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Australia & South Pacific

Queensland Vacations & Tours

  • Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef
  • Heart Reef, the Whitsundays
  • Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane
  • Gold Coast at Night
  • Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast

Why consider a visit to Queensland?

Australia’s ‘Sunshine State’ enchants both its natural beauty and its laid-back outdoor lifestyle. Boasting the world’s largest natural reef system doesn’t hurt its appeal either. The Great Barrier Reef stretches along more than half of Queensland’s coast. North Queensland’s treasures also spread inland with the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation. The Great Barrier Reef stretches all the way to Queensland’s Whitsundays, a sailing paradise where near-untouched green islands dot azure waters that remain at perfect swimming temperatures year-round. Not to be overlooked, Southeast Queensland is a favourite getaway for many Aussies. Brisbane’s days as Australia’s provincial northern city are long gone. The state capital today is a cultural and economic powerhouse, with an appetite for outdoor living unmatched elsewhere in the country. To the south or north, either the Gold or Sunshine embody Australia’s surfing beaches at their finest, with a destination to suit everyone from the visitor-ready high-rise skyline of Surfers Paradise to the relaxed shores of Caloundra or Coolangatta.

Tropical Rain forest Waterfall in Queensland

What are the best cities to visit in Queensland?

Brisbane

Brisbane has now emerged as one of the fastest-growing cities and is the third-largest in Australia. It enjoys a sub-tropical climate all year round and is known as the “city of sunny days”. Brisbane is also the gateway to Queensland’s Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast with their excellent tourist facilities to be enjoyed on an Australia vacation. The city, with its hilly surface, has an attractive skyline through which the Brisbane River flows. A good way to see the city on trips to Australia is to take one of the many cruise boats that sail along the river. Enjoy dining on the riverside of Brisbane’s South Bank. For entertainment, bars and trendy cafes visit the city’s West End. To shop, head for the city centre at the Queen Street Mall.

A highlight is the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the world’s first koala sanctuary where you can cuddle a koala bear, feed the Kangaroos and also become acquainted with the Tasmanian Devil. Another interesting site is Mount Coot-tha with its spectacular views of the city and excellent botanical gardens. For culture bugs, Brisbane has many excellent museums and art galleries to satisfy all tastes.

Discover more about vacations to Brisbane

Cairns

Cairns is a small city in the tropical north of Queensland and is best known as the Gateway to Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia’s most popular destinations. From Cairns, there is easy access to rainforests, tropical islands, reefs and mountains. Not far away, you can enjoy world-class diving or snorkelling getting close to schools of tropical fish and abundant marine life on your Australia vacation. In the city itself, go for a stroll along the Promenade and discover the very large saltwater lagoon in the centre of the city. Explore the picturesque coastal drive towards Port Douglas and board a catamaran to the Great Barrier Reef. Hop on the century-old scenic train to the rainforest village of Kuranda, famous for its markets, and experience an aboriginal “dream-time” walk and cultural performance.

Learn more about tours to Cairns

What are the top sights to visit in Queensland?

The Atherton Tablelands

This is a picturesque fertile plateau situated southwest of Cairns in Queensland. However, the terrain is varied and includes ancient forests, woodlands, wetlands and volcanic crater lakes. It is a veritable playground with so much to offer the visitor on an Australia vacation. The Tablelands are very important to the birdwatcher as it has over 500 different species of birds. It also has a selection of typical Australian wildlife including the unusual platypus and the tree kangaroo. The best way to see the Tablelands is to take a self-drive tour and take in some or all of the following highlights. Kuranda is a mountain village with excellent walking trails. Attractions here are river cruises, koala sanctuaries and the Skyrail rainforest cableway.

There are many other locations in the Atherton Tablelands which are well worth visiting in this fascinating region of Northern Queensland. Wooroonooran National Park contains the two highest mountains in Queensland and has an abundance of beautiful waterfalls plus there are 500 different species of trees. Millau again has magnificent photogenic waterfalls and panoramic lookouts. Lake Tinaroo is best seen by driving around it in order to appreciate its beauty. Facilities offered are fishing, water skiing and windsurfing. Granite Gorge is a very scenic location with a number of walking tracks and swimming holes. It is here one can feed the many tame wallabies and get to know them up close.

More information on the Atherton Tablelands

The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is “God’s gift to Australia”, a truly wondrous natural phenomenon. It is the world’s largest coral reef system with 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands located off the coast of Queensland in the Coral Sea. It stretches 2600 kilometres/1600 miles and is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms. It is a must-visit on an Australian vacation. There are several ways to view the Reef on Australian tours. You can enjoy a short cruise for a few days or simply take a glass-bottomed boat for a half-day outing to view the underwater treasures. It could be a difficult choice as to how to tackle the Great Barrier Reef but you can bet it will be a rewarding one.

Learn more about trips to the Great Barrier Reef here

The Whitsundays

The Whitsundays Islands are a popular tourist destination on Australia vacations off the central coast of Queensland and a collection of 74 islands spread across the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea. Most of the islands are deserted but there are eight that offer accommodation and tourist facilities. They also all offer great beaches and an intimate atmosphere and can be visited either by taking a cruise or a stay-put Australia vacation. The Whitsundays are centred on Whitsunday Island but the commercial and most important island is Hamilton Island. Also, the largest of the Whitsunday Islands, of which 70% is a national park, Hamilton Island offers natural beauty and good scenic walks. There is also a quality golf course here. Hayman Island is the most northern island and is the epitome of a tropical paradise. Activities include everything from bushwalks to excellent diving and snorkelling. Daydream Island is a haven for wildlife lovers where it's possible to hand-feed stingrays, sharks, and fish, and where it is not unusual to see dolphins and turtles in the nearby waters. Long Island is closest to the mainland and is a great destination for hikers. Palm Bay is one of its secluded delights, showing off the Whitsundays at their very best. Airlie Beach is located on the mainland itself and is the jumping-off point for many Whitsunday and Great Barrier Reef excursions.

Discover more about tours to the Whitsundays here

The Sunshine Coast 

Just one hour north of Brisbane in Queensland is the region known as the Sunshine Coast – Australia’s best-kept secret and Queensland’s hidden gem. From the majestic Glass House Mountains to Noosa and the coloured sands of Rainbow Beach, the region includes over 100 kilometres/ 62 miles of pristine sandy beaches surrounded by the quiet beauty of coastal and hinterland villages. The Sunshine Coast offers you an Australia vacation abundant in nature with relaxed beach culture, The Sunshine Coast gets its name from this fact – it has an average of 300 days of sunshine per year. Leading attractions include Steve Irwin’s Zoo (also known as Australia Zoo), swimming along alongside humpback whales at Mooloolaba (July-October), and cruising the waterways and rivers of the Noosa Everglades, one of the most iconic resort towns on the Sunshine Coast is the stylish and popular Noosa, known as the relaxation capital of Australia. It offers everything visitors on trips to Australia could want, with pristine beaches, a stunning coastline, natural surroundings and contemporary alfresco dining options.

More information about Sunshine Coast trips

The Gold Coast

The Gold Coast, located 95 kilometres/60 miles south of Brisbane, is a major Australian tourist destination in Queensland. It has 60 kilometres/35 miles of coastline, year-round sunshine and a subtropical climate. It is also known as the entertainment capital of Queensland with long stretches of sandy beaches to be enjoyed on an Australia vacation. The three major beach areas are Surfers’ Paradise Beach, an excellent place for shopping with its 14 shopping centres, Main Beach a stylish resort with outstanding dining, cafes and shopping and Broad Beach known as a dining Mecca and which also has attractive pristine beaches. Only 85 kilometres/53 miles away is Lamington National Park known for its natural beauty with its rainforests, birdlife, bush trails, mountain views and more than 500 gushing waterfalls.

Learn more about trips to the Gold Coast

Best time to visit Queensland

Because of its geographical location, Brisbane enjoys weather that ranges from warm to hot all year round. This is for sun-seekers – don’t ever expect snow. There can be some humidity. February is the most humid month and September has the least. Summer is when the city has the highest rainfall with temperatures around 30 Celsius/86 Fahrenheit. Winter is generally mild and dry. Early mornings will be cool. Daytime temperatures average 22 Celsius/72 Fahrenheit. Fall and spring are nice times to be in Brisbane – almost no humidity and little rain with temperatures around 26 Celsius/79 Fahrenheit. 

Queensland's Gold Coast has a sub-tropical climate with around 300 days of sunshine per year. The same applies approximately to the Sunshine Coast. Whatever season you choose, you will enjoy the outdoor life in both places. In summer, the weather is fairly wet with high humidity which is offset by cool sea breezes.  Temperatures are around 28 Celsius/83 Fahrenheit. Winter is sunny and dry with cool nights and temperatures averaging 21 Celsius/70 Fahrenheit. Fall and spring have sunny days and again, cool nights and little rain and temperatures around 25 Celsius/77 Fahrenheit.  

Bear in mind, Cairns is located in the far north of Queensland and therefore has hot and humid summers and warm dry winters. This may be sufficient to make an informed decision but of course, we can’t all be flexible time-wise. Summer is the wet season and average temperatures reach 31 Celsius/88 Fahrenheit. Because winter has the pleasantest weather, it is the high season in Cairns when there is little rainfall and temperatures are around 26 Celsius/79 Fahrenheit. The fall is warm, day and night, with some wind and temperatures reaching 29 Celsius/85 Fahrenheit. Spring is when the humidity starts to rise with some rain towards the end of the season. Temperatures reach 31 Celsius/88 Fahrenheit.

Whether your Australia vacation is about adventure or relaxation, there’s a part of Queensland waiting to join your list of favourite destinations.

 

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FEATURED TRIP
  • Take a walk at Tropical Beach at Cape Tribulation during your next Australia tours.
  • Port Douglas' renown Four Mile Beach
  • Take a boat ride or snorkel through the Great Barrier Reef in Australia during your next trip to Australia.
FEATURED TRIP

Best of the Tropical North

FIRST-CLASS | TAILOR-MADE: From Cairns experience easy access to tropical islands, rainforests, mountains, palm-fringed sands, beautiful beaches and the Great Barrier Reef, one of nature’s wonders of the world.

More Details

Queensland, Australia

  • Great Barrier Reef Self Drive from Cairns

    Beginning and ending in Cairns, drive Tropical North Queensland, visit the Tropical Tablelands, the Daintree Cape Tribulation coast and Port Douglas - hub of the Reef and Rainforest coast.
    Duration:
    6 Days
    Prices From:
    US$ 759
    Trip Type:
    Self-Drives
    Australia See Trip Details

  • Live Like A Local: Gold Coast Australia

    A travel highlight for most Globetrotters is to mingle and interact with locals. But to actually live amongst them, even for just a short time, is an experience of a life time.
    Duration:
    15 Days
    Prices:
    On request
    Trip Type:
    Snowbird Long Stays, Tailor-made Travel Ideas
    Australia See Trip Details

  • Live Like A Local: Sunshine Coast Australia

    A travel highlight for most Globetrotters is to mingle and interact with locals. But to actually live amongst them, even for just a short time, is an experience of a life time.
    Duration:
    15 Days
    Prices:
    On request
    Trip Type:
    Snowbird Long Stays, Tailor-made Travel Ideas
    Australia See Trip Details

  • Mysteries of Melanesia Luxury Adventure Cruise

    DELUXE | CRUISE: Sail between some of the world’s least understood islands on this eye-opening adventure cruise through Melanesia and Papua New Guinea. Meet the tribes who call these islands home, and explore the largely unspoiled reefs and remote sights of this little visited part of the world.
    Duration:
    11 Days
    Prices:
    On request
    Trip Type:
    Cruises & Sailing, Luxury and Beyond, Single Friendly
    Papua New Guinea See Trip Details

  • Pacific Coast Explorer Self Drive: 9 Days

    Drive the Pacific Coast and get to know its many highlights travelling from Brisbane to Cairns with stops at Fraser Island and Rockhampton, the Whitsundays, Townsville and Mission Beach.
    Duration:
    9 Days
    Prices From:
    US$ 859
    Trip Type:
    Self-Drives, Tailor-made Travel Ideas
    Australia See Trip Details

  • PADI Learn to Dive

    Learn to dive with an “Open Water” course that is unmatched for experience and value. Receive two days of pool training then three days and two nights onboard a liveaboard dive vessel.
    Duration:
    7 Days
    Prices From:
    US$ 1,081
    Trip Type:
    Active & Adventurous, Ideas for 18 to 30 Somethings, Tailor-made Travel Ideas
    Australia See Trip Details

  • Queensland Coastal Explorer

    FIRST-CLASS | SPECIALTY GROUP: This exclusive post-Lions Club International Convention group tour showcases the beauty of Queensland, from the tropical rainforest outside Cairns to the colorful underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef to the powdery white sands of the Whitsundays. Immerse yourself in the beauty and culture of this world-renowned natural wonderland.
    Duration:
    14 Days
    Prices From:
    US$ 8,499
    Trip Type:
    Specialty Groups & Events
    Australia See Trip Details

  • Queensland Splendour

    Journey through Queensland to sample its diverse landscape and vibrant local life. Surf the beaches of the Sunshine Coast, hike the sand dunes of Fraser Island and dive into the wondrous ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef.
    Duration:
    8 Days
    Prices From:
    US$ 1,354
    Trip Type:
    Tailor-made Travel Ideas
    Australia See Trip Details

  • Sea, Sand & City - Gold Coast & Sydney

    FIRST-CLASS | TAILOR-MADE: Embark on an enchanting 13-day adventure to Australia, commencing with an exploration of the captivating Gold Coast. Journey onward to Sydney, renowned for its iconic landmarks and magnificent harbor vistas.
    Duration:
    13 Days
    Prices From:
    US$ 3,389
    Trip Type:
    Tailor-made Travel Ideas, Vacation Packages with Airfare
    Australia See Trip Details

  • Signature Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest in Luxury

    DELUXE | PRIVATE-GUIDED: Get the best of both worlds and stay in luxury accommodations on this reef and rainforest vacation. Swim, snorkel, and relax on a coral cay in the Low Isles of the Great Barrier Reef. Then discover the Daintree Rainforest and Mossman River from your treehouse resort.
    Duration:
    6 Days
    Prices From:
    US$ 2,098
    Trip Type:
    Tailor-made Travel Ideas
    Australia See Trip Details

  • Sparkling Sunshine Coast

    MODERATE | TAILOR-MADE: While staying on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, enjoy a visit to Fraser Island reached by cable ferry to Cooloolan National Park with its 75 mile long beachfront. .Experience natural beauty during a guided rainforest walk and also have a freshwater swim plus Aussie BBQ lunch.
    Duration:
    4 Days
    Prices From:
    US$ 956
    Trip Type:
    Stopovers/City Breaks, Tailor-made Travel Ideas
    Australia See Trip Details

  • Wonders of Reef, Rock & Sydney

    FIRST-CLASS | SPECIALTY GROUP: This exclusive post-Lions Club International Convention group tour showcases three of Australia’s greatest landmarks: the red rock of Uluru in the Northern Territory, the world’s largest coral reef system the Great Barrier Reef, and the iconic city and surrounds of Sydney.
    Duration:
    10 Days
    Prices From:
    US$ 6,289
    Trip Type:
    Specialty Groups & Events
    Australia See Trip Details
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