Rawlings-Way Charles - Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef Travel Guide

Queenslands most famous landscape is actually underwater: the astonishing 2000km-long Great Barrier Reef. Also offshore are hundreds of islands, harbouring giant dunes and surreal forests growing in the sand. Back on the mainland, bewitching national parks protect lush rainforests, sparkling lakes and wildlife that ranges from cute and cuddly (koalas) to downright fearsome (crocs). Skyscrapers define the landscape in Surfers Paradise and Brisbane: everywhere else youll find laid-back beach towns and sugar-cane fields rattling under the Queensland sun.

Outdoor Queensland is truly great. Take the Great Barrier Reef for starters: slip on some goggles and ogle one of the most amazing underwater landscapes on Earth. Theres also white-water river rafting or easygoing kayaking along the coast. Bushwalking here is first-rate: propel yourself along a multiday Great Walk, or take a shorter hike through a rainforest gorge or up a mountainside. Sail across the azure Whitsunday waters, or tackle a 4WD adventure along Fraser Islands beach highway. Theres also surfing, skydiving, mountain-biking, fishing and hang-gliding.

With a hip coffee-bean scene, rambling farmers markets and fabulous riverside restaurants, Brisbane has redefined itself as a foodie destination. The citys alter ego shows up at sunset, when nightclubs, pubs and small city bars light up the night. Elsewhere in the state including foodie haunts such as Noosa, Cairns and Port Douglas youll find culinary rewards great and small, from fish and chips to sizzling steaks. Wash it down with Queenslands ubiquitous XXXX beer, or hunt down some fine wine from the little-known Granite Belt wine region.

Wrapped around river bends, boom town Brisbane is a glamorous patchwork of neighbourhoods, each with a distinct cultural flavour: bohemian West End; party-central Fortitude Valley; affluent Paddington; exclusive New Farmexplore and soak up the vibes. The Gold Coast should also be high on your list: nightclubs and surf clubs in equal measure. Other hubs include Cairns (gateway for the Daintree and Great Barrier Reef), Noosa (on the Sunshine Coast), and Airlie Beach (to access the Whitsundays). Urban essentials abound: cafes, bars, restaurants, galleries, shops and more.

Exploring the Great Barrier Reef ()
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Why We Love Queensland

By Charles Rawlings-Way & Meg Worby, Authors

Growing up in chilly southern Australian towns, the very notion of Queensland with its beaches, islands, sunshine and swaying palms was irresistible in our imaginations. Towns like Mission Beach, Noosa and Port Douglas assumed near-mythical status, demanding to be investigated at the first opportunity. Then, when the time came to actually explore the Sunshine State, the reality didnt disappoint. And we havent stopped exploring since! From the tropical north to the booming southeast, Queensland is an essential Australian destination.

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Queensland & the Great Barrier Reefs Top 15

MYLOUPE / UIG / GETTY IMAGES

Stretching more than 2000km along the Queensland coastline, the reef () is a complex ecosystem populated by dazzling coral, languid sea turtles, gliding rays, timid reef sharks and tropical fish of every colour and size. Whether you dive on it, snorkel over it, explore via scenic flight or glass-bottomed boat, linger in an island resort, or camp on a remote coral-fringed atoll, this vivid undersea kingdom and its coral-fringed islands is unforgettable.