Queensland

Australia – Queensland by Gautam Khattak

Last updated: October 31, 2011

Disclaimer: These are notes I’ve written or gathered from various sources. I have not experienced all things in this document nor is it intended to be a definitive guide.

General Tips

Currency: AUD – Australian Dollar
Conversion Tool: http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=100+usd+to+aud
(Update for current rates)

100 USD = 95.849
1 USD = .96 AUD
100 AUD = .104.33 USD

Tipping:

There is no service charge, tax or tipping in Australia. What’s on the menu is on the bill and all you pay. Makes it very easy! Waiters make between $15-20 an hour so they do not expect a tip.

Transportation

There is a train that goes from the Airport to the city. It connects to the Subway system in Sydney making it easy and quick to get downtown. There are taxi’s and a decent subway system to get around, as well as a ferry system.

Tourist Destinations

Behana Creek – Drive south on the James Cook Highway past Gordonvale. Keep going until you see a Mountain shaped like a pyramid (it will be very obvious when you get see it, everything else is not it). When the pyramid is on your right (the road will turn so it will be) you’ll then pass over a railroad track. Immediately take a right onto Behana Gorge Road. Keep driving about 5-10 minutes until you hit a dirt road and park next to the water treatment plant. Then Hike down the road (behind the fence) for 45 minutes and you’ll be at the hidden gem that is Behana graph.

Dining & Nightlife

Shenanningans – Cool down and dirty biker type bar with good live music.

Gilligan’s
La Fettuccina – WOW Really good Italian food! Fresh made pasta, really great seafood. Like really good. Just ask the waiter to pick your meal or whatever.

Shopping

Australia is a great place to buy Uggs in case you need a pair J

Lodging

Trinity – Located on Trinity Beach, this place was OK for the money but the beach is very very small and we had bad winds that day so it wasn’t really usable.

Queenslander – This place sucked

Carvella – Pretty chill Backpacker’s joint. We got a Double room suite for $60 total. The staff was really nice and helpful with getting us a rental car. There’s a good set up for the kitchen etc.

The Green House – Great backpacker’s joint in Cairns. Right in center of town, near ProDive.

On The Wallabee (Yungaburra, Queensland) – Located in Yungaburra, this was probably the favorite of the Backpacking hotels. The lady that runs it was super nice and it was a cool location. There isn’t really anything in Yungaburra other than a platypus viewing platform and a real awesome Swiss-Italian restaurant called Nick’s.

Scotty’s Backpacker (Mission Beach)– This backpacker’s joint in Mission Beach has a nice setup. Cater’s to a young crowed and is pretty self-contained. Mission Beach however had a nice beach, nicer than in around Cairns and yet there was nothing around Mission Beach. It was hit hard by storms a few years ago so that might be why but there really isn’t much but condo’s and a few restaurants there.

Helpful Links

Itinerary I followed (my first visit)

Day 1 (Friday):