Your Comprehensive Guide to Queensland – The Sunshine State of Australia

Home » Your Comprehensive Guide to Queensland – The Sunshine State of Australia

When you talk about Australia, you think of Kangaroos, outback, Aussie food & wine, cricket, beaches but did you know there’s a state in Australia that’s home to all of this and a lot more? A state that boasts not one, not two, but 5 World Heritage Sites. Yes, we’re talking about the Sunshine State of Queensland! While we hope you’re safe and sound at home, in this blog you’ll find everything you need to plan your next holiday to Queensland. With plenty of sunshine, spectacular beaches, natural wonders and unique nature and wildlife, a holiday in Queensland is all about memorable experiences, fun and full active days.

Queensland is nearly five times the size of Japan, seven times the size of Great Britain and two and a half times the size of Texas and has a lot in store, for every category of traveller. So without further ado, let’s jump straight to it.

Getting to Queensland

By Air

Queensland has two major international airports: Brisbane (BNE) and Cairns (CNS). All long-haul flights arrive at the international terminal. From the adjacent domestic terminals, there are many non-stop connections to all destinations within Queensland and many cities in Australia.

Flight Duration: 8 + 5hrs* 

Airlines flying from India to Queensland:

• Singapore Airlines & SilkAir
• Malaysia Airlines (6th June 2018 4 x week KL-BNE)
• Cathay Pacific
• Thai Airways
• Etihad Airways
• Emirates
• Scoot
• Air Aisa x

Weather in Queensland and Best Time To Visit

Queensland is blessed with an enviable climate of warm sunny days. Warm summers (December to January) and mild winters (June – August) are what you can expect, plus loads of sunshine (with occasional showers).

The best time to visit Queensland is between April to November, where the climate is pleasant and favourable to carry out all the activities the sunshine state has to offer. If you don‘t mind warm tropical rain, you can visit Queensland all year round.

Places to Visit in Queensland

Brisbane

Brisbane: Queensland’s vibrant, cosmopolitan capital is located at the core of Queensland. Well connected by air through international airports, this buzzing river city is turning into Australia’s favourite hot spot. With cafes, restaurants, bars, galleries, green spaces and more, all worthy of giving its southern cousins a run for their money, Brisbane is the perfect location to start off your dream Queensland holiday at. It’s not easy to choose your own ‘Bris-venture’, you’ll be spoilt for choice, we guarantee! So here’s our pick of Top things to do in Brisbane.

Top things to do in Brisbane

• Take an Urbe Tour to Howard Smith Wharves

Morning-Urbe Tours are the best way to explore the city of Brisbane. Enjoy Brisbane’s best sights and sounds in this 2-hour tour, whilst zooming along on Brisbane’s best mode of electric transport, an Urb-E! Starting from Riverlife at Kangaroo Point, they take you on an informative tour, stopping at some of Brisbane’s key landmarks, such as the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, South Bank, Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Eagle Street Pier and Howard Smith Wharves. A must visit would also be the wheel of Brisbane. Whether it’s your first time in Brisbane, your first time on an Urb-E or you’ll just want an excuse to keep going.

• A day trip or overnight at Tangalooma Island Resort

Need a quick tropical island beach escape or looking for the perfect Brisbane day trip? Tangalooma Island Resort is the perfect getaway set amid the national and marine parks of Moreton Island. Switch to cruise mode by jumping on a return day cruise to Tangalooma Island Resort, located on Moreton Island, which the world’s third-largest sand island and is only 75-minutes away from Brisbane. Here you can hand-feed wild dolphins (Yes! They come in every day just to interact with you), sandboard down desert-like dunes, camp without seeing another soul or go glamping if that’s more your style. There’s even an impressive trail of sunken shipwrecks to snorkel or dive right off the beach. With cruises departing daily at both 7:00 am and 10:00 am you can either relax beachside or jam pack it with activities, making it one of the best things to do in Brisbane!

• Eat Street Northshore

There is nothing like it anywhere in the world – a special one of a kind experience that transports you to absolute culinary heaven. Priceless city and river views saturate and surround these 70+ dining and entertainment shipping containers that add are a blazing coloured landmark to the Brisbane and South East Queensland dining and entertainment scene. It’s a special place that reflects everything about Queensland and Brisbane’s sub-tropical way of life. Eat Street Northshore operates every Friday and Saturday night from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm and Sunday afternoons. Eat, shop and play in the best atmosphere on the Brisbane River.

• Take a walk in the coolest laneways of Brisbane

Whether it’s sipping a cup of coffee on a sunny afternoon or packing your appetite to discover some lip-smacking food, the Laneways of Brisbane are the city’s best-kept secrets you ought to visit. Brisbane’s oldest and most well-known laneway, Burnett Lane, will have you covered from your first espresso of the day to your last espresso martini. Retreat to Burnett Lane’s hideaway restaurant and café, Felix for Goodness for some wholesome, seasonal food using local, organic ingredients. Visit the Spencer Lane, an architecturally pieced together laneway, that packs the venues of Urbane, The Euro and Laneway Bar into one seamless space. Or simply head down to John Mills Himself – a place that looks after your caffeine hit and gin-fix all under one roof.

• Go glamping at Sanctuary by Sirromet

Escape the mundane and connect with nature in a tranquil bushland setting at Sanctuary by Sirromet. Located on the grounds of Sirromet Winery, Sanctuary by Sirromet hosts tented pavilions that offer elegant comfort and style while overlooking some mesmerising views across Moreton Bay. Indulge your senses and dine on fresh, locally sourced produce, matched with award-winning wines at their family-owned and run winery.

Gold Coast

Gold Coast! Undoubtedly one of the most happening cities in Australia. A travellers favourite, a trip to Australia is incomplete without spending a few days in this hip city. Where hinterland meets the beach, (a unique combination, indeed!) a trip to Gold Coast is like a 360-degree roller coaster ride, complete with surf, sand, shopping, amusement parks, beautiful skylines and gorgeous views, fun-filled activities and voracious food experiences. With a spectacular coastline of 21 beaches along 57 kilometres and iconic surf breaks, Gold Coast is the fun capital of Australia. So let the fun begin!

Top things to do in Gold Coast

• Adventure in Gold Coast – The SkyPoint Climb

Whether you’re looking for a fun-filled afternoon or a morning full of action and adventure, Gold Coast’s thrilling activities will get your adrenaline pumping. Float among the clouds at Skypoint Climb that takes place in the Q1 building in Surfer’s Paradise. At 270 meters in the air, it is one of the highest external building walks in Australia. The views of the climb will surely stay with you long after you’re back on the ground. The time taken to complete this activity is around 90 minutes.

• Discover Gold Coast’s Hinterland

Swap your sandy flip-flops for hiking boots and take a short drive to the Gold Coast hinterland (Hinterland is an area behind the coast or the shoreline of a river) to explore over 1,00,000 hectares of World Heritage-listed rainforest. Get on board the Southern Cross 4WD Tour and visit the green behind the gold. Mt.Tamborine boasts of spectacular views right up to Surfers Paradise, which is just a 30-minute drive.  Alternatively, you can also take a self – drive to witness the mystical Springbrook National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site will leave you short of words while describing its natural beauty, spectacular waterfalls and lush green rainforests. In Springbrook National Park you’ll find some of the most ancient vegetation in Australia whose roots date back over 100-million years ago – a vintage that makes dinosaurs walking on earth seem like modern history.

• Experience the rooftop bar culture of Gold Coast

The beating heart of this city, are the rooftop bars. These not so little pockets of popular affairs are hubs for locals and tourists alike. The perfect place to mingle and socialise with Queenslanders of Gold Coast. Burleigh Pavilion, The Collective, The Island Rooftop, Frida Sol are some of the many rooftop bars that offer good food, amazing drinks and even better views.

• Wildlife experiences

Feel like feeding kangaroos or cuddling a Koala? The wildlife experiences in Gold Coast will have you channelling your inner wildlife enthusiast. Immerse yourself into the natural beauty of 27 hectares of Currumbin rainforest, wandering through open animal enclosures, feeding kangaroos and cuddling koalas along the way. The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary has challenging experiences like the TreeTops Challenge High Ropes Course, an exhilarating 90 challenge canopy ropes course. You can also see the wonderful vets in action within the Wildlife Hospital precinct. With a huge outdoor themed playground, Wild Island, there is plenty of entertainment for kids to enjoy as they tour the sanctuary on a miniature train. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a not-for-profit organisation and reinvests all proceeds back into wildlife and conservation programs.

• Bring out the shopaholic in you

When you need your fix of some retail therapy, check out the Shopping scene in Gold Coast at Pacific Fair for high end and high street shopping and Harbour Town for discounted outlet shopping. Located next to The Star Gold Coast and across the road from the ocean, you will find a mix of global brands including Louis Vuitton, Prada, Christian Louboutin and Chanel, international chains like H&M and Zara plus Australian labels Zimmermann, Scanlan Theodore, Aje, Alpha 60 and Dion Lee. The dining here is just as good as shopping with a bunch of restaurants to suit every taste and budget. Pacific Fair offers a free shopping shuttle service, head to their website for more details!

If brands are not your thing, shop where the locals do. Surfer’s Paradise Beachfront Markets – A colourful and relaxed way to spend an afternoon is on the popular Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets. They are held every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday night from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm. A hit with domestic and international tourists, these markets host 100-plus stalls selling locally made or produced pieces including jewellery, fashion and souvenirs.

Sunshine Coast & Fraser Island

Sunshine Coast is located in the north of Brisbane. A drive to this spectacular coastal area is an escape to the unknown for a breath of fresh. On Sunshine Coast, the only thing more refreshing than the water is the lifestyle. With its endless beaches, lush rainforests and easy smiles, it’s a place where you will feel like a local from the moment you arrive. A Sunshine Coast and Fraser Island holiday is all about relaxation, stunning natural experiences and enjoying fabulous food and adventures. From its 100km of sparking coastline to lush hinterland, the Sunshine Coast is the ultimate getaway to slow down the pace and rejuvenate in a pristine natural environment.

Top things to do in Sunshine Coast

• The Great Beach Drive – 4WD Tours

Discover the sand dunes with Great Beach Drive 4WD tours. The Tours takes place from Noosa to Rainbow Beach and return. Accessible only 4×4, imagine pure exhilaration of driving more than 70 km on a white sandy beach with the Pacific Ocean on one side and natural bushland on the other side. This is the only tour in Australia that includes the coloured sand demonstration at the incredible Rainbow Beach. Ever thought you’d get your faces and arms painted along with mixing sands in the ocean? This is the peculiarity of this drive. Offering the experience of driving on some of the world’s most stunning beaches and through some of the most idyllic National Parks, the Great Beach Drive is truly a once in a lifetime touring holiday experience for couples and families.

• Whale Watching in Hervey Bay

Grab your front row seats for the most soul-stirring experience in the world between June and November every year – whale watching.  Each year, like clockwork, these marine mammals undertake a 5,000 km annual migration from Antarctica to have a babymoon followed by a birth story in Queensland’s warm waters. Undoubtedly, Hervey Bay is the home of whale watching in Queensland and one of the world’s first official Whale Heritage sites which sets the benchmark for whale watching across the globe. The protected waters of Hervey Bay around Fraser Island are where around 7,000 humpback whales and their new calves choose to stop over to rest and play in the bay’s calm and safe waters. Hervey Bay is an easy drive north of Brisbane (about 3.5 hours) and can be discovered on a trip to Sunshine Coast and Fraser Island.

• Noosa Everglades Cruise

Imagine an unforgettable wilderness experience right here one of Australia’s most pristine regions! The Noosa Everglades are one of only two Everglades in the world. For the ultimate experience in serene tranquillity, the area is best explored on an eco-cruise. Marvel at the reflections of the flora on the banks of the water that appear like a mirage. There are banksias, tea trees, melaleucas, reeds and water lilies. Or spot some of the Australian bird species that visit or live in the area from pelicans, ducks, cormorants, eagles or a rare jabiru. Uniquely located in the National Park, Habitat Noosa Everglades eco-camp is Queensland’s most exciting eco-tourism experience. This much-loved camping ground on 65 acres of natural bushland provides onsite cabin, camping, motorhome and glamping accommodation. Habitat Noosa is also home to a large eastern grey kangaroo population, living side by side with the eco-camp.

• Self Drive from Brisbane to Sunshine Coast via Montville & Maleny

Immerse yourself into the scenic surroundings while taking a self-drive from Brisbane to Sunshine Coast. Enjoy the beauty of the soothing green hills that roll into quirky and eclectic villages that are abuzz with award-winning cafés, restaurants and bars. Maleny is about 90 minutes north of Brisbane and renowned for its green, undulating countryside. Visit Mountville, a village first settled in 1887 has grown into a thriving hub of quality art galleries, stylish cafes, restaurants and gift shops. Shop for a fashionable outfit or pick up a souvenir on the way, Mountville is an ideal spot for a countryside experience.

• Australia Zoo

One hour north of Brisbane on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Australia Zoo is the home of The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. Nestled on more than 110 acres and with more than 1200 amazing animals, it’s the most interactive conservation destination on the planet! Cuddling a Koala is just one thing, but don’t miss out on feeding the gorgeous Kangaroos or walking a wombat. You can also get up-close and personal with their gorgeous wildlife by booking an animal encounter. When it’s wild, it’s in Australia!

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Region

Cairns & the Great Barrier Reef, in Tropical North Queensland fits in more untouched beauty, ancient culture and adventure within its borders than some entire countries manage to do, with the World Heritage List double-act of the Great Barrier Reef and The Wet Tropics Rainforest its most prized stars. Snorkel, dive or join a live-aboard to and share the water with curious minke whales and sea turtles, Zipline through the ancient beauty of the Daintree Rainforest and meet the local tree kangaroos or elusive cassowary. While in Cairns, you’ll long for longer days to pack in maximum adventure.

Top things to do in Cairns

• Experience the Great Barrier Reef

Visit the Outer Barrier Reef on Sunlover cruises or Big Cat Reef Cruise and touch the ever-awesome Green Island. Indulge in activities like the Ocean walker and snorkelling, take an introductory dive lesson or experience the Great Barrier Reef without getting wet, in a Semi-Submersible through the all-new Snuba Dive and Snuba Do. Another recipe to continue your Great Barrier Reef fun is by taking a good measure of private, perfect and paradise – add some pristine coral reefs, the sparkling Coral Sea and a touch of indulgence to taste. Combine all ingredients until smooth– enjoy with good company, Australian beverages and a lush tropical platter on the side. All this on an idyllic sand cay where the sea kisses the sand and sea birds dance on the breeze. Yes, we’re talking about an exclusive piece of your own paradise: the Sandy Cay! Pure white sand, beach comb of treasures that lays in the shallow crystal waters.

• Have an action-packed adventure: Bungy Jumping in Cairns

Cairns isn’t named the adventure capital of Australia for no reason. Push your limits 50-metres above the Great Barrier Reef. Bungy in the World’s oldest rainforest – 15 minutes from Cairns’ CBD. The world-famous Bungy tower at AJ Hackett Cairns is a Mecca for adrenaline chasers. At 50-metres high, you’ll get a bird’s-eye view of the northern beaches and that of the Great Barrier Reef before you take the plunge. Like a flash, embrace the jump at a speed of 120 km in just 3.5 seconds. Intense and highly addictive, just like we love it.

• Glide above the rainforest canopy in Skyrail

Visit the picturesque mountain retreat of Kuranda Village, in the world’s longest rainforest cableway. Kuranda, a vibrant little town surrounded by world heritage listed rainforest is just 25 kilometres northwest of Cairns. Visit the Kuranda Koala Gardens, Kuranda Butterfly Sanctuary and Kuranda Markets, while here. You can also travel to Kuranda on the historic Scenic Railway, which passes through mountains covered with lush greens and majestically full waterfalls. Like a picture-perfect painting!

• Self Drive from Cairns – Cape Tribulation via Port Douglas

Port Douglas is a stunning holiday destination in the northern tropics of Australia renowned for natural beauty, casual-chic restaurants, boutiques and cafes. It is the closest access to the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef and boasts miles and miles of unspoilt palm-fringed beaches. You can hire a car and drive through the scenic coastal route, stop by Rex Lookout for some beautiful panoramic views on the way to Port Douglas. Next stop would be at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, the best place to see crocodiles and local wildlife in the North. There’s an array of wildlife, including beautiful tropical birds, wallabies, reptiles and other native fauna, to be seen. Enjoy their entertaining and educational wildlife presentation to fill up your knowledge cortex. Take a boat cruise on Hartley’s Lagoon to see crocodiles and other wildlife. Next on the list is the Mossman Gorge Centre for a guided Dreamtime walk, a must-do for every visitor to Mossman Gorge, conducted by the local Indigenous people. The walks take visitors on a journey along private, gentle tracks, visiting special places and culturally significant sites, past traditional bark shelters and over meandering, cool rainforest streams. Next day drive up north for an hour 40 minutes to Cape Tribulation. An extraordinarily pretty stretch of the Daintree National Park, where you can climb aboard a fast boat to explore the Great Barrier Reef or take a kayak to nearby islands.

• Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park

Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park is the ultimate place to experience the rich and ancient cultures unique to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For over 26 years the park has engaged, entertained & educated thousands through two very distinctly different experiences; “Tjapukai By Day” & “Tjapukai By Night”. From traditional dance performances, boomerang and spear throwing lessons, to powerful & compelling storytelling which gives you an insight into this indigenous culture, there is something for everyone to enjoy. You could easily spend all day and night here (the Nightfire corroboree and dining experience is a real stand-out). Grab dinner at the award-winning Ochre restaurant, where your plate will be piled high with Indigenous-inspired flavours.

• Sleep on the reef with Sunlover by Starlight

Sunlover by Starlight is a once in a lifetime, intimate, overnight experience, sleeping under the stars at on Moore Reef in the Outer Great Barrier Reef and also includes two full days of Moore Reef Daily Experiences. You also get to enjoy activities such as snorkelling, glass-bottom boat and semi-submersible tours, underwater observatory, marine life touch tank and fish feeding experience. The upper-level sundeck is the perfect spot to relax in the tropical sunshine and look out over the turquoise waters and mosaic of the reef. The sundeck is also where the Sunlover Sunslide (the only theme park waterslide on the Great Barrier Reef) starts on its 30-metre spiral descent into the tropical waters. Keep your energy levels up to make the most of all the activities on offer at Moore Reef with a tropical buffet. Then as the day-trippers depart and the sun starts to descend, a lucky few get to experience the reef environment exclusively for themselves. Wow! Take one last snorkel or Glass Bottom Boat tour for the day with the entire reef to yourselves, then relax with a drink and a delicious BBQ while taking in an epic reef sunset. Wrap up in your deluxe swag, gaze at the brilliant stars of the southern night skies with nothing but the gentle sound of water lapping and nocturnal creatures coming to life on the reef to lull you to sleep.

The following morning, wake up to a brilliant tropical sunrise, then after breakfast, it’s time to discover new creatures as the reef awakens. The marine experts will take you to exclusive areas of the reef with a Guided Snorkel Safari and/or Glass-Bottom Boat tour before the day guests return and you enjoy another full day Moore Reef experience before departing to Cairns.

The Whitsundays

One of Australia’s most iconic destinations, the Whitsundays are a group of 74 jewel-like islands that sit right in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Hop on from Hamilton or Long island, relax on Whitehaven Beach – one of the world’s best beaches – or get out on the water in the sailing capital of the country. Don’t forget about the mainland, though. The Whitsunday Coast has charms of its own, with great beaches, national parks and the buzzing town of Airlie Beach. Get on board and visit this beautiful heaven.

Top things to do in The Whitsundays

• Scenic Flight over the Heart Reef

Get a bird’s eye view of the world-famous Heart Reef. Take a scenic helicopter flight over azure seas and stop off for lunch on a deserted beach before winging your way back to the mainland. The heart reef is a stunning composition of coral that has naturally formed into the shape of a heart. It was discovered in 1975 by one of Air Whitsunday’s pilots and is now an internationally-recognised attraction of the Whitsundays that features on many postcards and brochures of the Whitsunday region and the Great Barrier Reef. Only accessible by a helicopter this naturally occurring heart-shaped reef is a wonder to tick off from your bucket list.

• A visit to the Whitehaven Beach

Sink your toes into the soft, white silica sand as you wander on the seven kilometres of pristine, picture-perfect coastline. It is the largest of the 75 islands in Whitsundays. The white silica sand on this beach is among the purest in the world. At the northern end of Whitehaven Beach is Hill Inlet, a stunning inlet where the tide shifts the sand and water to create a beautiful fusion of colours. Whitehaven Beach can be experienced in several ways. If you’re interested in a day trip there are ferries, yachts, powerboats and luxury cruising yachts that depart from Airlie Beach. A variety of sailing companies also offer multi-day charters that include a memorable visit to Whitehaven Beach.

• Luxury island getaways at Hamilton Island, Daydream & Intercontinental Hayman

Hamilton Island is the most popular beach destination in The Whitsundays. You’ll be spoilt for choice with various accommodation and water activities. Snorkle in the sparkling blue waters or go game fishing. Hamilton Island is also a gateway to other gems in the Whitsundays including Heart Reef, Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach. You get to choose from the luxurious and intimate setting of qualia, the beachfront luxury of the Beach Club or the sweeping views of the Coral Sea at The Reef View Hotel. If it’s a little more independence you’re after, you can choose from the Polynesian style Palm Bungalows or the high-rise Whitsunday Apartments of Hamilton Islands which are ideal for families. Next on our list is one of The Whitsundays best-loved island resorts, Daydream Island. Daydream gives you’re a choice of outlooks from the tropical resort gardens to the pool or that gorgeous Whitsundays blue ocean. Slide open the doors of your room to drink it all in. Another one of our recommendations would be the Intercontinental Hayman. The resort’s luxurious rooms, suites and villas reveal beautiful beach, lagoon or pool vistas with easy access surrounded by endless island experiences, swim in iconic swimming pools or explore rare reefs. The most convenient way to travel to and from Hayman Island is via Great Barrier Reef Airport located on Hamilton Island. Several international flights connect directly to Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island through airports in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with regular domestic flights available from these three locations.

• Explore the mainland – Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is the vibrant hub of the Whitsundays and the ideal mainland base for fun and adventure in the Whitsundays. It is the perfect launching pad for activities on the water and in the lush, green rainforest of the Whitsunday Coast. Soak up the laid-back, tropical atmosphere and instantly tune into holiday mode. Stroll through the boutiques, cafes and shops of the main street; relax by the Airlie Beach lagoon and head to the Saturday morning markets that offer a quaint range of local arts and crafts, fresh fruit and vegetables and much more.

• Spend a night in Australia’s first underwater accommodation with Cruise Whitsundays

Another option to spend a night on the reef is the Reefworld by Cruise Whitsundays, based out at the Hardy Reef Base, 40 nautical miles away from the shore. After a full buffet dinner with unbeatable views, take a dive of a different sort into your deluxe double Reefsleep swag to get some sleep in preparation for your private morning snorkel safari and glass-bottom boat ride before the day-trippers arrive. You can also chose to stay 4 metres below the surface in one of two Reefsuites, Australia’s first underwater accommodation. A bucklist experience! Think floor-to-ceiling glass walls, guest-controlled in-water lights to maximise night viewing, not to mention a chef-prepared dinner and snorkelling and semi-submersible tours, an immersive once in a lifetime experience to boast about.