Queensland

From the secluded tropical rainforests in the north to the bustling city atmosphere in the south, the dusty plains in the west to the iconic Great Barrier Reef in the east, Queensland is a land of beauty rich and rare.

Queensland is the second largest state of Australia, covering more than 1.8 million square kilometres in the north-east corner of the country. Queensland shares borders with the Northern Territory to the west, South Australia in the south-west corner, and New South Wales in the south. Queensland also has close to 7,000km of coastline, bordering the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean. Most of the 4.6 million residents of Queensland live along the coast, mostly in the south-east where the larger cities can be found.

Queensland is unofficially dived into 11 regions, including; Brisbane, Central West Queensland, Darling Downs, Far North, Fitzroy, Mackay, Moreton, Northern, North West, South West Queensland, and Wide Bay-Burnett. The capital city of Queensland is Brisbane. With a population of more than 2 million, Brisbane is home to almost half the population of the state. Brisbane is the centre for commerce for Queensland and also plays host to some of the largest festivals and sporting events in the Queensland calendar.

For a taste of the arts you can catch a touring theatre show or a local production at QPAC all through the year. The Brisbane International tennis tournament is one of the main lead-up events to the Australian Open in January, and if you are lucky to secure a seat at Suncorp Stadium during the NRL’s State of Origin series then you will be treated to one of our domestic league’s greatest spectacles. Not only does Queensland boast some of the finest beaches in the world, but the clear blue oceanic water features the famous Great Barrier Reef. The reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and it’s no secret as to why – it is a thriving underwater metropolis of brightly coloured coral and sea life, stretching thousands of kilometres along the east coast. The best way to see the reef is to get right in amongst it by snorkelling or scuba diving, or by sailing around in a glass-bottomed boat or cruise ship.