Queensland

The Great Barrier Reef is “God’s gift to Australia”, a truly wondrous natural phenomenon. It is the world’s largest coral reef system with 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands located off the coast of Queensland in the Coral Sea. It stretches 2600 kilometres/1600 miles and is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms. It is a must-visit on an Australian vacation. There are several ways to view the Reef on Australian tours. You can enjoy a short cruise for a few days or simply take a glass-bottomed boat for a half-day outing to view the underwater treasures. It could be a difficult choice as to how to tackle the Great Barrier Reef but you can bet it will be a rewarding one.

The Whitsundays Islands are a popular tourist destination on Australia vacations off the central coast of Queensland and a collection of 74 islands spread across the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea. Most of the islands are deserted but there are eight that offer accommodation and tourist facilities. They also all offer great beaches and an intimate atmosphere and can be visited either by taking a cruise or a stay-put Australia vacation. The Whitsundays are centred on Whitsunday Island but the commercial and most important island is Hamilton Island. Also, the largest of the Whitsunday Islands, of which 70% is a national park, Hamilton Island offers natural beauty and good scenic walks. There is also a quality golf course here. Hayman Island is the most northern island and is the epitome of a tropical paradise. Activities include everything from bushwalks to excellent diving and snorkelling. Daydream Island is a haven for wildlife lovers where it's possible to hand-feed stingrays, sharks, and fish, and where it is not unusual to see dolphins and turtles in the nearby waters. Long Island is closest to the mainland and is a great destination for hikers. Palm Bay is one of its secluded delights, showing off the Whitsundays at their very best. Airlie Beach is located on the mainland itself and is the jumping-off point for many Whitsunday and Great Barrier Reef excursions.

Just one hour north of Brisbane in Queensland is the region known as the Sunshine Coast – Australia’s best-kept secret and Queensland’s hidden gem. From the majestic Glass House Mountains to Noosa and the coloured sands of Rainbow Beach, the region includes over 100 kilometres/ 62 miles of pristine sandy beaches surrounded by the quiet beauty of coastal and hinterland villages. The Sunshine Coast offers you an Australia vacation abundant in nature with relaxed beach culture, The Sunshine Coast gets its name from this fact – it has an average of 300 days of sunshine per year. Leading attractions include Steve Irwin’s Zoo (also known as Australia Zoo), swimming along alongside humpback whales at Mooloolaba (July-October), and cruising the waterways and rivers of the Noosa Everglades, one of the most iconic resort towns on the Sunshine Coast is the stylish and popular Noosa, known as the relaxation capital of Australia. It offers everything visitors on trips to Australia could want, with pristine beaches, a stunning coastline, natural surroundings and contemporary alfresco dining options.

The Gold Coast, located 95 kilometres/60 miles south of Brisbane, is a major Australian tourist destination in Queensland. It has 60 kilometres/35 miles of coastline, year-round sunshine and a subtropical climate. It is also known as the entertainment capital of Queensland with long stretches of sandy beaches to be enjoyed on an Australia vacation. The three major beach areas are Surfers’ Paradise Beach, an excellent place for shopping with its 14 shopping centres, Main Beach a stylish resort with outstanding dining, cafes and shopping and Broad Beach known as a dining Mecca and which also has attractive pristine beaches. Only 85 kilometres/53 miles away is Lamington National Park known for its natural beauty with its rainforests, birdlife, bush trails, mountain views and more than 500 gushing waterfalls.