Rough Guides - Rough Guides Snapshots Australia: Coastal Queensland

Stretching for more than 2500km, from the border with New South Wales to the northernmost tip of the continent at Cape York, coastal Queensland encapsulates just about everything that lures visitors to Australia. From idyllic backpacker havens to plush luxury resorts, and wave-pummelled surfing beaches to crocodile-infested rivers, the shoreline of Queensland rewards weeks of exploring. Above all else, though, the prime attraction in these parts is the fragile but still astonishing Great Barrier Reef, which parallels the coast for almost its entire length.

State capital Brisbane , in Queenslands more developed southeastern corner, is a relaxed city with a lively social scene and good work possibilities. The Gold Coast , to the south, is Australias most famous holiday playground. Its reputation was founded on some of the countrys best surf, though that now takes second place to a belt of beachfront high-rises, theme parks, and the host of lively bars and nightclubs that surround Surfers Paradise. An hour inland, a chain of national parks, packed with wildlife and stunning views, line the green heights of the Gold Coast Hinterland .

North of Brisbane, fruit and vegetable plantations behind the gentle Sunshine Coast , overlooked by the spiky, isolated peaks of the Glass House Mountains , benefit from rich volcanic soils and a subtropical climate. Down by the ocean, Noosa is a fashionable resort town with great surfing. Beyond looms Fraser Island , where huge wooded dunes, freshwater lakes and sculpted coloured sands form the backdrop for exciting safaris, while the surrounding waters teem with activity during the annual whale migration.

North of Fraser, as you head into the tropics , the humidity and temperature begin to rise. Though an ever-narrowing farming strip still hugs the coast, the Great Dividing Range edges seawards as it progresses north, dry at first, but gradually acquiring a green sward that culminates in the steamy, rainforest-draped scenery around the bustling, backpacker-dominated city of Cairns . Along the way are scores of beaches, archipelagos of islands and yet more national parks, some such as Hinchinbrook Island with superb walking trails. Visitors with work visas can also recharge their bank balances along the way by fruit and vegetable picking around the towns of Bundaberg , Bowen , Ayr and Innisfail . North of Cairns, beyond the lively little resort hub of Port Douglas and the worlds oldest rainforest, known as the Daintree , you finally come to the savannah of the huge, triangular Cape York Peninsula , a sparsely populated setting for a gloriously rugged 4WD adventure.

Offshore, the Tropical Coast is marked by the appearance of the Great Barrier Reef , among the most extensive coral complexes in the world. The southern portions, out from Bundaberg and 1770 , are peppered with sand islands or cays , while further north beautiful granite islands pepper the inshore waters between the coast and reef, and are covered in thick pine forests and fringed in white sand the pick are the Whitsundays near Airlie Beach and Magnetic Island off Townsville. Many such islands are accessible on day-trips, though some offer everything from campsites to luxury resorts if you fancy a change of pace. The reef itself can be explored on boat excursions ranging up to several days duration; scuba divers are well catered for, though theres plenty of coral within easy snorkelling range of the surface.

As a major tourist destination, Queenslands coast holds a good range of accommodation , from budget to upmarket options in most locations. During the Easter and Christmas holidays, though and even simply at weekends room shortages and price hikes can occur at popular spots, including national parks, so its worth booking in advance.

As for weather , winters are generally dry and pleasant throughout the region, but the summer climate (DecApril) becomes more oppressive the further north you travel, with the possibility of cyclones bringing torrential rain and devastating storms to the entire Tropical Coast.

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GREAT BARRIER REEF

Highlights

The perfect place to while away a sunny Brisbane day, wandering the riverfront parklands from museum to caf.

The beaches, bars and theme parks of Australias prime domestic holiday destination provide raucous thrills around the clock.

Discover the giant dunes and pristine lakes of this beautiful sand island on an action-packed 4WD safari.

Scuba diving is the best way to explore the worlds most famous and beautiful coral complexes.

Lying inside the Great Barrier Reef, the rainforested peaks and long white beaches of the Whitsunday Islands offer some of Australias most picturesque cruising.

This pocket-sized resort town has great hotels and restaurants, plus easy access to some of the Barrier Reefs finest dive and snorkel sites.

The worlds oldest rainforest slopes down to breathtaking beaches peppered with facilities for budget travellers.