Hotel pools Part 2: Queensland

Four of the best outdoor pools from Queensland.

Top of my list is in the swim-up apartment hotel, aptly named Pool, at Port Douglas.




Sanctuary Cove Resort on the Gold Coast is renowned for its pool area, including an artificial beach lagoon.

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The Ramada Hotel at Hervey Bay

..and Eurong Resort on Fraser Island (there's two pools)

 

Fantasy pool, Sunshine Coast, Qld



The ultimate fantasy pool, I think. By Aquatonic Pty Ltd, a Brisbane company. I don't usually show commercial firms etc on this blog but I am blown away by how beautiful this pool and its setting is.

Great Barrier Reef Low Isles

A fabulously beautiful place to swim and snorkel, which we did in October 2008. Luvin' the stinger suit (not!!)

Noosa Main Beach

Noosa Main Beach is a lovely haven, a little more protected than some of the more open and "wild" surf beaches of the Sunshine Coast.  This is the last of the photos from our January 2011 Queensland holiday.

Caloundra Pool

This beachfront tidal saltwater pool is at Kings Beach, Caloundra. The day I visited the water was murky from recent discharge of floodwaters which had affected many Queensland beaches after the floods of January 2011.

Plantation Resort, Rainbow Beach

I am rather partial to a resort pool, even where the beach is a stone's throw away. I spent most of Australia Day 2011 lolling around here, hearing music from the pub next door.

Driving and picnicking on the beach

On the Fraser Coast in Queensland (and other places), driving a 4WD along parts of the beach is part of the lifestyle. Nevertheless, beach driving is controversial. I must admit it bemuses me somewhat - how you can imagine diesel fumes add to beauty, and why you would want to spend a picnic in the shadow of your car. It is also a bit disconcerting as a beach walker to have to watch out for traffic!

I am interested to hear what others have to say.

Above: evidence that you are never really alone on the beach, and could get mown down at any time! I went for a walk along Rainbow Beach just after 7am, and had to watch out for vehicles. Mind you, one driver regretted his decision - the rescue would have proved very costly!

Below: King of all he surveys

Below: Peak hour

Below: Where there is driving, there are road signs. This makes a particularly unattractive backdrop to the beach!

Below: Mind you, you had better heed the signs, cos the local coppers patrol the beach. They also set up breath-testing, probably to nab drunken picnickers on their way home from a day down the beach.

Below: Heavy traffic!

Pictures below: Australia Day, Rainbow Beach. Not, in my view, a particularly inviting way to have  a picnic: turn a beach into a car park. Others no doubt disagree.