Queensland Accommodation

Queensland Information

Queensland is Australia’s second largest state in area. With Pristine beaches, tropical islands, lush rainforests, vibrant cities and the authentic Australian outback, Queensland is the ultimate holiday destination. Known as Australia’s Sunshine State, Queensland offers an abundance of diverse experiences to create lasting memories.

Brisbane is the state’s capital city, a city full of energy, style, arts and culture. The Brisbane River snakes through the metropolis and is peppered with alfresco dining options. By night, the city comes alive with vibrant bars and live music venues to keep you entertained into the early hours of the morning. Brisbane is also the perfect hub to explore the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, only an hour away by road. Both coastal regions offer stunning beaches, fabulous food and wine experiences and shopping that rivals many of the great shopping strips.

To the North in the heart of the Sunshine Coast is Noosa. It offers the discerning traveller a sophisticated and indulgent holiday. Noosa is definitely one of Australia’s premier destinations. Noosa is renowned for its proliferation of the finer things in life. On Hastings Street, enjoy alfresco waterfront dining from Michelin rated chefs. Relax at the hands of an experienced masseur in luxury accommodation or simply lounge the day away at the beach. Whatever your penchant for a relaxing holiday, you’ll find it at Noosa.

Many of the activities that Noosa offers surround the water. Noosa’s Main Beach is a protected beach with gentle surf and a great spot for beginners to learn. But nearby Sunshine Beach offers more advanced surfers some great breaks. Then there’s the Noosa River that is popular for canoeing and kayaking and the numerous tour operators that offer scuba diving lessons/trips too.

Another of the sunshine coasts popular destinations is Mooloolaba. It is blessed with a heady mix of ocean beaches, riverfront, variety of restaurants and nighteries. It also has an all-weather port which is not only home to a large trawling fleet, but the finishing point for blue-water sailing races from both Sydney and Auckland. With its international standard marinas and quality restaurants, Mooloolaba is a favourite anchorage for ocean cruisers and game fisherfolk. Surfers can also have their moments on the Mooloolaba waves or at nearby beaches such as Alexandra Headland, Coolum and Maroochydore. The scenic gems of the Sunshine Coast hinterland are just a short drive inland.

An hour south of Brisbane is Surfers Paradise. Renowned for its wonderful beaches, enjoy the bountiful water activities or stroll the beachfronts which are lined with plenty of restaurants and cafes for you to indulge in. If the surf is not for you, go shopping in the numerous arcades and witness the vibrant night life with the many clubs and bars at your disposal.

Just south of Surfers Paradise is another inviting beach lifestyle - Broadbeach. Broadbeach is somewhat quieter than Surfers Paradise, but boasts an excellent stretch of beach, dining and shopping options. Broadbeach Mall and Surf Parade are lined with trendy outdoor cafes and restaurants, and beachfront craft markets are held the first and third Sunday of every month. But probably the best known attraction at Broadbeach is Conrad Jupiters Casino, which thrives with gamblers 24 hours a day.

Burleigh Heads also in the Gold Coast is world renowned for its spectacular surfing conditions. Burleigh Heads has a chilled out, beach atmosphere with several alfresco restaurants, bars and cafes. This relaxed charm exudes from everything in Burleigh, making it a perfect holiday destination.

Head further north to swim in the freshwater lakes of Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, and just one of Queensland’s five World Heritage listed areas. Hervey Bay offers convenient access to Fraser Island. Hervey Bay is Australia's whale watch capital. Between mid-July and early-November whales can be sighted breaching and playfully chasing each other in the warm waters off shore. Visitors can choose an aerial tour or take one of the many day-long or half day whale watch cruises, which depart from Hervey Bay Marina daily during the season.

In the same region is Bundaberg, an ideal holiday location. True Gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef - day tours, resort stays, wilderness camping and multi-day live aboard dive cruises are all on offer. With its pristine environment the region is home to many marine creatures. Humpback whales pass close to the shoreline en route to Hervey Bay, and Australia’s largest mainland turtle rookery is situated at Mon Repos Beach. Reef walk, snorkel and dive on one of the great wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef. Throughout the region there is a sense of history mixed with wilderness adventure, rural experiences and warm country hospitality. All this and more is waiting for you to enjoy.

Another world listed heritage area is the Great Barrier Reef, stretching 2300km along the Queensland coast. Home to a myriad of sea creatures and hidden gems, the best way to explore the reef is to snorkel or scuba dive. There are literally hundreds of Queensland islands where you can relax and indulge in all that island life has to offer.

In the heart of Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, lie the Whitsundays, 74 islands floating like jewels in the tropical warm waters of the Coral Sea. Discovering the Great Barrier Reef is one of life's must-dos and it's easily accessible from Queensland’s mainland coast at Airlie Beach or directly from the islands. It is a cosmopolitan and vibrant town filled with palm-fringed beaches, waterfront parks and alfresco dining restaurants.

Also within easy reach of the reef is, Tropical, picturesque and relaxed Mackay. This city offers everything you could want from a major regional centre. The blue Pioneer River flows past the city's historical buildings, while stately palm trees fringe the main street with shopping hotspots. There’s plenty of magical spots for a picnic by the river and places to dine al fresco by the marina on the fabulous local seafood. The botanic gardens, beautiful beaches and a world-class marina are just minutes from the city heart.

The Mackay Region is becoming increasingly popular as a holiday destination for travellers seeking an unspoiled, friendly contrast to more developed, built destinations along the coast. The region has a delightful tropical climate that is similar to that found in the Hawaiian Islands. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual as are the dress standards. Summers consist of warm, tropical weather without extreme temperatures and mild sunny winters. The average water temperature is a heavenly 22 degrees.

Another of Queensland’s many places of natural beauty is Tropical North Queensland. At its heart is Cairns. Cairns is a vibrant, eclectic city framed by the spectacular twin backdrops of rainforest mountain ranges and the sparkling Coral Sea. The World Heritage listed Wet Tropics Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef and the Outback are all within easy reach. The Cairns Esplanade is the city’s main attraction with a lovely oceanfront promenade, saltwater swimming lagoon and beach. You’ll find numerous restaurants, bars and hotels lining the Esplanade…all offering beautiful waterfront views. Thousands of visitors flock to the Esplanade to enjoy the alfresco dining and relax in the beautiful surroundings of this modern city.

Also in Tropical North Queensland is Port Douglas, one of Queensland’s premier holiday destinations. Located just north of Cairns, Port Douglas offers a sophisticated and low-key escape for travellers from around the world. Known as a glamorous hotspot for the famous, Port Douglas still manages to retain an unpretentious and relaxed ambiance: you’ll only find buildings up to three stories high, not much taller than the nearby palm trees, boutique clothing shops and exquisite alfresco dining restaurants.

Port Douglas is also a popular base from which to explore the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforests of the Wet Tropics, Daintree and Cape Tribulation. There are numerous tours that embark from Port Douglas, many combining the adventure experiences of the Reef and the Wet Tropics. Accommodation options in Port Douglas offer a unique insight into the splendour of nature. Enjoy a massage to the sounds of the rainforest or the waves crashing on the beach…in Port Douglas it’s all possible.

Townsville is also one of Queensland's premier event destinations, with an exciting annual line up of sporting, aquatic, historical and cultural events. Townsville combines the lure of the tropics with the attractions of a major city. From diving in the Great Barrier Reef, trying your luck at the Casino, rafting white water rapids or simply lazing on golden beaches, Townsville offers the best of all worlds.

Crowning the edge of the Great Dividing Range 800 metres above sea level, is the South East Queensland city of Toowoomba. Renowned for its architecture and open spaces that overlook the Lockyer Valley, one of city’s famous vantage points is Picnic Point, from where you can explore the graded walks along the range escarpment, or sit back, relax and take in the view. Toowoomba really is Queensland’s Garden City, with more than 240 public parks and gardens. In spring the gardens are an extravaganza of colour, and the city celebrates with its Carnival of Flowers, held each year in the last full week of September.

The last region in Queensland to explore is Capricorn, Rockhampton and Gladstone. There's many a 'treasure' in the Capricorn Region. Fossick for sapphires, gold and 'thunder-eggs'. Discover the limestone caves just twenty minutes north of Rockhampton, Aboriginal Rock Art at Carnarvon Gorge and Blackdown Tableland, watch baby crocodiles hatch from their eggs, witness the flight of the small bent wing bats, enjoy camp drafts, picnic races, or a taste of outback life on a farm stay.

The city of Gladstone is developed on hills overlooking the focal point of its economic development - the natural deepwater harbour. The dynamic, modern city of Gladstone basks in a sub-tropical climate with islands, waterways and beaches providing year-round boating, fishing, swimming and surfing. As the centre of the southern reef, access to Heron Island, Lady Musgrave Island and uninhabited coral cays, offers visitors the miracle of the Great Barrier Reef. A large Charter Boat fleet operates from the world class Marina.

Whether you're relaxing on sun-kissed beaches, trekking through ancient rainforest or snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, there's an experience waiting to become your treasured memory in Queensland.