Other sights in Queensland
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Paronella Park
Mena Creek’s main claim to fame is the unusual Paronella Park, which features the ruins of a Spanish castle hand-built in the 1930s. Floods, fire and moist tropics have rendered these mossy remains almost medieval. Entry includes free camping in the adjacent caravan park and a night tour at 6.20pm and/or 8.30pm.
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St John’s Cathedral
East of Roma St Parkland heading towards Fortitude Valley is St John’sCathedral, a fine example of 19th-century Gothic Revival architecture. The building was recently completed according to its original design, 102 years after construction commenced.
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That's Awesome
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Hard Times Mine
Coastal Queenslanders will tell you there's only one reason to make the 1200km plus trek to Mt Isa, and it is to visit the Australian tourism award–winning Outback at Isa . Ancient history comes alive at this museum, which is a one-stop educational stop for Queensland's outback history, from pioneering to mining to local cultures. Get kitted out in fair-dinkum mining attire and head lamps at the Hard Times Mine . You descend a purpose-built mine complete with fuming, roaring and rattling machinery. The fascinating Riversleigh Fossil Centre is also here. It features a re-creation of Australia's prehistoric fauna, and actual fossils. The centre also houses the Isa…
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Riversleigh Fossil Centre
Coastal Queenslanders will tell you there's only one reason to make the 1200km plus trek to Mt Isa, and it is to visit the Australian tourism award–winning Outback at Isa . Ancient history comes alive at this museum, which is a one-stop educational stop for Queensland's outback history, from pioneering to mining to local cultures. The fascinating Riversleigh Fossil Centre is also here. It features a re-creation of Australia's prehistoric fauna, and actual fossils. There's a good-value, two-day Discovery Tour Pass , which combines all the attractions.
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Jondaryan Woolshed Complex
About 45km west of Toowoomba is the Jondaryan Woolshed Complex, which displays antique tractors and obscure farm machinery. There are daily blacksmithing and shearing demonstrations – check the website for times. To really get into the pioneering spirit, try spending a night in the shearers’ quarters (adult/child $15/8) or one of the cabins (up to four people $40). Or you can pseudo-camp in pre-erected safari tents ($20 per person), which come complete with mattress.
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Capricorn Caves
About 23km north of Rockhampton, in the Berserker Range are the impressive Capricorn Caves. These deeply illuminated limestone passages are particularly spectacular during the summer solstice period (1 December to 14 January), when the sun beams vertical light through the roof of the Belfry Cave. The informative one-hour Cathedral Tour is an easy guided walk that leaves on the hour.
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Rockhampton City Art Gallery
An eclectic and satisfying snippet of Australian artwork is on display at Rockhampton City Art Gallery. Sir Russell Drysdale, Sir Sidney Nolan and Albert Namatjira are part of the fine permanent collection, as are some impressive contemporary Indigenous painters. Check with the gallery for the latest temporary exhibition, for which there is usually a charge.
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Porcupine Gorge National Park
The Porcupine Gorge National Park is an oasis in the dry country north of Hughenden. The best spot to go to is Pyramid Lookout, about 70km north of Hughenden. You can camp here and it’s an easy 30-minute walk into the gorge, with some fine rock formations and a permanently running creek.
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MV Tasman Venture
Takes a maximum of 80 passengers and has underwater microphones and viewing windows. Whale watching tours operate daily out of Hervey Bay - weather permitting - between mid-July and late October. Sightings are guaranteed from 1 August to 1 November, when you get a free subsequent trip if the whales don't show.
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QDeck
The 360-degree views of the Gold Coast from the observation level of QDeck are brilliant for gaining perspective and orientation. The deck is 230m high on the 77th level of Q1 Tower, and is accessed by one of the world’s fastest elevators. The Qbar has DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.
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St Mary's by the Sea
St Mary’s by the Sea is a tiny nondenominational white-timber chapel that was built in 1911 and a nominee for prettiest church in the Land of Oz (there’s a bit of a waiting list for weddings, so if you want to get hitched there, book ahead at info@portdouglasweddings.com.au).
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Wheel of Brisbane
The Wheel of Brisbane with its London Eye–style prime riverfront views is the latest attraction in the Parklands. The fully enclosed, air-conditioned capsules rise to nearly 60m but the experience is all over in 13 minutes. Book online for a 10% discount.
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Mackay Townhouse Motel
Art deco enthusiasts will love Mackay’s CBD. Most of the facades are at their finest on the second storey. Noteworthy examples include the Mackay Townhouse Motel, the Australian Hotel and the Ambassador Hotel.
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Dreamtime Cultural Centre
The Dreamtime Cultural Centre is an easily accessible insight into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and history. The excellent 90-minute tours are hands on (boomerangs!) and appeal to all ages. It’s about 7km north of the centre.
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Botanic Gardens
Rockhampton’s wonderful Botanic Gardens is an oasis of Japanese gardens, lagoons and immaculate lawns. There is good access for those with disabilities, a kiosk, an attractive picnic area and a small zoo with koalas and a walk-through aviary.
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Solar City Smart Lifestyle Centre
The main road to Horseshoe Bay houses the Solar City Smart Lifestyle Centre, which demonstrates how solar power works and how 500 Maggie homes will be fitted with solar power (currently all power and water is piped in from the mainland).
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Miners Cottage
A dusty collection of the town’s antiques can be seen at the wonderful, privately owned Miners Cottage, which caught a resident ghost on film. Staff here will play a few tunes on the accordion and teach you some gold-panning skills.
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Doomadgee Aboriginal Community
The Doomadgee Aboriginal Community, 93km west of Burketown, has a retail area and the last petrol pump for 400km. Village access is at the discretion of the community council, though there’s talk of accommodation opening up.
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Gab Titui Cultural Centre
On Thursday Island, the Gab Titui Cultural Centre houses a modern gallery displaying the cultural history of the Torres Strait, hosts cultural events and exhibitions by local artists, and has a popular outdoor cafe.
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Dogwood Crossing
On the main street in Miles is Dogwood Crossing, a $1.6 million community project that combines visual arts, social history and literature into a museum, gallery, library and multimedia resource centre.
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North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum
The small but impressive North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum has curious displays such as items retrieved from shipwrecks and a giant skull of a sperm whale that washed up on Main Beach in 2004.
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Nob Creek Pottery
Nob Creek Pottery is a working pottery and gallery nestled in leafy rainforest. The gallery showcases hand-blown glass, woodwork and jewellery, and the handmade ceramics are outstanding.
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Queensland Maritime Museum
Naval enthusiasts will enjoy the Queensland Maritime Museum. The highlight is the gigantic HMAS Diamantina, a restored WWII frigate that you can clamber aboard and explore.
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Baldwin Swamp
Some 3km from the city centre is BaldwinSwamp, an 87-hectare wetland reserve of lagoons and forest filled with birds, trees, loads of bandicoots and other furry night-time friends.
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