Destination Queensland

Pristine beaches, tropical islands, lush rainforests, vibrant cities and the authentic Australian outback, Queensland is the ultimate holiday destination. Known as Australia’s Sunshine State, Queensland offers an abundance of diverse experiences to create lasting memories.

Brisbane is the state’s capital city, a city full of energy, style, arts and culture. The Brisbane River snakes through the metropolis and is peppered with alfresco dining options. By night, the city comes alive with vibrant bars and live music venues to keep you entertained into the early hours of the morning.

Brisbane is also the perfect hub to explore the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, only an hour away by road. Both coastal regions offer stunning beaches, fabulous food and wine experiences and shopping that rivals many of the great shopping strips. Head further north to swim in the freshwater lakes of Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, and just one of Queensland’s five World Heritage listed areas.

Another is the Great Barrier Reef, stretching 2300km along the Queensland coast. Home to a myriad of sea creatures and hidden gems, the best way to explore the reef is to snorkel or scuba dive. There are literally hundreds of Queensland islands where you can relax and indulge in all that island life has to offer. Sail the Whitsunday Islands or take a seaplane to a remote getaway where you can truly escape.

Unwind at a rainforest retreat in Tropical North Queensland. The World Heritage listed Wet Tropics offer spectacular scenery, deep gorges, numerous waterfalls and mountain summits providing expansive rainforest views.

The Queensland Outback is nature of a different kind, one that delivers Australia’s final frontier. Desert sand dunes and lush fishing holes make an interesting combination the friendly locals are only too happy to show you. Travel back to the dinosaur era, listen carefully for the ghost in the home of Waltzing Matilda, or sit back and enjoy a cold beer in one of the iconic outback pubs.

Whether you're relaxing on sun-kissed beaches, trekking through ancient rainforest or snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, there's an experience waiting to become your treasured memory in Queensland.

10 interesting things about Aussie

1. Australia is the smallest , flattest , driest inhabited continent in the world

2. Captain James Cook from Middlebrough, North Yorkshire explored the east coast of Australia in the 1770s by mapping some of the coastline and setting foot in Botany Bay

3. A few days after the "First Fleet" arrived in January 1788, a French expedition arrived at what is now Sydney

4. In 1840's England began sending convicts making the east coast big penal colony

5. Not all Aboriginies could vote until 1971

6. The wombat deposits SQUARE POOS on logs ,rocks even upright sticks to mark its territory

7. The box Jelly fish is known as the worlds most venomous marine creature and has killed more Australians then sharks , crocodiles , and stone fish combined

8. Melbourne once was the capital before they made Canberra

9. Queensland has the largest and most profitable narrow-gauge railway system in the world

10. It has been said that the Maori of New Zealand knew there was land to the west because they had seen smoke from Australian bushfires blowing eastwards