Queensland Destination Guide

Within this vast state located on the northeast coast of Australia, Queensland boasts two World Heritage-Listed sites, stunning beaches, cosmopolitan living and outback adventures. A popular destination for travellers, families, adrenalin junkies and honeymooners alike, a Queensland holiday offers lasting memories.

If it's a laidback beach vacation you are looking for, head to the world-famous Gold Coast on the southern border of Queensland. Surfers Paradise is a popular destination for surfers, families and beachgoers with over 70km of golden sandy shores to enjoy. The Gold Coast is also known for its glamorous lifestyle but the area also has a surprising natural side with nearby Gold Coast hinterland boasting stunning natural scenery, wineries and hiking trails. Thrillseekers won't want to miss the plethora of theme parks on the Gold Coast with everything from daring rides to close encounters with marine mammals.

Further north you'll discover the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest living organism and home to countless marine life species. This World Heritage-listed area is a popular drawcard with colourful fish and coral and plenty of diving and snorkelling opportunities. Far North Queensland is also home to another World Heritage-listed region – the Daintree Rainforest. The world's oldest surviving rainforest is teeming with wildlife and home to plant species that existed millions of years ago. The tropical cities of Port Douglas and Cairns provide the perfect launch pad to discover this natural paradise.

For pristine white sands and turquoise waters, Queensland's Whitsunday Islands is your tropical island dream come true. All the clichés are here: swaying palm fronds, soft powdery sand and unspoilt beauty. It's a destination where you can do as little or as much as you please with 74 islands to explore and a plethora of water activities on offer.

To get your pulse racing, a trip to the northernmost tip of Queensland around the Cape York Peninsula offers 4WD adventures, sacred Aboriginal sites, wild crocodiles and unspoilt scenery. Head inland for a taste of the ‘real outback' where red ochre earth meets savannah grasslands. An outback adventure in Queensland offers rugged terrain with water gorges, Aboriginal cultural sites, pioneer towns and wide open spaces to explore.

Queensland's capital city Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast offer all the amenities of a cosmopolitan lifestyle with a laidback vibe. Brisbane boasts world-class shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities and a year-round sunny climate. North of Brisbane is the popular beach destination of Noosa on the Sunshine Coast where you can enjoy cafes and boutiques and family friendly beaches. With such a vast area to explore and variety of destinations to visit, you'll need to book a return trip to sample all this state has to offer.