Drive north from Brisbane and all along the north Queensland coast, you'll find jump-off points to many coastal and island attractions.
From the Capricornia Coast, for instance, you can head across the water to Heron Island, one of the coral sand islands at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.
North of Capricornia lies the Whitsunday Coast where you find Mackay, gateway to Eungella National Park, Hatton Finch Gorge and, across the water, Brampton Island, another of those popular Queensland island resorts.
Drive further north and you reach Airlie Beach and Bowen. From Airlie Beach you can take a ferry to Hamilton Island. The town of Bowen is noted for being a film location for the Baz Luhrmann epic Australia starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.
Then there's Townsville, Queensland fourth largest city. And not too far north is Cairns, Australia's most popular jump-off point to the Great Barrier Reef.
Photo: Finch Hatton Gorge near Mackay © Tourism Queensland