Queensland - Prepare

Bring your swimming costume to work up that tan, cowboy boots for an outback adventure and don't forget the mask and snorkel – there's as much to see below the waves here as there is above.

Watch lifesavers strut their stuff at the Queensland Surf Lifesaving Championships on the Sunshine Coast (Feb/Mar) or don your cowboy hat at the Charters Towers Country Music Festival (May). Browse agricultural exhibits during Brisbane's Royal Queensland Show, known as Ekka! (Aug), or travel outback for three days of horseracing at Birdsville Races (Sep). Be a petrol-head at the Gold Coast Lexmark Indy 300 motor-racing carnival (Oct).

New Year's Day (1 Jan), Australia Day (26 Jan), Good Friday (Mar/Apr), Easter Monday (Mar/Apr), Anzac Day (25 Apr), Labour Day (first Mon in May), Queen's Birthday (Jun), Royal Queensland Show Day (Aug), Christmas Day (25 Dec), Boxing Day (26 Dec).

Queensland boasts an average of 300 sunny days a year. Hottest months are November to March, topping 30°C state-wide, which is also the rainy season in the north, with high humidity and occasional tropical storms. Winter (June-September) is the best time to visit, averaging a comfortable 25°C, with near-guaranteed blue skies. To the south, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast summers (October-March) bring long hot days and warm ocean waves.

230V AC, 50 Hz, three-pin plugs are standard.

+61 (national), (0) 7 (Queensland).

Australian dollar ($) is the currency.

GMT +10.

Queensland Official Tourist website