Queensland, home of the Great Barrier Reef and commonly referred to as the "Sunshine State", is Australia's ultimate outdoor playground. Hike through tranquil rainforests, relax on an island or go diving on the Great Barrier Reef. From the fun of the Gold Coast to the adventure of the Cape you will know you have found a special kind of paradise in Queensland. On the South Coast, Brisbane, the capital of Queensland is neighboured to the east by Australia's tourism capital, the Gold Coast with golden beaches and exciting nightlife. North is the natural beauty and more relaxed atmosphere of the Sunshine Coast. Further north on the East Coast are the world famous Whitsunday Islands. Here you can charter a yacht to explore these magic islands, or simply book a stay on one of the many resort islands and be pampered to your hearts content. The World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef spans 2 000km from the tip of Cape York to Gladstone in the south. A scuba divers paradise with 2 900 individual reefs, 71 coral islands, 10 000 species of sponge, 350 different species of coral, 4 000 species of molluscs, 350 species of echinoderms and over 1 500 species of fish.