Tired of the cold weather? Why not travel to sunny Queensland, Australia? This tropical paradise located in the northern parts of Australia makes for a perfect getaway for those who want to escape the cold and chilly winter season.
Queensland is a favourite travel destination for many tourists from all over the world. Its beaches, in particular, are frequented by visitors all year round.
There are many beaches in Queensland, and most of them are pretty famous already that they need no introduction. Given that, they can be quite touristy and populous especially during peak season. However, there are some beaches in Queensland that are perfect for those who want to avoid the crowd – sure, you won’t be keeping the whole place to yourself, but at least you won’t have difficulty finding a nice spot to hang your hammock or bask in the sun.
The most popular beaches in Queensland would definitely have to be those in the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast area. Not only are they great beaches to have fun and relax, but the abundance of varied establishments from surf shops to cafes and so on makes them a favourite among many beach pilgrims. The waters are also perfect for swimming and surfing, as well as other water based activities such as sailing, windsurfing, boogie boards, and even sea kayaking in sections where the waves are gentler. Actually, many of Australia’s major swimming and surfing events are held in the beaches of Queensland just like the Quicksilver Pro and even Iron Man events.
Aside from the beaches in the mainland, there are also about a hundred or so islands in Queensland – all scattered in the Coral Sea. Although tourists and visitors are not allowed in all of them, most of the islands are open to tourism.
For example, Whitsunday Islands, which is composed of over 70 islands, is one of the best island attractions of Queensland. This group of islands boasts some of the cleanest beaches in Australia and the world, and also paints one lovely memory in the minds of those who have been there already. The picturesque landscape has honey-coloured sand on its beaches, surrounded by warm lapis lazuli waters. The islands are robust with tropical vegetation, from coconut trees dancing in the sea breeze to majestic forests – which by the way also makes for a good hiking trip.
Since most of the beaches in Queensland are located in or near the Great Barrier Reef, there are a lot of excellent opportunities for scuba diving and snorkelling. Just imagine being able to dip into the waters of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, and get up close and personal with some of the most colourful and awesome marine creatures ever seen.
Queensland is truly a great place to be in, especially for beach pilgrims and sun worshippers, and a definite must in anyone’s travel bucket list.
…
Photo by behindthesteeringwheel on Flickr