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Our garden’s a one-million-year-old rainforest. Out the back is a red desert of dinosaur bones. Our swimming pool? The world’s largest reef. Here, you’ll find experiences like nowhere else on the planet. Come alive like you only can in Queensland.
So, what can you expect to find?
Queensland’s capital, Brisbane, is a cosmopolitan hub for arts, culture and dining, heavy on laid-back charm. Boasting stunning natural assets, clear blue skies all year round and a subtropical alfresco lifestyle, Brisbane is an urban metropolis with a relaxed vibe.
Courtesy of its 283 days of sunshine on average, and year-round warm climate, Queenslander’s favour being outside where possible. The population regularly descends on the open-air markets throughout town, including the Brisbane City Markets in Radcliffe Place, and public green spaces like the recently redeveloped Roma Street Parkland and New Farm Park, where picnics are popular. The River City also offers no end of adventure experiences to get your heart racing. Tackle the Story Bridge Adventure Climb, Riverlife Adventure Centre or Brisbane by Bicycle, take a wander of Brisbane City Botanical Gardens, or a city skyline swim at Streets Beach in South Bank.
Creativity equally abounds across town. The suburbs of South Bank, West End and Fortitude Valley are well-documented for their nightlife, live music scene, and galleries galore.
Pack your swimmers and sunscreen because Queensland is renowned for pristine beaches, picturesque islands, and of course, the World-Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. Stretching for 2,300 kilometres and home to over 1,500 species of marine life, it’s the ultimate nature-lovers’ location.
Rich in biodiversity and natural wonder, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, stretching from the tip of Cape York in Queensland’s north, all the way to Bundaberg in the south.
Together, it’s our role to continue to care for the reef – and by visiting, you’re contributing to its conservation, and helping to protect it for many generations to come.
There are so many ways to experience the reef: dive it, snorkel it, sail it, sleep on it, kayak it, learn about it or fly above it. If you chose to go below the waves you’ll encounter the Great Eight marine animals, including turtles, whales, manta rays, and clownfish.
On land, spot koalas in the trees or watch friendly kangaroos and wallabies searching for food at sunrise on a tranquil beach. With more than 1,000 national parks within Queensland, there’s plenty of natural wonders to explore, including the World-Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and the Gondwana Rainforests.
With a specialty in natural beauty, Cairns is a must-visit for nature lovers. Hit the morning markets, swim in the sparkling Esplanade Lagoon, taste fresh seafood off the back of a fish trawler, dine in laid-back style like a local, or drink in the view from a rooftop bar. Learn about and experience the local Indigenous culture through the guided tours on offer, or explore the rainforest with Kuku Yalanji people at the Mossman Gorge Centre an hour north of Cairns. The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest surviving tropical rainforest on earth thought to be over 135 million years old; words don’t do justice to describing the awe and wonder it inspires. From the beauty of the land to the ancient Indigenous culture; you literally have to see it to believe it.
Other opportunities to discover Queensland’s indigenous communities can be found throughout the state with experiences that bring the rich culture, storytelling and customs of Indigenous Australians to life. Discover Minjerribah (also known as North Stradbroke Island) and its traditional owners the Quandamooka people, or immerse yourself in the story and customs of the Yugambeh people on the Gold Coast in Burleigh Head National Park.
Also to the north, you’ll find Port Douglas, known for its sophisticated dining, shopping, and sprawling untouched beaches. Recently awarded a world-first Ecotourism Australia ECO Destination Certification, the region has over 80% of its land protected under a World Heritage listing.
Take your pick from over 900 islands sprinkled along Queensland’s 7,000km coastline, from Moreton and Stradbroke Islands off Brisbane to the world’s largest sand island Fraser Island, to the unspoiled paradise of the Torres Strait. Visit one of the 74 tropical islands within the Whitsundays, hike alongside koalas on Magnetic Island off Townsville, or discover Tropical North Queensland’s Fitzroy Islands’ private fringe coral reef system.
From Cairns, explore family-friendly Green Island, ruggedly luxurious Haggerstone Island, or discover couple hot-spots Lizard Island and Bedarra Island. Towards the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll find the snorkel and dive trifecta: Lady Elliot, Heron and Lady Musgrave Islands.
Queensland has a laidback and relaxed lifestyle to match its friendly locals. Abundant flavours, local produce and the freshest seafood are at the heart of Queensland’s food experience. Enjoy a feast of locally sourced ingredients by the beach in Palm Cove or do dinner like a true Queenslander and pick up some of the home-grown organic beef and cook it up on the barbeque! Experience river-side dining at Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves followed by a stroll through the city to South Bank.
Feeling inspired? See beautiful Queensland, Australia for yourself. Speak to one of our Travel Experts today to curate your dream trip!
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