"The Sunshine State" a State of Queensland Travel Page by Jez79

Queensland is located on the east coast of Australia, sitting in the north-east corner, between New South Wales and the Northern Territory.

At the time of European colonisation, Queensland was home to over 200 groups of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, making it one of Australia's most densley populated areas. The relationship between the colonial people and the indigenous Australians was less than friendly, with the new arrivals quickly taking both the land and rights of the indigenous population.

The British established Brisbane, then part of New South Wales, as a place to send their more challenging convicts. In 1842 the area was opened to free settlers, and in 1859, the state of Queensland separated from NSW. The discovery of Gold near Gympie in 1867 put Queensland on the map.

These days Queensland has an ethnically diverse population, and the process of reconcilliating with the country's original inhabitants is underway (though still with a long way to go).

For the most part, Queenslanders have a warm, laid back character, love their beer and footy and the sunny Queensland weather.

Queensland has some fantastic attractions, with destinations including the rainforest, the outback, spectacular islands and beaches, quaint rural towns and urban centres. Activities include diving the reef, experiencing life on an outback property, learning about the culture and lifestyle of the nations indigenous people, hiking through tropical rainforest, lazing on a secluded beach, rock climbing, white water rafting, horse riding, exploring caves, shopping, sampling the State's culinary delights and just about anything else you can imagine.

For useful information about Queensland, check out:

http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/

http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/