Queensland is the sunshine state of Australia. Plenty of beaches, islands, rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef, combined with a subtropical climate make this state to one of the most popular holiday destinations for Australian and International visitors.

Queensland - Overview and Highlights -

• Brisbane - venue of the world exhibition 1988
  
  
• Gold Coast - the Australian Miami
  
  
• Sunshine Coast - popular holiday destination
  
  
• Fraser Island - the worlds largest sand island - World Heritage listed in 1992
  
  
• Bundaburg, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville “launching pads” to the Great Barrier Reef
  
  
• Whitsundays - a paradise for every sailor
  
  
• Hinchinbrook Island - an adventure for hikers and nature lovers
  
  
• Great Barrier Reef - the world’s largest coral reef
  World Heritage listed in 1981
  
  
• Cairns - Kuranda, Tjapukai Aborigial Centre, Tully River, Daintree NP,
  Cape Tribulation, Mission Beach & Port Douglas, Cape York
  
  
• Outback - Mt. Isa, Longreach
  
  
• Climate tables - Brisbane, Gold Coast, Whitsundays, Cairns

You will find more details, about the above mentioned attractions and activities in the following section.

Additionally, we have provided some Climate tables .

Brisbane, venue of the World Expo 1988 is the capital of the sunshine state Queensland. South Bank Parklands was the site for this exhibition and is now used as a recreation area and a venue for markets and festivals in the city centre. The Queensland Performing Arts Complex, Queensland Museum as well as the Queensland Art Gallery are all located within this area. Excellent views of the city centre can be enjoyed from the bell tower of the City Hall. A bigger picture of the whole city area can be seen from Mt. Cootha and Mt. Gravatt. Brisbane is starting point for excursions to Moreton Island, North Stradbroke Island, and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary as well as to the Gold and Sunshine Coast.

Moreton Island offers untouched nature bush tracks to waterfalls and beaches, regular dolphin and shark sightings and lots of sandy ways which invite 4WD-lovers.

The “sand” island, North Stradbroke Island is an alternative to Fraser Island, and will get you “off the beaten track”.

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is an excellent opportunity to learn and to see some of the popular wildlife from up close.

Surfers Paradise is the centre of the Gold Coast and is because of its many skyscrapers along the beach, often compared with the American Miami. Dreamworld, Wet’n Wild, Warner Bros MovieWorld and SeaWorld are the largest theme parks in Australia and offer fun for people of every age. The beach stretches more than 40 kilometres (25 miles) and is perfect for surfing while Conrad Jupiters Casino and many clubs, bars and restaurants forming the perfect contrast at night. At Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary you can feed some of the local lorikeets and parrots. For those who enjoy nature, take a walk in the beautiful Lamington National Park.

The popular holiday destination Sunshine Coast is about an hours drive north of Brisbane.
Noosa Heads, the centre of this area offers some excellent beaches for surfers and swimmers, small coves and a national park where you can see often Koalas sleeping in the trees.

Not far from Noosa Heads are the Glass House Mountains, a spectacular group of volcanic peaks rising more than 300 metres from the coastal plain. This is a popular area for climbing and hiking.

Activities: Golf, Tennis, Surfing, Swimming, Horse Riding, Canoe Trips.

Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and was included on the World Heritage list in 1992. Long stretches of sandy beaches are a challenge for every 4WD driver, but are not suitable for swimming because of regular shark sightings. However, there are plenty of opportunities to swim in more than 200 beautiful crystal clear lakes and streams. The most popular are Lake Wabby and Lake McKenzie. A wide variety of hiking tracks and the chance to see some wildlife add to the attractions of Fraser Island. You can see the purest bred dingos (wild dog) or maybe a goanna (large reptile); both of them should be watched from some distance and not be fed. The sea around Fraser Island is breeding ground for Humpback Whales and offers a good opportunity to watch these fascinating creatures.

The whole area of Northern Australia has two seasons. The Dry (May till October) and The Wet (November till April) In the Wet it is common for parts of this region to be completely cut off and streets will flood and may be impossible to pass.

Another reason to avoid travelling in the wet season to Northern Australia is the Box Jelly Fish, which is very dangerous to humans and is active during this time in the ocean around Northern Australia.

Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville are some towns you will come through on your journey along the East Coast.

Bundaberg (nickname: Bundee) is popular for its rum. The distillery offers guided tours with a taste of the different kinds of rum at the end. Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Island are the southernmost points of the Great Barrier Reef, both well known for excellent scuba dive and snorkel opportunities.

Rockhampton (nickname Rocky) is located on the Tropic of Capricorn and proclaims itself the ‘beef capital of Australia’. This is the perfect chance for every European steak lover to partake without having to worry about mad cow disease. Rocky is a good starting point for a visit to Great Keppel Island, one of the most popular holiday islands in Australia. The island offers plenty of activities to fill a couple of days. There is a wide variety of hiking trails and brilliant opportunities for all kind of water sports as well as a beautiful marine life which invites to snorkel or to scuba dive.

The small and charming township of Mackay forms the access point for excursions to Brampton Island with many superb hiking trails and water sport activities.

Townsville is home to a huge Aquarium with an outstanding display of a large living coral reef, hundreds of reef fish, sharks, rays and much more marine life. From Townsville you can travel to Magnetic Island a relatively large island with four villages. A very popular mode of transport on this island are mini mokes by which you drive to the starting points of your hikes or to one of the many little coves which invite you for a swim or picnic.

The Whitsunday Islands consist of 74 islands and are a Mecca for every sailor, scuba diver or anyone who likes snorkelling. Probably the best known islands are Hayman Island, one of most luxurious holiday destinations, Lindeman Island, the only ‘Club Med' within Australia, Hamilton Island and South Mole Island. However, there are also some unpopulated islands where you can set up a bush camp, relax and let the world go by. The underwater world around many islands offers fascinating marine life and coral displays, perfect for snorkelling and for scuba divers.

Access Point: Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour

Hinchinbrook Island is popular for its unspoiled wilderness with hikers and nature enthusiasts. The highlight of any visit to Hinchinbrook Island is the 32 kilometre Thorsborne Trail which runs along the east coast of the island. It will bring you through lush rainforests, crystal clear waterfalls to some stunning beaches. Further rewards of this hard and strenuous hike are the spectacular views of the highest peak of the island Mt. Bowen and the enjoyment of this nearly unspoiled wilderness.

Access Point: Cardwell and Lucinda

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living coral reef and stretches over 2000 kilometres (1248 miles) from Bundaberg in the South, just about to the west coast of Papua New Guinea in the north. Cairns is the main access point for tours to the outer Reef and offers a variety of opportunities to experience this fascinating underwater world. You can go snorkelling or scuba diving, or see this unique diversity of fish and corals with your feet dry, from a glass boat.

However, Northqueensland offers not only the Great Barrier Reef, but also some spectacular World Heritage Listed rainforests which are not far from Cairns. A visit to the charming village of Kuranda by a historical train ride or the modern Skyway will show you the variety of the rainforests from two different perspectives.

Further attractions and activities include the Daintree River (Crocodile and Rainforesttours), the Mossman Gorge with the chance of a refreshing dip in a crystal clear stream, Cape Tribulation and its awesome by rainforest surrounded beach, the award winning Tjapukai Dance Theatre which offers lots of information of the indigenous history and culture, the Atherton Tablelands with its many crater lakes and waterfalls, where you can enjoy a safe (no crocodiles and no box jelly fish) and refreshing swim, or try one of the popular rafting tours on the Tully River.


Mission Beach or Port Douglas are good spots for visitors who want to combine the diversity of this region with a relaxing beach holiday.

The Route Cairns – Cape York is only accessible for 4WD cars and most car rental companies allow their vehicles only on certain routes.

The route from Cairns to Cape York is a real adventure and the recommended travel time is June as the roads are dry and the forests still lush and green. The tour passes some beautiful waterfalls, national parks, aboriginal communities, and hilly landscapes and offers some hazardous river crossings and has a surprise on every route.

The Outback of Queensland stretches over a huge land area and this vast plain is an attraction in itself. Enjoy the stars on the clear nights of the Outback with the fascinating sky of the Southern Hemisphere.

The Mining town Mt. Isa is located about 900 kilometres (561 miles) southwest of Rockhampton and is the industrial centre of this region. The Mine, the 270 metre high melting tower, the Mt. Isa Rotary Rodeo (August), as well as the warm and open hospitality of the people are the main attractions of this mining town. The town of Longreach is situated about 700 kilometres(437 miles) west of Rockhampton and is famous for the Stockman’s Hall of Fame & Outback Heritage Centre. This excellent exhibition displays the European settlement in different periods and honours the early explorers, as well as the important role of the indigenous people of this huge continent.

Please note, that the following charts show average temperatures.