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AREA: 1,723,936 sq. km.,
POPULATION: 3,339,000 (1996)
CAPITAL: Brisbane (1,200,000)
Queensland calls itself the 'Sunshine State', and enjoys semi-tropical weather in the south to a full on tropical climate in the north (Whitsundays, Cairns, Port Douglas, Cooktown). With thousands of miles of beaches, and an easy going life-style it is Australia’s holiday playground and by far the most popular state for visitors to Australia.
In the north the rugged and very beautiful tropical region has rain-forests, gorges, superb island resorts, and massive river systems. Being tropical it is also subject to extreme rainfall, high humidity and extreme heat in the wet season (Dec - April) as well as the odd cyclone (hurricane) but - it was our home for over 9 years (Port Douglas) and we think it is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
In the south, the climate is more moderate with cooler nights and clearer days. It is divided east-west by the Great Dividing Range which closely follows the coastline. West of the range the 'Outback' is cattle country with sparse vegetation and in the more remote areas nights will be below zero in winter and days can reach 50° in summer.
Queensland has many of Australia's best known tourist attractions with the Gold and Sunshine Coasts just out of Brisbane and the world famous World Heritage Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas and the World Heritage Daintree Rainforests in the north, plus an extensive choice of beautiful island resorts all along its coastline.
Welcome to the official travel site for Queensland, Australia’s sunshine state.
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