Queensland Travel Guide

Life in Queensland is riddled with all the right sorts of Australian clichés: lazy barbecues, golden beaches, reef and rainforest, limitless sunshine and cold beer. It’s a wonderfully diverse state; full of spirit and rich diversion, exuding a sense of life being lived at its rightful pace. With its wildlife, weather and the seemingly unlimited range of outdoor activities, it’s hard not to fall in love with its sandy shores. Bungee-jumper, birdwatcher or beach bum, you’ll find plenty to enjoy.

Attention tends to fall, naturally enough, on the coast. The Great Barrier Reef is the headline attraction, stretching along the coastline for 2,300km (1,429 miles), serving up some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, both above and below the water. Whether you’re joining a yacht in the Whitsundays, learning to dive in Cairns or just taking a road trip up to the tropical north, the reef can be experienced in all manner of ways.

To the south, state capital Brisbane is the third-largest city in Australia and a lively place to spend time, drawing plaudits for everything from its riverside setting to its food scene. Meanwhile, Surfers Paradise caters for the party crowd, Noosa is a super-relaxed coastal refuge, and Fraser Island lays on 4WD adventures. Heading inland, the craggy drama of the Great Dividing Range and the sweeping scenery of the outback hold highlights of their own.

To the north, Daintree Rainforest shelters a vast array of flora and fauna, stretching up to the lush greenery of Cape Tribulation. Slightly further west you can experience the magic waterfalls of Atherton Tablelands, of which Millaa Millaa is the most famous. A little further down and you stumble upon the old school charm of Magnetic Island, whose secluded beaches offer castaway vibes.

From the postcard glam of the Gold Coast to the back-of-beyond beauty of its furthest reaches, Queensland continues to be the state that arguably serves up more quintessentially Aussie experiences than any other.