Tourism and Events Queensland. Photo: Biopixel
Pack the swimmers and plan a trip up north to Cairns and beyond, where winter temperatures hover around the mid-20s. Cairns, with its family-friendly properties (try Crystalbrook Collection s Bailey residences for extra space in a central location) and popular day trips out to the nearby Great Barrier Reef islands, is a great base for little ones, but consider driving north after a few days to road test the region s best of . At Port Douglas, Back Country Bliss Adventures offers River Drift Snorkelling in the Mossman River (check out the Sheraton Mirage as a place to hang your hat), while Ocean Safari, just off the Daintree Coast at Cape Tribulation, undertakes half-day snorkelling adventures at the spectacular Mackay and Undine reefs. Lock in a stay at Ferntree Rainforest Lodge (as well as a few lush rainforest walks). tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au
The sun s not even up yet and it s already warm on Magnetic Island. In Queensland, where the locals famously get up with the chooks, the island s taxi drivers won t be lured from bed till the night-loving possums and backpackers have tucked themselves up for the day.
I m feeling the heat: my chopper departs before first light and there s no way to get to the helipad. The dilemma is solved when the manager of my accommodation – the Bungalow Bay Koala Village – flips me his own car keys with the instructions, Just stick them under the car mat when you re done. That s so Maggie.