There are five extra-special spots in Queensland that have been singled out for their ‘outstanding value to humanity’, offering visitors the chance to really immerse themselves in the region’s land, culture and daily life. The most famous is the Great Barrier Reef, famously one of the few living structures visible from outer space. One of the Earth’s richest, most complex natural ecosystems, it embraces 600 types of hard and soft coral, thousands of fish species, six of the world's seven turtle species, and more than 30 species of whales and dolphins. We’ll help you decide which part to visit and how: options include helicopter flights, citizen science projects, diving trips (including liveaboard diving, where you can explore untouched areas via a vessel specially designed for longer dives, up to seven days in duration) and stays in island resorts.

Tucked away in the state’s remote north-west, the Riversleigh Fossil Mammal Sites were named by Sir David Attenborough as one of the most significant sites of their kind in the world, with fossils dating back 15-25 million years. They’re part of the wild outback area of Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park with its dramatic gorges. Ranger-led tours can take you to see the evolutionary evidence of many of Australia’s mammal species, both surviving and extinct, and there are also unique hiking-glamping adventures.

In south-east Queensland, the Gondwana Rainforests are the world’s largest area of subtropical rainforest and a fantastic spot for tracing the Earth's evolutionary history. The survivors of Gondwana (the ancient supercontinent embracing Australasia, Africa and South America) are spread across four national parks: Lamington, Springbrook, Mount Barney and Main Range, whose mountains, waterfalls and lush valleys conceal the country’s great number of frog, snake, bird and marsupial species and more than 200 of its most threatened plant and animal species. Guided tours, hiking and camping are great ways to soak it all in.

Images courtesy of Tourism Queensland