19 Places To Go In Queensland That Aren't The Gold Coast
Queensland’s one big-ass place.
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands.
The Whitsundays are a group of 74 islands along the coast of Queensland, about 1150km north of the Gold Coast. Whitehaven Beach, the most photographed beach in Australia, is so popular due to its crystal clear waters and almost-white sand.
Flickr: @jeremy_vandel / Creative Commons / Flickr: jeremy_vandel
Agincourt Reef, Port Douglas.
Agincourt Reef is within the Whitsunday region, and about 65km from the Port Douglas coast. This diving site is well-known thanks to it being on the very edge of the Great Barrier Reef, where you can see an abundance of animal and plant life. Though you should note that its ribbon reef structure means it's more suited for diving over snorkelling.
Flickr: @peternijenhuis / Creative Commons / Flickr: peternijenhuis
Opal Reef, Port Douglas.
Opal Reef, like the Agincourt, is located in the Coral Sea within the Great Barrier Reef, however the two provide different experiences. Unlike the Agincourt, Opal is broad and curved, and for this reason snorkelling is much easier and better for beginners.
Flickr: @chabalmathias / Creative Commons / Flickr: 131202524@N08
Airlie Beach, Airlie Beach.
Airlie Beach, a locality within the Whitsundays, is the largest town amongst the Whitsunday coast and its 74 islands. Airlie is a good place to plan your island day trips but is also a great holiday destination, with many coves and beaches close to you.
Flickr: @lustforlives / Creative Commons / Flickr: 60617279@N08