Queensland
Queensland pairs the Great Barrier Reef with tropical rainforest and surf beaches, and the trip is shaped by how far you travel between them.
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Queensland is the Australian state in the north-east of the country, and most visitors start in the south-east. Brisbane, the state capital, sits on the Brisbane River, and the Gold Coast's surf beaches lie to the south. Farther north, the coast passes the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef system in the world, before reaching Cairns. Near Cape Tribulation, the Daintree rainforest meets the reef coast, and it is one of the oldest tropical rainforests on Earth.
Queensland suits trips built around water and wildlife: reef snorkeling and diving, beach days, rainforest walks and small coastal towns. The drier, cooler months run from May to October, which is the simplest window for most of the coast. In the tropical north, stinger season runs from October to May, so check local swimming advice before you plan beach time. Plan at least 10 days if you want to cover two regions, because the drives between them are long.
Queensland in five
- Fly the long legs and drive the piecesTourism Queensland puts the Pacific Coast Way at more than 1,800 km and Brisbane to Airlie Beach at about 1,000 km and 12 hours. Fly between regions and rent a car where you stay.Brisbane
- Give each region three or four nightsA state this size works as a set of bases: the south-east, the Whitsundays and the far north around Port Douglas. Trying to drive all of it adds hours of highway and removes beach time.Whitsundays in 4 days
- Swim only where it is signed and nettedQueensland says to swim only in designated safe areas, and that crocodiles can live in fresh and salt water across the north. Stingers are a higher risk from November to May.Dangerous marine life
- Add the reef charge to your reef budgetReef operators collect a marine-park charge from every passenger, so a low headline price can hide extras. Ask what a reef ticket includes and compare totals.Great Barrier Reef
- Check park alerts before a national park driveQueensland Parks pages carry live alerts for each park, and some parks, such as Noosa National Park, ban camping and pets. Look before you drive, especially in the wet season.Noosa
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Queensland, the full guide
Brisbane
- Price band: $$
Cairns
- Price band: $$
Airlie Beach
- Price band: $$
Great Barrier Reef
Snorkeling, diving and glass-bottomed boat trips over more than 2,900 reefs, with day trips and longer voyages from the Queensland coast.
Things to do in Queensland
See all attractions in Queensland
Need to know
- Airport
- Brisbane (BNE), Cairns (CNS) and Hamilton Island (HTI)
- Getting there
- Flights into Brisbane, Cairns and the Gold Coast
- Getting around
- Car on the coast; flights between regions; boats to islands
- Best base
- Brisbane first, then the Whitsundays and the far north
- Time needed
- 10 to 14 days for south, islands and north
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryHot, storms
- FebruaryHumid, storms
- MarchHumid, wet north
- AprilMild, drier
- MayDry, clear
- JuneDry, whales
- JulyDry, whales
- AugustDry, clear
- SeptemberWarm, dry
- OctoberWarm, stingers soon
- NovemberStinger season
- DecemberHot, wet begins
Right now in Queensland
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
29
- Feels like
- 25°
- Humidity
- 20%
- Wind
- 16 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 83%
Queensland
06:37 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today39°22°83%Tuesday: Rain. High 39°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Wed36°22°33%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 36°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Thu38°20°0%Thursday: Clear. High 38°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri37°21°4%Friday: Clear. High 37°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat39°24°12%Saturday: Cloudy. High 39°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sun40°26°4%Sunday: Cloudy. High 40°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Mon39°24°25%Monday: Drizzle. High 39°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 25%.
Updated 03:21 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Noosaabout 1.5 hours north of BrisbaneBeach, headland walks and the Everglades, a gentle start to a Queensland coast trip.Read the guide
- The Whitsundaysa flight and a boatIsland bases and sailing; the usual middle stop on a reef itinerary.Read the guide
- Port Douglas and the Daintreean hour north of CairnsReef boats, Mossman Gorge and the Daintree car ferry.Read the guide
Before you go to Queensland
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Rules for Queensland, checked
All Queensland guides
ItineraryCairns in 3 days: reef, rainforest railway and the Esplanade
ItineraryWhitsundays in 4 days: Whitehaven, the reef and a buffer dayWhere to stayWhere to stay in Cairns: city, Palm Cove, the beaches and Edge Hill
ItineraryBrisbane in 3 days: river, galleries and a day on the waterHead to headWhitsundays or Cairns: which Great Barrier Reef base is right for you?Where to stayWhere to stay in Brisbane: four bases, from the city to New FarmHow toHow to choose a Cairns reef trip: pontoon, island or small boatWhere to stayWhere to stay in the Whitsundays: Hamilton, Daydream, Airlie or a boatHead to headBrisbane or the Gold Coast: which base fits your Queensland trip?Plan around Queensland
Surf beaches, theme parks and the G:link tram
Read the guideRockhamptonA night on the Bruce Highway, caves and Keppel
Read the guideAirlie BeachThe mainland gateway to the islands
Read the guideCairnsReef boats, Kuranda and the rainforest
Read the guideThe DaintreeCar ferry, Cape Tribulation and crocodile country
Read the guideCairns and Far North QueenslandTablelands and Cassowary Coast loop
Read the guideAll of AustraliaETA, regions, flights and money basics
Read the guideQueensland FAQ
How many days do you need in Queensland?
Ten days is a workable minimum for three regions: a few nights around Brisbane, the Whitsundays, and the far north. Two weeks lets you add Noosa or Rockhampton without rushing. One region is a comfortable week on its own.
Is it worth driving from Brisbane to Cairns?
Only if you have two weeks or more. Tourism Queensland sets the Pacific Coast Way at more than 1,800 km, and long days on the highway cost beach time. Most visitors fly north and drive within each region instead.
Which part of Queensland is best for the Great Barrier Reef?
The Whitsundays suit islands and sailing, and the Cairns and Port Douglas side suits outer-reef boats and the rainforest. If time is short pick one, then check the reef charge and the stinger season for your dates.
Should you fly or drive between Queensland regions?
Fly the long legs and rent a car in each region. Tourism Queensland sets Brisbane to Airlie Beach at about 1,000 km and 12 hours by road, while Hamilton Island has direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Are there crocodiles at Queensland beaches?
Crocodiles live in fresh and salt water in northern Queensland. Swim only in designated safe areas, obey signs, and keep away from the water's edge at night. The state also says they may be present where there is no sign.