Queensland, Australia Destination Information

Queensland, or the “Sunshine State,” enjoys semi-tropical weather, miles and miles of beaches, and an easy going lifestyle. This perfect holiday destination provides a stunning backdrop and activities for everyone, especially those who delight in diving, snorkeling, beach going and surfing. For it holds one of the world’s wonders – the Great Barrier Reef, providing endless technicolor treasures for you to behold. 
You can sun yourself on the golden sands of Surfers Paradise, four wheel drive Fraser Island, explore the magical Daintree Rainforest with an Aboriginal guide, charter a yacht to the pristine Whitsunday Islands, enjoy resort relaxation in Noosa, frolic on the beaches of the Capricorn Coast, dive from the gracious town of Bundaberg, bushwalk through national parks near Mackay, visit wineries and rodeos in Southern Queensland Country, and much more.

Vacation Destinations in Queensland

• Brisbane
  

  It's a city where the air is filled with optimism and a sense of adventure is heavy on the ground. You'll be amazed by the attractions, the diverse places to visit and the shopping. You'll also be pleasantly surprised by the open and friendly attitude of the locals. Sophisticated and progressive, dynamic and diverse, Brisbane delivers on all fronts. Delight in the very best food, wine, arts, entertainment and major sporting events, all surrounded by a unique environment of relaxed sub-tropical flair. There's exciting shopping, a buzzing night life scene, and no end to the range of outdoor adventures on offer, such as sailing, surfing, hot air ballooning and four wheel drive excursions.

  Hotels & Resorts in Brisbane, Australia

  Quay West Suites Brisbane

  Sofitel Brisbane Central

  The Sebel Suites Brisbane

  Mercure Brisbane

  
  
  
• Fraser Island
  Located just off the coast from Hervey Bay, World Heritage Listed Fraser Island will leave you feeling charmed and captivated. It is a place of exceptional beauty, with long uninterrupted white beaches flanked by strikingly colored sand cliffs and over 100 freshwater lakes. Ancient rainforests grow in sand along the banks of fast-flowing, crystal-clear creeks. There is also prolific wildlife throughout.
  

  Hotels & Resorts in Fraser Island, Australia

  Mercure Kingfisher Bay Resort

  
  
  
• Gold Coast
  

  The Gold Coast is Australia's favorite holiday playground, and it's been that way since Surfers Paradise was established as a beachside town. Over the last half century, more and more attractions have popped up, making the region one of the most visited destinations in the world. 
  There are enough activities to keep you occupied for months! Visit one of four major theme parks, have a round of golf, or relax in a spa. Take a tour of the river and canals in an aqua-bus, head up in a hot air balloon, or learn to surf. Delight in nature at The Gold Coast Hinterland, a breathtaking place of great natural beauty where bushwalking is hugely popular all year around. Water lovers will relish Surfers Paradise, home to the “best beach in the world,” or Moreton Bay, a world-renowned scuba diving area with an abundance of coral reefs, wildlife, and colorful fish.

  Hotels & Resorts in Gold Coast, Australia

  Palazzo Versace

  InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort

  Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa Gold Coast

  Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise

  Hotel Grand Chancellor Surfer's Paradise

  Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach

  Vibe Hotel Gold Coast

  
  
  
• Sunshine Coast
  

  Aptly named the Sunshine Coast due to nine months of clear blue sky and sunshine, this has long been a favorite vacation destination to local Queenslanders and worldwide travelers for years. It offers miles of pristine coastline, lush hinterland, superb cuisine, action, adventure, and so much more…
  Need the perfect piece of sand on which to sit and ponder? Marvel in the natural unspoiled beauty of miles of white sandy beaches. The region’s tropical rain forests, holiday resorts, scenic tours and a myriad of other local attractions are also sure to please. Eco-tourists will find many unspoiled locations with native flora and fauna existing as nature intended. The Australia Zoo, the home of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, is a twenty minute drive from the coastal strip.

  Hotels & Resorts in Sunshine Coast, Australia

  Palmer Resort Coolum

  Sheraton Noosa Resort & Spa

  
  
  
• Cairns
  

  Cairns is the jewel in Australia's tropical crown. With over 300 days of sunshine, plenty of space, friendly locals, and the World Heritage-listed Daintree rainforest and Great Barrier Reef side by side, it’s easy to see why Mother Nature chose Cairns be the international hub of adventure vacations. Cairns natural attractions rank as some of the most original and exciting in Australia. Golden sunny beaches flanked by pristine rainforest and the Cairns Great Barrier Reef make it a region that literally has it all! Swim, snorkel and dive among thousands of colorful fish and coral just off the coast.

  Hotels & Resorts in Cairns, Australia

  Shangri-La at The Marina

  Shantara Resort Port Douglas

  Pullman Reef Hotel Casino Cairns

  Silky Oaks Lodge

  Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort

  Mercure Cairns Harbourside

  
  
  
• Daintree
  

  The Daintree region is undeniably spectacular and uniquely accessible to travelers. There are many natural and often unique features to be explored set among a landscape with striking diversity, including magnificent scenery, mountain ranges, fast flowing streams, waterfalls, deep gorges, and outstanding coastal scenery that combines tropical rainforest, white sandy beaches and fringing reefs just offshore - an extremely rare combination. The World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest is the oldest surviving tropical rainforest on earth, and is a site of exceptional beauty and significance as the region that contains the most species of plants and animals in Australia.

  Hotels & Resorts in Daintree, Australia

  Silky Oaks Lodge and Healing Water Spa

  
  
  
• Palm Cove
  

  Palm Cove is a luxurious superstar-style destination. Paved beach roads, million dollar island views and world class al fresco restaurants make this little piece of Cairns paradise a true Utopia. Just north of Cairns, Palm Cove is an ideal holiday base in Far North Queensland as it is midway between Cairns and Port Douglas, just a short drive to the Daintree, and a close access point to the Great Barrier Reef. Palm Cove's majestic jetty collects passengers each day to experience the wonders of snorkeling, diving and viewing the colorful wildlife of the Great Barrier Reef. Accommodations take advantage of the spectacular ocean views, cool sea breezes and centers around the buzzing Esplanade. This destination has a cosmopolitan mix of resorts, which reflects the relaxed, casual atmosphere with friendly locals.

  Hotels & Resorts in Palm Cove, Australia

  Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa

  Reef House Resort & Spa

  Novotel Palm Cove

  
  
  
• Port Douglas
  Port Douglas is just an hour’s drive from Cairns via a spectacular coastal road that is surrounded by forest and the Coral Sea. It is a place where glittering green merges into blue, and the only place on Earth where two World heritage listed jewels exist – the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest of Daintree and Cape Tribulation.
  The area's grandest attraction, the Great Barrier Reef, lies just eight miles off the coast, and dozens of daily cruises embark from the marina taking folks to snorkel amid its beauty. On shore, Four Mile Beach is a gorgeous swath of uninterrupted sand and sea and the town's most prominent beach. Other attractions include Macrossan Street, the village's main thoroughfare of restaurants and shopping, and the Sunday Markets, a delightful mainstay in Anzac Park. A bit inland, the town of Mossman, famous for its sugar-cane production and beautiful surroundings, is worth an excursion, as is the Daintree Rainforest, which showcases the area's diverse flora and fauna.
  

  Hotels & Resorts in Port Douglas, Australia

  Thala Beach Lodge

  QT Port Douglas

  
  
  
• Gladstone
  

  Experience the warmth and hospitality of The Gladstone Region, which is dynamic and progressive, yet naturally beautiful and serene. The region is a diverse and fascinating one with an adventurous outdoor flavor complementing a busy, urban environment. This harbor city basks in a sub-tropical climate with islands, waterways and beaches on the doorstep offering year round boating, fishing, swimming and surfing. Gladstone offers visitors close access to the natural paradises of Tondoon Botanic Gardens, Heron Island and the Great Barrier Reef, which provides one of the best fishing and scuba diving locations in the world.

  Hotels & Resorts in Gladstone, Australia

  Heron Island

Fun Fact: Queensland houses the world's best collection of dinosaur tracks near Winton.