{"id":423,"date":"2014-07-28T17:36:17","date_gmt":"2014-07-28T09:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gautamkhattak.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=423"},"modified":"2015-08-07T12:33:30","modified_gmt":"2015-08-07T04:33:30","slug":"australia-queensland","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gautamkhattak.com\/wordpress\/oceania\/australia-queensland\/","title":{"rendered":"Queensland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australia – Queensland <\/strong>by Gautam Khattak<\/p>\n

Last updated:<\/strong> October 31, 2011<\/p>\n

Disclaimer:<\/strong> These are notes I\u2019ve written or gathered from various sources. I have not experienced all things in this document nor is it intended to be a definitive guide.<\/p>\n

General Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n

Currency:<\/strong> AUD \u2013 Australian Dollar
\nConversion Tool:<\/strong> http:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=100+usd+to+aud<\/a>
\n(Update for current rates)<\/p>\n

100 USD = 95.849
\n1 USD = .96 AUD
\n100 AUD = .104.33 USD<\/p>\n

Tipping:<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is no service charge, tax or tipping in Australia. What\u2019s on the menu is on the bill and all you pay. Makes it very easy! Waiters make between $15-20 an hour so they do not expect a tip.<\/p>\n

Transportation<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is a train that goes from the Airport to the city. It connects to the Subway system in Sydney making it easy and quick to get downtown. There are taxi\u2019s and a decent subway system to get around, as well as a ferry system.<\/p>\n

Tourist Destinations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Behana Creek \u2013 Drive south on the James Cook Highway past Gordonvale. Keep going until you see a Mountain shaped like a pyramid (it will be very obvious when you get see it, everything else is not it). When the pyramid is on your right (the road will turn so it will be) you\u2019ll then pass over a railroad track. Immediately take a right onto Behana Gorge Road. Keep driving about 5-10 minutes until you hit a dirt road and park next to the water treatment plant. Then Hike down the road (behind the fence) for 45 minutes and you\u2019ll be at the hidden gem that is Behana graph.<\/p>\n

Dining & Nightlife<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shenanningans<\/strong> \u2013 Cool down and dirty biker type bar with good live music.<\/p>\n

Gilligan\u2019s
\nLa Fettuccina<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 WOW Really good Italian food! Fresh made pasta, really great seafood. Like really good. Just ask the waiter to pick your meal or whatever.<\/p>\n

Shopping<\/strong><\/p>\n

Australia is a great place to buy Uggs in case you need a pair J<\/p>\n

Lodging<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trinity \u2013 <\/strong>Located on Trinity Beach, this place was OK for the money but the beach is very very small and we had bad winds that day so it wasn\u2019t really usable.<\/p>\n

Queenslander \u2013 <\/strong>This place sucked<\/p>\n

Carvella<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Pretty chill Backpacker\u2019s joint. We got a Double room suite for $60 total. The staff was really nice and helpful with getting us a rental car. There\u2019s a good set up for the kitchen etc.<\/p>\n

The Green House<\/a> <\/strong>\u2013 Great backpacker\u2019s joint in Cairns. Right in center of town, near ProDive.<\/p>\n

On The Wallabee<\/a><\/strong> (Yungaburra, Queensland) \u2013 Located in Yungaburra, this was probably the favorite of the Backpacking hotels. The lady that runs it was super nice and it was a cool location. There isn\u2019t really anything in Yungaburra other than a platypus viewing platform and a real awesome Swiss-Italian restaurant called Nick\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Scotty\u2019s Backpacker (Mission Beach)<\/strong>\u2013 This backpacker\u2019s joint in Mission Beach has a nice setup. Cater\u2019s to a young crowed and is pretty self-contained. Mission Beach however had a nice beach, nicer than in around Cairns and yet there was nothing around Mission Beach. It was hit hard by storms a few years ago so that might be why but there really isn\u2019t much but condo\u2019s and a few restaurants there.<\/p>\n

Helpful Links<\/strong><\/p>\n