2024 Australia – October – Binna Burra in Lamington National Park

Binna Burra: Where Rainforest Meets the Rim of the World

High in Queensland’s Scenic Rim, on the edge of a vast, ancient caldera, lies Binna Burra — a place where towering trees, misty valleys, and deep time come together. Bordering the western edge of Lamington National Park, Binna Burra is one of Australia’s most storied eco-retreats, perched on a ridge that looks out across layers of subtropical rainforest and volcanic escarpments.

Just 90 minutes from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, Binna Burra offers much more than a mountain getaway — it’s a gateway to Gondwana, to Aboriginal heritage, and to the heart of one of the most biodiverse regions in the country.

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2024 Australia – October – Bundeena

Bundeena: A Seaside Escape at the Edge of the Royal National Park

Tucked quietly between Sydney’s southern suburbs and the vast expanse of the Royal National Park, the village of Bundeena feels like a world apart. With its calm beaches, bush-fringed coves, coastal trails, and small-town charm, Bundeena is one of New South Wales‘ best-kept secrets — a place where time slows down and nature takes centre stage.

Only an hour’s drive from central Sydney (or a short ferry ride from Cronulla), Bundeena is the kind of place where weekends stretch longer, walks turn into wanderings, and local art and nature exist side by side.

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2024 Australia – October – Gold Coast

Gold Coast: Australia’s Playground of Sun, Surf and Skyline

The Gold Coast is more than just golden beaches and high-rise towers. Stretching along 70 kilometres of Queensland’s southeastern coastline, this iconic region is a dynamic mix of surf towns, subtropical rainforests, luxury resorts, and family-friendly attractions. It’s one of Australia’s fastest-growing and most-visited destinations, drawing millions of people each year for its unique blend of natural beauty, outdoor lifestyle, entertainment, and innovation.

Whether you’re chasing waves in Burleigh Heads, exploring ancient rainforest in the hinterland, or dining on fresh seafood overlooking the skyline, the Gold Coast delivers the best of modern Australia — bright, bold, and full of energy.

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2024 Australia – October – Rathdowney and Border Ranges National Park

Rathdowney and the Border Ranges: Where Mountains, Rainforests and Country Life Meet

Tucked into the scenic foothills of Queensland’s Scenic Rim, the small rural town of Rathdowney offers travellers a gateway to some of the most spectacular natural landscapes in Australia. Just two hours southwest of Brisbane, this quiet patch of country is the doorstep to the Border Ranges National Park — a UNESCO-listed wonderland of ancient Gondwana rainforest, volcanic escarpments, and mist-shrouded valleys that stretch across the Queensland–New South Wales border.

Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, exploring ancient forests, or enjoying the slower rhythms of country life, Rathdowney and the Border Ranges region deliver both grandeur and intimacy — a rare combination in modern travel.

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2024 Australia – October – South Port

Southport: Gateway to the Gold Coast’s Past and Present

Tucked between the Nerang River and the shimmering skyline of the Gold Coast, Southport is a town that blends heritage charm with coastal vitality. Once the original centre of the Gold Coast, Southport has transformed from a 19th-century seaside retreat into a bustling hub of education, commerce, and leisure. Today, it remains the Gold Coast’s central business district (CBD) and one of its most culturally diverse and livable communities.

While it often plays second fiddle to nearby Surfers Paradise, Southport offers a more local, grounded experience — with parklands, marinas, universities, historic buildings, and easy access to beaches and waterways that define Queensland’s southeast coast.

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2024 Australia – October – Springbrook National Park

Springbrook National Park: Waterfalls, Wilderness, and Ancient Green Worlds

Nestled in the Gold Coast hinterland, Springbrook National Park is a landscape unlike any other in Queensland — a place where rainforest shrouds ancient volcanoes, waterfalls plunge into mossy gorges, and walking trails feel like time machines. Just an hour’s drive from the surf and skyline of the Gold Coast, Springbrook offers a total shift in atmosphere: cooler, quieter, wilder, and infinitely more primeval.

Part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, this mountain-top sanctuary is a refuge for ancient flora and fauna, and a paradise for walkers, photographers, nature lovers, and those seeking a deeper connection with the land.

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2024 Australia – October – Tamborine National Park

Tamborine National Park: Queensland’s Mountain Retreat in the Sky

Perched in the lush hinterland behind the Gold Coast, Tamborine National Park is a place where rainforest trails wind through volcanic rock, waterfalls cascade into fern-lined gullies, and mountaintop views open out across rolling green valleys. Just over an hour from Brisbane and less than 45 minutes from the Gold Coast, Tamborine offers a cooler, greener, and slower alternative to the bustling coastline below.

This is Queensland’s first declared national park — protected since 1908 — and it remains a favourite destination for nature lovers, foodies, and anyone seeking fresh mountain air and timeless landscapes.

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2024 Australia – October – Stanwell Park to Wollonggong

From Stanwell Park to Wollongong: A Coastal Journey Between Cliffs and Sea

Traveling from Stanwell Park to Wollongong is one of the most breathtaking coastal drives in New South Wales. Just over an hour south of Sydney, this route follows the dramatic curve of the Illawarra Escarpment, where forested cliffs meet the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, you’ll encounter panoramic lookouts, charming seaside villages, golden beaches, and a vibrant regional city with deep cultural roots.

This journey is far more than a connection between two places — it’s a sensory experience that invites you to slow down, explore, and appreciate the land where mountains tumble into the sea.