided/locations/brisbane.php

Good luck!

A lot will depend on wether you are driving (or relying on tours or public transport). Gold Coast is an easy place to get around by bus, Sunshine Coast area is much more spread out so having a car would make it easier.

I am not a fan of the Gold Coast myself, all high rise apartment blocks, shopping centres and tourists, but if you like that sort of thing you could check it off in a day.

If I had 4 or 5 days I'd at least book a couple of nights accommodation in Noosa (northern end of the Sunshine coast) and take a day tour to Fraser Island from there.

Any number of companies offer day and overnight tours. I think the best way to see Fraser is to pick a tour which travels along Rainbow Beach before getting the barge across to the island at Inskip Point. This is the most scenic approach.

www.fraserislanddiscovery.com.au has a one day trip which covers most of the best locations on the island although it doesnt travel up the beach as far as Indian Head which is a very pretty spot IMO. Price wise its about AUD189 but there would be cheaper options available.

Fraser Island is one of my favorite places accessible only by 4wd but its ruggesd scenery has to be seen to be believed. Noosa is a laid back if fairly cosmopolitan beach resort town with lots of restaurant options. Bus services go to Noosa but renting a car would be much more convenient.

You'd probably be best off doing an organised tour to Fraser Island. I found this site -

http://www.sunrover.com.au/fraser.htm?gclid=COWswMPTjZcCFSJIagod51q79A

that gives a variety of tours from Brissy & Sunshine Coast. The 2 day camping tour looks good.

That way you can hire a car and do a few good places south of the border too....like the famous beaches Cabaritta & Hastings Point. Also O'Reillys & Natural Arch.

You are welcome to email me here on vt for any more info.
Cheers,
Ann :o)

Hi! You could see both. The Gold Coast is only an hour away from Brisbane, on the south side of Brisbane. Buses and Train go there, once there, its easy to get around. Lamington national park is very nice, this is in the hinterland. Tours, or hire a car. Fraser Island and the Sunshine Coast are on the north side. Bus or Tours once again. The Glasshouse mountains and the hinterland is beautiful, as are the beaches, its not developed as much as the Gold Coast. You could stay at Hervey Bay and do a day trip to Fraser Island. This would give you a quick look at both. Eg. 1 day gold coast, 1 day sunshine coast, 2 days (overnight Hervey bay) Depends on what you want to see, whether you visit the hinterlands or the coast itself for a day.