Queensland is Australia's warm north-east, a state about seven times the size of the UK, and most of its holidays happen along the coast. Offshore lies the Great Barrier Reef; onshore, ancient rainforest, sand islands, surf towns and Brisbane, a relaxed subtropical capital on a winding river.
The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park stretches about 2,300 kilometres down the coast and covers 344,400 square kilometres, with some 3,000 coral reefs, 600 continental islands and 300 coral cays. It is the largest coral reef system on Earth and is World Heritage-listed. Day boats run to the outer reef from Cairns, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach; choose an operator with eco-certification and follow the park's zoning rules.
The Whitsundays are a cluster of 74 islands off Airlie Beach. Their star is Whitehaven Beach, which runs for more than seven kilometres along Whitsunday Island; its sand is about 98 percent silica, white and soft. At the northern end, the Hill Inlet lookout shows tides swirling sand and sea.
Cairns, Port Douglas and the Daintree
Cairns and Port Douglas are the gateways to the far north. Beyond them lies the Daintree, a rainforest said to be more than 180 million years old, the oldest in the world. At Mossman Gorge, about 22 kilometres from Port Douglas, Kuku Yalanji guides lead walks through their Country. Further north, a car ferry crosses the Daintree River to the beaches of Cape Tribulation.
This is crocodile country: never swim in rivers, estuaries or creeks, and obey every warning sign. In the warmer months box jellyfish and irukandji are also found offshore, so swim inside stinger nets and wear a stinger suit.
Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts
Brisbane, the state capital, is a laid-back city of riverside walks, ferries and outdoor dining, and it will host the 2032 Olympic Games. An hour south, the Gold Coast offers high-rise Surfers Paradise, theme parks and the famous point break at Snapper Rocks.
North of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast is slower and greener, from Mooloolaba's beach to Noosa, where the national park headland wraps around gentle surf. Behind both coasts rise green hinterland ranges with rainforest walks and waterfalls; on the beach, swim between the red and yellow flags.
K'gari
K'gari, long known as Fraser Island, is the largest sand island in the world, stretching over 120 kilometres along the coast. The Butchulla name was formally restored in 2023. Inland lie freshwater lakes and rainforest; travel is by four-wheel drive only, and vehicles need a permit. Keep well away from the wongari, the island's dingoes.
Whale season
Every winter humpback whales swim north from Antarctica to the warm waters of Queensland to mate and give birth. On the way south, many rest in Hervey Bay, sheltered by K'gari, which in 2019 became the world's first Whale Heritage Site. The season there runs from about July to November. Mothers and calves often come close to the boats, which must keep to strict approach distances.
Getting around
Brisbane Airport (BNE) is the main gateway, and Cairns and the Gold Coast also have international flights. The coast is long: Brisbane to Cairns is more than two hours by air or several days by road. Most visitors fly between hubs and rent a car locally.