The Great Barrier Reef is perhaps the most iconic dive destination in the world. But that's not all that's on offer in Queensland — if gorgeous beaches and verdant rainforests sound intriguing to you too, look no further.

Taka Dive Adventure's liveaboard gets you in the water with up to 70 Coral Sea sharks at once, with multiple species present year-round.

Snorkel with these approachable animals, the smallest of the baleen whales, on a Mike Ball liveaboard in the ribbon reefs from May to August.

The Mike Ball Fly/Dive experience starts your liveaboard vacation with an amazing low-level flight over the waters you'll soon be diving.

Part of Queensland's "Great 8" — including whales, turtles, grouper, giant clams and Maori wrasse — anemonefish at Hastings Reef are sure to please.

This is the world's longest reef at 2,250 kilometers (1,400 miles) long. Visible from space, it's one of the planet's best places to dive, sheltering 1,500 species of fish alone.

This gorgeous coral-encrusted 109-meter (357 foot) wreck, the SS Yongala, lost to a cyclone in 1911 with all hands, is Australia's best wreck, off Townsville in water from 15 to 34 meters deep (50 to 111 feet).

On Whitsunday Island, the largest of the 74 pristine islands of the same name, you can bask on more than 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) of brilliant white sand.

A PADI Five Star Dive Resort right on the reef puts you face-to-face with stunning marine life, and cuts travel time to dive sites to mere minutes.

Queensland has too many wineries to list, from Southern Downs to Toowoomba to South Burnett. Think California but wilder and with a cooler accent, mate.

See glowworms — plus luminous fungi and fireflies in summer — at lush Springbrook National Park, part of the Gondwana Rainforest's World Heritage Area.