QUEENSLAND

Queensland, Australia's Great Barrier Reef State, offers a vast variety of vacation experiences. From the Reef and its tropical islands to the wonders of the rainforest and the vast splendour of the Outback, Queensland has it all. There's friendly cosmopolitan cities, world famous beaches and everywhere you go that friendly Aussie welcome!

What to See

Cairns and Tropical North Queensland provide the ideal base to explore the Great Barrier Reef and beyond! From here you can visit the reef itself, explore World Heritage-listed rainforests or visit the outback. There are over 600 tours from Cairns, so no matter what level of adventure you prefer, from mild to wild, Tropical North Queensland has something for you.

The Whitsundays is an idyllic aquatic playground sprinkled with over 70 islands. The area has great access to the Great Barrier Reef and provides an ideal backdrop for all types of watersports, particularly sailing and motor cruising. You can also relax at some of the world's great resorts, nestled on islands in the Whitsundays and along the Great Barrier Reef.

Southern Queensland - From the world famous wilderness of Fraser Island to the beaches of the Gold Coast, Southern Queensland is packed with many unique Australian experiences. Brisbane, Australia's river city, has a lovely blend of country-town charm in a cosmopolitan city. The Sunshine Coast provides a Pacific Oceanside retreat while the Gold Coast combines untouched natural areas with a vibrant city by the beach.

Activities & Adventures

Visit the Reef - No matter whether you are a diver or have never been wet the Great Barrier Reef is a once in a lifetime experience (you can do again and again). Visit the Reef for the day. Depending on the tour you can snorkel, dive or see it from a semi-submersible submarine.

Walk on a coral cay island or do a guided snorkel tour with marine biologists. Serious divers can stay on an island on the reef itself or join a live-aboard dive boat. If you don't want to get wet, try flightseeing over the Reef on a helicopter.

Explore the Rainforest - Take a four wheel drive safari or a guided walk through some of the world's oldest rainforest. You can visit Cape Tribulation, the only place in the world where two world heritage listed areas meet. Walk with a local Aboriginal ranger and learn the secrets of Australia's first people, or ride in one of the world's longest gondolas over the tops of the rainforest.

Visit the Outback - No trip to Australia is complete without a trip to the Outback. The untamed gulf country and the rugged Cape are easily accessible from Cairns in the Tropical North. Visit a country pub and have a drink for us!

Unique Experience

Visit the Great Barrier Reef a unique experience no matter how you choose to do it.
Explore the Undara Lava Tubes, tunnels and sinkholes in the savannah land to the west of Cairns.

Swim in Eli Creek on Fraser Island, a silent, crystal clear river running directly over pure sand.

Time To Go

Tropical North Queensland has two distinct seasons, a Winter season, the Dry, of balmy temperatures and low rainfall, and a Summer period, November through until April - with warmer temperatures and longer periods of rain. Southern Queensland has a temperate climate year round, with cooler evenings in the winter between June and September.