Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, reported by Chen Guanxin
In Queensland, a wide variety of activities can be enjoyed throughout the year to take in the region’s bright and beautiful scenery. For example, you can spend a rare summer Chinese New Year in Queensland during the Lunar New Year, share a sweet moment with your loved one at the heart-shaped reef of the Great Barrier Reef on Valentine’s Day, indulge in local unique cuisine at the Noosa International Food and Wine Festival in May, participate in the spectacular winter road run in the Southern Hemisphere in July, and witness coral spawning and sea turtle sightings in November. Throughout the year, there are different celebrations and events waiting for visitors to discover the beauty of Queensland.
Queensland offers diverse festivals and activities all year round, allowing visitors to experience the multifaceted charm of "The Sunshine State." (Image provided by Tourism Queensland)
A Summer Festival during the Lunar New Year
When Taiwan is in the cold and damp winter, sunny and hot summer reigns in southern hemisphere Queensland, making it a popular holiday destination for northern hemisphere tourists seeking to escape the cold. At this time, bid farewell to the harsh winter of the north hemisphere and spend a warm summer Chinese New Year with your family in Queensland. Regions such as Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, and the Whitsunday Islands offer a series of related celebratory activities, allowing Taiwanese visitors to experience a uniquely flavored Lunar New Year.
Witness Love at the Heart of the Great Barrier Reef on Valentine’s Day
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 the mountains and rivers in a hot air balloon. The dazzlingly charming Queensland is definitely the ultimate choice for proposing, holding a wedding, going on a honeymoon, or enjoying a romantic holiday. Especially the Whitsunday Islands, made up of 74 pristine tropical islands, is like a paradise on earth. It boasts the famous Heart Reef of the Great Barrier Reef and the pristine Whitehaven Beach. Each year, it attracts couples and newlyweds from all over the world, where the eternal Heart Reef of the Great Barrier Reef witnesses the steadfastness of love against the shimmering ocean.
The famous Heart Reef of the Great Barrier Reef bears witness to the enduring power of love. (Image provided by Tourism Queensland)
Discover Queensland’s Imagination through Art
From November 23, 2013 to May 11, 2014, the first solo exhibition in Australia by renowned artist Cai Guo-Qiang, titled “Returning Home,” was held at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in Brisbane. Both “Heritage” and “Eucalyptus” were custom-made works by Cai Guo-Qiang for the museum, inspired by his family’s travel experiences in Queensland. This time, Cai chose not to use gunpowder and explosions but instead expressed his imagined utopian world in a silent and poetic way.
Savor Fine Food and Wine in Breathtaking Scenery
When visiting Queensland, Australia, you simply cannot miss unique delicacies such as Australian beef, barramundi, Queensland mud crabs, 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 International Food and Wine Festival” for the 11th consecutive year. Over 200 chefs, winemakers, foodies, and media representatives from around the world will gather here to enjoy a top-tier culinary feast. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to admire the pleasant scenery of the Noosa River and the inland areas of the Sunshine Coast, as well as Brisbane and Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island.
A popular hot air balloon ride allows you to leisurely overlook the land. (Image provided by Tourism Queensland)
A Spectacular Winter Road Run in the Southern Hemisphere
Lovers of running who find motivation in encountering beautiful scenery along the way should pack their bags in 2014 and head to the Gold Coast. The largest road running event in the Southern Hemisphere – the Gold Coast Marathon – is held on the first weekend of July each year in Australia’s Gold Coast, with registration opening in March or April. This is a race for everyone, featuring a full marathon, half marathon, 10-kilometer run, 5.7-kilometer challenge, and 4-kilometer and 2-kilometer family fun runs. Enjoying the sunshine, beaches, stunning coastline, and fresh air is what makes this one of the most scenic marathons in the world truly unique. July also marks the beginning of Australia’s winter, with temperatures around 18°C, making it the perfect season for morning runs.
Encounter Ocean Rock Stars
In Queensland, from late July to early November each year, humpback whales migrate toward Antarctica. During this time, head to the shallow waters near the Great Barrier Reef to wait for their appearance. Hervey Bay on the Fraser Coast serves as a “pit stop” for the whale migration and is the easiest place to spot whales, earning it the title of Australia’s whale watching capital. In addition, Brisbane’s Moreton Bay, the Gold Coast, the Whitsunday Islands, and the coastal areas of North Queensland are also excellent spots for whale watching.
Enjoy a Relaxing Game of Golf Amidst Poetic Scenery
Queensland is the golf capital of Australia, with ideal conditions for playing golf all year round. Whether on the beach, islands, mountains, inland areas, cities, or rainforests, golf courses and well-equipped resorts can be found everywhere. The courses are located in breathtaking scenery and close to resorts, allowing you to focus on your game away from the hustle and bustle. If you want to watch master golfers in action in Queensland, consider visiting during the Australian PGA Championship. From 2013 to 2017, the Australian PGA Championship will be held for four consecutive years at the RACV Royal Pines Golf Resort on the Gold Coast. In 2014, the Royal Pines course on the Gold Coast will once again host a highly sought-after top-tier golf event.
Explore Brisbane easily by bike. (Image provided by Tourism Queensland)
Witness the Miracle of Coral Spawning
The formation of the magnificent Great Barrier Reef is thanks to tiny organisms – coral polyps, usually no larger than grains of rice. For 4 to 6 nights after the full moon in November, 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 reproductive celebration. Once fertilized, the coral eggs settle and gradually form new reefs, allowing the unparalleled Great Barrier Reef to thrive and reproduce continuously. In 2013, coral spawning in the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns occurred around the full moon in November. To witness the next natural wonder of coral spawning in the Great Barrier Reef, it is recommended to book your 2014 trip in advance.
Sea Turtle Watching Season in Queensland
Between November and March each year, various species of sea turtles such as loggerhead turtles, green turtles, leatherback turtles, and flatback turtles nest along the Queensland coastline. Mon Repos in Bundaberg, Queensland, is the best place in Australia to observe sea turtle habitats, with hundreds and thousands of turtles returning to this rich marine area each year to fulfill their natural mission of reproduction. At Lady Elliot Island, the southernmost point of the Great Barrier Reef, you can witness the spectacular sight of turtle egg-laying while also observing an unprecedented abundance of bird eggs.
● Further Reading:
Slow Travel in Australia – Immerse Yourself in Brisbane’s Relaxed Lifestyle
http://goo.gl/XUKY2D