Tourism shock: $5m lost in 72 hours
It has already been a rough period, but then operators of one of Australia’s most-loved tourist destinations lost $5 million in 72 hours.
Queensland
Coronavirus: 560 told to go away
Since the state’s borders reopened two weeks ago, police have intercepted thousands of people and turned away almost 600 visitors who had been to a declared hotspot.
$100,000 boost for niche industry
More Queenslanders are expected to visit the state’s north after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk slashed commercial fees for whale-watching companies.
New $99 Aussie flight better than Bali
Forget Bali or a European summer, because Queenslanders will now be able to book a flight for $100 to one of the most popular regions in the country.
Public holiday date officially changed
It’s the midweek holiday Queenslanders look forward to each and every year. But the date has now been officially changed to help boost tourism.
Is this the world’s best place to live?
HALF a million tourists visit this place every year, and it’s so spectacular some of them never leave. So what’s the reality of living in paradise?
New ‘national icon’ coming to QLD
IT ALREADY has the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. And now the Tropical North looks to become the home for an epic new attraction.
Why this guy flew a stranger to Australia
HAVE you ever really wanted something, so bad you couldn’t wait? Perth man Gun Hudson felt that way about a pair of glasses.
This is so much better than camping
THIS looks like a pretty fancy hotel suite. And it is — the only thing that makes it different is that it’s in a tree.
Something’s different about Queensland
ALTHOUGH it’s still in the grip of drought, welcome rain has temporarily turned parts of outback Queensland green.
This place changed my mind about camping
FORGET everything you know about uncomfortable sleeps, canned food and days without showering, this is the most glamorous camping spot in Australia.
50 years of our favourite holiday spot
IT IS one of Australia’s best holiday destinations, so it’s hard to believe just 50 years ago the Sunshine Coast technically didn’t exist.
Can you spot the diver?
RAINE Island, located about 620 kilometres north of Cairns, is the largest green turtle nesting ground on planet Earth.
Can you spot the diver?
RAINE Island, located about 620 kilometres north of Cairns, is the largest green turtle nesting ground on planet Earth.
Move over Hawaii: These islands are back
GRAB your beach towel. This destination hit the headlines for the wrong reasons, but now its idyllic beaches are set to lure tourists again.
Best out-of-office replies ever
FORGET your standard auto-reply, this tourism employee has gained legendary status for her amazing email responses.
Property bungle ‘like lotto win’
A FAILED government project has created accidental millionaires in Queensland, handing them stunning land at a fraction of its value.
The place you could be right now
THERE are a whopping 72 islands in the Whitsundays. Don’t know where to start? Here’s your essential guide to the region so you can start planning that trip.
Alcohol laws are enough to drive you to drink
AS basic spirits at a nightclub hit $9 a shot, it’s time to rethink the nanny state laws that got us here, including not being allowed to have entertainment in smoking areas.
Hottest new item on Aussie menus
MASTERCHEF has taught us a lot about fancy cooking, but Australia’s finest chefs still have some pretty crazy tricks up their sleeves — like ants.
Where you’ll find Australia’s best pizza
THE people have spoken. Despite its surprising location, if you want a slice of the good stuff, this beachside pizzeria can’t be beat.
White lions arrive at Dreamworld
IF YOU have ever wanted to tell people you’ve played tug of war against a lion, now is your chance. These two beauties are ready and waiting.
The new $59 flight to paradise
DEMAND for this once little-known hotspot has gone sky-high and now Jetstar is offering direct flights there on the cheap.
Gold Coast sheds tacky image
IT HAS long been known as Australia’s most brashy, most trashy city, but the Gold Coast has been revamped — and here’s the proof.
‘If Elvis played golf, he’d still be alive’
LOUIE Shelton has played guitar beside some of the biggest names in music, and he has a fascinating theory about the King of Rock’n’Roll.
10 reasons QLD is better than NSW
FORGET State of Origin — there’s a lot more to this state v state rivalry than whatever happens on the footy field.
Dreamworld’s incredible new $17m ride
THE theme park is looking to woo back visitors this summer with an impressive new ride that’s a first for the southern hemisphere.
Punters heat up Australia’s wildest races
Dressed in flannelette, fascinators and everything in between, punters lived up to the fashion brief of “everything goes” at the wildest race day in Australia.
Is Australia about to get a Disneyland?
CHINA’S richest man is poised to build a “major”, multi-billion dollar theme park expected to rival Dreamworld and Movieworld.
Shower shock at new $1600 hotel
This traveller was thrilled to score a bed at one of Australia’s most exclusive stays — only to find herself being gawped at while using the bathroom.
Torrential rain floods theme parks
More than a month’s worth of rain has fallen on the Gold Coast, flooding the city’s theme parks and forcing them to close their doors.
Best holiday spots to book last-minute
It’s officially summer, but if you haven’t yet booked that December/January getaway, you can still snag these Aussie spots for a steal.
Sea World’s polar bear suddenly dies
Sea World’s beloved polar bear Liya has “unexpectedly” died inside her enclosure on the Gold Coast, devastating staff at the theme park.
Luxury resort without the price tag
Kicking back at a luxurious resort usually comes with a hefty price tag but this resort makes a fancy experience more affordable.
Inside Australia’s first underwater hotel
A new $10 million floating hotel with underwater suites is set to open this weekend on the Great Barrier Reef and has been hailed a “game changer”.
German tourist reveals weird things about Australia
A 20-year-old German traveller living in Brisbane has made a list on YouTube about all the things she finds “weird” about her new-found home.
Aussie town you have to visit
CELEBRITIES from George Clooney to the Clintons flock to this tiny resort town. After one weekend, it’s not difficult to see why.
Inside Aussie ‘island’ years in the making
Surrounded by turquoise waters and only accessible by air, Australia’s newest ‘island’ is going to be a holiday game changer.
Elders call for Uluru-style climb ban
Following the closure of Uluru, indigenous elders from the Sunshine Coast have called for similar action to be enforced on a “sacred” mountain.
Dreamworld to shut down iconic ride
Three years after a horror ride malfunction claimed four lives, Dreamworld has announced it will shut down one of its most popular attractions.
The Aussie resort celebs obsess over
Surrounded by lush green islands, azure blue waters and dripping with champagne — I found out why this hidden sanctuary holds the “suite to the stars”.
Incredible photos of Brisbane air show
Photos show a massive RAAF cargo plane swooping over the Brisbane River and close to the city’s skyscrapers as part of an annual festival.
Aussie ‘ghost island’ sells for huge price
Cyclone-ravaged Dunk Island — an eerie forgotten Australian paradise since 2011 — has been snapped up for a whopping $32 million.
Dreamworld to get $50 million revamp
Struggling theme park Dreamworld will undergo a multimillion-dollar overhaul as part of a bid to put its dangerous past behind it.
Map shock for expensive suburbs
An Aussie airport is months away from adding on a new billion-dollar runway to cater for dozens more flights. And people aren’t happy about it.
Rollercoaster ride goes hilariously wrong
A young girl, who had to psych herself up to get on one of the Gold Coast’s most terrifying rollercoasters, then had to deal with a rogue bird.
Tourists in dangerous dingo brags
Tourists have been bragging on Instagram about getting up close and personal with the native dogs in the days following a toddler attack.
Dingo that attacked boy ‘wanted blood’
Fraser Island rangers are ramping up patrols in their hunt for wild dingoes after a six-year-old boy was attacked at the popular tourist spot.
Google agrees to sort its outback problem
An Aussie state was up in arms over a Google glitch that left dozens of businesses stranded. But the tech giant has promised to change.
Why Queenslanders are furious at Google
It boasts some of Australia’s most beautiful spots but thousands of tourists are skipping Queensland’s outback — and businesses say it’s Google’s fault.
Queensland mocked in tourism video
A New Zealand comedian has poked fun at Australia’s long list of deadly animals in a hilarious fake tourism advertisement.
Big problem for island haven
IT’S the futuristic plan designed to revamp on of Australia’s beautiful islands but there’s no guarantee it’ll work.
Moment Queensland lost millions
IT WAS supposed to be a win for the state’s tourist industry, but everyone watching our navy’s biggest ship sink knew something had gone terribly wrong.
Aussie icon has been ‘cooked’
A COLOSSAL bleaching event has “cooked” our iconic Great Barrier Reef and destroyed much of it forever, a devastating new study has found.
Rescuers hit out at ‘boofhead’ tourists
TOURISTS flock to these picturesque mountains for some of Queensland’s best views but rescuers have just about had it with their stupidity.
1.7bn year-old find in Australia
A DISCOVERY dating back 1.7 billion years in an Aussie town is changing everything we thought we knew about our country.
Call to ban rain from forecasts
THE Sunshine State wants to banish rain from forecasts, claiming it’s too negative and that meteorologists should get a sunnier disposition.
I’ve been everywhere but this spot is best
Forget spending a fortune to get to the Seychelles or Maldives. This traveller has seen it all — but one overlooked spot blew him away.
Long-haul coup for Brisbane Airport
QANTAS has announced a major coup for Brisbane that will generate jobs and position the city as a gateway to North America.
First look at Qld’s ‘monster’ hypercoaster
A THRILL ride tipped to become the biggest and scariest rollercoaster in Australia is starting to take shape at Movie World. Fans are excited.
Lifeline for the Great Barrier Reef
THE potential creation of an underwater art museum is being hailed a “game changer” for reef tourism.
Controversial plan to boost tourism
KATTER’S Australian party has a controversial plan to lure tourists to Queensland, and it involves crocodiles.
‘Dear Debbie’: Qld’s heartbreaking note
SHE swept them off their feet, but this is no love letter. Check out the emotional Facebook post that’s got the world siding with Queensland.
Dreamworld resembles ghost town
IT should have been one of the biggest days of the year, but two months after the death of four patrons, the theme park is quiet.
Queensland’s desert has turned into an oasis
ALTHOUGH it’s still in the grip of drought, welcome rain has temporarily turned parts of outback Queensland green.
Forget Syd v Melb: This is our best city
WHILE everyone fights about Melbourne and Sydney, we’re forgetting about the greatest city of them all. This is who really reigns supreme.
How to expose a toolie
THE Gold Coast will be injected with teenagers, tequila and testosterone this weekend as eager school leavers embark on their annual week of debauchery.
Dreamworld nightmare spreads
THE horrific deaths of four people at Dreamworld last month has led to a drop in visitor numbers across all Gold Coast theme parks.
Wicked Campers could be no more
COULD this be the beginning of the end for the sexist slogans emblazoned on the side of Wicked Campers? Warning: Obscene language
Crackdown on obscene campervans
WARNING: OBSCENE. Could this be the beginning of the end for the sexist slogans emblazoned on the side of Wicked Campers?
Forget the Gold Coast, go here instead
SOME might say the Gold Coast is to Australia what Justin Bieber is to music: brash, and largely tolerated. But here’s something better.
No more dolphins at Sea World?
ACTIVISTS say it’s only a matter of time before tourist attractions such as Sea World lose the right to keep dolphins — but they’re in for a fight.
Mega resort’s reef casino mystery
WITH its futuristic buildings and man-made seas, it looks like belongs on Mars. Instead, it’s a huge casino proposed for the Great Barrier Reef.
‘What really happens on the Gold Coast’
CHANNEL Seven has started to air a new reality show which goes behind the scenes on the Gold Coast. It’s a world of “bikini babes, millionaires and broken rules”.
Chinese billionaire’s ambitious plan
CHINA’S richest man has a wildly ambitious plan for Australia. It will cost him billions of dollars, but the result might just be worth it.
There’s a cheeky new trend at Schoolies
SCHOOLIES has kicked off with as many as 25,000 young people flocking to the Gold Coast. They’re certainly having a crack at standing out.
Schoolies will be different this year
INSTA-ready teens are packing their Nutri Bullets and swapping booze for juice as an anti-terror crackdown and possible ban on beach parties threaten this year’s Schoolies.
The Aussie town with a big secret
IT’S A TINY town that few outsiders have heard of — and yet it’s been named the destination that Australians are loving the most.
Before and after: What $45 million did
THIS Aussie island was wiped off the tourist map, despite being a rival to Hamilton Island. Its transformation is now complete, and the results are remarkable.
Why does QLD need this K-pop star?
QUEENSLAND’S government has roped in one of South Korea’s biggest pop icons for a very important campaign.
Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/travel/australian-holidays/queensland/page/5