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Queensland Travel Guide |
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Travel in Queensland is time consuming because of the sheer size of the state. A journey of a couple of hundred kilometres is considered a short trip when you realise the state is 2000 kilometres (1250 miles) north-south and 1400 kilometres (900 miles) east-west. Those are straight line map distances, actual travel distances are considerably further.
Queensland travel is easy to arrange. Efficient train services link all major coastal and inland towns. Daily air services operate to all major towns as well as direct flights to some of the major island resorts and tourism centres. The Bruce Highway links Brisbane and Cairns and the intermediate towns, with most having their own tourism attractions and all offer a good selection of accommodation.
Several bus transport companies travel throughout the state. All major car rental companies are represented in the major cities and towns throughout the state. If you are flying in at Brisbane to start your visit, consider picking up a Brisbane rental car at the airport and save on airport shuttle costs.
Australian camper rentals are a great way to see the real Australia with pick-up available in all the capital cities and some other popular tourist towns. Booking well in advance is recommended for these vehicles. Some unsealed roads in remote areas will require that you travel in 4 wheel drive vehicles, especially if travelling in the wet season. Tour operators provide itineraries that cover all popular sites.
Driver information, maps and travel planning guides are available from the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) which has offices throughout the state.
Some typical road travel distances are:
Brisbane to Sydney = 980km (612 miles)
Brisbane to Rockhampton = 637km (398 miles)
Brisbane to Townsville = 1369km (855 miles)
Brisbane to Cairns = 1715km (1072 miles)
Brisbane to Toowoomba = 128km (80 miles)
Brisbane to Charleville = 746km (466 miles)
Brisbane to Mt Isa = 1813km (1133 miles)
Townsville to Mt Isa = 850km (530 miles)
Rockhampton to Longreach = 680km (425 miles)
Queensland holidays are popular all year-round round and the state is a major tourist destination. The best time time of year will be that which matches the activities you have planned. If personal comfort is important then the June - August winter period may suit your vacation best because summer in the Central, North and Far North regions can be quite uncomfortable due to heat and humidity.
The heat levels in the Outback during summer are extreme and winter is the best time to visit. The South East region and the Great Barrier Reef are the major holiday destinations and generally have milder, less oppressive summer weather.
The state sits either side of the Tropic of Capricorn with warm tropics to the north and warm temperates to the south. There is a narrow sub-equatorial coastal band from Cairns around the northern coast to the Northern Territory border. Queensland is very diverse with countryside that ranges from virgin rain forest to dry outback and from equatorial tropics to cool plateaus.
Winter is June - August with maximum temperatures around 20° C in the southern coastal regions, 23° C in the central coastal regions and 25° C in the northern coastal regions. Summer is December - February with maximum temperatures around 29° C in the southern coastal regions and 31° C in both the central and northern coastal regions.
Temperatures in outback areas are more extreme. Summer maximums typically range from 34° C in the southern outback up to 37° C in the north. Winter minimums typically range from 4° C in the southern outback up to 8° C in the northern areas. Some outback areas may experience frost on winter mornings.
Rainfall is mainly during summer. Monsoonal cyclones (hurricanes) occasionally cross the tropical north coast during the summer months. This is not a frequent event and usually results in localised property damage and flooding.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology provides detailed Queensland weather information.
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The official Queensland website for all things related to Queensland Holidays
Visitors guide to some of the best choices for Gold Coast Apartments
Some of the best choices for luxury Broadbeach accommodation
The Gold Coast visitors guide to luxury Surfers Paradise holiday accommodation
Another excellent travel resource: Oztourism's Queensland Tours Booking Centre
The visitors introduction to Queensland Motels

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