Hinze Dam

Type: Natural Attractions and National Parks

South East Queensland's AUD395 Million Hinze Dam was originally constructed in 1976, later raised 15 metres in 1989 and recently upgraded in 2011. The large embankment and un-gated spillway across the Nerang River provides water security and flood mitigation to the Gold Coast. The catchment area of 207 square kilometres includes the Numinbah Valley and Springbrook Plateau, which pools into a 3700 acre reservoir called Advancetown Lake. This lak

Palm Beach Reef Dive Site

Type: Natural Attractions and National Parks

Palm Beach Reef, located close to its namesake beach on the Gold Coast, is a large reef of varying depths, perfect for any diver. With sections of the area as shallow as five metres, and other sections dropping to depths of 24 metres, there are lots of different environments here to explore. Rocky outcrops and several large bommies are covered in a wide variety of soft corals and sponges, inhabited by an abundance of sea life – larger creatures s

Cook Island Dive Site

Type: Natural Attractions and National Parks

Cook Island, a short boat trip from the Gold Coast, is an accessible and appealing dive site for all experience levels. Hard and soft corals cover the bottom in some areas, with boulders forming walls and caves descending to the sandy sea floor in others. A colourful and interesting mix of reef and pelagic fish call Cook Island home: pufferfish, gropers, surgeonfish, anemonefish, leatherjackets, parrotfish, trevally, bullseyes and sweetlips are s