Australia: You May Need A Hand When Exploring Queensland

Australia is a vast place but few travellers truly appreciate that. Like many other popular tourist destinations, the most famous Australian cities get all the attention and vast swathes of land are left unvisited by the majority of travellers in this great country. There’s more to the land down under than Sydney and Melbourne. Though those are great cities, you could see so much more than that; you’re seeing but the tip of the iceberg if you limit your travels to such destinations. That’s why you should move up from New South Wales and see some of the wonderful places that the state of Queensland has to offer. If you need a hand with getting started then this guide should give you all the help you need.

Brisbane

We’ve got to start with the state capital. As mentioned in the introduction, there’s more to Australia than its cities but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth, at least, seeing briefly during your travels. Brisbane is a diverse and dense city; there’s no end to the things you can experience whilst there. Starting out with the Mt Coot-tha Summit (that’s a mouthful) is definitely a good idea. There’s a restaurant and gift shop at the summit so you can relax whilst taking in some extraordinary views of Brisbane in its full glory. I can personally recommend the chocolate milkshakes – yum! 

As for exploring the heart of the city, you should definitely head over to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Even in the centre of a built-up area, you can still admire some of Australia’s furriest and friendliest natural residents. You can even pay an additional price to hold a koala for yourself, so that’s definitely an experience you shouldn’t pass up whilst in Australia.

Cairns

Located in Tropical North Queensland, Cairns is considered the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and a must visit when travelling to or through Queensland. It is a laid back city which is great for people who love to explore nature due to it also being home to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest and several of beaches. The city itself has a great atmosphere. Why not cafe hop down Grafton Street, visit Cairns’ Night Markets or hit the independent shops and boutiques to grab a bargain?

Hervey Bay

This city is more of a coastal resort on a large scale than a typical concrete jungle. In a sense, most Australian cities’ beauty is that they’re coastal paradises. Hervey Bay is a particularly beautiful city located in the north of Queensland, however, it has the wonderful Fraser Island sitting nearby just off the coast. You could head off on one of the eye-opening whale-watching tours from Hervey Bay and admire some of the stunning creatures that nature has to offer; obviously, wildlife plays a huge part in Australian travel, no matter where you go. Whilst you’re out on the water, you could venture towards Fraser Island and enjoy some of its beautiful beaches and natural scenery. You definitely go to Hervey Bay to enjoy its surroundings rather than the city in itself.

Gold Coast

Finally, it isn’t a visit to Queensland if you don’t see the glorious Gold Coast. There’s really a never-ending array of things to do here. Birthed from the Surfers Paradise Hotel, you’ll certainly never be short of waves to catch, whether you’re an experienced surfer or keen to give it a go. In the heart of the city, there’s an unbelievable amount of things to do in terms of entertainment. It’s got everything from theme parks to glorious hills and other natural scenery. See as much as you can.

• Collaborative Post