Queensland

Australia

Overview

When it comes to sun-soaked rest and relaxation no other destination shines like Queensland.

From pristine beaches to lush mountain hideaways, from gently winding rivers to the aquatic paradise of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland is a place that is beautiful one day, and perfect the next.

Things to do

    • The living masterpiece that is the Great Barrier Reef stretches for more than 2,300 kilometres (1,200 miles) along the Queensland coastline. There are hundreds of tours and experiences available along the Great Barrier Reef coastline – most notably from the towns of Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville, Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island, Seventeen Seventy, Bundaberg, Gladstone and Mackay – but whether you snorkel, scuba dive, fly, motor or sail over it, you simply must experience the colours and textures of this natural wonder.
    • From the iconic Surfers Paradise beach and the dining precincts of Main Beach and Broadbeach to the lush, green hinterland, there’s an experience waiting for you at every turn on the Gold Coast. In Australia’s “theme park capital” see native Australian wildlife, meet your favourite movie characters and superheroes, or swim with dolphins.
    • The Daintree, a two hour drive north of Cairns, is the world’s oldest tropical rainforest and so beautiful that it provided inspiration for the movie Avatar. Stand in awe under the branches of the 600-million-year-old Zamia Fern, which has an underground trunk system evolved in defence against dinosaurs. Cruise the Daintree River, where you might spot a crocodile waiting in the mangroves or glimpse a turtle in the clear, sparkling streams below. Stay at one of the luxury eco lodges nestled in the rainforest such as Silky Oaks Lodge, or in the lovely beach village of Port Douglas nearby.
    • With its international airport and excellent shopping, the tropical city of Cairns in Queensland’s far north is a convenient access point for the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, but don’t miss the great things to do in and around town. You’ll find brilliant cafés, bustling markets and plenty of beaches nearby. Relax by one of the pools at a five-star resort, day trip to the nearby stylish villages of Port Douglas and Palm Cove, or spend your days out and about exploring this city oasis.
    • Soak up the subtropical climate, explore rivers, parks and outdoor spaces or delve into its arts and culture at South Bank. Take a paddle steamer or ferry down the Brisbane River or bike ride through the City Botanic Gardens. Brisbane’s heritage Howard Smith Wharves new precinct brings the best of Brisbane together with abundant green spaces, contemporary restaurants and new boutique hotels. Brisbane is the perfect gateway from which to explore the wonder and beauty of Queensland.
    • Made up of 74 tropical islands, the Whitsundays archipelago lies just off the Queensland coast next to the Great Barrier Reef. Here you’ll find some of the world’s best island resorts, including the Luxury Lodge of Australia qualia, as well as Whitehaven Beach – regularly ranked one of the world’s most beautiful beaches for its powder fine sands, dazzling aqua water, and proximity to the incredibly shaped Heart Reef. In 2019 one of Australia’s most lavish islands, Hayman Island, will re-open with a new look luxury resort.
      Watch whales at Hervey Bay – The safe, sheltered waters of Hervey Bay make it one of the best places on Earth for whale watching. In winter months (July to November), humpback whales travel north along the Queensland coastline from Antarctica to the warm waters of the Whitsundays, stopping in calm Hervey Bay to breed and nurse their young.
    • A short ferry ride from Hervey Bay is World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island. It’s easy to see why the traditional Aboriginal owners called Fraser Island K’gari – paradise. Four-wheel drive next to the coloured cliffs of The Cathedrals, take a joy flight over 75 Mile Beach, bush walk through rainforest growing from the sand and swim in mirrored lakes ringed with golden sand. There’s also kayaking, jet skiing and windsurfing to enjoy.

Places to go

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