If you’re planning to visit Queensland, Australia it’s probably because you’ve heard about their diverse attractions. Looking for the best places to visit in Queensland? Well, in this local’s guide, you will find the top places to add to your Queensland bucket list!
Welcome to the Sunshine State of Australia and where we can explore 15 places to visit in Queensland. There’s a population of over 5 million people in Queensland and 1.8 million square kilometres in size. Not only is it the second-largest state in Australia, but one of the most popular to visit for any kind of tourist. This is where you will find waterfalls, beaches, underwater experiences, Wild animal experiences, Sand Dunes, and dinosaurs in the outback.
Below, I have 15 places to visit in Queensland highlighted to help you decide where you want to go, and what you might want to see first.
Know that whatever you decide, it will be a holiday to remember!
Top Places to Visit in Queensland, Australia
Brisbane
Why not start your journey in the Queensland capital of Brisbane and your first international gateway. Two million people are living here and located in the southeastern corner of the state. You have most action happening around the Brisbane city centre, or across the river at Southbank. With this in mind, there is plenty to do within walking distance or a short ride away.
The Wheel of Brisbane is much like a Ferris wheel and gives you an overall view, or Street Beach is a way to relax on a man-made sandy beach. Markets are happening every weekend, and hundreds of general shops or stores.
You can venture further out of the city to Mount Coot-tha, where the lookout point views over the entire city and you can catch up with friends for a coffee. Bribie Island is located on the north side and easily accessed by car over the Pumicestone Bridge. This is your closest surfing beach and your first taste of the beachy Queensland lifestyle.
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Agnes Water & 1770
All along the coast of Queensland, you will find many quiet beachy towns, but Agnes Water and 1770 needs to be at the top of your list. Whether you’re looking to sit back and chill on the beach. Lap up the luxury of some five-star accommodation or try some of the activities on offer.
Agnes Water and 1770 is where you want to go!
Agnes Water has a population of 2000 people, 1770 with about 100, and is located 10 minutes away from each other. Agnes Water is known for its endless beaches and a surfing lifestyle. While, 1770 is in the bay and perfect for kids swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and fishing.
This is also your second gateway to the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef, with a Day trips to Lady Musgrave Island. In fact, the boats take less time to get out from here and sometimes a better trip than Bundaberg.
In the evenings, buy a drink at one of the bars and watch the amazing sunset go down over the horizon.
Stradbroke Island
Escape Brisbane city life and take a day trip or weekend visit to North Stradbroke Island ( Minjerribah). It lies 30 kilometres off the coast and has over 10 ferry’s a day to get there. The township has its own facilities with grocery stores, art and crafts, restaurants and cafes, and all kinds of accommodation options.
Many people will visit Straddie for any number of beaches, surfing, fishing, boating, swimming, or four-wheel driving down the beaches. It’s also a well-known beach camping location if you have your own four-wheel drive.
Convenient public transport options will enable you to visit some of the best spots like Point Lookout. It’s the main Shopping district for supplies and has the gorge walk to view humpback whales in the distance. Spend your time chilling on the surfing beach and have a drink at the surf club bar overlooking the water.
Check out this great day tour that takes you from Brisbane to North Stradbroke Island. You will discover freshwater lakes, coastal walks, and beautiful beaches + learn about the island’s culture and history while seeing wildlife with your guide. Enjoy sunset at sea while returning to the mainland.
Bundaberg
Bundaberg is well known for producing the world-famous Bundaberg Rum or the Ginger Beer at Bundaberg Brewed Drinks. Both can be toured at various times throughout the day and finish with sample taste tests for you to enjoy.
Although there are many other reasons to visit the lovely town of Bundaberg. This could be for being one of the best Turtle nesting areas on the mainland of Australia, some amazing looking beaches like Bargara, Woodgate, and Elliott Heads, or appreciating some history-making architecture in the city.
Not only that, But Bundaberg is the southern starting point for the Great Barrier Reef, and you have the choice to visit two amazing Islands from here. Both Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Island are popular to visit for swimming with turtles or the beautiful reefs systems. Explore the Islands, snorkel the reef, relax on the beach or discover the bird sanctuaries. Either one will sure to impress!
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Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is one of the biggest tourist hubs of Queensland, with over 10 million visitors each year. It’s located about an hour south of Brisbane and stretches to the New South Wales border. This is where you will find all the high-rise hotel accommodation, the major Theme Parks in Australia, and about 50 kilometres of white sandy beaches.
Due to tourism, The Gold Coast has become the sixth-largest city in Australia, with tourists flocking to the world-renowned suburb of Surfers Paradise. There is so much to do at the Gold Coast, but it’s easy to get caught up in the hype and spend a lot on activities. However, you can find lots of free things to do and help reduce the cost of your vacation.
For those interested in nature, the Gold Coast Hinterland can be explored for numerous hikes and lookout points, along with waterfalls and local wildlife. If you prefer city life then the endless beaches and swimming are on the cards, as well other waters sports like Jet Skiing, sailing, snorkelling, or fishing.
Admire an overall view over the skyline at the Skypoint Observation deck, or take the extreme challenge with the extreme Skypoint Climb around the top of the building.
Cairns
Cairns is your most northern major city and another international gateway. The city itself has a population of only 150 thousand people, but has huge drawcards like the Great Barrier Reef, The Daintree National Park, and the Skyrail Gondola.
It’s easy to entertain yourself in the city with all kinds of accommodation from the Backpacker to luxury five-star. Along with the City Centre and Marina filled with restaurants, cafes, bars, and a swimming lagoon.
Most will venture off the land with day trips and Island hopping vacations around the reef and with underwater creatures to explore. Green or Fitzroy Island is a favourite for taking one of the many snorkeling day trip boats to see some of the crystal blue waters.
Only an hour away you have one of the most photographed waterfalls in Australia, Millaa Millaa Falls. Freshwater swimming hole locations are in abundance between here and the Daintree National Park, as well as hikes and mountainous rainforests.
Take a different view with the Kuranda Rail journey, from the city to the local Kuranda market community. Consequently, retuning on the Skyrail Gondola ride and an overall view of northern Cairns. It’s not surprising that Cairns receives over 3 million tourists each year.
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Airlie Beach
With the Great Barrier Reef stretching from Bundaberg in the south, and past the city of Cairns in the north, this allows you plenty of opportunities to explore. Airlie beach is located in the northern part, but with easy access to the Whitsunday Islands. There are about 74 islands in the Whitsunday Network, with the major ones having daily ferry access. This all starts from the small town of Airlie Beach, which welcomes over 750 thousand tourists each year.
Half or full-day tours leave from Shute Harbour or can taxi you to your Island accommodation. Many resort facilities and activities are available, and Hamilton and Day Dram Island are two of the most popular. If you looking for those amazing coral reef bommie photos, then flights leave from Hamilton Island or Airlie Beach itself. Additionally, White haven Beach or the lookout point of Hill inlet is where you’ll find the amazing light blue waters, with the white silica sand beaches.
One visit here will beyond amaze your senses and be a definite “must-do” place to visit in Queensland.
Cape Hillsborough
Have you ever wanted to see Kangaroos in the wild? This is a big hit for all tourists and becoming more and more popular as time goes by. Every morning before sunrise, The wild kangaroos and wallabies venture down to the beach at Cape Hillsborough, for their morning feed. This consists of sea pods and seaweed left on the beach from the reseeding high tide.
Due to the numbers, this experience is now controlled by the Mackay Tourist Rangers, to ensure the safety of the Kangaroos and the visitors. While these are wild animals, they hang around for about an hour and is best to keep your distance. However, they are used to people being around and will eventually get close to you.
After the sun rises, the kangaroos jump off down the beach or into the surrounding bushland.
Cobbold Gorge
The beautiful Cobbold Gorge is one of many beautiful places in Queensland to visit, that’s located in Outback Queensland. This private cattle farm conducts tours and accommodation in and around the gorge in a few different ways. This includes a boat tour, paddle boarding, walking around and over on a Glass Bridge, and by Helicopter.
Each experience has its pros and cons, but the Boat/Land tour is the most popular, takes the longest, and gives you a great overview of the Gorge. A Glass Bridge experience is showing up all over the world, and this was one of the first to show up in Australia.
Freshwater crocodiles are living in the gorge and you will often see them basking in the early morning or late afternoon sun. These are timid around people and will move quickly, but still, a brilliant opportunity to see them in the wild.
The facilities are fitted with camping areas, fixed cabin accommodation, a restaurant, a bar, and even an infinity pool. Therefore, everything you will need for a fantastic stay and to experience Cobbold Gorge.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island or K’gari has two different resort locations on each side of the Island. It’s best to explore with your own four-wheel drive, but there are plenty of tour opportunities if you don’t have one yourself. Apart from that, the Island is very popular for beach camping or holiday homes for rent, away from the crowds.
You will be glad you visited when seeing some of the more interesting sites like swimming in the champagne rock pools, or floating down the fresh waters of Eli Creek. Lake McKenzie is a site on its own with the amazing white sandy beach shores and the clear blue waters, and climbing to the top of Indian head will give you an entire view of the Island.
Birdsville
Well, you can’t get more remote than Birdsville in Outback Queensland. It’s very close to the South Australian and Northern Territory borders and has a population of 140 people. People visit for several reasons, but mostly for the Big Red Bash Music Festival, The Birdsville Horse Racing weekend, or to drive up the Big Red Sand Dune.
Big Red is the largest sand dune in Australia and the first of 1100 sand dunes travelling into the Munga-Thurri National Park, or the Simpson Desert. You will feel like you are in a whole other world visiting here, and you’ll have a lot of fun exploring the dunes and local flora.
You will need your own four-wheel drive to access, however tours are available from Birdsville if you don’t have one. It is recommended to take a fly net, as the flies can get really bad during the daytime.
Charlotte Plains Station
The Great Artesian Basin is a natural hot water source, around 1.7 million square kilometres in size and underground. Charlotte Plains Station is a local farming property that’s created a unique hot Artesian Water Bathing experience, along with camping or cabin facilities. These are old-school bathtubs positioned around the creek edges, where visitors come to enjoy.
If you’re passing by nearby Cunnamulla, then it’s recommended to stop in for a night or two at Charlotte Plains Station, and have yourself a relaxing visit. The benefits of soaking on one of these baths are endless but start with rehydrating the skin or muscle relaxation. As well as relieving joint pain relief, nerve trouble, help with sleeping, stress relief, or assistance with sciatica.
Charleville
The town of Charleville is known for its dark skies and a brilliant way to experience the nightly stars. While this is something you can do all throughout Outback Queensland, they do have high-powered telescopes at the Cosmos Centre. Tours are run from the Cosmos Centre to view the Sun during the day and the stars and planets at night. Consequently, being a popular place to visit when touring Outback Queensland.
Apart from that, there is an Australian wild Bilby sanctuary where you can see these nocturnal animals during the day. Tours through a secret World War 11 American Military base and finally, the bridge remnants of the biggest truck explosion in Australia.
Magnetic Island
The city of Townsville is your gateway to the magnificent Magnetic Island. Any stay here, or even a day trip is a memorable one and can be done easily enough, with or without your own vehicle. Hire cars can be purchased from Townville or even easier, from Magnetic Island. It has a population of 2000 people and lots to discover and explore.
Apart from the many hiking trails around the island, there is also lots of history, water activities, and wild animals to find. World War 11 remnants have been left behind, that once protected the coastline from invaders. Koalas and allied rick wallabies can be found and appreciated throughout the bushland, you might even be lucky enough to find some babies. There are many different beaches for swimming, snorkelling, or the more extreme Jet Ski’s.
Winton
Let’s take you back millions of years when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, which happened near the small town of Winton. The Age of Dinosaurs exhibit or museum has been set up here and visited by hundreds of tourists each day.
The guides will teach and show you how the bones/fossils are found, how they dig them up and prepare for transport, and eventually, display them in museums like this. Some of the bones found are massive, and the whole process can take years to dig them up.
Not only that, but they have lifesize dinosaur displays and movie interpretations of what they think happened in the area. This is a huge learning experience for the whole family, and a big hit for the kids. You will be amazed and surprised at what you can find out.
This is a post by guest contributor Chris Fry
AUTHOR’S BIO: Chris Fry is the writer and photographer behind Aquarius Traveller, where she shares her journeys, provides valuable information and inspiration for your land and underwater travels. She lives in Australia, and has travelled to 36 countries and across Australia
