BRISBANE

Queensland is a state of Australia, in the north-east of the country. It is the second largest state by area and the third largest state by population.

The capital and largest city is Brisbane. Other major regional centres include the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay, Cairns, Toowoomba, and Mount Isa. Queensland is often nicknamed the Sunshine State, since it enjoys warm weather and a sizable portion of the state is in the tropics.

Tourism is a billion dollar industry in Queensland, with millions of tourists flocking to the state's world class beaches and the Great Barrier Reef. The premier attractions are located all over the state, such as Surfers Paradise, which is renowned for its beaches and world class luxury hotels, apartments and resorts. Queensland is also referred to as "Australia's Theme Park Capital", with five amusement parks located in the state serving as a hub for many tourists.