Travel Impressions

Queensland A regal name—yet "fit for a queen" doesn't go nearly far enough to describe the riches of this land. Australia's second- largest state, its tropical north is a treasury of exotic rare fruits, shipped like currency around the world; its gold coast is resplendent with 35 sparkling beaches and even more attractions; and its waters are filled with priceless marine life in the great barrier reef. the largest reef on the planet, and a uNesco world heritage site that's one of the seven Natural wonders of the world, it's the only living thing visible from space. here on earth, the 1,430-mile phenomenon attracts over two million visitors to its 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of tropical fish, and 30 kinds of dolphins every year. Nearby, fellow world heritage site daintree rainforest, the oldest rainforest in existence, brings the wonder skyward with its 135-million-year-old treetops; an aerial walkway puts you right in the midst of its enormous range of plants and animals Cairns Brisbane Townsville Mackay Cooktown Rockhampton Fraser Island Gold Coast Sunshine Coast S O U T H P A C I F I C O C E A N Gladstone Noosa Bundaberg Hervey Bay Proserpine Surfers Paradise Port Douglas Daintree Palm Cove 0 200 miles 0 200 km S O U T H A U S T R A L I A N O R T H E R N T E R R I T O R Y Q U E E N S L A N D N E W S O U T H W A L E S Gulf of Carpenteria Arafura Sea Coral Sea Tropic of Capricorn Cape York Peninsula Airlie Beach Hinchinbrook I. Hamilton I. South Mole I. Hayman I. Daydream I. Dunk I. Bedarra I. Mission Beach Magnetic I. P A P U A - N E W G U I N E A G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F Cairns Port Douglas Palm Cove Daintree Mossman Coral Sea 0 200 miles 0 200 km 16 Queensland 14 16 1 2 3 4 11 13 15 17 8 20 18 31 5 6 7 29 12 9 25 26 27 28 30 10 21 22 23 24 19 who have shared their homes with the kuku yalanji for 9,000 years. interact with other Aussies in cairns, a destination in its own right. beautiful beaches, plentiful nightlife, great shopping, and the Atherton tableland—known for its wild residents of Platypus Park—are all signatures of this town. "Queensland's friendliest beach" in Palm cove; luxurious and international Port douglas; the fabled whitsunday islands; and the koala and wildlife Park, within the rainforestation Nature Park in kuranda, are other day-trip musts. while you're in Queensland, you'll definitely want to cross the tropic of capricorn to head toward the aptly named sunshine and gold coasts. there, theme parks, golf courses, high street food and fashion, and a bustling entertainment scene excite—that is, if you're not busy falling in love with the sport of surfers Paradise, a destination renowned for waves for all skill levels. follow the great sunshine way to brisbane's skyscrapers, lively south bank, art galleries, and the manmade beach in the city center, then get a vertical view of the waves from the Museum of brisbane, wheel of brisbane ferris wheel, iconic story bridge climb, or Mt. coot-tha lookout. of course, for even more culture, there's Australia's largest indigenous cultural park, the tjapukai Aboriginal cultural Park. that culture is also remembered on fraser island, yet another world heritage-listed attraction. on its vivid Arch cliffs, men once played didgeridoos to migrating whales, and women gave birth on the sacred grounds of Moon Point, not too far from where the cyclone-beached Maheno shipwreck lies and the champagne Pools bubble festively. After all, every moment in this sunshine state is one worth celebrating.

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