Nature and World Heritage

Rare birds and animals amazing marine life, spectacular waterfalls, towering rainforest and ancient crater lakes await you. Absorb the sights and sounds of the rainforest; explore the many colours of the reef and meet creatures great and small.

Home to five of Australia’s 16 World Heritage areas and more than 450 national parks, marine reserves and state forests, Queensland is a world leading nature-based tourism destination. These protected areas are recognised for their irreplaceable beauty. The 3,000 individual reefs and coral islands of the Great Barrier Reef harbour thousands of fish and marine creatures. While the World Heritage listed rainforests of the Wet Tropics and Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves encompass the north and south of the state.

Large tracks of significant dinosaur and fossil sites at Riversleigh are testament of a former inland sea that once dominated Queensland’s Outback. Just as the giant sand dunes and perched lakes of Fraser island depict natural wonders like no other place in the world.

The beaches of Queensland provide excellent environments for loggerhead, flatback, green and leatherback turtles. At the beginning of summer, visit Mon Repos and quietly watch up to 20 turtles slowly progress up the beach to lay eggs. A few months later, see the hatchings make a perilous journey to the Pacific’s edge. Or travel north to Cape York Peninsula where you can be part of a turtle rescue camp in the Aboriginal community of Mapoon. Help indigenous residents and researchers to protect the turtles and other marine life from ghost nets and feral pigs. As well as the important work involved in working with the rangers and researchers there is time to enjoy other activities such as fishing. This area is one of the best fishing locations in Australia and anglers from all over the world come to fish in these waters.

Queensland has an abundance of native Australian wildlife. Watch the progression of protected humpback whales on their journey along the Queensland coast. Access this awesome spectacle from numerous points along the coast from the Gold Coast to Whitsundays.

Spot a platypus or maybe another shy Australian mammal, on a guided nocturnal tour. In rural areas you may even experience a mob of kangaroos bound through your campsite as flocks or Rose Breasted Galahs and Sulphur Crested Cockatoos fly overhead. With plentiful colourful Australian birds to watch throughout Queensland it’s a birdwatcher’s paradise.

What better way to experience these natural wonders than by pulling on your boots and taking one of the many world-class walking tracks in Queensland. Whether you’re looking for a challenging expedition through tough terrain or a simple slice of nature to share with family or friends, Queensland is on of Australia’s best-kept bushwalking secrets. Visit www.queenslandwalks.com.au for suggestions on over 159 of the most popular walks.

There are so many adventures to be had in this amazing destination. Swap your walking boots for a mask and snorkel and dive a coral cay. Venture on safari to the wilderness of Cape York and Gulf country. Paddle a sea kayak along the tropical coastline, cycle back roads, raft rivers and explore pioneering outback towns.

For more information visit:
Tourism Queensland's Ecotourism Website