Brisbane the state capital of Queensland, better known as the Sunshine Coast, a vibrant and modern city dominated by high rise buildings and characterized by the Brisbane River. It’s an informal, lazy and laid back city. Brisbane is a fast- growing city and is Australia’s third largest city. It boasts a perfect climate with over seven hours of sunshine everyday. The Queensland Cultural Centre, Brisbane City Hall and Museum, Customs House and Parliament House are amongst many of the attractions Brisbane has to offer.

Surfers Paradise is the heart and spirit of the Gold Coast. Located 83 Km from Brisbane, this town and beach represents the lifestyle of its visitors and also of those who choose to live here. Apart from the sunny beach and coastal resorts it is a ‘paradise for all the surfers’. Surfers gather here ‘religiously’ to enjoy some of the world’s best waves. For those interested in traveling to the Whitsundays, Airlie Beach is the centre of the complex of islands and resort towns that make up the Whitsunday Group. Airlie beach is bursting with restaurants, pubs, cafes and shopping centres. Located 1135 km north of Brisbane and 26 km east of Proserpine this town definately meets the needs of all the travelers.

Cairns the major centre in North Queensland, is an ideal place for travelers wanting to explore the tropical rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef. It is located 1757 km north of Brisbane. North Queensland is a tropical heaven, with dramatic waterfalls and spectacular rainforests, fauna and flora. Travelling 1829 km North-West from Brisbane is the record breaking city of Mount Isa. It is officially the largest city in the world, a fact found in the Guinness book of Records. Although Mount Isa is a mining town, it is a city with high quality accommodation, restaurants and a lively city that will keep the traveller occupied for a week.

Air: There are several major air carriers serving Brisbane and Queensland, including Air New Zealand, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. Domestic carriers include Qantas and Virgin Blue. Airlines such as MacAir Airlines offer charter flights and feeder services to Queensland’s main towns and Barrier Reef island resorts. Sunshine Express Airlines also provides services from Brisbane to assorted towns throughout Queensland. Trains: Queensland has its own railway system, run by QR, the main routes being the Sunlander and the Queenslander which connect coastal towns from Brisbane to Cairns. In addition, other services, such as the Inlander, Westlander and Spirit of Outback open up the Outback to travellers. The Great South Pacific Express running from Brisbane to Sydney or Cairns is a luxury service operated by Orient Express Trains and Cruises. The Tilt Train provides a faster service from Rockhampton to Brisbane. The main train stations are Central and Roma Street. Road: There is a high standard of highways and road networks offering easy connections between towns and cities. The Bruce Highway runs down the whole east coast from Cairns to Brisbane and continues into New South Wales. An extensive coach network offers an easy and cheap way of getting around. The inland areas can be explored with 4-wheel-drive vehicles, many of the interior roads being unsealed; 4-wheel-drive vehicles and guided self-drive tours are available. Urban: Brisbane’s electrified rail system is easy to use for suburban services, particularly cross-river. There are also cross-river ferries, and a comprehensive bus network with zonal fares and 10-journey pre-purchase fares obtainable through newsagents. Day and other period tickets are also available.