Ready to go right away? The 2014 Queensland Travel “Pocket Checklist of Must-Sees”

Tourism Centre / Comprehensive Report

As the New Year of 2014 brings fresh beginnings, have you decided where to travel? Grace Pan, Director of Tourism and Events Queensland, has specially recommended an annual “travel checklist” of key destinations in Queensland for Taiwanese travelers, allowing them to directly refer to the suggested attractions and timing to plan a trip to Queensland.


▲ While Taiwan is in the midst of a wet and cold season, sunny summer reigns in Queensland, located in the Southern Hemisphere. Pictured is the Gold Coast. (Photo / Provided by Tourism Queensland)

While Taiwan is still in the cold and damp winter, sunny summer shines brightly in Queensland, Australia, with especially fresh air. It’s perfect for families to escape the harsh cold of the Northern Hemisphere and enjoy a warm and cozy summer Chinese New Year in Queensland, Australia.Grace specially recommends that during the Chinese New Year period, various regions in Queensland—including Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, and the Whitsunday Islands—will host a series of celebratory events, offering Taiwanese visitors a uniquely festive Lunar New Year experience.

From November 23, 2013 to May 11, 2014, the first Australian solo exhibition by renowned artist Cai Guo-Qiang, titled “Returning Home,” was held at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in Brisbane.This time, Cai chose not to use gunpowder or explosions but instead expressed his imagined utopian world in a silent and poetic manner. While visiting Cai Guo-Qiang’s exhibition in Brisbane, you can also take 1 to 2 days to explore North Stradbroke Island—the world’s second-largest sand island—and Lamington National Park, both nearby Brisbane and sources of inspiration for the artist’s creations.

Queensland is never short of romantic experiences, whether it’s in the spectacular underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef, the vast depths of the tropical rainforest, on the Story Bridge in Brisbane, or floating above mountains and valleys in a hot air balloon. Queensland, shining with the charm of Australia, is undoubtedly the ultimate choice for proposing, holding a wedding, going on a honeymoon, or enjoying a romantic holiday.The Whitsunday Islands, made up of 74 pristine tropical islands, are like a paradise on Earth. They are home to the famous Heart Reef of the Great Barrier Reef and the pristine Whitehaven Beach. Each year, couples from all over the world are drawn here, where the shimmering ocean and the eternal Heart Reef witness the enduring power of love.

   
▲ The famous Heart Reef of the Great Barrier Reef is an absolute must-see; or float above mountains and valleys in a hot air balloon. (Photo / Provided by Tourism Queensland)

When traveling to Queensland, Australia, you simply can’t miss unique local delicacies such as Australian beef, barramundi, Queensland mud crab, Moreton Bay bugs, macadamia nuts (native to Queensland), crocodile meat, kangaroo meat, mangoes, and a variety of fine wines.From May 15 to 18, 2014, Noosa, a seaside town on the Sunshine Coast, will host the “Noosa Food & Wine Festival” for the 11th consecutive year. This event will gather more than 200 chefs, winemakers, foodies, and media from around the world to share in a top-tier culinary feast.In addition, you’ll have the chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Noosa River and the Sunshine Coast hinterland, as well as explore Brisbane and Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island.

The Gold Coast Marathon, the largest road running event in the Southern Hemisphere, takes place on the first weekend of July each year in Australia’s Gold Coast, with registration opening in March or April. Sunshine, beaches, stunning coastlines, and fresh air define this one of the most scenic marathons in the world.July also marks early winter in Australia, with temperatures around 18 degrees Celsius being ideal for morning runs.This is a race for everyone, featuring full marathon, half marathon, 10km run, 5.7km challenge (run or walk), and family runs of 4km and 2km.


▲ Or explore Brisbane easily by bike. (Photo / Provided by Tourism Queensland)

In Queensland, you can get up close to the world’s largest mammals, witness their incredible power, and capture the moment they breach the water’s surface. Whether watching humpback whales resting in Hervey Bay or dwarf minke whales gliding through the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland is the perfect place for a premium whale-watching experience.From late July to early November each year, humpback whales migrate toward Antarctica. This is the best time to wait for their appearance in the shallow waters near the Great Barrier Reef. Hervey Bay on the Fraser Coast serves as a “pit stop” for migrating whales and is the easiest place to spot them, earning its reputation as the whale-watching capital of Australia.Additionally, Brisbane’s Moreton Bay, the Gold Coast, the Whitsunday Islands, and coastal areas of North Queensland are also excellent locations for whale watching.

Queensland, Australia, is suitable for golfing all year round. If you want to watch master golfers tee off in Queensland, consider visiting during the PGA Championship of Australia. From 2013 to 2017, the tournament will be held for four consecutive years at the RACV Royal Pines Golf Resort on the Gold Coast.In 2014, another highly sought-after top-tier golf event will once again take place at the Royal Pines Golf Course on the Gold Coast.

The formation of the magnificent Great Barrier Reef is thanks to tiny organisms—usually no bigger than a grain of rice—called coral polyps.For 4 to 6 nights after the full moon in November, Mother Nature provides the perfect conditions for coral spawning: warm seawater, setting sun, and minimal tidal movement. Unable to move, the corals release clouds of sperm and eggs, quietly triggering an underwater mass reproduction spectacle.After fertilization, the coral eggs settle and gradually form new reefs, ensuring the continuous life and reproduction of the unparalleled Great Barrier Reef. In 2013, coral spawning in the Cairns section of the Great Barrier Reef occurred around the November full moon, while the southern Great Barrier Reef saw spawning around the December full moon.

 
▲ Witness the miracle of coral spawning. (Photo / Provided by Tourism Queensland)

Between November and March each year, various species of sea turtles—including green turtles, hawksbill turtles, leatherback turtles, and flatback turtles—nest along the Queensland coastline. From Bundaberg in the south to Cape York in tropical North Queensland, as well as various islands in the southern Great Barrier Reef such as Lady Elliot Island, Heron Island, Wilson Island, and Lady Musgrave Island, turtle sightings are common.Mon Repos near Bundaberg in Queensland is Australia’s premier site for observing sea turtle nesting. Every year, hundreds of turtles return to this rich marine area to fulfill their natural duty of reproduction. At Lady Elliot Island in the southernmost part of the Great Barrier Reef, visitors can witness not only the miracle of turtle egg-laying but also an unprecedented spectacle of bird nesting.