DF's mum moved up there a couple of years ago and we went up last Christmas. There are lots of beautiful places close by to go and visit (Daydream Island etc isn't too far away), and I think there are some rainforests around?

From what I remember shopping is pretty good, there are a couple of large shopping centres. They have a really great pool setup - it's free to get in, there's a waterslide, some smaller pools for the kids and a deeper pool. It's more like a lagoon though rather than a pool but it is lovely.

The weather wasn't too bad, it was warm and a bit humid but with air con you could survive. DF's mum's house had air conditioning but it didn't work, and we ended up leaving for home a couple of days early because it was just too hot! There were a few torrential rain showers that came through too, I've never seen anything like it! It absolutely bucketed down for 10-15 mins, the type of rain that if you spend 10 seconds in it you will be soaked to the bone!

I agree it is lovely, although fairly isolated, especially as it is so far up the top of Qld. But you wouldn't really need to go anywhere else for shopping or anything.