Adventure DOWN UNDER

Discover Australia's most epic aquatic asset, the Great Barrier Reef

- QIN XIE

Of all of Australia's many natural wonders, including red-rock Uluru and sweeping Bondi Beach, it's difficult to find a place that beats the tropical beauty of Queensland. Home to the Great Barrier Reef, a Unesco World Heritage Site spanning over 1,400 miles, temperatures here are in the 20s and 30s all year round. Whales use the coastline as their nursery, while kangaroos and koalas love the gum-tree forests. Plus, thanks to recently launched flight routes from London into Cairns and Brisbane, it's easier than ever to get there to explore.

Indigenous know-how 

Known locally as 'mobs', the Aboriginal tribes are the traditional owners of Queensland. And now there is a growing number of indigenous-led tours where you can learn more about the culture and way of life. One of the most accessible is the Wunyami Cultural Tour on Green Island, a coral cay off the coast of Cairns topped with lush greenery. On a visit you'll hear about different plants and their medicinal uses, and the tradition of going on 'walkabout' you'll even learn to start a fire by rubbing sticks together. Afterwards, you can enjoy a snorkel right off the beach. Ferries to the island cost £51 return for adults, with the hour-long tour costing £16.

Rainbows of fish