South East Queensland

Sunset over Glass House Mountains, Sunshine Coast, Qld. Photo credit: Tourism and Events Queensland

South East Queensland

There’s a district of South East Queensland (SEQ) called Scenic Rim. It is home to 6 national parks. That tells you all you need to know about SEQ. A) There’s a lot to see. B) You’ll need a bigger memory card for your camera.

From Sunshine Coast and Somerset (no, not that one) in the north to Gold Coast and Scenic Rim in the south, SEQ packs an awful lot in. Its sheer size makes it a landscape of contrasts, from stunning beaches and dusty bushland, to towering cities and volcanic mountain ranges.

Stick to the coast and you’ll experience a very different life to that inland. Surf on the Sunshine Coast. Hit the theme parks of the Gold Coast. Explore the friendly, cultural centre that is Brisbane and take in the museums, zoos and galleries. Or just go shopping.

Yet just an hour inland and you’ll reach the first of the national parks and a land beyond that practically demands to be explored.

Glass House Mountains
They’re not the easiest to access but we promise you’ll kick yourself if you don’t venture to the Glass House Mountains on the Sunshine Coast.

Shaped by erosion from wind and water over 20 million years, these volcanic peaks offer fantastic views of SEQ. On a clear day you can see Brisbane glinting in the distance. Different trails offer hikes for all fitness levels, but if you’d prefer the comfort of air conditioning and four wheels, you can drive to the Glass House Mountains lookout and view the peaks and Sunshine Coast from the observation platform.

Queensland

Know Where You Stand

Queensland is the state; South East Queensland is a region of the state and it is split into a number of districts (or Local Government Areas) such as Gold Coast and Brisbane.

SEQ is the fastest growing region of Queensland. Given the near perfect weather, and the presence of the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, it’s not hard to see why.

Climate is subtropical. Quite humid in the summer, but less so than further north. You’re less likely to have bad weather affect your trip in SEQ than in other areas of the country (or region).