What I Would Do in Five Days in Queensland

One of the joys of returning home from a getaway adventure is planning (and dreaming of) the next big trip. If I’m afforded the opportunity to travel to Australia, this is what I would do in five days in Queensland.

Eat a Vegemite Sandwich and More
As a teenager of the ‘80s, I’ve been curious about the vegemite sandwich the group Men at Work sang about in their song “Down Under.” Although I’ve heard mixed reactions to it, the sandwich is on my foodie bucket list. I’d also explore Queensland’s authentic outback meals and taste entrees crafted by 21st century chefs. I enjoy a nice glass of wine and would find time to visit some of the more than 170 wineries. Kooroomba is high on my list for its restaurant, vineyard and lavender field.

Hold My Breath to See the Beauty of the Great Barrier Reef
Living in Florida, I’m surrounded by water but honestly I’ve only snorkeled once in my life so snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef is a must-do. I’m ready to get nose-to-mask with angel fish, tomato clowns and spotted grouper as they swim alongside a colorful marine backdrop of staghorn, elephant and fire corals and orange and lavender sponges. If I don’t end up going snorkelling, I do have a backup plan, which you can find on sites such as https://www.zegrahm.com/small-ship-cruises. An expedition of the great barrier reef. Either way, I will be seeing it and it’ll be something I can tick off my bucket list.
Although a tad scary, I’ll be respectful of gray reef sharks, lionfish and of James Bond fame, the blue-ringed octopus.

Will I Need Wellies for the Rainforest?
The very core of me is a tree hugger and traipsing through the Daintree Rainforest would be a dream. This is the world’s oldest surviving tropical rainforest and although more than 1,200 insects have been logged in this forest, I’d love to walk under the canopy and cruise down the Daintree River. It would be an opportunity to see platypus (an egg-laying mammal), spectacled flying fox (big bats!) and birds up to six feet tall!

Rock Out to Rock Art
Graffiti art didn’t originate with the spray can. Aboriginal people painted on rock walls to communicate and I’d schedule a tour with an Aboriginal Elder of the Nugal-Warra people to see six rock art sites near Cooktown. This art has been practiced as recently as the past 100 years and offers a window into the Nugal-Warra society which has lasted for tens of thousands of years.

Embrace those Warm Fuzzies
I’m getting the warm fuzzies just thinking about cuddling a koala, which can be done when visiting the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane. After getting my marsupial loving, I’ll feed resident kangaroos and say “g’day” to a Tasmanian devil.

So mate, tell me, what are your must-see and do activities in Queensland, Australia? My passport is itching for another stamp and my mind is ready to discover the land Down Under.

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Image Source: Tourism Queensland