Encompassing roughly 3,000 individual reefs and dotted with almost 900 islands and coral cays (small sandy isles), Australia's Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most unforgettable natural treasures. Snorkelers and certified divers flock here to see the unparalleled array of marine life.
With its miles of sun-bleached sandy beaches, towering dunes, shimmering lagoons, and pockets of wild bushland, Gheebulum Kunungai (Moreton Island) feels a world away from nearby Brisbane. A national park and among the largest sand island in the world, Moreton Island makes for a perfect day trip when you want to get in touch with nature.
The Brisbane River winds its way through the heart of the city, from the neighborhoods of South Brisbane all the way to Moreton Bay. The river is also a center of local life, and residents and visitors alike enjoy the many waterfront parks and landmarks, riverside walks, and sightseeing cruises.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fraser Island (K’gari, the largest sand island in the world, is filled with natural wonders and Lake McKenzie is one of its most wonderful. Also known as Boorangoora, the strikingly blue water of Lake McKenzie makes it the most visited of the island’s freshwater lakes and its most popular swimming location.
Marking the southern border of Daintree National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mossman Gorge is one of the most popular places to experience the world’s oldest rain forest. Dating back more than 130 million years, the dense forest and scenic river gorge harbor a rich biodiversity and provide a stunning backdrop for hikers and swimmers.
Known as the “River of Mirrors,” the Noosa Everglades is one of Queensland’s most stunning natural landscapes and one of only two everglades systems on Earth. This stretch of wetlands, mangrove forests, and lakes is part of Cooloola National Park and harbors a rich diversity of flora and birdlife.
Marooned off the coast of Cairns in north Queensland, Green Island is a tropical paradise of lush rainforest, white sandy beaches, and crystalline waters. The idyllic island is part of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef National Park, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and harbors a variety of coral reefs, exotic fish, and marine life.
Located in the Gold Coast Hinterlands, Tamborine National Park is known for its natural beauty, rich biodiversity, and breathtaking views over the Gold Coast and the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Scenic Rim to the west. Queensland’s first national park, Tamborine is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.
The best-known shipwreck around the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, the once-luxurious liner SS Maheno was driven ashore just north of Happy Valley during a cyclone in 1935. The shipwreck continues to deteriorate in the harsh environment, making for an impressive and haunting site.
Floating down the shallow, fast-flowing waters of Eli Creek beneath a twisted canopy of trees is a highlight of a visit to Fraser Island. One of the largest freshwater creeks on the island, its cool waters provide welcome relief from the sunny shores of neighboring 75 Mile Beach.
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures introduces visitors to Australia’s most famous reptiles (and other native species) through an informative and educational day out. Visitors can observe crocs on a cruise through a lagoon mimicking the creatures’ natural habitat and learn how crocodiles are sustainably farmed.
The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has devoted itself to wildlife conservation since 1927 and is of the best places to spot native Australian fauna. The sanctuary is among the oldest and largest of its kind in the country, with more than 130 resident koalas, plus kangaroos, wombats, emus, dingoes, Tasmanian devils, and platypi.
The Agincourt Reefs are part of the larger Great Barrier Reef, sitting toward the northern end of the reef system and at its outer edge. Off the coast of Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation in Northern Queensland, the Agincourt Reefs are popular with divers, and there are around 16 different dive sites.
Central Station is one of the most picturesque attractions on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island. Originally a culturally important site for Indigenous Butchulla women, Central Station saw a forestry camp established in the mid-20th century. Now visitors come here to learn about the island’s flora and fauna.
With its sandy shores fringed by verdant bushlands, rocky headlands, and turquoise ocean, 75 Mile Beach is the star attraction of Fraser Island. Stretching 75 miles (121 kilometers along the eastern shore of the island, the natural wonder is also an official highway—the 75 Mile Beach Road—as well as an airplane landing strip.
Part of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Gondwana Rainforests, the startling landscapes of Springbrook National Park are among the many highlights of Queensland’s Gold Coast Hinterlands. Carved out by an ancient volcano, the rugged plateau is now a natural wonderland of forested gorges, jagged cliffs, and cascading waterfalls.
Winding through ancient rainforests, dramatic gorges, and the UNESCO-listed landscapes of Queensland’s tropical north, Kuranda Scenic Railway is a top Australia train journey. The route runs 23 miles (37 kilometers) from Cairns to Kuranda. It passes through 15 tunnels and across 37 bridges and affords views of Barron Gorge National Park.
Located on the grounds of the Cedar Creek Estate Winery on Mt. Tamborine, the Glow Worm Caves Tamborine Mountain are one of the best spots on the Gold Coast to view glowworms. See thousands of these creatures during the daytime in a darkened, controlled environment designed to mimic their natural habitat.
One of Australia’s biggest marine parks, Sea World Gold Coast is home to dolphins, rays, sharks, polar bears, and seals. The family attraction has thrilling rides, educational exhibits, and daily live shows, and it’s also involved in marine life rescue and rehabilitation efforts along the Gold Coast.
This spectacular national park, covering an area of some 15 square miles (40 square kilometers, beckons visitors away from the surf and sunshine of Noosa Heads, offering miles of coastal walking trails, secluded beaches, a rugged coastline, and the chance to spot dolphins to one side and koalas to the other.
Castle Hill is a 938-foot (286-meter), pink granite, heritage-listed hill that stands behind central Townsville. It’s a popular lookout point with sweeping views of Townsville, the ocean, and Magnetic Island. The hill also offers 15 different hiking trails of various levels of difficulty.
The colored sand cliffs known as the Pinnacles are a spectacular site on the east coast of Fraser Island and are one of the reasons why the island has a UNESCO World Heritage listing. Formed over hundreds of thousands of years as minerals leached through the sand, experts have identified 72 different colors in the Pinnacles, mostly reds and oranges.
Queensland’s Barron Gorge National Park extends from the town of Lake Placid, and the surrounding lowlands, all the way to the high Atherton Tableland. The area—which is full of beautiful forests, waterfalls, gorges, and wildlife—is easily accessible from the city of Cairns and is one of the most popular outdoor areas in the region.
Story Bridge is Brisbane’s answer to Sydney’s Harbour Bridge. Iconic in its own right, Story Bridge is a heritage-listed, steel cantilever bridge that allows access between the northern and southern suburbs of Brisbane.
Story Bridge was built between 1935 and 1939, and was known as Jubilee Bridge until mid 1940. The main attraction of Story Bridge, as splendid as it is to view from afar, are the bridge climbs which began in 2005. A guided tour takes visitors up the bridge to stunning panoramic views of the city, out to Moreton Bay, and west across the aptly named Scenic Rim as they stand 80 metres above sea level. It’s also possible to abseil down one of the bridge’s pylons and into Captain Burke Park.
EN
