With almost 7,000 kilometres of coastline, Queensland has much to offer by way of sites and activities, and also provides food and shopping all with the charming backdrop of the Coral Sea.
The region has plenty of entertainment options for tourists looking to get a glimpse of the uniqueness of Australia. For a show of stunts, action, impressive horsemanship and captivating stories, watching the Australian Outback Spectacular is a must on your to-do list. Alternatively, you can head to one of Queensland’s many theme parks. Sea world at Gold Coast is full of exciting rides, stunt shows, adventures with Nickelodeon characters for children, and opportunities to encounter whales, sharks, dolphins and penguins! Warner Bros. Movie World is another location for themed thrill rides, and uniquely Hollywood experiences.
Like all Australian states, Queensland also has a range of opportunities to witness and encounter Australia’s natural biodiversity. Paradise Country is a chance to observe an authentic farm experience; from sheep shearing and cow milking to dogs rounding up sheep and stockman exhibiting their horsemanship. You can also get a chance to walk about the wildlife, feed emus and kangaroos, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, and embrace baby animals in the nursery. If you’re more interested in animals in the wild, visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary; see crocodiles, dingos, koalas and more, and take an Aboriginal tour to truly experience Australia.
One cruise away from Brisbane is Tangalooma, the island resort where you can feed dolphins, as well as experience a huge range of transports and tours from a bus to a helicopter, quad bike, Segway, kayak, toboggan and more! While you’re there experiencing the sea don’t forget one of Australia’s most iconic sites, the Great Barrier Reef. You can visit it from over 100 islands off the coast of Queensland.
Aside from the adventurer, even the shopping tourist has plenty of options in Queensland. Harbour Town is the largest outlet shopping centre in Australia, with enough options for every kind of shopper. In the Gold Coast, head to Australia Fair or Pacific Fair for specialty stores and department stories. For a more specific experience to Australia, try out some of the markets in Queensland.
Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets have an extensive range of products and are open Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at night. Village Markets at Burleigh Heads have a more bohemian feel and are open on Sundays, and Valley Markets are around every weekend for local designers to exhibit their work.
Muslim tourists should also take note of the Halal dining options in Queensland. Like in all of Australia, the diversity of the population is reflected in the variety of foods on offer. Dapur Dahlia is a Malaysian café in Brisbane, rated AA by CrescentRating. Sultan’s Restaurant is also in Brisbane, Crescent Rated A and offering Turkish cuisine and performances. In Gold Coast, there is both Shiraz Authentic Persian Restaurant, Crescent Rated AAA, and Mecca Bah, which offers a Moroccan and Middle Eastern experience. In Surfers Paradise is another Middle Eastern style café; Arabesque Bazaar.
The main prayer facility of the region is at the Islamic Society of Gold Coast. In addition, Seaworld Musalla and Harbour Town Musalla are other prayer place options for tourists in those regions.
For more information on travelling to Australia, the Muslim Visitor Guide by Tourism Australia and HalalTrip details what every Muslim traveller should look to experience on their trip to any of Australia’s eight major states.
