Queensland

Friendly people, incomparable coastlines, perfect weather and an easy-going atmosphere. Just a few of the reasons why Queensland captures the imaginations of travellers far and wide.

Queensland is home to five of Australia’s eleven World Heritage-listed regions, and only here, where the rainforest meets the reef, will you find two World Heritage sites side by side.

With an average of 263 days of sunshine each year, Queenland is also blessed with a year-round climate to match any in the world. From the beautiful Whitsunday Islands to the tropical splendour of the Far North, there are almost endless opportunities to soak up the sun, unwind and work on your tan.

There are a host of cultural attractions as well, with historic memorials, performance art centres and galleries devoted to the works of many local artists, including early and present day Aboriginal painters.

A journey through Queensland will open your eyes to a part of the world quite unlike any other. The only question is, once you’ve visited how will you ever manage to leave?  

Queensland is renowned for its self-drive touring routes, through diverse terrain, rolling country hills, remote outback deserts and lush tropical rainforests.

For a full list of all of Queensland’s major Drive Routes visit http://www.driveqld.com.au/

Alfresco dining, hinterland vineyards and internationally recognised restaurants are awaiting you. Great food and wine replenish the body and revive the spirit. Queensland's gourmet paradise is delectable with award-winning wines and beers, organic produce and seafood that reflect many international influences.Follow a food and wine trail and you'll be sipping on a Chardonnay or rolling a Shiraz around your mouth on a grape-fuelled adventure. Wineries are often located in picturesque settings and many offer the opportunity for picnics in grassy knolls overlooking vineyard slopes. Pick up fresh produce and make your own antipasto with olives, cheeses, nuts and avocados straight off a tree.

Queensland's multicultural communities add spice to culinary delights. Australian cuisine blends fresh ingredients and uses European culinary traditions and the light touch of Asian seasoning. You'll taste some of the best food in the world in Queensland and even the most discerning diner will be satisfied. With fresh barramundi, mud crab, exotic crocodile meat, mangoes and macadamia nuts…that’s how you’ll really know you're in Queensland.

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Re-connect with nature and enjoy the simple pleasures of walking through outstanding National Parks and State Forests.

Nearly five percent of the huge landmass of Queensland is now protected as national park. So where will your favourite Queensland national park walk turn out to be?

Visit: http://www.queenslandwalks.com.au/

Forget dusty museums and tired exhibits, Queensland’s arts scene is prolific. With accomplished artists and internationally recognised art galleries, Queensland is quickly establishing itself as a leading destination for the arts.

This development has been years in the making, thousands, in fact. Natural rock art galleries evidence Aboriginal artists from days gone by. View these illustrations at several locations, as each offers a slightly unique style, theme and perspective. Or view more recent Aboriginal works at a gallery with the largest collection in Australia.

Come experience the cultural heritage of Queensland. Museums and memorials mark historic events and people to ensure they will not be forgotten. Former island convict settlements now reflect the hardships that early Australians' endured. While gold-rush eras are remembered in old photographs reminiscent of times when towns tripled in size and everyone had "gold fever".

So why not take some time to enjoy Queensland culture, just expect to receive a friendly smile and chat when you visit...genuine country charm is still around today.

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On water, splash over the surface on jet skis, banana boats and high speed ocean rafts or feel the thrill of deep seas sports fishing. Explore hidden riches in the ocean by scuba diving or snorkelling among the many shipwrecks along the Queensland Coast.

Visit: http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/

Experience nature at its finest in Queensland. With five World Heritage listed areas and kilometres of ocean and natural landscapes, you’ll be amazed.

Queensland’s preserved sites are recognised for their irreplaceable beauty. The 3,000 individual reefs and coral islands of the Great Barrier Reef harbour thousands of fish and marine creatures. While the World Heritage listed rainforests of the Wet Tropics and Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves encompass the north and south of the State.

Large tracks of significant dinosaur and fossil sites at Riversleigh are testament of a former inland sea that once dominated Queensland’s Outback. Just as the giant sand dunes and perched lakes of Fraser Island depict natural wonders like no other place in the world.

Queensland has an abundance of native Australian wildlife. Watch the progression of protected humpback whales on their journey along the Queensland coast. Hold your breath while they play in the water during the winter months. Access this awesome spectacle from numerous points along the coast from the Gold Coast to the Whitsundays.

Queensland beaches provide excellent environments for loggerhead, flatback, green and leatherback turtles. At the beginning of summer, visit Mon Repos and quietly watch up to 20 turtles slowly progress up the beach to lay eggs. And a few months later, see the hatchlings make a perilous journey to the Pacific’s edge.

Spot a platypus, or maybe another shy Australian mammal, on a guided nocturnal tour. In rural areas you may even experience a mob of kangaroos bound through your campsite. Be awe-struck at the natural beauty of Queensland!

Visit: http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/