pearl-drum-man

The wife and I are starting to look into a trip for 2010. We have acquaintences there that we would be staying with so that will be helpful. Interested in some input on things to do in the general (day-trip) vicinity. We would probably be looking to go in the June-August range. From what I've seen the average temps still look pretty decent, and thoughts on those months weather-wise?

jeeptheone

Tom,

Heaps of great places to wheel from a day trip persepctive from Brisbane. Check out the details on www.4x4earth.com.au whcih has a large map database of tracks in and around Brissy.

Best that you come out with some of the crew from the ausjeepoffroad forum and also members of the Brisbane Jeep Club, Sunshine Coast Jeep Club and also the Gold Coast Jeep Club. Most are Ausjeep members as well and will be happy to take the two of you for a wheel.

As for the weather it is still ok for top down driving but the mornings and evenings can be chilly and sometime rain does arrive.

We are always happy to show our US Jeep counterparts the places that we wheel.

JTO

pearl-drum-man

Thanks for the info! It is a ways off, but a trip like this will take some planning. Our Australian friends will be coming to the States this summer and we will be seeing them then and I'm sure that will go a long way to getting some things set.

I've always been fascinated with Australia, and after reading Bill Bryson's "In A Sunburned Country" even more so (though I'm sure the book doesn't do it justice). I would love to go to Uluru and Kakadu NP, but I'm sure those are both 1000 or more miles away.

Any other national parks within day-trip distance of Brisbane? How about the Great Barrier Reaf, close enough to visit?

WOuld love to get some off-road trail action as well.

AJK

Great to hear that you will hopefully be doing a trip to Australia.I'm sure that there will be plenty of Brisbane Jeepers who would be more than happy to take you and your wife out for the day wheeling.I've seen lots of pics of great tracks around Brissy so you will have a great time out and about for sure.

As for the Great Barrier Reef it's a fair way north of Brisbane but well worth a look.

But when planing your trip for next year there is something you really need to remember: our bi-annual Jeep Jamboree is being held at the end of September next year, so there won't be many Jeepers in Brisbane at that time as they will all be in Warragul, Victoria at Jambo.Unless of course you would like to come along the an Aussie Jamboree??The more the merrier I say.

jeeptheone

Also better mention that there is a lot of non Jeep/trail related places to see from a day trip persepctive including;

Theme Parks down the Gold Coast - www.myfun.com.au
Heaps of other stuff on the Gold Coast including the Amphibius Duck, Casino, general sightseeing in the centre. http://www.mygoldcoast.net/gold-coast-attractions.html
Up the Sunshine Coast you have Noosa etc http://www.tourismsunshinecoast.com.au/
Above that is Fraser Island which is better done over a weekend as a minimum, can hire a 4x4 and look around at your own lesuire. http://www.fraserisland.net/
In Brisbane you have Southbank and all its offerings, the CBD area and the pubs, eatery's, shopping etc http://www.visitsouthbank.com.au/

As for local National Parks they vary from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast and also inland. http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/

I may ahve overloaded you with info but you will have the time to look at it.

JTO

pearl-drum-man

Thanks for all the info, and you definitely haven't over-loaded. I'm bookmarking all these links in my Aussie Trip folder.