Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If you intend to do a lot of caravanning or camping, joining a major chain will save you some money:
Big 4
(
www.big4.com.au
)
Discovery Holiday Parks
(
www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au
)
Top Tourist Parks
(
www.toptouristparks.com.au
)
Farmstays
Many coastal and hinterland farms offer a bed for the night and the chance to see rural Australia at work. At some you
sit back and watch other people raise a sweat, while others like to get you involved in day-to-day activities.
Regional and town tourist offices should be able to tell you what's available in their area. Also check out:
Bed & Breakfast Site
(
www.babs.com.au
) Look under family holidays/farmstays.
Willing Workers on Organic Farms
(WWOOF;
www.wwoof.com.au
).
Hostels
Backpackers are highly social, low-cost Queensland fixtures. There are staggering numbers of them, ranging from
family-run places in converted houses to huge, custom-built resorts replete with bars, nightclubs and party propensity.
Standards range from outstanding to awful, and management from friendly to scary.
Dorm beds typically cost $25 to $35, with single rooms sometimes available (around $60) and doubles costing $70 to
$100.
Useful organisations with annual memberships (around $45) that yield lodging and other discounts:
Base Backpackers
(
www.stayatbase.com
)
Nomads
(
www.nomadsworld.com
)
VIP Backpackers
(
www.vipbackpackers.com
)
YHA
(
www.yha.com.au
)
Hotels
Hotels along the east coast are generally of the business or luxury-chain variety (midrange to top end): comfortable, an-
onymous, mod-con filled rooms in multistorey blocks.
Motels
Drive-up motels offer comfortable midrange accommodation and are found all over Queensland. They rarely offer a
cheaper rate for singles, so are better value for couples or groups of three. You'll mostly pay between $100 and $150 for
a simple room with a kettle, fridge, TV, air-con and bathroom.
Pubs
Hotels along the east coast − ones that serve beer − are commonly known as pubs (from the term 'public house'). Gener-
ally, rooms are small and weathered, with a long amble down the hall to the bathroom. They're usually central and
cheap - singles/doubles with shared facilities from $50/80, more if you want a private bathroom - but if you're a light
sleeper, avoid booking a room above the bar and check whether a band is playing downstairs that night.