If the continent’s natural attractions could be condensed into one state, the result would look something like Queensland, Australia’s magnificently layered natural paradise. It encompasses reef islands, sandy shores, hinterland rainforest, and glowing red Outback. In the southeast corner of the state is Brisbane, the youthful, diverse state capital. Queensland’s gorgeous coast crawls with backpackers year-round; with the same faces popping up in every town, the journey often feels like a never-ending party. The downside for those on this heavily touristed route is that real Aussie culture can be smothered by the young, international crowd that floods these shores. Moving from one hot-spot to another can be mind-numbing, as you’ll be forced to wade through a never-ending swamp of brochures, billboards, and tourist packages.
However, travelers who escape the region’s constant vortex of tourists find that Queensland is much more than one long beach party. Those willing to trade flip-flops for hiking boots can explore the rainforests of the far north and the Outback, where life moves at a koala’s pace. The isolated inland is dotted with charming country towns, pockets of thriving indigenous culture, and plenty of adventures. Across the entire state, opportunities abound for travelers to both make money and enjoy camaraderie as part of the flourishing fruit-picking subculture. In Queensland, appreciating the real Oz can be as simple as driving toward Cape Tribulation and watching the dense layers of forest gradually give way to sand and ocean.
Comprehensive public transportation services Queensland all the way up through the far north and parts of its interior. Don’t underestimate the distances involved; even within the state, many people ...more
The West End specializes in multicultural cuisine and small sidewalk cafes, particularly along Boundary St. and Hardgrave Rd. Fortitude Valley’s Chinatown has cheap Asian fare, while trendier New Farm ...more
City Tours. City Sights is a 1½hr. bus tour of cultural and historical attractions that allows you to jump on and off as you please. Tickets are purchased on the bus. (Tours officially leave from ...more
Join River Life at the old Naval Stores at Kangaroo Point Cliffs for night kayaking with hot chocolate and marshmallows. (Th 7-8:30pm; $45, includes equipment.) The area is well lit. They also ...more
Brisbane continuously hosts festivals and an array of theatrical, artistic, and musical performances. Call the Queensland Cultural Centre (☎ 07 3840 7444) for a current schedule or visit www.ourbrisbane ...more
Brisbane night-owls can choose between sweaty clubs, noisy pubs, or classy lounges. Fortitude Valley is home to Brisbane’s best nightlife scene, with alternative bars, huge dance clubs, live music ...more
Flights: The airport (☎ 07 4052 3888) is 6km north of Cairns on the Captain Cook Hwy. Follow the signs. For the cheapest flights, try Student Flights (☎ 1800 046 462) or major regional carriers. Virgin ...more
Cairns is sandwiched in by forested hills to the west, a harbor to the east, and mangrove swamps to both the north and south. The Esplanade runs all the way along the waterfront. At the street’s southern ...more
Buses: Sunbus (☎ 07 4057 7411; www.sunbus.com.au), on Lake St. in the market in City Place. Buses go south to the suburbs and north to Palm Cove, but not to the airport. Unlimited day pass for travel ...more
Tourist Offices: The Visitors Info Bureau, on the Esplanade between Aplin and Florence St., has a 24hr. information line (☎ 07 4041 0007) and offers details for local accommodations, tour companies, ...more
Cairns may not be a big city, but its reputation as the gateway to far north Queensland’s ecological wonders has established it as a favorite for backpackers. While many hostels are clustered along ...more
Cairns is overflowing with dining options, from all-night stalls on the Esplanade to upscale seafood restaurants. Shields Street is known by locals as “eat street.” Some of the pricier restaurants ...more
Tanks Arts Centre. With exhibitions and stages housed in WWII oil tanks, this edgy art house feels more like a trendy urban gallery than a museum. Tanks displays all types of art and hosts a ...more
Cairns owes its tourist town status in large part to its warm winters and proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. At night, travelers stay in town and drink at local pubs, but when the sun comes up, the ...more
The most popular way to see Cairns is through goggles, although experienced divers may prefer the less touristed reefs near Port Douglas. Every day, rain or shine, thousands of tourists and locals don ...more
Cairns’s nightclubs, the last stop in a backpacker’s day, cater to a young, rowdy crowd. Adrenaline-fueled days make for explosive nightlife. Hostels usually give out club vouchers to help draw the ...more
Tjapukai. The Indigenous cultural park of Tjapukai sits 15min. north of Cairns, off the Cook Hwy. in Smithfield. Pronounced “JAB-a-guy,” this is one of the most rewarding and balanced presentations ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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