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State of Australia
Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Hshook, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Queensland (pronounced KWEENZ-land) is the northeastern state of Australia, famous for natural wonders, such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest, and K'gari. Its population of 5 million are mostly found in the capital Brisbane and the nearby city of Gold Coast in southeast, whereas much of the rest of the state is sparsely populated.
The gateway to the state, South East Queensland contains the capital Brisbane and the vibrant holiday playground of the Gold Coast.
Charming towns, endless sugarcane plantations and a melting pot of coastal and country influences can be found along this stretch of pristine tropical coast.
Home to Cairns, Port Douglas and the lush Daintree Rainforest, the Far North is an ideal base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef.
Wide-open spaces stretching the length of the state provide unique experiences, interesting locals, rugged terrain and remote country festivals.
Queensland's agricultural centre has a blossoming food and wine culture and stunning natural heritage attractions.
The world's longest reef system is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and consists of more than 2,900 reefs and 900 islands housing unique coral species and marine life.
By train
The NSW Trainlink Brisbane XPT train runs overnight from Sydney Central station to Brisbane Roma Street station. The whole journey takes around 14 hours.
By boat
Interstate and international cruise liners regularly dock into Brisbane, and sail on to the Whitsundays, Cape York, Townsville, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.
By bus
There are a number of companies that operate bus services between cities and towns throughout Australia.
By car
Queensland’s wide open spaces make it ideal for exploration by car. The roads are high quality and well-signposted so getting here is easy.
By train
Queensland Rail Travel offers Australia's largest and most comprehensive network of long-distance trains, carrying more than half a million passengers each year.
By bus
Murrays has coach services from Brisbane to Chinchilla, Toowoomba, St George, Cunnamulla, and Lightning Ridge (NSW).
By car
Queensland's road network is extensive, especially on the coast. Many inland or outback towns can only be reached by dirt tracks, some of which are only suitable for four wheel drives.
the state capital and largest city
the ginger beer capital of the world, home to the world famous ginger beer company "Bundaberg"
popular holiday spot in North Queensland is a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef
famous for Surfers Paradise and numerous theme parks
known for its beaches, an alternate holiday spot to the Gold Coast
an alternate gateway to the Great Barrier Reef
industrial and agricultural centre of the north, and is the regional centre of Central Queensland
a budget and northerly alternative to the Gold Coast
colloquially called the Capital of North Queensland
home to Riversleigh, one of the largest fossil deposits in Australia and a world heritage site along with several scenic gorges.
known for its impressive landscape and its large amount of rock art
the world's oldest living rainforest with lush tropical rainforest of breathtaking beauty including lowland rainforest, swamps, mangroves and beaches – all available via walking tracks
World Heritage listed island and the only place on the planet where rainforest grows on sand. Over 120 km long and 30 km across at its widest point. Features a wealth of natural attractions including pristine fresh water lakes, champagne pools, amazing coloured sand formations and a shipwreck.
according to Captain Cook, they apparently "looked like glass houses"
the world’s largest living organism, stretching over 2,000 km in length and 348,000 m² (larger than the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Switzerland combined). Home to tens of thousands of species of brilliantly coloured fish, corals and other marine life including whales, dolphins and turtles.
the largest island on the Great Barrier Reef
the most prominent park of the Qld section of the World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. Located in South East Queensland, is the most extensive areas of subtropical rainforest in the world with large areas of warm temperate rainforest and nearly all of the Antarctic beech cool temperate rainforest.
off the coast in Central Queensland and home to some of the world's whitest beaches.
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