LOS ANGELES,� Family vacations have never been more challenging (or more essential). Computers, cell phones, video games, music and movies leave ever-narrowing opportunity for parents to connect with their kids.

The answer isn�t another quick-fix weekend excursion to a local attraction or theme park. What families need is something enduring, accessible, maybe even a little exotic. Something exciting enough to compete with modern diversions, memorable and worthwhile for parents, with just enough adrenaline to facilitate a bonding experience. Something like Queensland Australia.

Australia is a big, bright, arms-wide-open destination. When it comes to family fun, Australia�s Great Barrier Reef state of Queensland is the real thing. Queensland�s beaches are squeaky-clean, its tropical rainforest, outback and reef offer amazing experiences and unusual creatures, and its people are authentic and original (and talk funny). Its cuisine is fresh and familiar, and Aussie culture is endearingly askew.

There�s a variety of experiences for every age and interest. Animal lovers can greet Australia�s furry and finned creatures in their natural habitats. At Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort (near Brisbane), guests can participate in feeding wild dolphins, get up close and personal with humpback whales during their annual migration, and rocket down a dune on a sand toboggan. The resort is located on Moreton Island, one of Australia�s most popular national parks, and offers a realm of recreational options.

Shouting �Crikey� will become a vacation battle cry once the family has experienced Steve �The Crocodile Hunter� Irwin�s Australia Zoo. Located in Beerwah, on Queensland�s beautiful Sunshine Coast just 45 minutes north of Brisbane, the Australia Zoo is home to more than 750 animals. At this delightfully �hands-on� attraction, visitors can see (and often touch) �cheeky� river otters, Harriet the Galapagos Land Turtle, elephants, tigers, snakes, camels, and of course, crocs, kangaroos and koalas.

Queensland�s Great Barrier Reef is one of the planet�s natural wonders. The aquatic world at the very edge of Australia�s continental shelf is a rainbow of color and life waiting to be explored. Quicksilver Connections provides access to the Outer Reef and �Low Isles� via luxury sailing catamarans. On the way, onboard marine biologists provide interpretation and answer questions about the precious marine ecosystem. Snorkels, masks and fins are available in child sizes, as well as various flotation aids.

�Low Isles� excursions include the opportunity to snorkel and hike with marine biologists. Swimming side by side on the Great Barrier Reef is one of those �once in a lifetime� activities that will hold a special place in the heart for years to come.

MORE�. There�s more. Sydney is Australia�s iconic city, a grown-up cosmopolitan destination with a compelling choice of family options, from the Sydney Zoo to Surf School to jet boating on Sydney Harbour. And at the tropical tip of Queensland, Cairns is a vibrant, outdoor-oriented city with such attractions as the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Center, the Cairns Night Zoo, and Skyrail. Family vacation packages add value to the experience. �Family Fun in Sydney & Cairns� includes round-trip economy airfare on Qantas, three nights in Sydney, four nights in Cairns, Outer Barrier Reef cruise, Aussie Kids Kit and more from $1,715. �Family Adventures in Sydney, Brisbane, & Tangalooma� includes round-trip economy airfare on Qantas, four nights in Sydney, three nights in Brisbane, two nights at Tangalooma, a day at the Australia Zoo, sightseeing, transfers and Aussie Kids Kit from $1,725.

Package prices are per person, based on two adults with two children age 2-17. Travel date and additional restrictions may apply on all package offers. See the �Vacations and Deals� section of www.australia.com/family for complete details.

For more information on Queensland, see the official travel Website at www.DestinationQueensland.com.

Press Contact: Lisa Gregory PH: +1 310 695 3253 lisa.gregory@tq.com.au

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