Queensland

Even so, the reef is just one of the many fabulous natural features found throughout Queensland, visitors from all over the world will also discover some of the world's most beautiful surfing beaches and luxuiant tropical rainforests, vast deserts with wide open spaces and rolling ranges with some facinating towns all with their own history. Queensland can be divided into 3 distinct regions. The fabulous golden beaches backed by a narrow fertile plain forming the coastal region. Seperating the coast from the inland areas to the long heights of the Great Dividing Range run from north to south with the highest point being Mount Bartle Frere (1612m), south of Cairns. West of the ranges, huge tracts of dry grazing land comprimise by far the greatest proportion of the State.

The arid Channel Country in the south-west is intermittently watered by west-flowing streams and the Gulf of Carpentaria, rugged uplands slope down to become marshy coastal plains teeming with wildlife. Evidence that Aboriginal people have lived in Queensland for many thousands of years cab be seen in the traditional rock art, found in places such as Canarvon Gorge and in the Quinkan Galleries, located in the Laura River Valley on Cape York.

There are opportunities for visitors to be giuded to significant sites by Aboriginal people to learn about indigenous lifestyles at cultural centres such as Dreamtime at Rockhampton and be entertained by world renowned performers from the Tjapukai Dance Theatre company at Cairns. In 1825, a penal colony was established at Redcliffe, near Brisbane - the first European settlers being convicts.

Transportation did not last long and eventually ended in 1841. Queensland became a colony in its own right when it seperated from New South Wales in 1859. Today's 3.6 million inhabitants are a rich cultural and ethnic mix with approximately 20% born overseas. Queensland's abundant sunshine id the irresistible lure that brings visitors from colder climates and many of the southern states. The south-east has two main seasons, long hot summers and a brief sunny winter. The nothern half lies above the Tropic Of Capricorn and experiences monsoonal conditions-between May and November the weather rarely exceeds 30 Deg Celsius but between December and April it can be very wet as well as very warm with high humidity.

Away from the coast, western Queensland is hot and dry in summer, relying on water running of the Gulf Country to renew life each wet season. In winter, the climate is delightful with days that are usaully fine and sunny, and nights that are generally cool and sometimes quite crisp.
Touring Queensland by car is easy, although a four wheel drive is required to reach some of the more remote areas of the outback. Linking Brisbane and Cairns, the Bruce highway stretches for approximately 1700km and gives access to all coastal areas in between.

A sealed road links Cairns with Mossman, dirt roads take over further north. A network of roads covers the vast outback areas with many linking roads to the Bruce Hwy. Major east-west routes include the Flinders, Capricorn and Warrego highways, joined north-south by the Mitchell and Landsborough highways.

An alternative to driving and a popular one is by air travel to cover some of the enormous distances this state covers, you can relax on the olane and arive nice and relaxed to your destination. Towns of any size are served by an airport, and Cairns, Townsville and Brisbane have international airports. Train travel presents another scenic option for travellers, departing from Brisbane, regular services run to Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Chaleville and Longreach and from Townsville the Inlander travels to Mount Isa. A luxuriuos rail holiday can be enjoyed aboard The Great South Pacific Express. Brisbane is a sunny capital on a winding river with old world charm and modern buildings. Many architectural styles mingle happily in this cosmopolitan city, which is famous for its outdoor living and al fresco dining.

On the Gold Coast you can either relax on one of the stunning beaches, discover the national parks of the hinterland or visit a winery and play a round of golf, enjoy the non-stop excitement of theme parks, nightclubs and of course the fabulous shopping. The Sunshine coast is a chain of easy going resorts with beautiful wide beaches and attractions that range from pineapple plantations to the distinctive Glass House Mountains, and National Parks inland.

To the north, Fraser Island is a magical place of pristine beaches, sheltered coves, beautiful rainforest scenery and dozens of fresh water lakes and creeks. In the ranges behind Brisbane, the city of Toowoomba is the regional hub of the Darling Downs, an agriculural district that suports farming and pastoral interests. Cool-climate produce is in abundance here and a highlight of the calendar is the Spring Garden Festival. A bit further south, the Granite Belt's wineries are a popular attraction. The amazing collection of underwater reefs, coral cays and islands that is the Great Barrier Reef extends from the tip of Cape York Peninsula to south of Gladstone. Many islands along its length offer resort style accommodation, some are internationally reenowned such as Lizard island, Dunk, Orpheus, Hamilton, Hayman, and Heron, others are not so well known and many more uninhabited dots in the ocean can be visited on snorkelling and scuba diving trips, Cairns, Townsville, Whitsunday, Mackay, Gladstone and Bundaberg are the major access points for island resorts and the departure points for an amazing variety of reef trips and excursions.

One of the safest and most beautiful sailing spots in the world, the Whitsunday Passage is the cruising capital of Queensland. With plenty of barefoot charters and cruises to choose from anyone can go sailing-there is no need to bring your own boat. Now that the Matilda Hwy tourist route pushes through the centre of the state, it is possible to have a driving holiday that include far-flung places such as Charleville, Barcaldine, Longreach and julia creek, and visit a region that was once the preserve of bushies and a few hardy souls who ventured off the beaten track. Sealed roads reach into some of the more remote corners allowing side trips to visit scenic highlights and isolated towns with facinating mining and pastoral history, where the school of the Air and Flying Doctor are a way of life.