Queensland

Queensland Australia is one of the greatest vacation destinations in the world. Dubbed the Sunshine State, Queensland has really everything under the golden sun. Visit the Great Barrier Reef, the wide true Australian outback, World Heritage rainforest and some of the best Aussie beach culture in the country. Brisbane, the state's capital buzzes with life while retaining the true blue Queensland feeling of a laid back approach to big city life.

The tropical north of the state is the jewel in the crown of the state's delights. In the Far North visit ancient trees in the World Heritage listed primeval rainforests of the Daintree. Dive or snorkel amidst brilliant coral and colourful fish while marine biologists explain one of the world's great natural wonders -the Great Barrier Reef. Explore the outback wilderness of Cape York Peninsula, with its savannah lands and dry tropical monsoon landscapes. Watch crocodiles in their natural estuarine habitatand take the opportunity to meet with the first inhabitants of this country and learn to throw a boomerang or view ancient cave paintings with an Aboriginal guide.

The tropical north of the state is the jewel in the crown of the state's delights. In the Far North visit ancient trees in the World Heritage listed primeval rainforests of the Daintree. Dive or snorkel amidst brilliant coral and colourful fish while marine biologists explain one of the world's great natural wonders -the Great Barrier Reef. Explore the outback wilderness of Cape York Peninsula, with its savannah lands and dry tropical monsoon landscapes. Watch crocodiles in their natural estuarine habitatand take the opportunity to meet with the first inhabitants of this country and learn to throw a boomerang or view ancient cave paintings with an Aboriginal guide.

Just south, down the road from Cairns visit Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands. The Whitsundays, a group of 74 islands (only 8 are inhabited), are clustered at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. Whitsunday Island hideaways offer every choice from camping to world-class luxury. Watch sea turtles nest and observe the migration of seabirds while sailing your hired vessel through the Whitsunday Passage.

If it's a beachcombers life you crave cruise the Sunshine Coast. The white surfing beaches that are foreshore to the coastal towns of Mooloolaba, Caloundra, Maroochydore, Noosa and Coolum stretch forever, broken occasionally by a headland or wide river estuary. In the subtropical climate and green hills behind the Sunshine Coast the traditional Queensland country life thrives, in small towns, sugar cane fields and pineapple farms. Enjoy a meal on the wide verandah of an old pub or visit art galleries and pottery barns. Most of all revel in the tranquility and natural beauty of the hinterland country, with the famous Glass House Mountains and Blackall Range as a backdrop. Visit the largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island, now preserved forever as a National Park and from its shores watch humpback whales in migration.

Brisbane

Go south and celebrate the buzz of Brisbane, a capital city built around relaxed lifestyle in a subtropical climate. Brisbane is Australia's fastest growing city and the huge Brisbane River meanders through the middle of the metropolis. Along its banks are beautiful parklands and open-air market sites. Ferries travel the river daily, transporting people continually in and out of the city. Shopping is a treat and al fresco dining an everyday possibility, with a choice of multicultural eateries to suit everyone's tastes. Brisbane is home to the Queensland Museum, Queensland Art Gallery and Maritime Museum.

Queensland is famous for the Gold Coast, a stretch of golden sand where lazy days of sun and surf and pulsating nightlife combine, producing the perfect mix for an exciting vacationland. Bronzed Aussie lifesavers, golden haired surfers and bikini-clad babes are the icons of the Gold Coast lifestyle. High-rise buildings just back of the beach give residents and tourists stunning views of the best surf in the country and Jupiter's Casino attracts a cosmopolitan crowd.

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