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Recommended
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Queensland |
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When thinking of Australia, most people picture lazy
days on white sand beaches. Nowhere is this image of
Australia more of a reality than in Queensland.
Justifiably known as the “sunshine state,” Queenslanders
enjoy a lifestyle that makes other Australians green
with envy. Along with its perfect climate and sleepy
seaside towns, Queensland is also home to a
110-million-year-old rainforest, and one of the natural
wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef.
View a
selection of
Excursions in
Queensland.
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Click Map to Enlarge |
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Brisbane
In a nation bordered by beaches, Brisbane is the
only place where you can find one in the city.
Skyscrapers and swimmers come together at South Bank
Parkland, a popular local haunt, containing an
artificial swimming beach, weekend markets and cheerful
cafes.
Recent development within the city has resulted in
an explosion of exceptional theaters, galleries and
concert halls, earning Brisbane the title of arts
capital of Queensland.
Although Brisbane has experienced a boom in the
past decade, it hasn’t lost sight of its country town
roots. Classic Queensland houses, encircled by
bougainvillea-clad verandahs, are scattered throughout
the suburbs. Brisbane’s top attraction, The Australian
Woolshed, pays homage to Australia’s agricultural
heritage with hilarious hands on demonstrations, while
evening dinner cruises down the tranquil Brisbane River
highlight the city’s role as a river port.
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Gold Coast
It is no coincidence that fashion mogul, Gianni
Versace, chose the Gold Coast as the site for his
flagship hotel, Palazzo Versace. With its 26 miles of
sun-drenched beaches and Mardi Gras atmosphere, the
“coast with the most” compliments the Versace vision of
finery and fun. Pamper yourself in this miniature Miami
with a visit to a holistic spa, dine at a gourmet
restaurant or tee off at one of the areas 40
championship golf courses.
For those who are more comfortable in flip flops
than in Fendi, the Gold Coast will not disappoint. Head
inland and hike Australia’s beautiful Lamington National
Park. Fish a canal in Venice-like South Stradbroke
Island, or ride the Tower of Terror at Dreamworld
amusement park. Travel to the Gold Coast and discover
why it’s Australia’s family fun park.
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Noosa
Surfers, seduced by spectacular waves, flocked to
Noosa in the 1960s. Wealthy holidaymakers soon
discovered this little gem in the Gold Coast’s crown and
together they have created a stylish seaside getaway.
Although surf, sand and sophistication don’t always
blend, at Noosa they live in perfect harmony.
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Sunshine Coast
An hour’s drive from Brisbane, Australia’s
Sunshine Coast is a ribbon of vacation villages,
beautiful beaches and meandering mountains, extending
from the Glass House Mountains to the colorful sands of
Rainbow Beach in the north. Blissfully free of the
glitz and glamour of the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast
is a quieter, more relaxed version of its southern
sister.
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Whitsunday’s
Welcome to the Whitsunday Islands, Queensland’s
preeminent tropical paradise. The hundred or so islands
forming the Whitsunday’s vary from steep summits to
coral cays all possessing a piece of Australian heaven.
Snorkel the sun drenched waters of Hayman Island and
count clownfish as they weave in and out of coral
castles. Slumber under the stars and fall asleep to the
sound of lapping waves while camping on your very own
island, or stroll the soft sands of Whitehaven Beach and
take in a sublime sunset.
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Cairns
No vacation to Australia is complete with out a
trip to Cairns. Built on Trinity Inlet, the Coral Sea
calls from the east whilst the rainforest-clad Atherton
Tableland serenades from the west, making Cairns an
enchanting nature lovers Nirvana. To reach the Atherton
Tableland you can drive, but to truly appreciate the
changing landscape from waving cane fields to walls of
rainforest, you should travel the scenic railway to the
mountain town of Kuranda. Famed for its vibrant markets
and stunning views, Kuranda is a charming hideaway and a
good place to mingle with the locals selling regional
arts and crafts.
Make your way down the mountain by gliding above
the rainforest canopy on the Skyrail gondola. Adjacent
to the Skyrail station at the valley floor is Tjapukai
Aboriginal Cultural Park. Here, visitors are treated to
a taste of Aboriginal culture with origin tales of the
Dreaming, festive, native dances, and instruction on how
to throw a boomerang and spear.
Head to the heart of the city, the Esplanade, and
enjoy a café latte before catching a catamaran to
Cairns’ underwater rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef.
The only living organism visible from space, the Great
Barrier Reef is 1,240 miles of memories that will last a
lifetime. Snorkel with sea turtles, dive the rich
waters off Green Island or birdwatch on Michelmas Cay.
No fancy photograph or travel documentary will prepare
you for the perpetual paradise that awaits you at the
spectacular Great Barrier Reef.
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Palm Cove
A mere 20-minute drive from Cairns, Palm Cove is
miles away from the hustle and bustle of its popular
neighbor. Escape to a forest-fringed oasis where you
will find peace and plenty instead of people and plans.
If you need an Australian wildlife fix, head to
Wild World, a 10-acre tropical zoo. Along with
kangaroos and cassowaries, you can get up close and
personal with snakes and race giant North-Queensland
cane-toads. King of the mountain is a 1,540 pound
crocodile – the largest in captivity. With her 17ft
long frame, you can understand why they call this little
lady “Sarge.”
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Port Douglas
Port Douglas is a Cinderella city. In the early
80’s Port Douglas was a sleepy, seaside hamlet good for
a place to refuel on your way to Cairns. Today, the
“Port” as it is called by locals, has transformed into a
trendy, tropical resort and is giving its southern
sister, Cairns, a run for its money.
Sleek resorts and chic restaurants line the
streets, while celebrities stretch out on the golden
sand of Four Mile Beach, tending to their tans.
Although it is easy to get star struck by the Port’s
shiny veneer, this Australian town still has remnants of
its humble beginnings, and colonial buildings can be
found lazing in the shadows of 5-star hotels. It is
almost symbolic how the road into town passes through
stoic sugarcane fields before widening into streets
lined by prim palm trees – imported no less.
Here is a destination so perfectly designed chance
had no hand in it. Framed between the mist capped
mountains of the Daintree and the shimmering ribbons
of the Great Barrier Reef is a region of beauty
rare.
World-Heritage listed for pleasures of future
generations. And accessible to all who enjoy the
true pleasures of life.
Port Douglas village is both gateway and
destination. It's a heady blend of stylish cafes and
funky bars alongside a century old pub. It's
boarding a boat at the marina and not knowing
exactly where you’re going. It’s the seemingly
endless stretch of Four Mile Beach.
Everyone enjoys Port Douglas. Families, couples,
singles and celebrities all visit here because of
the way Port's laid back style, superb natural
attractions and effortless sophistication blend
together to create the unique flavor of the village.
Beautiful, tropical Port Douglas is the gateway to
the World Heritage Listed natural wonders of the
Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.
Snorkeling or diving the Great Barrier Reef is,
quite simply, the adventure of a lifetime. The 3200
km Great Barrier Reef is the world's healthiest reef
system, a marine wonderland made up of 6 600 species
of flora and fauna including 1,500 species of fish,
4 000 species of mollusks and 400 types of coral.
The Daintree Rainforest has been around for more
than 100 million years, making it the oldest
continually surviving rainforests on earth. When the
rest of the world experienced dramatic climatic
changes, these rainforests remained relatively
stable and undisturbed. As a result, this living
museum shelters plants found only as fossils
elsewhere in the world.
When you're ready to rest, discover the spectacular
spas the region offers and restore equilibrium. When
you're ready to play, step out into the velvet
starry evenings to world class restaurants, funky
bars and stylish cafes.
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Daintree
Australia’s answer to the Amazon, the Daintree
rainforest, is more than 100 million years old and is
home to the highest number of rare or endangered plant
and animal species in the world. This world heritage
listed area is alive with history and pulsing with
prehistoric plants and animals, all of which can be seen
in exciting ways. Glide along the Daintree River and
spot saltwater crocodiles as they laze on the muddy
banks. Join a 4WD guided tour and explore primeval
forest rarely seen by man, or camp out under the stars
in one of the unique corners of the world. |
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