Queensland's east is very much an idilyic tropical paradise.
Lush rainforest stretches along almost the whole of Queensland's east coast.
In the north the Great Barrier Reef is enormously popular. Scuba diving schools and snorkeeling trips can be arranged from Cairns to Gladstone. The reef is best in the north and Cairns has developed into a major tourist destination with many other adventure tour and adventure sports operators. The most islands are in the Whitsunday group off Airlie Beach . Many of the islands have resorts and Airlie Beach itself has developed into a ferry and diving school centre.