WELCOME TO QUEENSLAND Welcome What’s inside? Explore Queensland G R E Queensland is famously known as the place where life is Map of Queensland A T 3 B Poruma Island A G “beautiful one day, perfect the next”. DARWIN R R R E Torres Strait I A E R EXPERIENCE QUEENSLAND T R B Poruma Island E A DARWIN E R Thursday Island R Torres Strait CAIRNS F I E The amazing variety of natural beauty — including five World R R G E Experiences in Queensland Horn Island Thursday Island E F Heritage-listed sites, stunning beaches, tropical islands, vast 4 R CAIRNS G E Horn Island R Outback and ancient rainforest — makes Queensland the ideal A E Events T place to experience the best of Australia. 6 A AUSTRALIA BRISBANE T B AUSTRALIA BRISBANE B SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND A A PERTH R ADELAIDEPERTH Here you’ll find calendar of events, unique nature and wildlife, Weipa R ADELAIDE R Weipa SYDNEY R SYDNEY exhilarating adventure experiences, accommodation and dining. I Gold Coast Haggerstone Island I Haggerstone Island MELBOURNE MELBOURNE 8 E E Whether you’re planning your first or return trip to Queensland, R R CANBERRA CANBERRA Cape York Cape York R R E adventure awaits. E Peninsula E HOBART Brisbane Peninsula E F HOBART 9 F Lizard Island Lizard Island We look forward to welcoming you! Sunshine Coast 10 Cooktown CooktownGulf of Southern Queensland Country Gulf of Carpentaria Double Island 11 Port Douglas Green Island Carpentaria Double Island Fitzroy Island Port Douglas GreenCairns Island Fraser Coast Karumba 12 Fitzroy Island Dunk Island CairnsNormanton Mission Beach Bedarra Island Karumba Burketown Dunk Island Hinchinbrook Island THE GREAT BARRIER REEF Mission Beach Bedarra Island Orpheus Island Normanton Magnetic Island Burketown G Hinchinbrook Island R E Hayman Island A T Southern Great Barrier Reef Townsville Orpheus Island Daydream Island 13 B MagneticA Island South Molle Island G G R R R HaymanR Island Whitsunday Island E E A I Mackay A TAirlie Beach E Hamilton Island 14 Townsville B DaydreamR Island T Lindeman Island Mount Isa A R D South Molle IslandE R Long Island G I Mackay E R V R Whitsunday IslandF Brampton Island The Whitsundays I 15 E I Airlie Beach D E Hamilton Island QUEENSLANDA R T I N Lindeman Island Mount Isa R D Winton 16 Townsville North Queensland G E Long Island I E Mackay Pumpkin Island V R F Yeppoon Brampton Island Great Keppel Island I A D Wilson Island Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef QUEENSLAND Longreach N Rockhampton 17 I G Heron Island N E Gladstone Winton Lady Musgrave Island OUTBACK QUEENSLAND G Pumpkin IslandLady Elliot Island R Yeppoon BundabergGreat Keppel Island A Wilson Island Fraser Island Outback Queensland Longreach N Rockhampton Hervey Bay 18 G Heron Island Birdsville E Gladstone Lady MusgraveNoosa Island Charleville Roma QUEENSLAND ENCOUNTERS Quilpie Sunshine Lady Elliot Island Coast Bundaberg Animal and marine life spotting Toowoomba Moreton Island 19 Hervey Bay BRISBANEFraser Island North and South Thargomindah Cunnamulla St George Stradbroke Islands Birdsville Noosa Gold Coast Charleville Roma Quilpie Sunshine Coast Toowoomba Moreton Island BRISBANE North and South Thargomindah Cunnamulla St George Stradbroke Islands Gold Coast LARAPINTA FALLS, GOLD COAST WHITEHAVEN BEACH, THE WHITSUNDAYS (COVER) 2 Queensland.com 3 Experience Queensland Reefs, Islands and Beaches Natural Encounters Adventure and Discovery Lifestyle and Culture Pack your swim suit and sunscreen Queensland’s breathtaking natural There’s a sense of excitement, adventure Queensland is laidback and relaxed, with because Queensland is renowned for landscapes are home to a variety of unique and discovery around every corner in friendly locals who are always willing to pristine beaches, picturesque islands, and animal and marine life that will make your Queensland, from the wonders of the help or offer advice. of course, the World-Heritage listed Great holiday one you’ll remember forever. rainforest to the splendours of the sea. Barrier Reef. Abundant flavours, local produce and Snorkel and dive the Great Barrier Reef Lace up your boots and take on an epic the freshest seafood are at the heart of With its diverse coral and marine life, to encounter the Great Eight marine hiking trail (there are hundreds to choose Queensland’s food experience. The year- phenomenal diving and snorkelling spots animals, including turtles, whales, manta from) or dip below the surface and round outdoor lifestyle and extraordinary and hidden islands, the Great Barrier rays and clownfish. explore some of the world’s best dive sites natural environment set the stage to Reef is one of the world’s greatest natural like Cod Hole on Lizard Island or the SS savour the ever-emerging vibrant food wonders. Stretching for 1,400 miles and On land, you can cuddle a koala or watch Yongala near Townsville. culture. Enjoy fresh scallops in Hervey home to over 1,500 species of marine life, friendly kangaroos and wallabies searching Bay, a feast of locally sourced ingredients it’s the ultimate bucket list location. for food at sunrise on a tranquil beach. Discover the Outback and hike the by the beach in Palm Cove or do dinner breathtaking trails at Carnarvon Gorge, like a true Queenslander and pick up With pure white sand, warm water With more than 1,000 national parks stopping to cool off with a dip in a fresh some of the home-grown organic beef temperatures all year round and plenty within Queensland, there’s plenty of water rock pool. Or explore Queensland and cook it up on the barbeque! of water-based activities to choose from, natural wonders to explore, including the from the water, kayaking to the secluded you’ll never want to step back on land. World-Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest bays and beaches of Magnetic Island, or Experience river-side dining at its finest at and the Gondwana Rainforests. exploring the pristine and calming beauty the Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane, But for when you do want to dry off, your of the Noosa Everglades. followed by a stroll through the city to accommodation awaits you. From luxury South Bank where the Gallery of Modern resorts to budget friendly lodgings, there For the fun-seekers and families, Art is waiting to intrigue your inner artist. are options to suit every traveller. Queensland is home to Australia’s best Finish the day off with a show at the theme parks, conveniently located on the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and If swimming isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. a tipple overlooking the city at one of the There are plenty of ways to explore the rooftop bars. wonders of the water while staying dry from the comfort of scenic flights, cruises, Queensland is a great place to learn about glass bottomed boats, sailboats, kayaks, the culture of Australia’s First People, with submersibles and more. experiences that bring the rich culture, storytelling and customs of Indigenous Australians to life. Discover Stradbroke Island, known to the Traditional Owners the Quandamooka people as Minjerribah, or immerse yourself in the story and customs of the Yugambeh people on the Gold Coast in Burleigh Head National Park. Further north, join a guided walk by the local Kuku Yalanji people through the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest in Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef to learn about the history of the region and taste native food. HERVEY BAY, FRASER COAST MOSSMAN GORGE, CAIRNS AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF 4 Queensland.com 5 HAMILTON ISLAND RACE WEEK | THE WHITSUNDAYS, AUGUST QUEENSLAND MUST DO EVENTS Queensland’s exciting calendar of events is held in typical Queensland style — in the most dazzling of destinations. Whatever your passion, you’ll find an event to suit right here in Queensland. From epic endurance races to gourmet food festivals, blockbuster sporting events to world–class exhibitions, culturally immersive Indigenous experiences to electrifying country music celebrations. Queensland embraces art, culture, music, food, wine and sport, and everything in between. Gold Coast Brisbane Gold Coast Brisbane Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Outback Queensland Southern Queensland Outback Queensland The Star Gold Coast CMC Rocks QLD World Surf League World Science Festival Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Mount Isa Mines Rodeo Country Birdsville Races Magic Millions Carnival March Gold Coast Pro Brisbane July August Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers September January March March September Sunshine Coast Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Gold Coast Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Outback Queensland Brisbane Gold Coast Brisbane Noosa Eat & Drink Festival Cairns Airport IRONMAN Gold Coast Marathon Laura Quinkan Dance Festival Birdsville Big Red Bash Brisbane Festival Australian PGA Woodford Folk Festival May Asia-Pacific Championship July July July September Championship December June December 6 7 Gold Coast Brisbane Southern Queensland Southern Queensland Welcome to the Gold Coast, a place of powerful contrasts and Brisbane is Queensland’s buzzing riverside capital city, boundless energy. With over 55km of spectacular coastline, situated between the ocean and spectacular national parks. beaches and iconic surf breaks, there’s something here for Enjoy bustling cultural precincts, award-winning dining everyone, from dedicated surfers to easy-going families and experiences and exciting after-dark and music scenes, plus sophisticated foodies. Just 30 minutes from the beach you’ll breathtaking island escapes, stunning national parks and find a subtropical hinterland dotted with tumbling waterfalls, paddock to plate experiences. From the city centre, embrace hiking trails and enchanting villages. the outdoor lifestyle and sip cocktails up on the rooftops or dine riverside with the iconic Story Bridge as your backdrop. Top experiences Top experiences Feel the sand between your toes on the Gold Coast’s world- famous beaches. Learn to surf and take on the Gold Coast’s Experience the Gold Coast’s exciting and unique culinary Hand-feed wild dolphins, toboggan down giant sand dunes At South Bank, lounge around and enjoy the atmosphere at famous pumping surf breaks, or learn the art of stand-up scene, often served alfresco.