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The northeastern area of the mainland of Australia is home to the state Queensland. It borders with the states Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales. Queensland has many world heritage sites, landscapes, vibrant cities, golden beaches, clear blue waters and warm temperatures. The state is named in honor of Queen Victoria. Its nickname is the Sunshine State.

The capital city is Brisbane, which has a lively atmosphere. Other cities are the popular Cairns in the north, Mount Isa, Charleville, Townsville, Port Douglas, Bundaberg, Caloundra, Noosa, Mackay, Hervey Bay, Gladstone and Rockhampton. Each city and town in Queensland has its own atmosphere but you will always enjoy real hospitality from the citizens. To the south of Brisbane lies the Gold Coast, a popular tourist area with beaches and resorts. To the north of the capital city lies Sunshine Coast, an area with many different cities.

Queensland has many amazing landscapes and natural treasures. You can visit the Great Barrier Reef, one of the great wonders of the world. It is home to more than tens of thousands of species, including colorful fish, coral, dolphins, whales and turtles. Another great site is the Daintree National Park with rain forest, swamps, beaches and mangroves. You can follow walking tracks to see this nature. In the southeast of Queensland lies Gondwana Rainforest, an extensive area of rain-forests. Bloodjamulla Lawn Hill National Park also has many rain-forests.

Other great national parks are Fraser Island off the Hervey Bay coast, Bunya Mountains National Park and Carnarvon National Park. You can also visit the Great Dividing Range with waterfalls and picnic areas, the Glass House Mountains, Cape York Peninsula, the white sandy beaches of Whitsunday Islands and Hinchinbrook Island.

The state of Queensland offers everything for every tourist. It has the most beautiful nature of the world, including rain forests, lakes and beaches. The people are friendly and most of the time laid-back. The climate offers warm temperatures with a subtropical to tropical climate in the east and arid climate to the west. The north has a wet season. The best time to visit Queensland depends on your destination.

Travelers to Queensland need a valid passport and visa. Citizens of America, Canada and Europe automatically after application receive a tourist visa that is valid for 12 months. It permits multiple entries into Australia for a stay of up to 3 months on each visit.

Auckland City is the most populous city and local authority covering the Auckland isthmus, most of the islands within the Hauraki Gulf and North Island of New Zealand. It’s situated in the Auckland Region where also the Auckland Regional Council is based. In 2009, it was rated the 4th best place to live worldwide. As of latest measurement the city of Auckland has a population of 450 thousand.

The city of Auckland has been divided in several districts including; Manukau (south), Waitakere (west) and North Shore (north). It’s often referred to as “City of Sails” for the large number of yachts that lie in the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf, but perhaps its best known as the “City of Volcanoes” with about 48 individual volcanoes active on the Auckland Volcanic Field. Further more brings Auckland’s rich Pacific cultural mix many festivals to the city, popular by locals and tourists. As a travel destination it fits all the basic needs for any traveler, such as active nightlife, restaurant and shopping scenes.

Auckland City is an easy reach from anywhere in the world, simply book your ticket to New Zealand’s largest airport: Auckland International Airport. The airport has direct connections to locations in the South Pacific, United States, Asia and also Buenos Aires and Santiago in South America. From the airport you can take an airport shuttle or taxi to the city.

For American citizens, no visa is required. When coming from a visa-free country, you would have to present proof of further travel such as travel tickets and evidence of sufficient funds for the entire trip. As for the passport, it must be at least three months valid after your last day in New Zealand. You also have to prove that you are leaving the country at an appointed time. Not only that, you also have to show that you have enough funds per person for each month of stay. The good thing is that your visa may cover your spouse and your dependent children.

Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after its state capital Hobart. It’s situated at the juncture of the North Esk, South Esk and Tamar rivers. The city was settled by Europe in 1806, and is nowadays one of the oldest cities in Australia, and home to the largest selection of 19th century buildings. As of latest measurement the city has a population of 110 thousand people.

The city of Launceston can be easily reached with approximately 50 minutes flight from Melbourne, flights from Sydney and Brisban are available also, or by car through the highway system in Northern Tasmania. Once you arrived in the city, it’s best to proceed by rental car or taxi depending on the length of your stay. For budget travelers the Metro bus service or bicycle rentals are additional options.

Launceston sightseeing can be entertaining and yet relaxing, a few major tourist attractions include the Launceston City Park for a laid back atmosphere, pick nicks and enjoyment. The city offers several historic and cultural buildings as well housings such as the Macquarie House, Franklin House, Entally House, Clarendon House and the “Old Umbrella Shop”. A handful of museums are spread over the town which can be visited at anytime, for a relaxing day trip head over to the Tamar Valley for wine tasting and watching, learning how wine is being made.

Travelers to Launceston need a valid passport and visa. Citizens of America, Canada and Europe will automatically after application receive a tourist visa that is valid for 12 months. It permits multiple entries into Australia for a stay of up to 3 months on each visit.

Most travelers don’t know this fact unless they’ve been there, Canberra is the capital city of Australia located in the Australian Capital Territory being surrounded by the state of New South Wales and southwest of Australia’s largest city Sydney. It’s the largest inland city and the eight largest Australian city overall. As of latest measurement the city has a population of 345 thousand people.

Since 1901 the capital of Australia has been established in Canberra, although most foreigners think that Sydney or Melbourne is the capital city. Australia’s national parliament, federal government, the High Court of Australia, the Australian War Memorial along with several other important institutions are all located in Canberra.

Canberra has five large town centers; Central Canberra, Belconnen, Woden, Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan which lie in the valleys of the Canberra region. The most popular destination among travelers is Central Canberra which has several areas of interests. Historical and cultural sightseeing go alone with a modern city center where shopping, accommodation and dining facilities are widely available. Canberra is different than the most Australian cities, first of all it’s relatively young as it’s been established in 1927 and secondly it’s expanding rapidly with new developments. A strange but true fact is that city hall has excluded any building plans over 15 stories high. It makes the skyline a lot less appealing, unlike the modern cities. But don’t be turned off by the skyline, you will realize soon enough that Canberra is a great place to explore, relax, enjoy and learn about Australian lifestyle, culture and history.

Travelers to Canberra need a valid passport and visa. Citizens of America, Canada and Europe will automatically after application receive a tourist visa that is valid for 12 months. It permits multiple entries into Australia for a stay of up to 3 months on each visit.

Great Barrier Reef is the globe’s largest coral reef which composes over 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands located in the Coral Sea, just off the coast of Queensland in north east Australia. The great barrier reef can be seen from space as the globe’s largest single structure made by living organisms, the reef is built by billions of tiny organisms known as coral polyps.

The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety of life and beauty and therefore is a World Heritage Site since 1981. By known latest known measurements the great barrier reefs counts 400 types of coral, 1500 species of fish and 400 types of molluscs. Also, the great barrier reef has been labeled as one of the 7 natural world wonders on this globe. The Great Barrier Reefs hold an important note in scientific knowledge, latest research include the habitat species of dugong “sea cow” and chelonia mydas “green turtle”.

The most convenient way to reach Great Barrier Reef is through Townsville and Marinepark, it consist out of hundreds uninhabited islands with bounty sand white beaches where you can stay and explore the reef by snorkeling or diving. As accommodation (when available) is rather expensive, most travelers choose to camp on the beaches. Make sure to bring a local tour guide that’s booked through a certificate company. The Long Island is the reef’s most visited island, the reasoning is that it’s close to the shore and excellently suited for a day trip. From there, it’s easy to navigate towards Whitesunday Islands, Molle Islands, Hamilton Island, Hook Island, Daydream Island and any of the other 900 plus islands located in the reef. There’s several national parks in the reef including Tyron, Lady Musgrave and North West which are excellent for relaxation and perfection.

Travelers to the Great Barrier Reef are recommended to get an accommodation in Queensland, Australia mostly Townsville. For entrance an valid passport and visa need to be shown at immigration. Citizens of America, Canada and Europe will automatically after application receive a tourist visa that is valid for 12 months. It permits multiple entries into Australia for a stay of up to 3 months on each visit.

Cairns is a popular tourist city in the province Far North Queensland in Australia. For many tourists is the best place to start their travel around Queensland. The city is located on the east coast on a coastal strip and it is surrounded by rain forest. It is a major port for the export of goods. There are two rivers flow thing through the city’s boundary, the Mulgrave River and the Barron River. Cairns has a population of approximately 130 thousand people.

Cairns has a lot of accommodations for all budgets and many drinking establishments and restaurant catering. The city has a handful of museums and an old wharf area. In the center a swimming lagoon is located with adjoining barbecue areas. Cairns is home to many sports, including basketball, amateur rugby and international cricket. The city is close to the sea, mountains and rain forest, so this gives you plenty of choices for activities, including swimming, fishing and walking. The area is popular for spotting a huge variety of birds, mammals, and reptiles. You can learn more about the Australian wildlife in wildlife exhibit Cairns Wildlife Dome. This exhibit has a replicated tropical rain forest.

While Cairns itself does have much to offer, most travelers come to the place to visit sights nearby. In less than an hour you are at the Great Barrier Reef. Experiencing a tropical rain forest is possible in the Daintree National Park and the Cape Tribulation. There are tours to the Atherton Tabelands, Port Douglas and Copperlode Dam. Or you could enjoy exploring other places such as Cooktown and Cape York Peninsula. There are plenty of organized tours that depart from Cairns to different destinations.

Travelers to Cairns are required a valid passport and visa. Citizens of America, Canada and Europe will automatically after application receive a tourist visa that is valid for 12 months. It permits multiple entries into Australia for a stay of up to 3 months on each visit. You’ll soon discover that Cairns is a popular place to hook up with fellow travelers.

Adelaide is the capital of the state of South Australia and is the fifth largest city in the country. It is a coastal city  situated on the eastern shores of Gulf St. Vincent. Its population is over 1 million people. This lively city was founded in 1836 and is now the government and commercial center of South Australia.

Adelaide offers so many options for travelers. There are beach fronts with sandy swimming beaches, beautiful architecture, boutique shops, a sparkling nightlife, fine multicultural dining and fabulous art events. The city has an attracting and relaxed atmosphere. You can walk over The North Terrace Boulevard or have a picnic in the nearby Park Lands. Or, if you like the outdoors, visit the Adelaide Hill Wildlife Parks or other national parks. Relaxing is easy in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. Surrounding Adelaide are many famous wine districts worth checking out.

The city is home to many festivals and sporting events. Locals and tourists come to Festival of Arts, Fringe Festival, Comedy Festival, WOMA Delaide, Bay to Birdwood with vintage vehicles, the V8 super car race Clipsal 500, and so much more. Adelaide is home to teams that play Australian rules (AFL) football, Association football and cricket. There are plenty of museums around, such as the Art Gallery, the South Australian Museum, the Migration Museum and The South Australian Maritime Museum. There are also plenty of statues and memorials.

Travelers to Adelaide need a valid passport and visa. Citizens of America, Canada and Europe will automatically after application receive a tourist visa that is valid for 12 months. It permits multiple entries into Australia for a stay of up to 3 months on each visit.