Category: Islands & Beaches

Palm Cove Queensland
Cairns & Great Barrier Reef, Destination Guides, Islands & Beaches

15 Amazing Things to Do in Queensland’s Tropics

Queensland is a magnet for superlatives. Biggest. Oldest. Most Beautiful. Only. Queensland’s tropics are famous the world over for natural marvels like The Great Barrier Reef, lush rainforests, idyllic beaches and islands and colourful local character. I’ve rounded up the best things I’ve experienced in Tropical North Queensland, hopefully to inspire you to explore the region too. Read more: Queensland Travel Guide 1. Snorkel or … Continue reading 15 Amazing Things to Do in Queensland’s Tropics

Genevieve Lauren2 Comments
Broadbeach gold coast australia
Gold Coast, Islands & Beaches, Nature

A Long Weekend on the Gold Coast

Every time I go back to Queensland, I make a pact with my boyfriend to go back more often. After this past long weekend on the Gold Coast, we’ve made plans to go back once every three months next year! Melbourne has public holidays for not one, but two sporting events every year. In September, we get a long weekend for the AFL Final and in November, … Continue reading A Long Weekend on the Gold Coast

Genevieve LaurenLeave a comment
Brisbane, Gold Coast, Islands & Beaches, Nature, Queensland, Sunshine Coast

The Great Escape: 4 Days in Brisbane, Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast

Stressed? Burnt out? Bogged down in the winter blues? Prescribe yourself an extra long weekend in Queensland. In four days, I got the dose of sunshine, blue skies and blessed humidity that I’ve been missing in chilly, drizzly Melbourne. Before last weekend, I’d never considered squeezing in time in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast in one trip. I live in Melbourne, but … Continue reading The Great Escape: 4 Days in Brisbane, Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast

Genevieve Lauren1 Comment
Amalfi Coast, Islands & Beaches

Sailing around Capri & The Blue Grotto

I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. It was the happiest day I had in five blissful weeks of exploring France, Italy, Greece and even a little Turkey. In fact, it was the best day I have ever had while travelling. We spent half the day sailing around Capri, including a visit into the famous Blue Grotto – the experience I had most been … Continue reading Sailing around Capri & The Blue Grotto

Genevieve Lauren9 Comments
great barrier reef
Cairns & Great Barrier Reef, Islands & Beaches, Nature

Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef from Green Island

It’s the Great Barrier Reef, but not as you know it. Green Island is a coral cay within the Great Barrier Reef, just off the coast of Cairns. My best friend Chloe & I visited on a day trip from Cairns during our week in the Whitsundays & Tropical North Queensland. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the main reasons we were visiting Tropical North … Continue reading Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef from Green Island

Genevieve Lauren16 Comments
Islands & Beaches, Nature, Whitsundays

A Day Trip to Hamilton Island

When my best friend and I spent a week exploring Queensland‘s beautiful tropics, Hamilton Island was a firm must-see destination on our list. One of the few inhabited islands in the Whitsundays archipelago, Hamilton Island was a little out of our price range to stay on, so we stayed in a backpackers in Airlie Beach on the mainland. We visited Hamilton Island & Whitsunday Island … Continue reading A Day Trip to Hamilton Island

Genevieve Lauren13 Comments
port douglas
Islands & Beaches, Nature

Postcards from Port Douglas

To take on the Queensland tropics in style, look no further than Port Douglas. One hour’s drive north of Cairns, this stylish beach town is a very popular holiday and destination wedding destination (with the price tag to match).      We visited Port Douglas on a day trip from Cairns with Discovery Tours Australia. Our tour guide drove us up to the perfect lookout point … Continue reading Postcards from Port Douglas

Genevieve Lauren10 Comments
Cairns & Great Barrier Reef, Islands & Beaches, Nature

Cape Tribulation: The Only Place in the World…

Cape Tribulation in Tropical North Queensland is the only place in the world where two World Heritage Listed Sites collide. It’s not every day you get to visit a place that is truly the only kind in its category, so walking along the beach at “Cape Trib” was pretty special. I acknowledge the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people as the First Nations owners of the land … Continue reading Cape Tribulation: The Only Place in the World…

Genevieve Lauren11 Comments
Islands & Beaches, Nature, Queensland, Townsville

Day Trip to Magnetic Island from Townsville

There is no shortage of beautiful beaches in Australia, especially in the steamy Queensland tropics. A short ferry ride from Townsville, our quick visit to Magnetic Island was relaxing, easy and affordable. During my one-week trip through the Whitsundays and Tropical North Queensland, we had an overnight stop in Townsville. Townsville is the largest city in north Queensland and I was surprised by how beautiful it … Continue reading Day Trip to Magnetic Island from Townsville

Genevieve Lauren11 Comments
Islands & Beaches, Lifou, Nature, New Caledonia, South Pacific

Postcards from Luecila Beach, Lifou

The term “jaw-dropping” is grossly overused in travel writing and marketing, and I can count on one hand the number of times my jaw has involuntarily dropped due to the sheer beauty of what I am seeing. That was before I visited Luecila Beach in New Caledonia. The beach overlooks the second-largest reef in the world, which positively glows all shades of aqua and turquoise, even … Continue reading Postcards from Luecila Beach, Lifou

Genevieve Lauren4 Comments