Spotlight on the Southern Great Barrier Reef

Peter Brown caught 'gem-fever' when he discovered his first sapphire in 1974. Photo / Supplied

Each week a New Zealand expat based in Queensland gives the inside word on their region. Today we hear from Peter Brown, Owner of Rubyvale Gem Gallery.

With nothing more than a beat-up old car and a quest for adventure, I arrived in the Sapphire Gemfields just north of Emerald in 1974. I got "gem-fever" when I discovered my first sapphire.

My Canadian wife and I settled and raised a family in Rubyvale, making a living by mining, cutting the stones and selling sapphires to overseas buyers, as well as hosting visitors on underground mine tours.

Visiting Kiwis should pop into the New Royal Hotel Rubyvale - it was winner of the Best Bush Pub in Queensland last year.

The business has expanded to include a modern cafe and accommodation.

Try the Sapphire Gemfields. There's lots of fossicking to be done - it's famous for sapphires of every colour.

And, of course, the best shopping can be done at Rubyvale Gem Gallery, which has designer sapphire jewellery. Treat yourself to a unique piece of sapphire jewellery.

Enjoy a great-tasting coffee, meal or scrumptious Devonshire Tea at Rubyvale Gem Gallery Cafe.

If you're looking for something really special for dinner, try Tsuruya Japanese Restaurant at the Mercure Capricorn Resort in Yeppoon.

But perhaps before dinner go to Blackdown Tableland National Park for a great view, or Carnarvon Gorge.

Yeppoon Main Beach is the place to go to soak up the sun and Carnavon Gorge is the best walk by far.

Water-lovers won't be disappointed by Lake Maraboon, Emerald, and Bogantungan Lookout is the perfect place for a picnic.

Kiwis missing out on sporting action will enjoy the Capella Camel Races, which are held in April.

• This series is part of a content partnership with Tourism Australia.