Queensland/ QLD ( Brisbane/ Gold Coast)

The facts
Queensland is in the north-east of Australia. It covers an enormous amount of land (1,727,200 square kilometres) yet doesn’t have the population to fill it. Only 4.2 million people live in Queensland and the majority of them are on the coast.

Brisbane, the capital, is a cosmopolitan city. In summer, average temperatures range from 18 degrees overnight to a balmy 28 degrees in the day, and in winter, 14 degrees overnight to 24 degrees in the day. In Cairns, a regional centre to the north, the weather is tropical with an average of 22 degrees on summer nights and 31 during the day. Winter in Cairns can be warmer than some of the southern summers, with temperatures averaging 20 degrees overnight to 26 degrees during the day.

What makes Queensland unique?
Queensland has lots of sun, beautiful beaches, coral reefs, rare and unusual wildlife, and some of the most spectacular rainforests you’ll ever see.

Brisbane is brimming with cultural attractions including the Brisbane City Gallery, Parliament House, Botanic Gardens, Queensland Museum and Queensland Art Gallery. Brisbane is home to many institutions including universities, vocational institutes and schools. South of Brisbane is the Gold Coast, which includes Surfers Paradise, and attracts holiday-makers from around the world. There are many educational institutions on the Gold Coast.

North of Brisbane is the Sunshine Coast which has great beaches, as well as the Glass House Mountains, a group of volcanic crags with peaks of up to 300 metres. International students attend institutions in Noosa and Maroochydore.

The Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the world, is further north on the Capricorn Coast. Cities and towns with institutions on the northern coast of Queensland include Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.

University campuses in Queensland
Australian Catholic University
Bond University
Central Queensland University
Griffith University
Griffith University - Queensland College of Art
James Cook University
Queensland University of Technology
University of Canberra - Brisbane Campus
University of Queensland
University of Southern Queensland
University of the Sunshine Coast

Getting there and getting around
Brisbane and Cairns have international airports. In Brisbane, you can travel by bus, train or ferry. In regional towns, the main transport is buses. Between towns, you can travel by train, bus or plane.

Find out more
www.queenslandholidays.com.au (tourist information)
www.qld.gov.au (QLD Government services)
www.thecouriermail.news.com.au (Brisbane's newspaper)
www.onlinenewspapers.com/australi.htm (links to newspapers around Queensland)
www.citysearch.com.au (nightlife and events)