Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef

Home of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland enjoys an average 300 sunny days a year, making it the perfect year-round vacation destination to visit the extraordinary mix of white sandy beaches, Outback, rainforest and tropical islands.

The Great Barrier Reef
Stretching more than 1200 miles down the east coast of Australia, Queensland's Great Barrier Reef is home to 1500 species of fish, around 380 species of coral, hundreds of reefs and almost 1000 islands. It's also the planet's largest single living organism and visible from space!

Reef and island day trips
For the best Reef introduction, take a day trip. Most tours depart from Cairns and Port Douglas in the north and the Whitsunday Islands in south. Snorkeling gear, buffet lunch and snacks are usually included.

For those that don't fancy getting their feet wet, semi-submersible vessels get up close to the Reef's corals and fish.

Diving
If you're a certified diver, take a day trip to the Outer Barrier Reef, or for the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, take a live-aboard trip ranging from two to 14 days and get your For t professional certification.

Tropical North Queensland
Escape to where two natural wonders the rainforest and reef meet.

Cairns , gateway to the reef
A modern tropical city with a relaxed atmosphere, Cairns is a perfect base for exploring Tropical Queensland's reef, rainforests, Outback and islands. The city centre also includes shopping, markets, bars, cafes and restaurants.

Port Douglas and Palm Cove
Visit Port Douglas a vibrant resort town with prime golfing, fishing, cafes, and restaurants or relax in one of the spas or on the laid-back beach of Palm Cove.

Daintree Rainforest
A naturalist's paradise, the world's oldest living rainforest is a museum of flora and fauna. Eco-tourism operators offer fascinating insights into the creatures that inhabit this remote and beautiful jungle area. Take a guided walk, four wheel drive tour or Daintree River cruise (watch out for the river's crocs!).

The Whitsunday Islands
The real world can't touch the Whitsunday's 74 pristine islands dotting extraordinarily warm, blue waters. On the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef, enjoy world-class sailing, luxury resorts, rainforests, mainland backpacker havens and white sand beaches.

Skydive over the Great Barrier Reef

Looking for adventure?
Raft some of the world's wildest rivers, skydive over the Great Barrier Reef, kayak down a rainforest river, or hike to the top of a mist-shrouded rainforest peak past waterfalls and gorges. 

You'll find your perfect type of adrenalin rush here amongst some of the planet's most beautiful scenery. 

Brisbane and its Beaches
Don't let Brisbane's easy-going sub-tropical ambience fool you. There's heaps to do-catch a sporting event, savour the city's fine local wines and cuisine or head to its nearby beaches.

Gold Coast Lifesavers

The Gold Coast
From Brisbane, head south to find glitzy beachside high rises set along sparkling surfing waves and white sand, world-class theme parks, throbbing nightclubs and nearby lush, subtropical hinterland.

Sunshine Coast
Long the playground of Australia's elite, this sophisticated collection of beach towns north of Brisbane offer tantalizing cuisine, relaxing spas, the Crocodile Hunter's Australia Zoo and wildlife wonderlands, including the world's largest sand island, world heritage-listed Fraser Island.

Island living
There are almost 1000 islands along the Queensland Coast – including tiny coral cays, tropical rainforest islands and enormous sand islands.  Of these, the vast majority are unpopulated.  While every island and every resort is different, there are two things they all have in common – the blessing of the Queensland sun and hospitality of the locals. 

Outback
Explore Queensland's scorched heart – 1860 miles of burnished landscape that forged the foundation of Australian mateship. Learn about Aboriginal culture, share a yarn with a local at a historic town's pub, birdwatch or visit the world-renowned Riversleigh site.