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For a copy of our privacy policy visit lonelyplanet.com/privacy. OUR READERS Cristian Bonetto First and foremost, an epic thankyou to Drew West- Many thanks to the travellers who used the last brook for his hospitality and generosity. Sincere edition and wrote to us with helpful hints, useful thanks also to Craig Bradbery, Tim Crabtree, Amy advice and interesting anecdotes: Chris Senior, Helen Snazell, Jack and Deidre Evans, Jane Edwards, Ratcliffe, Leanne Layfield, Terese Finegan, Michael Jenny Williams, Jerry Palmer, Kay Blaha, Nadine Flocke, Simon Betteridge, Annabel Sullivan, Garry Kleeman, Sain Alizada, Sebastian Hochradner, Sergio Judd and the many locals who offered insight and Estevao, Steve Walker insider knowledge along the way. At Lonely Planet, a huge thanks to Tasmin Waby for her support and encouragement. WRITER THANKS Peter Dragicevich Andy Symington Researching this guidebook was an absolute As a prodigal Sydneysider returned for this project, pleasure, especially because of the wonderful I’ve had so much invaluable advice and help from company that I had on the road. Special thanks go friends, about what’s going on in town, that I can’t to Braith Bamkin, Peter van Gaalen, Marg Toohey possibly thank them all. Tourist offices and more and Jo Stafford for all their practical assistance in were helpful across the region. Particular gratitude, Melbourne, and to David Mills and Barry Sawtell for however, goes to Stephen Freiberg, Kate McGuin- the Canberra Morrissey safari. And cheers to all my ness, Hugh O’Keefe, Ben Hamilton, Matthew Beech, eating and drinking buddies along the way, espe- Iain and Amanda Ashley, Tasmin Waby and the LP cially Errol Hunt, Kim Shearman, Cristian Bonetto team. And also, as ever, to my family. and Maryanne Netto. Kate Armstrong Paul Harding Particular thanks to Jacqui Loftus-Hills, Visit Vic- Thanks to all those travellers and locals who helped toria; Wendy Jones, Goulburn River Valley Tourism; with company and advice on my journey through Sue Couttie, Tourism Northeast; Marie Glasson, Queensland’s most remote corners, especially the Greater Shepparton City Council; Fran Martin, helpful guys who got me out of vehicular trouble Echuca Visitor Information Centre. Finally, to my at Elliot Falls. Thanks to Tamara for coffee and a dear friends Sue Mulligan, Lou Bull and Emmo – chat in Cairns, and to Tasmin at LP. But mostly to with thanks. Hannah and Layla for being there. 519 Trent Holden writer in one’s own backyard. At LP, mega-thanks First up a massive thanks to Tasmin Waby for to Tasmin Waby for the gig, and for your eternal commissioning me to update the bulk of regional encouragement; and to chapter co-author Paul Victoria. Was an absolute honour to cover my home Harding. The biggest clink of the coconuts goes, state. Totally blown away how much cool stuff as ever, to my favourite FNQers: my crazy croco- there is to visit out here. Thanks to all the tourist diles Dušan and Masha. visitor centres across the state, who are staffed BEHIND THE SCENES by a fantastic team of volunteers who are doing a Tom Spurling sensational job. Cheers to everyone else for giving To Goose for riding shotgun to Rockhampton and me the time of day for a chat, and helping me put making me go for a jog. To Lucy for sleeping in together this new edition. As per always lots of love the backseat and showing no interest in cryptic to my family, particularly my partner Kate, who I crosswords. To the bar staff in Ravenswood for had the great fortune of having accompany me reminding me why I wanted this job in the first around this time round. place. To The Whitsundays for being discovered. To the Town of 1770 for providing so many open- Kate Morgan ings at dinner parties (‘A number? Really?’). To Big thanks to Destination Editor, Tasmin Waby, for my children for not missing me very much (I will the opportunity to basically eat and drink my way never forget that slight, O and P). around Melbourne’s best neighbourhoods! Thank you to Caro Cooper for suggestions and being a Donna Wheeler drinking partner on occasion, and to my partner Love and gratitude to Juliette Claire for her inspi- Trent for all your help and support. ration and incredible regional knowledge. Thanks to ex-locals Peter Maclaine and Debbie Wheeler, Charles Rawlings-Way especially for Pete’s surfing expertise. Thanks to Huge thanks to Tasmin for the gig, and to all the Harry in Broadbeach, to the Byron skydivers and helpful souls I met and friends I reconnected with to Amanda and Simon in Brunswick Heads for on the road who flew through my questions with great hospo insights. Thanks also to Nic Wrathall the greatest of ease. Biggest thanks of all to Meg, for your company during some long research who held the increasingly chaotic fort while I was days and Brigid Healy and Andrew King, Kate busy scooting around in the sunshine (‘Where’s Dale, Darryn Devlin for Sydney homecoming love. daddy?’) – and made sure that Ione, Remy, Liv Finally thanks to Joe Guario. for everything. and Reuben were fed, watered, schooled, tucked in and read to. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Climate map data adapted from Peel MC, Finlayson Tamara Sheward BL & McMahon TA (2007) ‘Updated World Map of Sweaty Cairns hugs and hearty thanks to my the Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification’, Hydrol- friends, family, local experts and random ring- ogy and Earth System Sciences, 11, 163344. ins who helped me delve ever deeper into the Cover photograph: Surfing near Noosa, Queensland, wonders of my hometown and surrounds; it’s Nick Rains/Getty Images © always an eye-opener being a traveller/travel Destination Editor Charlotte Orr, Susan Paterson, THIS BOOK Tasmin Waby Chris Pitts, Gabrielle Stefanos, This 6th edition of Lonely Product Editor Jessica Ryan, Saralinda Turner, Simon Planet’s East Coast Australia Catherine Naghten Williamson guidebook was researched Senior Cartographer Cartographer and written by Andy Syming- Julie Sheridan Rachel Imeson ton, Kate Armstrong, Cristian Book Designer Cover Researcher Bonetto, Peter Dragicevich, Nicholas Colicchia Campbell McKenzie Paul Harding, Trent Holden, Thanks to Jennifer Carey, Kate Morgan, Charles Rawl- Assisting Editors Andrew Bain, Sarah Bailey, Heather Champion, Daniel ings-Way, Tamara Sheward, Imogen Bannister, Michelle Corbett, Megan Eaves, Sandie Tom Spurling and Donna Bennett, Laura Crawford, Kestell, Claire Naylor, Karyn Wheeler. The previous edition Melanie Dankel, Andrea Noble, MaSovaida Morgan, was coordinated by Charles Dobbin, Gabrielle Innes, Ali Lauren O’Connell, Rachel Rawlings-Way. This guide- Lemer, Jodie Martire, Rosie Rawling, Vicky Smith, Angela book was produced by the Nicholson, Lauren O’Connell, Tinson, Clifton Wilkinson following: ©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd 520 Index A Australian Football League Boreen Point 358-9 Great Ocean Road 244 Abbott, Tony 487 (AFL) 215, 496 Bouddi National Park 120 Great South West Aboriginal culture, see Australian Motorcycle Bowen 416 Walk 264 Indigenous culture Grand Prix 243 Brae 256 Lamington National Park Aboriginal history, see Australian Open 24, 215, 498 breweries 495 Paluma Ranges National Indigenous history Australian Rules football Bribie Island 346-7 Park 431 215, 496 abseiling 41, 114, 291, 445 Brisbane 16, 46, 279-316, Wilsons Promontory National Park 272 accommodation 502-3, see 280, 282-3, 286-7, Yuraygir National Park 152 also individual locations B 290, 292, 16, 43 activities 24-6, 39-44, see Babinda 458 accommodation 279, business hours 21, 507 also individual activities Ballina 155-6 296-8 Byfield 391 Agnes Water 383-5 Bangalow 164-5 activities 290-3 Byron Bay 13, 45, 157-64, , , air travel 511-12 barbecues 500 climate 279 134 158-9 13 accommodation 133, Aireys Inlet 254-5 Bargara 375 courses 294-5 159-6 Airlie Beach 405-11, 406 Barrenjoey Lighthouse 72 drinking & nightlife 304-9 activities 157-8 alcohol 98 Batemans Bay 191-2 entertainment 309-11 beaches 163 amusement parks, see beaches 22, 88-9, 403, festivals & events 295-6 theme parks climate 133 88-9, see also individual food 279, 298-304 drinking & nightlife 162 Anglesea 253-4 beaches highlights 280 festivals & events 158-9 Angourie 153-5 beer 495 shopping 311-16 food 133, 161-2 animals, see individual Bellarine Peninsula 249 sights 281-9 species, wildlife highlights 134 Bellingen 146-8 tours 293-4 Apollo Bay 257-8 shopping 162-3 Bells Beach 253, 41 tourist information 314 aquariums sights 157 Bells Line of Road 116 travel to from 314-15 Cairns Aquarium 439 tourist information 163 Ben Boyd National Park 199 travel seasons 279 Manly