Australia > Queensland
Queensland epitomises most of the Australian clichés: beaches, barbecues, wilderness, endless sunshine, cold beer - in short, tropical paradise. Known for its laid-back nature and miles of golden beaches this wonderfully diverse state is large, brash, understated and always delights in surprising visitors. Besides beaches, Queensland is home to ancient rainforests, parks and historic towns.
Brisbane, Australia's third-largest, 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.
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 coral and a large variety of 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.
