Nature & World Heritage

Experience nature at its beautiful best in Queensland. With five World Heritage-listed sites, miles of ocean, breathtaking natural landscapes and over 450 amazingly diverse national parks and forests, you’ll be amazed what Queensland has to offer. In fact, our incredibly diverse natural environment is an integral part of the Queensland lifestyle - and we love to share with our visitors.

With everything from Great Barrier Reef islands to stark desert landscapes, tropical rainforests and pristine wetlands, it’s easy to see why Queensland is one of the most ecologically diverse places on earth. Its natural treasures are a fascinating combination of wildlife, rainforest, ancient Aboriginal rock art and stunning scenery.

Queensland boasts an extraordinary five World-Heritage listed areas out of Australia’s 16. The first of these is the Great Barrier Reef - where 3,000 individual reefs and coral islands harbour thousands of fish and marine creatures. There’s two World Heritage rainforests - the wet tropical Daintree rainforest in the north renowned as the oldest in the world and the magical sub-tropical rainforests on the State’s southern border. Dinosaur and fossil sites at Riversleigh are also recognised for being a former inland sea that once dominated Queensland’s Outback. The largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island, completes the list of Queensland’s world-recognised natural wonders.

Queensland is also home to a diverse range of native Australian animals just waiting for you to discover. For an experience you won’t forget, go whale watching off the Queensland coast. The friendly giant mammals love to put on a show and will take your breath away as they leap and frolic so close you can almost touch them. Be awestruck watching turtle hatchlings as the struggle towards the Pacific’s edge, see kangaroos bound through your campsite, or even cuddle a koala at sanctuary.

Queenslanders value our natural wonders and work hard to protect their diverse environments and delicate ecosystems. We love to share these natural treasures with visitors from all over the world, and in return, expect tourists will respect wildlife and the environment, following any guidelines. So what are you waiting for? Go adventure four-wheel driving through rugged yet striking terrain in Outback Queensland, nestle amidst the Daintree Rainforest in a treetop cabin, or scuba dive the world’s largest coral reef, teeming with exotic marine life. These are just a few of the incredible experiences on offer in one of the world’s most naturally diverse places, Queensland.