Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 6 . QUEENSLAND & THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
WHERE TO STAY
Lady Elliot Island Resort Accommodation here is fairly basic, but visitors
come for the reef, not the room. Top of the range are the Island Suites, which
have one or two separate bedrooms, and great sea views from the deck. Most Reef
rooms have a double bed and two bunks, and a deck with views through the trees
to the sea. Shearwater bunkrooms sleep up to six, and all room types have modern
private bathrooms. The cool, spacious tent cabins have four bunks, electric
lighting, and timber floors, but share the public toilets and showers used by day
guests. All accommodations have fans. The limited facilities include a boutique,
a dive shop, and an education center. There is no air-conditioning, no keys
(secure storage is at front desk), no TVs, no radio, and one public telephone. The
food is basic. A low-key program of mostly free activities includes glass-bottom
boat rides, badminton, guided walks, and beach volleyball, and because of the relatively
low number of guests, you pretty much get the Reef to yourself. A minimum
3-night stay applies from December 24 to January 5.
Great Barrier Reef via Bundaberg. (P.O. Box 206, Torquay, QLD 4655). & 1800/072 200 in Australia, or 07/
5536 3644. Fax 07/5536 7285. www.ladyelliot.com.au. 40 units, 20 with bathroom (shower only). A$290
(US$189) double for tent cabins; A$330 (US$215) double for Shearwater bunkrooms; A$390 (US$254) double
for Reef units; A$450 (US$293) double for 1-bedroom or A$480 (US$312) double for 2-bedroom Island Suites.
Extra child 3–12 A$75 (US$49). Ask about 2-, 4-, 5-, and 7-night packages, and dive packages. Rates include
breakfast and dinner. AE, DC, MC, V. Amenities: Cafe/bistro and dining room; saltwater pool; children’s program
for ages 5–12 (during Queensland school holidays only). In room: Ceiling or wall fans, no phone.
7 Fraser Island: Eco–Adventures & 4WD Fun
1,547 (928 miles) S of Cairns; 260km (156 miles) N of Brisbane; 15km (9 miles) E of Hervey Bay
The biggest sand island in the world, this 164,000-hectare (405,000-acre)
World Heritage–listed island off the central Queensland coast attracts a mix of
sensitive eco-tourists and Aussie fishermen. Fraser is almost untouched, with
eucalyptus woodlands, soaring dunes, clear creeks, ancient rainforest, blue lakes,
ochre-colored sand cliffs, and a stunning 121-km-long (75-mile) beach. For
4WD fans though, Fraser’s beauty lies in its complete absence of paved roads.
On weekends when the fish are running, it’s nothing to see 100 4WDs lining
75-Mile Beach, which is a gazetted road. Pedestrians should beware!
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE By Car Hervey (pronounced Har-vey) Bay is the main
gateway to the island. Take the Bruce Highway to Maryborough, then the 34km
(21-mile) road to Hervey Bay. If approaching from the north, turn off the highway
at Torbanlea, north of Maryborough, and cut across to Hervey Bay. Allow
3 hours from the Sunshine Coast, a good 5 hours from Brisbane.
Guests at Kingfisher Bay Resort (see below) can get to the resort aboard the
Kingfisher Bay Fastcat, which departs Urangan Boat Harbour at Hervey Bay
four times a day between 8:30am and 6:30pm (7pm Fri–Sat). Round-trip fare for
the 40-minute crossing is A$35 (US$23) adults and A$17 (US$11) kids 4 to 14.
The resort runs a courtesy shuttle from Hervey Bay’s airport and coach terminal
to the harbor. You can park free in the open at the Fastcat terminal; Fraser Coast
Secure Vehicle Storage, at 629 The Esplanade (& 07/4125 2783), a 5-minute
walk from the terminal, gives covered parking for A$7.70 to $9.90 (US$5–
US$6.45) per 24 hours.
By Bus Both Greyhound Pioneer (& 13 20 30 in Australia) and McCafferty’s
(& 13 14 99 in Australia) coaches stop several times a day in Hervey Bay