I've only played EQ2 for 4 months, but here is something I've found on my own after leaving the beginner island (I didn't want to call it noob island), and I think it's worth adding to a guide if you haven't already.
My guys (and gal) were usually level 8. Hit the big city, but gather quests. Don't kill anything yet, just collect quests. Start in your own suburb, and gather EVERY quest. Then hit the bell at the dock, and go down the list alphabetically. In the next town after your starter community, collect every quest (and keep doing it, and doing it). You will probably have a delivery quest given to you by someone in your hometown to take somewhere else. As someone said, a quest recipient will have a solid orange target on their location on the map.
After collecting every quest and finishing any current errands in your "2nd" town, go on to the third town on the list and "rinse and repeat". Collect every quest, deliver any errands, etc.
After hitting every community (excluding Qeynos Harbor and East Freeport, which I'll come back to in a moment...), you have gathered a few errands. Now, go back thru the list and finish any errands. That should tidy you up in the suburbs, and give you at least 1 level, and possibly more!
You should be at least level 9 and could be 10. This is when I went into the City Core areas. I tidied up any loose ends from the suburb quests, and gathered quite a few more errands. Some people are just too lazy to get their own gear............
After these city core quests, I at least was level 10 and maybe 11, and I hadn't even unsheathed my weapon in 2 or 3 levels. This is when I started the suburb hunting zones. I was a bit higher than the mobs I was going to kill, but at least I collected all the quests for that hunting area, so I wouldn't have to keep going back and forth....And my quest log was a bit overwhelming at first, but was easy to manage and complete areas without too much running back and forth.
That's my 2cp worth for leaving the beginner island. I hope it adds a little sanity to a confusing time in a young adventurer's life...