Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cycling & Mountain Biking
Queensland gets hot and humid, but during the winter plenty of two-wheelers go touring
for days, weekends or even weeks. The landscape is (mostly) low-lying and mountain-
free, and the sun is usually
shining. Or you can just rent a bike for a few hours and wheel around a city.
Rates charged by rental outfits for road or mountain bikes range from $10 to $15 per
hour and $25 to $50 per day. Security deposits range from $50 to $200, depending on the
Planet's
Cycling Australia
.
Paragliding, Hang-Gliding & Parasailing
You'll see paragliders circling the skies over plenty of places along the Queensland coast,
but one of the best spots is above the Carlo Sandblow at Rainbow Beach, where champi-
onship competitions happen every January.
Tandem paragliding flights there generally last around 20 to 30 minutes and cost around
$180.
If you're keen to try hang-gliding,
South East Queensland Hanggliding
(
www.hangglidequeensland.com.au
)
runs tandem flights at Mt Tamborine in the Gold Coast hinter-
land. Flights last around 20 minutes and cost $275. Paragliding is also offered from the
Parasailing (dangling below a parachute-like canopy while being dragged along by a
boat) is another heart-starting way to get the most from the coast. There are beachside op-
erators on the Gold Coast and many other beach resorts along the coast.
BUNGEE JUMPING & SKYDIVING
Brave? Lose a bet? Just plain crazy? Cairns is the place to try bungee jumping, with multiperson 'jungle swings'
for those not willing to go it alone. If you'd rather jump out of a plane, sign up for some skydiving at Caloundra,
Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Mission Beach or Cairns. Most folks start with a 9000ft jump, with
around 30 seconds of freefall - or up the ante to 14,000ft with up to a minute of pant-wetting plummeting. Prices
start at around $300 for a skydive, and $100 for a bungee jump.
