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Central Queensland
This area of coastline will encompass the major cities of Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville and will take you through several smaller towns such as Yeppoon, north of
Rockhampton through the sugar cane regions up through the Whitsunday region. Offshore
is The Great Barrier Reef and many tropical islands including Heron Island, the Keppel and Bunker Group of Islands all of which are popular tourist destinations.
Bundaberg
Despite being surrounded by canefields and tomato farms, Bundaberg
has the atmosphere of a town in Outback Queensland rather than on
the coast; even the Burnett River doesn't really manage to add
much colour or relieve the heat. Famous throughout Australia for its rum,
the town is otherwise a busy, humdrum sort of place, and its value as a
jumping-off point for trips to Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave
islands is scarcely advertised. Apart from the reef, the most
likely reason to stay over is the chance of finding seasonal work (year-round,
except Dec-Jan) picking mandarins, tomatoes, snow peas and zucchini.
During the summer, biologists come to watch marine turtles lay
their eggs on the beaches.
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Gladstone
Located on the shores of Port Curtis between Bundaburg and Rockhampton, Gladstone is Queensland's busiest port and the outlet for all the mineral wealth of the region. Gladstone's
most attractive tourist feature is its proximity to the southern section of the Great Barrier
Reef. The Gladstone marina, the departure point for the Great Barrier Reef is of world-class
standard. Heron Island 80km away by catamaran or helicopter is the most southerly reef
resort and offers spectacular reef viewing.
In the 1840's British colonial secretary William Gladstone (later to become the prime
minister of England) advocated settlement of north Australia as a new convict colony. In
1847 a settlement consisting of 200 convicts under Lieutenant-Colonel Barney was
established but was abandoned a year later. However a few years later a town began to
develop on the same site and in 1853 Gladstone was surveyed. At one time moves were
made (unsuccessfully) to make Gladstone the capital city of Queensland.
Some historic buildings remain in the city including Kullaroo House, built in 1911 and the
Grand Hotel, built in 1897. The Waterfall at Auckland Hill is floodlit at night and there are
excellent views of the harbour and islands from the Auckland Hill lookout.
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Airlie Beach
The major accommodation and eating destination for travellers
planning to take trips out to the Whitsunday Islands.
Airlie Beach is the centre of the complex of islands, villages and
resort towns that is the Whitsunday group. Located between Cannonvale
and Shute Harbour, and ideally situated at the bottom of the Conway
Ranges beside a beautiful tropical beach, it is 1135 km north of
Brisbane and 26 km east of Proserpine.
The centre of the Airlie Beach township
is a myriad of gift shops, eating places ranging from fast foods to
quality restaurants, pubs and bars, and shops catering for the needs of
holiday makers. Located only a few metres from the beach the shopping
centre has a holiday feel. The whole township has a distinctly tropical
flavour.
Mackay
Mackay
Weather:
sugar city of the North - 975klm north of Brisbane Sugar was first planted in the district in
1865 and now produces 25% of all Australian sugar yield. Historically it was the first to build
a sugar mill south of the equator and now there are over 30 of them in the district. Originally
the city was founded as a port of entry to service the needs of the cattle industry but very
quickly this was taken over by the cane growers. The more colourful description of Mackay
is heard in conjunction with the many varieties of parrot to be found in the area.
The city is compact and interesting. The old customs buildings and warehouses are still on
the river bank and the main street is decorated with majestic palms and other tropical trees.
The buildings of interest are typical of the architecture of the time in The Courthouse, The
Commonwealth Bank (classified by The National Trust) and The Police Station.
 Being so close to the delights of the ocean, the fishing industry prospers here as does the
tropical flower market. Beaches are clean and prolific and offshore cruises can be arranged
to some of the nearby islands ie: Brampton, Lindeman and the Whitsunday Islands.
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Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast
Rockhampton
Weather:
The Tropic of Capricorn runs through the center of Queensland giving this region its name. The city at the center of this ares is
Rockhampton, affectionately called 'Rocky', situated on the Fitzroy River, it is 726km north of the state capital Brisbane.
Most well known are the Keppel and Bunker groups of islands off the Capricorn coast. These islands, mark the southern extreme of the Great Barrier Reef and are popular
destinations for divers, snorkellers and fishing enthusiasts. Resort style accommodation is
available on some islands others allow camping. The Bunker group of islands have great
fascination for bird watchers as the Mutton birds, Sooty Turns and the elusive Booby Birds
can be seen there. Whether on land or sea there is plenty to do here.
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Townsville
Townsville
Weather:
The largest of the northern tropical cities Townsville is over 1000 klms north of Brisbane and
only 370 klms south of Cairns. Having been established originally in 1864 by Robert Towns
as a settlement to service the needs of the cattle industry it has many interesting buildings
and sports the only casino in Northern Queensland. The city has retained a graceful
elegance and is overlooked by a large granite outcrop which is only 7m short of a mountain
known as Castle Hill. This is an important sugar and rice growing area and copper refining is
also a local Industry.
There are 74 coral reef islands off the coast here and the whole atmosphere of the city is
tropical with bougainvillea and tropical palms to add theatre to the use of waterfalls and rock
pools in the tropical style architecture. The largest of the coral fringed islands is Magnetic
Island (50 sq km) only 30 minutes by ferry and so named by Captain Cook who found his
compass erratic when sailing past on his epic journey of discovery. You can also access
Hinchinbrook, Orpheus and Bedarra which are some of the better known resort islands. There are several attractions which display environmental issues such as The great Barrier
Reef Wonderland which is the largest simulated living reef aquarium in the world.
The Billabong sanctuary is a large wildlife park where you can find many animals uncaged
such as kangaroos and beautiful tropical wild birds. Crocodiles and snakes are also to be
found in controlled areas.
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Whitsundays
 The Whitsundays are a group of 74 idyllic islands set in the Whitsunday passage off the
mainland at Airlie Beach a town some 1000 kilometres north of the state capital Brisbane.
The area is famous for its safe sailing and is said to be the safest waters in the world. The passage is easily accessible to the central section of The Great Barrier Reef and many
private and charter vessels take visitors there daily. Many of the islands are national parks
and several have facilities for holiday makers ranging from camping to five star luxury.
Diving and sailing are the most popular activities and a good selection of possibilities await
you. Although much of the area is a marine national park, there are many excellent fishing
spots and several fishing charter services that can get you to the 'hot spots'.
More Information about the Whitsundays>>
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Bundaberg