Queensland is well known because of its association with several major world heritage sites including the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree National Park. The state capital of Brisbane will delight city slickers with its lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere and, in the north, Cairns is a travellers’ mecca. Between the two are strings of towns and islands, each with its own flavour but all brimming with Queenslander hospitality. For the active traveller there are oodles of opportunities for white-water rafting, scuba diving, snorkelling, bushwalking, horse riding, surfing, bungee jumping, abseiling… The state is also home to more tours accredited under the national eco certification scheme than any other, so you can safely explore, rather than exploit, this beautiful state. |
Attractions, Activities and Events in Queensland
Gold Coast
One of the most popular destinations in Australia offering a wealth of attractions, entertainment, facilities and services. Famous for its sun, surf and sand, the City of Gold Coast stretches along 57 kilometres of coastline.
Gold Coast City is renowned for its unique and beautiful beaches and foreshores, stretching from the southern end at Rainbow Bay to Couran Cove in the North.
Thrills and spills at a variety of theme parks including Seaworld, Warner Bros Movie World, Wet 'n' Wild Water Park and the Outback Spectacular.
Endless shopping choices including resort, unique lifestyle centres, malls, retails centres and markets.
Explore the region's natural beauty with national park areas including Mount Barney National Park, Burleigh Heads National Park and the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk.
Source: Goldcoast, Queensland Tourism Website
One of the most popular destinations in Australia offering a wealth of attractions, entertainment, facilities and services. Famous for its sun, surf and sand, the City of Gold Coast stretches along 57 kilometres of coastline.
Gold Coast City is renowned for its unique and beautiful beaches and foreshores, stretching from the southern end at Rainbow Bay to Couran Cove in the North.
Thrills and spills at a variety of theme parks including Seaworld, Warner Bros Movie World, Wet 'n' Wild Water Park and the Outback Spectacular.
Endless shopping choices including resort, unique lifestyle centres, malls, retails centres and markets.
Explore the region's natural beauty with national park areas including Mount Barney National Park, Burleigh Heads National Park and the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk.
Source: Goldcoast, Queensland Tourism Website
Paronella Park
A Spanish Castle nestled amongst 13 acres of rainforest beside Mena Creek Falls, Paronella Park heritage gardens is a must see for all visitors to tropical North Queensland. Paronella Park was built in the 1930s by José Paronella, a Spanish immigrant. José Paronella built facilities, including tennis courts and a cinema and a ballroom inspired by Spanish castles, to provide entertainment for the public.
Enjoy the Paronella Park story (45 minute guided tour), an guided eco tour, self-guided botanical walks or the Darkness Falls tour (1 hour tour each evening - the waterfall and lower castle are flood-lit allowing for amazing photo opportunities).
Open every day 9am - 7.30pm.
Adults AUD$40, Children (5-15 years) AUD$20, Family Pass AUD$110.
Source: Paronella Park Official Website
A Spanish Castle nestled amongst 13 acres of rainforest beside Mena Creek Falls, Paronella Park heritage gardens is a must see for all visitors to tropical North Queensland. Paronella Park was built in the 1930s by José Paronella, a Spanish immigrant. José Paronella built facilities, including tennis courts and a cinema and a ballroom inspired by Spanish castles, to provide entertainment for the public.
Enjoy the Paronella Park story (45 minute guided tour), an guided eco tour, self-guided botanical walks or the Darkness Falls tour (1 hour tour each evening - the waterfall and lower castle are flood-lit allowing for amazing photo opportunities).
Open every day 9am - 7.30pm.
Adults AUD$40, Children (5-15 years) AUD$20, Family Pass AUD$110.
Source: Paronella Park Official Website
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 wonders of the natural world stretching off the Coral Coast from Bundaberg to Cape York at the Northern tip of Australia. This amazing marine park encompasses 618 islands, 300 coral cays and over 2,900 coral reefs.
The Great Barrier Reef can be easily accessed from the Queensland coast.
There are a huge range of tours going to the reef mainly from Cairns, Townsville and Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays.
Choose from reef boat cruises, sailing adventures, snorkelling and diving amongst the diverse marine life and spectacular views from above on a scenic helicopter flight.
Whale watching season is from July to September for the opportunity to see the Humpback Whale in its natural environment and depart from Cairns.
Source: Yahoo! Totaltravel
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 wonders of the natural world stretching off the Coral Coast from Bundaberg to Cape York at the Northern tip of Australia. This amazing marine park encompasses 618 islands, 300 coral cays and over 2,900 coral reefs.
The Great Barrier Reef can be easily accessed from the Queensland coast.
There are a huge range of tours going to the reef mainly from Cairns, Townsville and Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays.
Choose from reef boat cruises, sailing adventures, snorkelling and diving amongst the diverse marine life and spectacular views from above on a scenic helicopter flight.
Whale watching season is from July to September for the opportunity to see the Humpback Whale in its natural environment and depart from Cairns.
Source: Yahoo! Totaltravel
The Australian Outback Spectacular
The 1000 seat capacity Arena thunders with the hooves of Australian stock horses as the action-packed performance unfolds. Featuring spectacular scenes with wild horses, stampeding cattle, an array of bush vehicles and an unforgettable display of horsemanship. There's even a mustering helicopter that dives into the arena to round up a mob of charging cattle!
3 Course Aussie BBQ Dinner with a choice of either beer, wine or soft drink throughout the show. Tickets start from Adults AUD$89.99,. Admission is free for children 3 years or under (not including seat and meal). A full child rate is applicable for children aged 4 - 13 years inclusive or for children 3 years and under where an individual seat and meal is to be served.
Shows run Tuesday - Saturday at 7:30pm, and the last Sunday of the month at 12:30pm.
Source: Outback Spectacular Official Website
The 1000 seat capacity Arena thunders with the hooves of Australian stock horses as the action-packed performance unfolds. Featuring spectacular scenes with wild horses, stampeding cattle, an array of bush vehicles and an unforgettable display of horsemanship. There's even a mustering helicopter that dives into the arena to round up a mob of charging cattle!
3 Course Aussie BBQ Dinner with a choice of either beer, wine or soft drink throughout the show. Tickets start from Adults AUD$89.99,. Admission is free for children 3 years or under (not including seat and meal). A full child rate is applicable for children aged 4 - 13 years inclusive or for children 3 years and under where an individual seat and meal is to be served.
Shows run Tuesday - Saturday at 7:30pm, and the last Sunday of the month at 12:30pm.
Source: Outback Spectacular Official Website
Snorkeling at The Great Barrier Reef
Experience the adventure of snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef with Passions of Paradise Tours. The 25 metre high-performance catamaran sails daily from Cairns to two unique locations, world-famous Michaelmas Cay and exclusive Paradise Reef, where you can snorkel with turtles, colourful fish and see an amazing variety of corals. Paradise Reef is exclusive mooring, ensuring no crowds from other boats and the coral is in magnificent condition.
A dedicated crew member gets into the water and helps those who need assistance.
Throughout the day a FREE guided snorkel tour is offered at one of the selected reefs.
Full priced tour Adult AUD$159, Children AUD$109, full priced tour includes all snorkelling equipment, guided snorkelling tours, morning and afternoon Tea, tropical smorgasbord lunch, Outer Barrier Reef, Michaelmas Cay, Maximum 80 passengers.
Source: Passions Of Paradise Tours Website
Experience the adventure of snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef with Passions of Paradise Tours. The 25 metre high-performance catamaran sails daily from Cairns to two unique locations, world-famous Michaelmas Cay and exclusive Paradise Reef, where you can snorkel with turtles, colourful fish and see an amazing variety of corals. Paradise Reef is exclusive mooring, ensuring no crowds from other boats and the coral is in magnificent condition.
A dedicated crew member gets into the water and helps those who need assistance.
Throughout the day a FREE guided snorkel tour is offered at one of the selected reefs.
Full priced tour Adult AUD$159, Children AUD$109, full priced tour includes all snorkelling equipment, guided snorkelling tours, morning and afternoon Tea, tropical smorgasbord lunch, Outer Barrier Reef, Michaelmas Cay, Maximum 80 passengers.
Source: Passions Of Paradise Tours Website
2014 Pan Pacific Championship - 21 Aug 2014 - 24 Aug 2014
The Pan Pacific Swimming Championships are one of the world's most prestigious swimming meets in the world outside of an Olympic Games and FINA World Championships.
The event will see more than 300 of the world’s best swimmers from the USA, Japan, Canada, Brazil, New Zealand and Australia compete for the coveted Pan Pacific gold.
The Pan Pacific Swimming Championships is held over four days of heats and finals competition.
At the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, which will also be a major venue for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Source: Tourism and Events Queensland Website
The Pan Pacific Swimming Championships are one of the world's most prestigious swimming meets in the world outside of an Olympic Games and FINA World Championships.
The event will see more than 300 of the world’s best swimmers from the USA, Japan, Canada, Brazil, New Zealand and Australia compete for the coveted Pan Pacific gold.
The Pan Pacific Swimming Championships is held over four days of heats and finals competition.
At the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, which will also be a major venue for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Source: Tourism and Events Queensland Website
Noosa International Food & Wine Festival - 15 May 2014 - 18 May 2014
Recognised as the premier food and wine event in Australia, the Festival boasts an influential line-up of over 180 leading international and national chefs, iconic winemakers, high profile food and wine media, restaurateurs and serious foodies. The festival also encompasses producers from across Australia promoting their delicacies; not to forget a competition fueled cook-off between stallholders, each vying to be named the best dish or wine of the festival. Held 15-18th May 2014 at Lions Park.
General Admission Adult AUD$40, Weekend Gold Package AUD$330.
Choice of 20 Celebrity Chef cooking demonstrations and tastings.
Live entertainment and a full programme of talks, wine tastings and celebrity chef demonstrations.
Source: Noosa Official Website
Recognised as the premier food and wine event in Australia, the Festival boasts an influential line-up of over 180 leading international and national chefs, iconic winemakers, high profile food and wine media, restaurateurs and serious foodies. The festival also encompasses producers from across Australia promoting their delicacies; not to forget a competition fueled cook-off between stallholders, each vying to be named the best dish or wine of the festival. Held 15-18th May 2014 at Lions Park.
General Admission Adult AUD$40, Weekend Gold Package AUD$330.
Choice of 20 Celebrity Chef cooking demonstrations and tastings.
Live entertainment and a full programme of talks, wine tastings and celebrity chef demonstrations.
Source: Noosa Official Website