Five things to do that don’t require a day on the road
It’s hard to come up with five definitive ‘must sees’ in South East Queensland because we are so spoilt for choice in the scope of attractions that range from natural wonders through to cultural and indigenous heritage.
To make things easier, we’ve narrowed down the drive time from Scarborough to five things that are “do-able” in a day.
We’ve gone off the beaten track for some while others are an easy cruise for a big day out.
1. Mt Tempest on Moreton Island National Park: Moreton Island is the ultimate ‘must see’ destination on our list. And if you want to make the most of your visit, the 2.5 kilometre hike to the island’s highest sand dune Mt Tempest is well worth it. On a clear day, the view from the top takes in 360-degree views of the island and the Glasshouse Mountains on the mainland. Less challenging hikes are available if the two-hour return trip appears daunting.
2. Coastal drive or bike ride from Scarbrough to Shorncliffe: You can drive or ride a bicycle along this scenic route that passes through local coastal villages on the Redcliffe Peninsula. Cross the Ted Smout Memorial Bridge – at 2.7 kilometres in length, it is claimed to be Australia’s longest bridge – and cruise through Sandgate with its heritage-listed houses. At Shorncliffe, check out Shorncliffe Pier (see photo), which reopened in 2016 after a full refurbishment.
3. Deception Bay: Walk the four-kilometre heritage trail along the boardwalk and over mudflats at Deception Bay. Look out for the heritage-listed sea baths, rare surviving examples of 19th century tidal baths built for health and recreational purposes by landowner Dr Joseph Bancroft, who is recognised as a founder of medical research in Australia.
4. D’Aguilar National Park: It takes less than an hour by car to get to the Walkabout Discovery Centre at D’Aguilar National Park. The cool mountain tops and forest flats are home to a huge variety of native plants and animals. There are plenty of options for getting around including bush walking, mountainbike riding and trail rides on horseback.
5. St Helena Island National Park: Visit the 166ha island, the location of the state’s first penal settlement from 1867-1932. Take a guided tour to get educated on the colourful history of the island and to gain access to the restricted area that includes the remains of fragile structures such as the butcher shop and bakery. Seek out the middens and shell scatters left behind by indegenous people who visited the island for thousands of years.
Book accommodation at Scarborough Beach Resort. Perfect for a family holiday to Queensland, it’s just 35 minutes drive from Brisbane airport, offering a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully-self contained holiday apartments and onsite facilities including swimming lap pool, large heated spa and more. BOOK YOUR SCARBOROUGH BRISBANE ACCOMMODATION NOW