Located within the stunning Oceanian country of Australia, Queensland is home to an abundance of natural beauty and a wealth of adventure. The Northeastern state is home to the buzzing cities of Brisbane and Cairns, the phenomenal Gold Coast and the world-famous Great Barrier Reef. Queensland features the best Australia has to offer with incredible scenery, fantastic waves and a magnificent underwater world. The state has an exquisite selection of pristine beaches and tropical islands as well as over 200 national parks including lush rainforests and dense bush lands. Queensland is paradise for every traveller with something on offer for everyone.
Dive the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the planet’s most famous underwater world with an abundance of marine life, magnificent colours and crystal clear waters. The largest coral reef in the world is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an incredible destination for diving and snorkelling. The Great Barrier Reef is a natural work of art and a truly stunning masterpiece, named as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. You cannot visit Queensland without admiring the vivid colours and exotic sea life of this phenomenal place.
Price: Tours vary by operator
Hours: Tours vary by operator
Safari through Daintree National Park
Daintree National Park is the world’s oldest surviving rainforest and is home to the highest concentration of endangered species. Split into two sections, Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation, Daintree National Park is full of clear waters, lush forests and phenomenal plant species. The best way to explore the area is on a guided safari, many of which include rainforest hiking and sampling tropical fruit. It is also possible to zip line through the rainforest, swim through Mossman Gorge and enjoy horse riding so make sure to compare available tours.
Price: Tours vary by operator
Hours: Tours vary by operator
Go four-wheel driving on Fraser Island
The World Heritage listed Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. The incredible island is home to an abundance of windswept beaches, dense forests and sacred aboriginal sites. Seventy Five Mile Beach is the island’s main thoroughfare providing access to the Maheno shipwreck, the sandstone cliffs of The Pinnacles and the bubbling rock pools of Champagne Pools. The island is also home to a wealth of incredible wildlife including over 300 species of birds and Australia’s purest strain of dingo as well as tiger sharks, whales and dolphins swimming off the coast.
Price: Tours vary by operator
Hours: Tours vary by operator
Cruise the Whitsundays
The jaw-dropping Whitsunday Islands are an international sailing hotspot with glorious beaches, incredible resorts and spectacular scenery. Cruise the Whitsundays is a great way to explore some of the most magnificent locations including secret beaches and remote spots. Most of the islands are uninhabited and buzzing with wildlife whilst the popular Whitehaven Beach has a stunning rainforest backdrop and is voted Australia’s #1 beach with pristine, dazzling white silica sand.
Price: Sailings vary by operator
Hours: Sailing vary by operator
Take it slow at Port Douglas
The tropical town of Port Douglas is surrounded by the magnificent turquoise waters of the Great Barrier Reef and is a popular holiday destination for travellers. The town is the only place in the world where two World Heritage Sites meet, the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree National Park. The town has a welcoming, friendly vibe that feels more like a local village than a vacation resort with a hip café culture and cool bar scene. With the island’s location, the town’s restaurants offer delectable seafood dishes as well as a local sugar cane juice on tap. The town is a great place to take it easy and enjoy a slower pace.
Price: Free. Activities and restaurants vary
Hours: Free. Activities and restaurants vary
Visit Kuranda
The charming rainforest village of Kuranda is home to a colourful market and artsy shops with unique crafts and creations, perfect souvenirs for a Queensland visit. The village is also home to several animal sanctuaries and nature parks as well as being a great place to learn about the Aboriginal culture. However, Kuranda is as much about the journey to get there as it is about the destination. The Kuranda Scenic Railway is an incredible train ride, chugging through the rainforest past flowing waterfalls and rugged peaks. On the other hand, the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway takes you on a flight over a World Heritage listed rainforest and the beautiful Barron River.
Price: Skyrail return is $85 adults, $42.50 children and under 4’s go free. Railway return is from $76 adults and $38 children.
Hours: Skyrail is daily 8:30pm to 3:45pm at 15-minute intervals. Railway departs Cairns at 8:30am and 9:30am. Railway departs Kuranda at 2pm and 3:30pm.
Hike the trails of Noosa National Park
Noosa National Park is home to some of Queensland’s most picturesque scenery and brimming with native Australian wildlife and plants. The national park offers numerous hiking trails and coastal walks to explore the stunning landscape of this section of Queensland. Enjoy magnificent views over postcard-perfect beaches and keep your eyes peeled for dolphins diving in the turquoise waters. A highlight of the national park is Hells Gates with superior views of the coast and the perfect viewpoint to witness migrating dolphins.
Price: Free
Hours: 24/7
Experience the waves at Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise is a magnificent coastal town that is one of Queensland’s most recognised destinations. With a high-rise backdrop, a spectacular coastline fringes Surfers Paradise with incredible waves crashing into the white sand. Popular with newbie surfers, Surfers Paradises offers a number of surf schools catering to all abilities. Alongside surfing, the beachfront offers a wide variety of water sports whilst the city provides fun activities for all the family. The area is also famous for its nightlife with speciality bars, buzzing clubs and rooftop establishments.
Price: Free
Hours: 24/7
Admire Lamington National Park
A lush rainforest full of flowing waterfalls and ancient trees, Lamington National Park is an Australia World Heritage Area with extraordinary ecological importance. The area offers spectacular natural beauty with magnificent scenery and trails through dense forest and by stunning waterfalls. The hiking tracks cover over 160km so there is always a new section of the national park to discover. The hiking trails also vary in difficulty making the national park accessible to everyone not only experienced hikers. The life within the national park is all about the birds with some incredible species to discover.
Price: Free
Hours: 24/7
Meet to koalas at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Founded in 1927, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary cares for sick, injured and orphaned koalas. Queensland is the only Australian state that allows visitors to hold a koala making it a unique opportunity even in the homeland of the species. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the oldest and largest koala sanctuary in the entire world with an incredible history of conserving the species. The sanctuary is also home to platypus, kangaroo, Tasmanian devil, kookaburra, dingo, wombat and many more native Australian species.
Price: $42 adults and $25 children
Hours: Daily 9am-5pm
Discover the wildlife at Australia Zoo
Home of The Crocodile Hunter, Australia Zoo is owned by the Irwin family after the famous Steve Irwin took over management of the wildlife park in 1991. The entire Irwin family has dedicated their lives to wildlife from Steve’s mum Lyn who was an extraordinary animal rehabilitator to his children Bindi and Robert who are ensuring Steve’s legacy lives on. The zoo is a world leader in animal conservation and rehabilitation with numerous research projects and educational programmes carried out on site. The zoo is home to a huge variety of different species and offers guests animal encounters, exhibits and zookeeper for the day experiences.
Price: From $59 adults, $35 children and under 3’s go free
Hours: Daily 9am-5pm
Trip to the tip
The rugged outback is one of Australia’s most interesting and intriguing locations with Cape York in Queensland the largest unspoiled wilderness in Australia and the most northern point of Australia. The trip to the tip is one of Australia’s most epic road trips with the journey all part of the adventure. Along the way, you’ll pass through dense rainforests, mangrove-fringed beaches, aboriginal communities and rivers full of crocodiles.
Price: Cost of fuel or a tour
Hours: 24/7. Tour times vary.
Get to know Brisbane
The capital of Queensland, Brisbane, is Australia’s third-largest city and has a more relaxed vibe than many of the other large cities in the country. The city is a great base to explore the incredible beaches and national parks of Queensland but is also an incredible city to visit. The city straddles Brisbane River, is home to a wealth of luxurious parks and features an incredible botanical garden. Biking, riverside walking and cruises are all popular family activities in the city whilst Brisbane also offers an abundance of delicious restaurants and exciting shops.
Price: Free
Hours: 24/7
Explore Cairns
Considered the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a launch pad to some of Queensland’s most exquisite nature spots. Surrounded by beaches, gorges and rainforests, the tropical city is in the perfect location to act as a base to explore the Far North of the state. The city is rich in aboriginal history with Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park sharing the stories of the Indigenous Aboriginals. The city has incredible cafes and buzzing markets adding a bohemian edge to this laid-back city whilst waterfront bars provide the perfect viewpoint to enjoy a refreshing drink.
Price: Free
Hours: 24/7
No other Australian state can compete with the incredible natural beauty of Queensland. With a natural wonder of the world, phenomenal national parks, pristine beaches and chilled cities, it is no wonder that Queensland is a popular state for Australian natives to flock to as well as overseas tourists. The state offers an abundance of incredible, memorable experiences that will last a lifetime and is a perfect destination for backpackers, couples, families and all types of travellers.
