Sunshine and Fbaser Coasts
The pastel yellow that permeates the Sunshine Coast contrasts sharply with the Gold Coast's pulsating neon. The Sunshine Coast, in many ways, is a kinder, gentler version of vacationland. The crowds are fewer, but expert surfers still dot the waves. Beaches still envelop well-established towns, and waters still greet those eager to partake in aquatic pleasures. Accessible national parks, like Noosa and Cooloola, replace the more artificial theme parks down the coast, and travelers content to relax are more likely to see koalas in the wild.
The largest of the islands that dot Queensland's coastal waters, sandy Fraser Island reclines under a cover of rainforest. Wild horses wander through the bush like fantastical unicorns, pausing to drink from the island's freshwater lakes, and dingoes hunt for wallabies but are happy to take off with shoes instead. On the mainland, Bundab-erg is hailed as a particularly lucrative base for casual labor, and a bevy of workers' hostels have sprung up to meet the demand.