Queensland, Australia

A holiday rental in Queensland

From the Great Barrier Reef to Surfers’ Paradise, from tropical rainforests to the vast desert of the Outback, the Australian state of Queensland is an extraordinary destination for visitors. Renting a private holiday property in one of the state’s bustling cities or closer to nature in the stunning countryside will give adventurous visitors a stunning base from which to have the holiday of a lifetime.

Sights to take the breath away

Queensland is perhaps the undisputed jewel in Australia’s crown with no fewer than five World Heritage Sites to explore, including the stunning Fraser Island. The world’s largest sand island, Fraser Island has amazingly long white beaches, freshwater lakes and ancient rainforests. At 123km long and 22km wide at its widest point, tourists can spend days exploring its natural beauty from their holiday rental accommodation.

Another World Heritage Site is the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef and a little piece of heaven on earth for scuba divers. Many of its incredible sights can only be explored properly from under the water. Plenty of pet-friendly and family-friendly options are available nearby.

Queensland’s long coastline means water sports are hugely popular here and keen sailors will love boating around the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef, while Surfers’ Paradise is a must for any serious surfer.

A completely different kind of paradise can be found in Tropical North Queensland at the vast rainforests of the Wet Tropics, another of the state’s World Heritage Sites. Spectacular sights are commonplace here from deep gorges, striking mountain peaks and cascading waterfalls to glimpses of rare and threatened plant and animal species, such as the spotted-tailed quoll and the musky-rat kangaroo. Walking, climbing and riding through the rainforests is an extraordinary wildlife experience for any traveller.

Sample Outback life in Queensland, too, by basing yourself in a rented holiday apartment or house in the iconic wilderness – go fishing in isolated water holes or crack open a tinny in a traditional Outback pub.

Divine destinations in Queensland

Beautiful Brisbane, the state of capital of Queensland, is the perfect place from which to grab a base for a Queensland holiday – from your holiday apartment, you can enjoy city life and be within easy reach of exploring both the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Like all Australian cities, Brisbane’s residents love life in the great outdoors and the café culture thrives day and night along with many bars, restaurants and clubs dotted around the city centre. Take a stroll along the Brisbane River as it snakes its way through the city or dine al fresco in one of the many riverfront restaurants.

Sunshine state

Pack your shades and your sunscreen – there are more than 300 days of sunshine every year in Queensland. However, this is a vast territory and the tropical north is much more humid and therefore warmer than the drier south. Generally, warm summers and mild winters are the norm across Queensland. Daily temperatures in the summer months of January and February are usually 29°C or 30°C, while winter chills are unlikely – nowhere, even the hills in southeast Queensland, falls below 1°C.

Getting to Queensland

There are no direct flights from the United Kingdom to Brisbane and travellers will have to take a connecting flight from Sydney to Brisbane International Airport. There are several airlines that will provide a flight with a short stopover and generally you don’t need to check your luggage on to the second flight. From the airport, it’s a short trip into the city centre where you will soon be settled into your holiday apartment or property and ready to explore all Queensland has to offer.

Discover more in our Holiday Guides to Queensland here plus travel and transport information.