Queensland Attractions

Part of the world's largest reef system, the inner reef (of the Great Barrier Reef) is the section of reef nearest to the coast. The inner reef, whilst not as popular as the outer reef with tourists, is still widely visited to due to its close proximity to the shores. The inner reef is carefully monitored for snorkeling and diving due to the threat of box jellyfish during the season of October to May. Most tours to the inner reefs are short tours from the mainland and are usually snorkeling oriented although dive options are certainly popular too.

Now recognised as one of the seven wonders of the natural world, the Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia's most remarkable natural gifts. Blessed with the breathtaking beauty and an abundance of marine life, it comprises over 3000 individual reef systems and coral cays and literally hundreds of picturesque tropical islands with some of the world's most beautiful sun-drenched, golden beaches. More specifically, the outer reef is the most popular section of the reef for snorkeling and diving and is concentrated around Cairns and the Whitsunday Islands due to its ease of access.

The Atherton Tablelands (also known as the Cairns Highlands) is situated 90kms SW of Cairns and ranges from 500m to 1280m above sea level  (covering an area 620km²). The tablelands are renowned for their mild tropical climate and is spared the climatic extremes of floods, droughts and destructive cyclonic winds. The World Heritage listed crater lakes of Barrine and Eacham are the icons of the green Tablelands and are the focal point for tourists. Popular with visitors and locals alike, there is a wide range of sites and activities on offer in the area Scenic drives, rainforest walks, giant trees, boat cruises and plenty of wildlife are all waiting for the tourist.

The Whitsunday Islands are a group of 74 islands that lie off the coast of Queensland, Australia and form part of the Great Barrier Reef. The islands are one of the most popular Australian tourist destinations. The vast majority of islands are designated national parks and major attractions include access to coral reefs for snorkeling and diving, pristine beaches, especially Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island and clear aquamarine warm waters. They are well connected by two major airports on Hamilton Island and the mainland town of Proserpine. Over half a million visitors come to the Whitsundays each year.

Brampton Islands is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 834 kilometres (518 mi) northwest of Brisbane. The park covers much of Brampton Island and all of Carlisle Island. The park features rainforests, sandy beaches and coral reefs. Walks exist to the summit and a circuit around the whole island. The 8.7 km circuit track leads visitors through open eucalypt forests, vine thickets, dry rainforests, grasslands and mangroves. Camping is permitted on Carlisle Island which has some facilities. Marine stingers are found in the waters of the park between October and May.

Alma Park Zoo is located north of Brisbane, Australia, in Dakabin on Alma Road. The small 20-acre (81,000 m2) park is filled with Australian and exotic species. Alma Park zoo is fully landscaped with walking paths through tropical gardens under a canopy of rainforest trees and plants. A number of enclosures are walkthrough, such as the fallow deer and kangaroo enclosures. Koalas can be patted and photographed twice daily. Crocodiles, pandas, wombats, monkeys, ostriches, bats, lizards, camels, dingoes and water buffaloes are also on display. There is a cafe with souvenirs and barbecues are provided. Dakabin railway station is the closest public transport. The zoo is open every day except Christmas Day, from 9 am to 5 pm.

The Museum of Brisbane is the City of Brisbane's official museum and is located in Brisbane City Hall. It was opened in October 2003. The Museum of Brisbane (MoB) occupies the former site of the Brisbane City Gallery in City Hall, and is a social history museum that explores ideas and stories that illuminate Brisbane’s past and present and helps visitors to imagine Brisbane's future. The museum was created in response to feedback that a museum for and about the people of Brisbane was needed.

New Farm Park is a significant historic park in the suburb of New Farm, Brisbane, Australia, located at the southern end of the New Farm Peninsula on the Brisbane River. It covers 37 acres (15 ha), and it currently includes soccer grounds, tennis courts, and basketball courts. The park is noted for its large rose gardens, which contain hundreds of varieties of rose, and over forty thousand individual plants. The Powerhouse arts centre is located at the eastern end of the park.

The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is a planetarium located on the grounds of Brisbane Botanic Gardens in the suburb of Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The Planetarium was officially opened on 24 May 1978. The Planetarium is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, governor of New South Wales (1821 - 1825), and well known astronomer of the southern skies. The Planetarium is located about 5km from the Central Business District, and is administered by the Brisbane City Council. The Planetarium features the 12.5m Cosmic Skydome (hemispherical planetarium theatre) with a recently-upgraded, state of the art, digital dome projection system; an observatory containing a permanently-mounted Zeiss 15cm refractor and a Meade 20cm "Go To" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope; extensive photographic and model displays in its Foyer and Gallery including the 1969 Moon landing, the Space...