Queensland epitomizes those Australian clichés: beaches, barbecues, wilderness, endless sunshine, cold beer - in short, tropical paradise. Known for its
laid-back vibe and miles and miles of
golden beaches this wonderfully diverse state is large, brash, understated and always delights in surprising visitors with its hedonistic-riches. Besides beaches, Queensland is sated with
ancient rainforests, parks and historic towns.
Brisbane, Australia’s third-largest city, is a river-city and zipping between its sights via its main arterial waterway
is a sublime pleasure in itself. It exudes a
sophisticated relaxation, and enjoys a wide range of attractions, including the ever-popular
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the world’s oldest and largest sanctuary of its kind.
Yet you would be wrong to think that all those beaches and koala-hugs meant that Queensland was a calm and quiet state. Queensland is Australia’s capital of
adventure sports, and here you can
sail,
white-water raft,
paraglide, and learn to
dive and delve into the natural underwater wonder that is the
Great Barrier Reef, awash with turquoise tints and sealife. The reef is a World Heritage-listed marine park that stretches for more than 2,000km (1,250 miles) along the Queensland coast, dotted with
idyllic island resorts and containing one of the most diverse animal and plant ecosystems on earth.
GeographyTwo-and-a-half times the size of Texas or seven times the size of the UK, Queensland, more than half of which lies above the Tropic of Capricorn, is known as the ‘Sunshine State’. Within its borders are the Great Barrier Reef, numerous resort islands, miles of golden sandy beaches, national park forests, vast plains, lush rainforests, forested mountains and extensive wilderness areas.
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