I stick my necks out and describe Moreton Bay as one of the most beautiful bays on earth. Of course, not every square inch is beautiful, but after seeing areas such as the Suttons Beach, the Queens Beach, mooring canals I think Moreton Bay deserves more praise than it gets - especially from the Queenslanders themselves.

But it isn't just the scenic bayside that touched me. Without a doubt, Scarborough and Redcliffe are getting better, too. At 5 oclock in the morning swimming pools at the bay are pulsating and the sunrise and cycling scenes have everything for the walker. You can immerse yourself yourself in history at the first settlement site, marvel at grand cathedrals of red rocks, go mystic at the distant whiteness of Moreton Island's Tangalooma...

While the Bay may appear compact, the more you explore, the bigger it becomes. Like the Moreton Bay, the Redcliffe Peninsular pretends to be small: a glorious peninsula of coves, cliffs and beaches are anything but small!

One thing Queensland teaches you; it teaches you how to slow down.

Travel Glory of the open road

Already this year, inland Queensland towns are reporting early sightings of the great Mexican migration: the seasonal shift of southern residents to fish, relax, explore and enjoy the many delights of a north Queensland winter.
· The great Mexican migration [CourierMail ]

If someone tells you the resort you're booked into has a 19.6km beachfront, 100km of dirt roads, camels and enough space for two championship golf courses, it's a fair bet you're going to be a long way from the madding holiday crowd.
· 101 ESCAPES [Queensland]