Queensland 'Sunshine State' is the second largest and boasts perfect tropical weather and the world's largest living organism - the Great Barrier Reef. Lying on the north-east of the continent, the azure waters of the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean lapping its coastline, it is bordering New South Wales and South Australia to the south, and the Northern Territory to the west. With a vast area and a range of geographic and climatic regions running north and south, Queensland is perfect for visitors who want to explore Australia. The coastal centres and islands of the Great Barrier Reef, stretching for 2,300km (1200 miles). The Great Dividing Range separates the sub-tropical rainforest coastal areas, from the lush beauty of the hinterland with its national parks and unique birds, animals and plant life. Further west the lush vegetation turns into the arid, stark land of the Outback. Queensland's capital city, Brisbane, combines the vitality of a modern, bustling city with the sociable atmosphere of a country town.