Travel guide Queensland for Winter Holiday

Rock ‘n’ Roll in the Vineyard is held annually on the last Sunday in May and is one of the premier annual music events on the Granite Belt events calendar. Read more

TakeABreak Awards 2009 Winner, Holiday Park Accommodation: Dalrymple Tourist Van Park  If you head up into the beautiful tropical paradise of Far North Queensland, you’ll encounter a fabulously fun holiday park in the town of Charters Towers. Loaded with clean and comfortable cabins, plenty of spaces to pitch a tent or park your caravan, and fun organised events like campfire sing-a-longs and Devonshire teas, Dalrymple Tourist Van Park is the standout winner in 2009 TakeABreak Awards, Holiday Park Accommodation category. Located 130 km southwest of Townsville, Charters Towers is an inland town with a rich history and plenty of well-preserved heritage buildings to admire. Once a bustling gold rush town in the 1870s, residents of Charters Towers speak of ghosts that haunt ... Read more

Australia’s favourite winter getaways Where’s your favourite destination in winter? Heading for the cool of the highlands or north for the heat? We asked you to vote on your favourite winter holiday destination. TakeABreak.com.au, Australia’s only independent holiday rental website, initiated a first time ‘Best Places to Stay’ award for Australian destinations, which recognised towns and cities that have outstanding facilities in specialist segment categories. Winners were voted on by the public, with 8 categories presenting finalists across each state. Just some of the TakeABreak Winter Destination Finalists: Goldfields, VIC 0.70% Darwin, NT 2.82% ... Read more

Often when we think of holidays, we think of sparkling sands and pristine waters. However by thinking only of beach holidays, we are missing many of the glorious treasures that nestle in the hinterland behind the beaches. They offer a different type of holiday, but one still within close proximity to beaches, if that is what you are looking for. The hinterland behind the Sunshine Coast hides many treasures, such as The African Cottage and The Rondawel. These African-inspired cottages are the brainchild of Matilda, who came to Australia from South Africa over 20 years ago. She spent many years running a restaurant that served traditional South African food as well as developing a range of sauces, chutneys, marinades and spices. These Gourmet Afrika products are still available, however M... Read more

We all dream of a tropical holiday, swaying palms, balmy breezes and of course, wonderful views and the tranquillity of being far away from the humdrum of everyday life.  Port Hinchinbrook at Cardwell ticks all those boxes and more and Murralea Place Apartments are the answer to your tropical holiday dreams. Hinchinbrook Island, at 393 sq.km, is Australia’s largest island National Park and a wilderness area of great beauty and diversity.  It lies off the Cardwell coast halfway between Cairns and Townsville and has abundant flora and fauna, as well as pristine streams and palm-fringed beaches.  The island is uninhabited, except for an eco lodge at Cape Richards. However, Murralea Place Apartments in Port Hinchinbrook offer great accommodation options, including a ... Read more

Those of us who live in Australia grow up understanding the joys, dangers and safety rules that make it such a great place.  However, many visitors to our country find Australia an alien, but starkly beautiful country, and they have little or no understanding of the best way to stay safe and enjoy their time here. A few very simple rules can help to make a visit to Australia a safe and pleasurable experience, and Tourism Australia has a brochure available for download that lists safety tips in a variety of languages. Driving tips One of the first things to remember is that speed limits are strictly enforced in Australia, more so than in many countries overseas.  Generally, when driving in urban and suburban areas, the speed limit is between 50 and 60 kilometres per hour. When ... Read more

We know that our teenage children can be delightful, exasperating, funny, sullen, adventurous, shy, talkative, slothful and manic – and sometimes that is just in the space of an hour!  All these moods are magnified when it comes to travelling, be it in Australia or overseas, as teens and parents are forced into one another’s company without a ‘get out of jail free’ card, such as time with friends. Travelling overseas with teenagers tends to be a better experience for a number of reasons, such as the brilliant entertainment systems now available on most flights, menus that let them eat things they like, resorts that have activities that cater for most age groups and the “wow” factor.  So let’s concentrate on surviving travelling in Austra... Read more

When foreigners visit Australia, they tend to flock to the major tourist havens. Let’s face it – Australia has some amazing places, so we can’t blame the people of the world for wanting to see them. But where can Aussies go when they want to get away from it all? You know, get back to the basics – enjoy some rugged yet beautiful terrain, see where the dinosaurs roamed and laze by a billabong? You won’t find the Queensland outback in many international tourism brochures, but this is a good thing. Australians can relax on a private verandah in Longreach enjoying the tranquillity and character of the town, or can head to a true outback pub in Winton for a yarn and beer with the locals. While you’re in Winton, be sure to have a good look around. Does anyth... Read more

BRISBANE BRISVEGAS FASHION AND BEAUTY Brisbanites love to look good and there are many places to give that plastic card some exercise. FORTITUDE VALLEY This is the 'Fashion Hub' of Brisbane and is filled with high-end boutiques. If you love the finer things in life, then this is the place to visit for everything from a wide range of home-oriented retailers to fashion specialty stores for females. ‘The Valley’ stocks the likes of international labels such as, Collette Dinnigan & Collette Dinnigan Enfant, Citizens of Humanity Denim and Christian Louboutin shoes. There are also great male and children ranges thrown into the mix. • Faves are Ultra Suite and Blonde Venus for up-to-the-minute style. • Also, Jean Brown at Emporium, Ann St. A fantastic boutique... Read more

Rockhampton, Tidy Town's 'Friendly Town' award for QLD in 2006. Rockhampton sits astride Queensland’s largest and most picturesque river, the Fitzroy.  The magnificent Berserker Ranges and Mt Archer provide an imposing backdrop to this city. Rockhampton, known as the Beef Capital of Australia, is different things to different people, and a gateway to adventure. Rockhampton is located on the Tropic of Capricorn and is approximately 40 kilometres drive inland from the Capricorn Coast on the Pacific Ocean. History and Culture Rockhampton was founded in 1855, soon after the pioneering Archer Brothers settled at Gracemere, 6.5 km to the west.  It was named by Queensland’s first Land Commissioner, Mr W. Wiseman, who was inspired by the rocks in the river. You will f... Read more