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Guide to Queensland
Guide to Queensland
From the bright lights of the Gold Coast to the technicolour underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland has a piece of paradise to suit every traveller.
By Martha Tattersall
Explore ancient rainforests, snorkel with rainbow fish, sink your toes into some of the world's whitest sand and watch whales on their annual migration. Discover the living masterpiece that is the Great Barrier Reef, stay at one of the world's best hotels or shop up a beachside storm on the cosmopolitan Gold Coast. Head north to admire the world's largest sand island, explore the tropical city of Cairns, and experience a thriving cultural and arts scene in an emerging world city – the state of Queensland really does have something for everyone.
Don't miss
- Snorkel, scuba dive or take a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef
- Gaze at the Daintree, the oldest living rainforest on Earth
- Stay at one of the world's best resorts in the Whitsunday Islands
How to get there
Queensland has international airports in Brisbane, Cairns and the Gold Coast, with direct flights from many global hubs. Within Queensland, domestic air travel is an efficient and reliable way to get around, with airports located along the coast, on islands and inland. Road-tripping is another popular way to get around – the roads in Queensland are excellent and well-maintained.
Things to do and top attractions in Queensland
Sea turtle, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
Admire the incredible Great Barrier Reef
The living masterpiece that is the Great Barrier Reef stretches for more than 2,000 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, 1770, 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.
Palm Cove, Queensland
Visit tropical Cairns
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.
Silky Oaks Lodge, Daintree Rainforest, Mossman, Queensland
Daintree Rainforest
The Daintree, a two-hour drive north of Cairns, is the world's oldest tropical rainforest. The Daintree's scenery is 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.
Brisbane, Queensland
Explore Brisbane
Soak up the subtropical climate, explore the river, 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. Then, take a dip at Australia's only inner-city, man-made beach. Brisbane is the perfect gateway from which to explore the wonder and beauty of Queensland.
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland
Discover the Gold Coast
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.
qualia, Whitsunday Islands, Queensland
Indulge on the Whitsunday Islands
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 qualia, as well as Whitehaven Beach – regularly voted into top 10 round-ups of the world's most beautiful beaches for its powder fine sands and dazzling aqua water. You'll also find Heart Reef, named for its incredible shape.
Humpback whale, Hervey Bay, Queensland
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.
Seventy Five Mile Beach, Fraser Island, Queensland
See the world's largest sand island
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, bushwalk through rainforest growing from the sand and swim in mirrored lakes ringed with golden sand. There's also kayaking, jet skiing and wind surfing to enjoy.
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*Product Disclaimer: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator’s website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD). Tourism Australia makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through this website. Some websites which are linked to the Tourism Australia website are independent from Tourism Australia and are not under the control of Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site.
*Product Disclaimer: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator’s website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD). Tourism Australia makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through this website. Some websites which are linked to the Tourism Australia website are independent from Tourism Australia and are not under the control of Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site.
© Tourism Australia 2020
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- https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/cairns-and-surrounds/guide-to-cairns.html
- https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/brisbane-and-surrounds/guide-to-brisbane.html
- https://www.queensland.com/en-au/destination-information/cairns
- https://www.queensland.com/en-au/explore-queensland/gold-coast
- https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/cairns-and-surrounds/guide-to-cairns.html
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- https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/cairns-and-surrounds/guide-to-townsville.html
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- https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/whitsundays-and-surrounds/guide-to-hamilton-island.html
- https://www.visitagnes1770.com.au/
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- https://www.gladstoneregion.info/
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- https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/cairns-and-surrounds/guide-to-the-daintree-rainforest.html
- http://www.visitportdouglasdaintree.com/
- http://tourismpalmcove.com/
- https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/cairns-and-surrounds/guide-to-cairns.html
- https://www.silkyoakslodge.com.au/
- https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/cairns-and-surrounds/guide-to-port-douglas.html
- https://www.visitbrisbane.com.au/south-bank?sc_lang=en-au
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- https://www.destinationgoldcoast.com/places-to-see/main-beach
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- https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/gold-coast-and-surrounds/guide-to-the-gold-coast.html
- https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/gold-coast-and-surrounds/theme-parks.html
- https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/whitsundays-and-surrounds/guide-to-the-whitsundays.html
- http://www.greatbarrierreef.org/
- https://www.qualia.com.au/
- https://www.queensland.com/en-au/attraction/whitehaven-beach
- http://www.queensland.com/attraction/heart-reef
- https://www.australia.com/en-us/facts-and-planning/australias-seasons/winter.html
- https://www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au/
- https://www.visitfrasercoast.com/Destinations/Hervey-Bay
- https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/brisbane-and-surrounds/guide-to-fraser-island.html
- https://www.visitfrasercoast.com/Detail/ID/75-Mile-Beach
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4 Annotations
Snorkel, scuba dive or take a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef
2019/06/27 15:56
Join the locals at one of the Gold Coast's top beaches
2019/06/27 15:56
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.
2019/06/27 15:56
A short ferry ride from Hervey Bay is World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island
2019/06/27 15:56
