Built on the Nagoa River in a region known as the Central Highlands, Emerald is home to some 17,000 residents. Many of these have arrived in the area in recent years due to rapid growth in the agriculture (cotton) and mining (coal) industries.

Emeralds other claim is that it is the largest commercial sapphire producer in the southern hemisphere. The Rubyvale/Sapphire Miner’s Common covers 11,000 acres. Four large stones were once exported to America and the jewelry given to George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Dwight D Eisenhower and Thomas Jefferson.

Each year in April the Emerald Multicultural Festival, celebrating cultural diversity, is held. More information on the event can be found on the Emerald Events website.

Driving Information by Town or City

Airlie Beach

Brisbane

Bundaberg

Cairns

Caloundra

Cape York

Charters Towers

Cooktown

Coolum

Dream World

Emerald

Gladstone

Gold Coast

Hervey Bay

Innisfail

Kuranda

Longreach

Mackay

Maroochydore

Mission Beach

Monto

Mount Isa

Mooloolaba

Movie World

Mount Tamborine

Noosa

Palm Cove

Port Douglas

Proserpine

Rockhampton

Sanctuary Cove

Sea World

Sunshine Coast

Toowoomba

Townsville

Trinity Beach

Weipa

Wet ‘n’ Wild

Whitsunday’s

Driving Information By State

Queensland – the Sunshine State.

New South Wales – the First State.

Victoria – the Garden State.

Tasmania – the Apple Isle.

South Australia – the Festival State.

Western Australia – the Real Thing.

Northern Territory – Outback Australia.

Road Rules and Safety Advice

Road Rules and Driver’s Guide

Driving Distances and Destinations

Queensland Driving Distances Chart

Car Hire Queensland

Brisbane

Brisbane Airport

Surfers Paradise

Gold Coast Airport

Cairns

Sunshine Coast Airport