Queensland

If the variety of the continent's attractions could be condensed into one state, the result would look something like Queensland, Australia's all-you-can-eat traveler's smorgasbord. Part rocky, part schlocky, part green, part marine, Queensland is the holiday of choice of Aussies themselves. It's the Pacific Coast that sucks most visitors in like an undertow: the endless surf beaches in the south, the Barrier Reef in the north, and the islands all along propel wave, dive, and sun enthusiasts toward the sea. For many, though, the coast is just surface skin, and the real pudding lies within—in the rainforest-drenched far north and hinterland regions and in the jewel-bedecked outback, where history, like tourism, proceeds at koala-pace. At the base of this fantasyland sits the capital city of Brisbane, big, bustling, and yet temperate in every sense of the word, an urban haven that can actually provide a relaxing break from the con¬stant party that envelops backpackers on the well-trod path up the coast.

Queensland is beloved by travelers because, far from representing the average of Australia's natural and cultural climes, it displays the full spectrum, from the imposing reds of outback earth to the bright-hued crags of the Great Barrier Reef. Best of all, it juxtaposes these in reasonably accessible distances from one another. Make no mis¬take—it's a long, long trek from Brisbane up to Cairns and die northern wilderness beyond, and an equally long and far more desolate one into the central desert. Still, along the way you'll encounter charming country towns, pockets of th iving Aborigi¬nal cultural life, and plenty of history, interspersed, of course, with miles and miles of beach. Once you make it up to the northern coast, you'll find plenty of places with urban amenities, gorgeous sea, and untrammeled wilderness within easy reach. Here, appreciating Oz at the extremes can be as simple as driving toward Cape Tribulation and watching the rainforest practically tumble into the pounding ocean.

Featured Destinations from Australia

School of Mines Museum - Cassidy Street Kalgoorlie

School of Mines Museum - Cassidy Street Kalgoorlie The WA School of Mines Museum will definitely appeal to those of you with a keen interest in geology and mineralogy. This museum houses a collection of approximatel 3000 mineral specimens along with replicas of famous gold nuggets. The School of Mines Museum

Australia : Far North Queensland

Far North Queensland The northeast corner of the continent, from Cairns north into Australia's last great! frontier, is nothing short of heaven for backpackers and outdoor adventurers. The Great Barrier Reef snakes close to shore here, luring divers with shorter boat trips and longer visits to the spectacular corals of the

Australia : Brisbane

Brisbane If it weren't for Brisbane's tall office buildings and sleek commuter ferries, you might expect to see cows grazing on the city's carefully manicured lawns. Although Bris¬bane (pop. 1-1.5 million, according to varied estimates) is the capital of Queensland and Australia's third largest city, its recent growth has not obliterated

Allen Green Conservatory

Allen Green Conservatory The pyramid-shaped Allen Green Conservatory contains a collection of tropical plants.

Kings Cross

Kings Cross Kings Cross is one of the most densely populated are in Australia. This place rocks with adult entertainment, nightclubs, live music, and more than two hundred of the city's finest restaurants, bars and cafes. Kings Cross is one of the few places that continue to sparkle and throb throughout

Oceanworld, Manly

Oceanworld, Manly Oceanworld Manly features a vast array of marine life and the city's largest sharks! Boasting three levels, the main aquarium is on the lower level where you'll come face-to-face with giant SHARKS and stingrays in a walk-through 110 meter long acrylic tunnel. Be intrigued by some of the world's

Melbourne Zoo

Melbourne Zoo Opened on this site in 1862, Melbourne Zoo is the oldest zoo in Australia. It is believed to be the eleventh oldest zoo in the world. It offers more than 350 animal species from Australia and around the world are on view just 4 km from the centre of

Nowra - Bomaderry

Nowra - Bomaderry This busy and expanding agricultural and business centre, located just upstream from the mouth of the Shoalhaven River, is an extremely popular tourist resort because of its stunning beaches extending north and south of the town. Wreck Bay to the south is extremely popular spot for surfing (Australia's

St Mary's Cathedral

St Mary's Cathedral A grand church with grounds located at the end of Murray Street.

Aquarium of Western Australia

Aquarium of Western Australia Hillarys Boat Harbour, a little north of Scarborough, is the home of the Aquarium of Western Australia.