Queensland

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QUEENSLAND

Capital city: Brisbane

Main Airports: Brisbane (international), Cairns (international), Gold Coast (international), Fraser Coast, Rockhampton, Longreach, Mackay, Hamilton Island, Proserpine, Townsville

Climate: Most of Queensland experiences two weather seasons: a ‘winter’ period of relatively warm temperatures and minimal rainfall, summer period of hot, sticky temperatures and higher levels of rainfall, with areas in the far north experiencing moonsoonal weather. Inland areas experience less rainfall with hot dry summers and mild to cold winters.

* Brisbane has an average minimum temperature of 15.7°C (60.3 F) and maximun of 25.5 °C (77.9 F).

*Cairns stays hot all year round with an average minimum of 20.8°C and a maximum of 29.0 °C (84.2 F).

Queensland fun facts

* Queensland’s coastline stretches over 7400 km with the corals of the Great Barrier Reef fringing the eastern coastline for over 2000 kilometers.

* Queensland has five World Heritage listed preservation areas: Australian Fossil Mammal Sites at Riversleigh, Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves, Fraser Island, Great Barrier Reef, and the Wet Tropics of Queensland.

* The great barrier reef is the largest organic structure on the plane

* Fraser Island in Queensland is the largest sand island in the World

* near Winton you’ll find the world's best collection of dinosaur tracks

* Queensland is Australia’s second largest state, covering 1,722,000 km2 and the third most populous with more than 3.8 million inhabitants. It is also Australia’s fastest growing State.

* Queensland welcomes 2.1 million visitors each year and has more commercial airports than any other state or territory in Australia and * the Gold Coast is the most visited surfing region of the state, also being known as surfer’s paradise

Destinations & Experiences

Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

* take a day trip to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef

* Snorkel or dive with the rainbow coloured fish, coral, and sponges in warm tropical water

* see the birds, animals and crocodiles of the Daintree rainforest as you cruise down the Daintree River

* cross the Daintree River on a ferry and explore the four wheel drive country from Cape Tribulation to Cape York

* go white water rafting in the spectacular gorges near Cairns

* see a performance by the world-famous Aboriginal dance theatre Tjapukai, then take the Kuranda Scenic Railway, or Skyrail Cableway to the rainforest village of Kuranda

* Explore the world's longest lava tube system in Undara Volcanic National Park

Whitsundays

* The Whitsundays are 74 pristine islands within the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea where you can sail, swim, snorkel, dive or just relax

* walk the pure white, silica sands of Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island

* camp in the wilderness on one of the islands, or enjoy a luxury eco holiday on South Molle Island

* stay in the backpacker town of Airlie Beach, or visit the tropical islands from a chartered sailboat

Gold Coast

* swim in crystal-clear rock pools in the World Heritage-listed rainforest of the Gold Coast hinterland

* visit one of the many theme parks such as Sea World, Dreamworld, Movie World or Wet 'n' Wild Water Park

* explore rainforest retreats like Mount Tamborine and see Australia’s largest glow-worm colony

* surf the famous beaches, or visit the world-class nightclubs of Surfers Paradise

Sunshine Coast

* get up close with koalas in the coastal rainforest of Noosa National Park

* trek through forest in the Kondalilla National Park, or ride a mountain bike, abseil the volcanic peaks of Glasshouse Mountains

* fish or surf in family-friendly Caloundra

* relax on the wide beaches of Maroochydore or Feast on seafood in Mooloolaba

Fraser Coast

* get up close to giant humpback whales and their calves in Hervey Bay between early July and late October

* visit World Heritage-listed Fraser Island with its’ coloured cliffs, rainforest and fresh water lagoons

* see the historic Queenslander and colonial homes in Maryborough

* visit Lady Elliot Island on the Southern Great Barrier Reef

* camp and bushwalk amongst Bunya Pines and strangler figs in the Bunya Mountains

* follow a wine trail through the fertile South Burnett Valley

Central Queensland

* visit the stunning beaches of the Capricorn coast, stretching from Yeppoon to Emu Park

* see the Aboriginal rock art in Carnarvon National Park

* visit the picturesque Rainbow Falls in the Blackdown Tableland National Park

* fossick for gems in the Sapphire Gemfields or paddle along the Byfield River in Byfield National Park

* visit the lakes, rainforest gorges, and long white beaches near the port of Gladstone

* fish for barramundi at Lake Awoonga or camp and four wheel in Mount Castletower National Park

* discover the imposing cliffs of Kroombit Tops, or take a day trip to Fitzroy Lagoon, where you can dive, snorkel, and fish

Outback Queensland

* see the world’s best-preserved dinosaur tracks near Winton along with fossils dating back 25 million years in World Heritage listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields

* fossick for opals at Opalton, Quilpie and Yowah, amethyst near Cloncurry and moonstone at Moonstone Hill.

* four wheel drive along famous outback tracks like the Birdsville Track or Plenty Highway

* canoe the emerald green waters of Lawn Hill Gorge in Boodjamulla National Park

* learn to muster and shear on a cattle or sheep farm and see bucking broncos at the Mount Isa Rodeo

Mackay

* bushwalk and swim along the impressive coastline of Cape Hillsborough National Park

* spot platypus on Broken River in the subtropical rainforest of Eungella National Park

* sail or take a sea plane to a Great Barrier Reef island

* stay on Brampton and bushwalk its many nature trails or camp on the Newry Islands

Townsville

* catch Townsville’s sensational sunsets, balmy nightlife and scenic beach promenade

* take in the Australian Festival of Chamber music in July and August each year

* Visit Magnetic Island, where you can bushwalk through national park, swim in secluded bays, horse-ride on pristine beaches, snorkel colourful coral reefs and see the koalas in the Koala Park Oasis. In August you’ll also be able to spot humpback whales

* Visit Wallaman falls, Australia's highest sheer drop waterfall

Brisbane

* cruise down the Brisbane River, bike ride in the City Botanic Gardens, do a bridge climb, or abseil down Kangaroo Point Cliffs

* see the gardens and lagoons of South Bank, explore Fortitude Valley’s cafes and boutique shops

* in the nearby islands of Moreton Bay, you can fish, toboggan down the world’s tallest sand dunes, and feed wild dolphins

Bundaberg

* discover sugar and rum-making history in Bundaberg

* join a diving or fishing trip to the southernmost coral isles of the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island

* see loggerhead turtles nest and hatch at Mon Repos Beach

* swim or fish at Elliot Heads, or spot kangaroos in Woodgate Beach

* explore the ancient Mystery Craters in Eurimbula National Park, and bushwalk the lush rainforest of Cania Gorge National Park