Queensland The Adventure State 

Click here for our complete list of Queensland Maps

Queensland - what a state of adventure

From sea kayaking through the pristine waters of Hinchinbrook Channel in the Tropical North to taking the thrill ride of your life with Oceanrafters on the offshore swells off the Gold Coast, there is action aplenty along the coast and islands of Queensland.

Set your compass for the following:

A tall order for sailing paradise

"If you haven't sailed the Whitsundays, you haven't lived," according to Sue Fuller. She packed her sea legs and swimsuit and set sail on the century-old tallship, Solway Lass, for a nautical adventure never to be forgotten.

When I clambered aboard the beautiful old tallship, Solway Lass at Airlie Beach, life so noticeably slowed that I could have tossed my watch overboard. For the next three days and nights, meal times were heralded by delicious aromas and "cocktail hour" began when the sun dipped a reasonable distance towards the horizon.

In 2002, Solway Lass celebrated her 100th birthday, having started her life as a sail powered cargo vessel, built in 1902 in the Netherlands.

She's had a long and tumultuous history, and the Solway's crew love to share her colourful past with a maximum of 32 guests on board at any one time. Seized as a prize of war by the British in 1915 and used as a Q-ship during World War One, she was again seized by the Germans in World War Two, before being badly damaged by a mine. After the war, the Solway Lass set sail for warmer waters and plied the South Pacific as a cargo vessel, eventually falling into disrepair.

Totally rebuilt, Solway Lass took pride of place in the First Fleet reenactment during our Bicentennial Year before travelling north to the Whitsundays, where she is understandably the pride and joy of Airlie Beach-based Southern Cross Sailing Adventures.

With 10 sails and 5,500 square feet of sail area, this is sailing for grown-ups in fully-catered comfort! You can do as little or as much as you like, and during our voyage, nearly everyone joined in the fun of learning to hoist and trim sails or have a go at taking the helm.

While the creak and groan of timber deck is an age-old sound, rest assured life below deck is comfortably modern. Solway Lass is air-conditioned and has 11 cabins for 32 guests, with a choice of double or twin cabins or four-share. There's a bar, and bathrooms complete with hot showers; just the thing for rinsing off the day's salt water. Appetites were unfailingly hearty and food on the Solway Lass was fresh, delicious and plentiful.

We covered around 90 nautical miles (160km), exploring beautiful spots including Whitehaven Beach, Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island, Mantaray and Nara Inlet and stopping to snorkel, scuba dive and swim on the island coral fringing reef. By around 4:30pm each day in a calm anchorage we often tied up with one of Southern Cross's four ex-racing yachts, including famous Whitbread maxis, The Card and British Defender.

The Solway Lass departs on its three day/three night trips from Airlie Beach every Tuesday and Saturday at 7:30pm.  All meals are included.

Being one of the world's most spectacular aquatic playgrounds, the Whitsundays has a huge fleet of boats which ply the islands and nearby Great Barrier Reef. Day tours on fast-catamarans, fully-crewed tours on famous sailing sloops and motor cruisers are available from the islands and the mainland, or you can take the "drive yourself" option of bareboating.

The Whitsundays is also home to the biggest fleet of bareboat charter boats in the southern hemisphere.

For more information:

Whitsunday Rent A Yacht

The best way to arrive in Hervey Bay

There are so many ways to arrive in Hervey Bay. But nothing quite matches the view from 3,000m and, without the aid of a zoom camera, watching that view as it gets closer and closer.

Take in the thrill of a freefall and soak up those breathtaking views of Fraser Island and Hervey Bay - all part of the tandem skydive experience offered by Skydive Hervey Bay.

On the way back to terra firma, instructors even welcome a break from the controls - this is where you take over and steer, carving a path through the air.

It's a holiday treat not likely to be forgotten.

For more information:

Skydive Hervey Bay
Tel +61 7 4124 8248

Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Board
Tel +61 7 4122 3444

The Bungy Bullet and the Big Kart Track

It may not be to everyone's taste, yet the thought of being catapulted 50m into the air at high speed does appeal to some. In fact, it seems there's a constant queuing of people keen to 'blast off', covering the 50m in just one second.

The attraction has a Sunshine Coast address, located out along Glass House Mountains Tourist Drive, near the historic railway town of Landsborough.

The Bungy Bullet is the villain of the piece, one of the key attractions at the Big Kart Track, which just happens to be the other big attraction. The Big Kart Track is the largest and fastest go-kart track in Australia. Some would go as far as saying that this place separates the 'men from the boys'. 

For more information:
Big Kart Track
Tel +61 7 5494 1613

Another enlivening adventure

Shark Dive or swim with the seals at Underwater World on the Sunshine Coast or Shark Bay at SeaWorld on the Gold Coast.

For more information:

Underwater World
Tel +61 7 5444 8488

SeaWorld
Tel +61 7 5588 2205