Originally Posted by quitecontrary
Thanks for all the advice- I knew that I would get more response here than on the Oz Forum. I wiill now research all your suggestions and report back on what I decide. I think the sea off the Queensland will be safe for swimming in Aug. When we were first there a few years ago we were surprised to see newspaper headlines saying beaches closed by swarms of 'bluebottles' which we discovered were not what we in the UK think they are!
We have driven the Queensland coast a up as far as Ellis Beach a few years ago but the only time we had on the GBR was a daytrip on a catamaran and aday on Green Island. I agree that some of Southern Queensland is lovely especially Tweed Heads, Noosa etc but we would like to stay on an island this time.
P.S. (for TITS) I am Mrs Q but Mr Q and Mstr Q are coming with me.
If you want "island" and "South", then consider
Heron Island - just off from Gladstone - a lovely getaway but there's not that much for kids there. Can't comment on the reef other than it is there - when I was there we had a out-of-season cyclone to stop all that activity (and the boat & helicopter to the mainland for a day).
If you want kids stuff, Hamilton is quite good - but it's very commercialized compared to other islands (and in my opinion, overpriced).