Tourist Australia > Destinations > Queensland Tourist Travel Guides
The red hot outback. The lush green rainforests. The golden beaches and sunshine. The cool blue coast. The living kaleidoscope of the Great Barrier Reef. And the colourful towns and people. Queensland is big, bold, bright and beautiful. Australians know Queensland as the Sunshine State. As the old saying goes, beautiful one day , perfect the next. This is the holiday capital of Australia, attracting visitors from around the country and around the world, all year round.
A Unique, Distinctly Australian HolidayThere’s no part of Queensland more colourful than the people. You’ll find the locals friendly, helpful and more than accommodating. The Sunshine State contains so many amazing attractions that Australia is famous for. It’s brimming with exciting cities, sunshine and pristine natural attractions. Queensland has a character and relaxing nature unlike anywhere else in the world.
Think BigQueensland is big. Covering 1,727,000 square kilometres, it is Australia’s second largest State after Western Australia. It represents more than a quarter of the country’s total area. And it’s the fastest growing State in Australia, with a current population of over three million people. To put Queensland in perspective, it’s more than seven times the size of the United Kingdom, more than four and half time the size of Japan, around six and half times the size of New Zealand, more than five times the size of Texas. Yet Queensland is relatively uncrowded.
Queensland is such a vast land that Flying Doctors are called to take medical care to remote communities. A school of the air delivers education via two-way radio to distant school children. And the world’s longest mail run – the Channel Country Run – is in air service stretching form North-West Queensland into South Australia.
Queensland’s islands are tropical masterpieces—turquoise lagoons, pure white beaches and lush rainforest peaks that create some of Australia’s most irresistible holiday destinations. Scattered along the Great Barrier Reef and stretching from the Whitsundays to the far northern tropics, these islands offer a rare blend of adventure, serenity and world‑class natural beauty that keeps travellers returning year after year.
Step ashore on Hamilton Island, where palm‑fringed shores, coral‑rich waters and luxury resorts set the tone for a dreamy island escape. Sail to Whitehaven Beach, famous for its swirling silica sands and shifting blue hues, or dive into the vibrant underwater world surrounding Hayman, Daydream and Long Island. Off the coast of Cairns, Green Island and Fitzroy Island place you right on the Great Barrier Reef, with colourful coral gardens and sea turtles just metres from the shoreline. For those craving wilderness, Hinchinbrook Island delivers rugged mountains, hidden waterfalls and one of Australia’s most iconic multi‑day hikes.
Whether you’re snorkelling over kaleidoscopic reefs, kayaking across glassy lagoons, hiking through ancient rainforest or unwinding beneath a fiery tropical sunset, Queensland’s islands offer a sensory escape like nowhere else. With warm weather year‑round, easy access from Cairns, Townsville and Airlie Beach, and accommodation ranging from eco‑retreats to five‑star luxury, these islands are the ultimate destination for couples, families and adventure seekers chasing paradise in Queensland.
