South East Queensland
Gold Coast, Brisbane, The Scenic Rim, Southern Queensland Country, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast
A tourism mecca, the famous Gold Coast boasts spectacular beaches, fabulous weather, theme parks, shopping and a buzzzing atmosphere. Explore the Gold Coast Hinterland National Parks heading up to the Tweed Range, Mt Tamborine and Springbrook for amazing views. The Scenic Rim includes World Heritage-listed Gondwana rainforests, sweeping valleys, mountain ranges, rural villages and farm stays. Southern Queensland Country offers a quintessential Australian rural experience with stunning natural landscapes like the Main Range National Park and Queen Mary Falls, alongside a thriving local food and wine scene, rich history, and warm country hospitality.
Just north is Brisbane, Queensland’s capital city and gateway to the Sunshine Coast – here you will discover trendy seaside townships with sapphire blue waters so ….. surf, fish, swim or relax. Take advantage of discounted direct flights into the Sunshine Coast Airport. The Sunshine Coast Hinterland is known for the Glasshouse Mountains, Eumundi Markets, Australia Zoo and huge variety of locally grown produce including pineapples (think The Big Pineapple) and ginger!
Don’t miss the spectacular rural views and historic townships of the South Burnett. Kingaroy is well known for its famous peanuts, however, you will also discover some of Queensland’s finest arts, crafts and farm produce here, so be sure to stop for a sample.
The Cooloola Region (just north of the Sunshine Coast) invites you into a 4WD adventure land of rainforest, lakes, coloured sands and shipwrecks. If you do not have a 4WD you can always hire one. Tin Can Bay in the Wide Bay–Burnett region has wild dolphins that visit the water’s edge. Visit the quaint town of Maryborough with historical charm and excellent modern facilities. Hervey Bay is famous for its seasonal whale watching. A waterfront esplanade links the city's marina with beaches offering calm waters for swimming. It is also a hub for tours to nearby K’gari (Fraser Island), which has beaches and features a rainforest habitat for dingoes and other wildlife. Head a little further up to the Coral Coast, visit Woodgate Beach and Bargara (famous for turtle hatching). This is the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef and the town of Bundaberg.
The Sensational South has many hidden secrets…
Central Queensland
Bundaberg, Gladstone, Emerald, The Gemfields, Rockhampton
Bundaberg (a four hour drive north of Brisbane), is the first point of entry to the Southern Great Barrier Reef. ‘Bundy’ is known for its beaches, wildlife, famous Rum Distillery and Brewed Ginger Beer. Visit Mon Repos Conservation Centre, home to the largest loggerhead turtle rookery in the Southern Hemisphere . Explore the reef with a trip to Lady Elliot or Lady Musgrave Islands. Located in a subtropical climate, the botanic gardens are well worth a visit, with over 10,000 plant species and a working sugar cane train. The Hinkler Hall of Aviation is also located within the gardens.
Central Queensland offers a mix of coastal experiences around towns like Gladstone and Rockhampton, with stunning beaches and islands, alongside outback adventures in the central highlands featuring cattle stations and wildlife spotting. The top stops along the way from Bundaberg to Rockhampton (with short detours) are Agnes Water, 1770, Tannum Sands (it has a microbrewery), Mount Archer, and Mount Morgan Mine. Gladstone and surrounds is a fishing and boating enthusiasts dream! The town itself has a number of quiet swimming locations around the town centre including a swimming inlet by the boat ramp and numerous stretches of sandy beaches beyond Rodds Harbour. Tondoon Botanic Gardens in Gladstone is a real hidden gem, well worth a visit.
Rockhampton (located on the Tropic of Capricorn) is situated on the Fitzroy River and is best known for its beef production (you will see several bull statues around the town) and, you can also catch trophy size barramundi right in town! A great base to visit tree top board walks, ancient caves, bushwalk, hike or visit Rockhampton Heritage Village and check out the antique car collection.
To the west you can head out to Emerald and Sapphire Gemfields. Emerald is a major tourism hub and the gateway to one of the largest sapphire fields in the southern hemisphere, attracting visitors interested in gem mining experiences and exploring the beautiful natural landscapes surrounding the town, which surprisingly include opportunities for swimming, waterskiing, and kayaking; the town further boasts the world's largest Van Gogh sunflower painting due to its past as a significant sunflower producer. The townships of Rubyvale, Sapphire, Anakie and Willows, the Sapphire Gemfields are only a 45 minute drive west of Emerald. This is where you can discover the thrill of fossicking, unearth your own souvenir, venture underground with a guided mine tour or spoil yourself at one of the local gem galleries.
From coast to country Central Queensland has it all….
The Tropical Top
Mackay, Whitsundays, Bowen, Townsville, Cairns & Tablelands, Gulf Savannah, Cape York
From Rockhampton to Mackay is just under a five-hour drive. The top spots to stop along the way are Capricorn Caves, Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary, and Sarina Sugar Shed. We also recommend a visit to Nob Creek Pottery, Stony Creek, and Sarina Big Cane Toad. Mackay, home to Australia’s longest stretch of subtropical rainforest, Mackay presents unlimited opportunities to explore untouched nature and a multitude of breathtaking and pristine national parks. Mackay also has a busy regional airport with direct flights to and from Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville, Hamilton Island, Cairns, Sunshine Coast and Melbourne, making it an ideal base to start your adventure. Heading north, Cape Hillsborough offers the perfect sunrise photo shoot with Kangaroos on the beach.
Airlie Beach (gateway to the Whitsunday Islands) has white sandy beaches, and a wide range of activities for holiday makers. Some 74 islands make up the “Whitsunday’s”, most are uninhabited, but the clear turquoise waters make is an irresistible destination. Island resorts offer budget or luxury accommodation, water sports, bushwalking, tennis, golf, sailing and fish feeding. In Airlie, explore the town, take dip in the Airlie Beach Lagoon (it's free), Hike to Honeyeater Lookout or just a short distance away, walk the white sand of famous Whitehaven Beach. Your options are endless…
Bowen, at the top of the Whitsunday’s was established in 1861 and the first settlement in north Queensland. The town and surrounding area is know best known for its magnificent beaches (no less than 8) and bays as well as its luscious mangoes. Visit the Big Mango and try one for yourself! The inner reef is just metres from many of Bowen's bays, so, grab your snorkel and you can be swimming above colourful coral and fish. Queens Beach, with its palm fringed shores and 5kms of scenic beauty is a popular spot for holiday makers.
Townsville is a vibrant region that encompasses beautiful coastal towns, rainforests, rugged outback and country terrain. The Strand esplanade, with its pier and water park, is popular. The Reef HQ Aquarium (currently closed for refurbishment) has marine life and coral from the Great Barrier Reef, plus a sea turtle hospital. Southeast of the city, the Billabong Sanctuary Wildlife Park is home to koalas, wombats and crocodiles. Offshore, Magnetic Island, (accessible from Townsville by a 20-minute fast ferry) is like no other island getaway. The contrasting landscape of this World Heritage listed island makes this destination truly distinctive.
North of Townsville you are heading into The Great Green Way and Tropical Coast. This lush section of coast takes in Cardwell, Tully, Mission Beach, Innisfail, Babinda as well as spectacular Orpheus, Hinchinbrook and Dunk Island. See cassowaries, butterflies, wild orchids and incredible untouched tropical beauty. The Great Green Way encompasses more than 25 tropical islands, more than 12 National Parks and is flanked by World Heritage listed Wet Tropics rainforest on one side and the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef on the other. The Great Green Way is your best chance to experience the real tropics – fly into Townsville or Cairns, hire a car and spend a week exploring this still virtually untouched region of the ‘Tropical Top’. Mission Beach, Paronella Park and Babinda Boulders are highlights on this drive.
Cairns, the capital of the tropical north, is a mix of modern architecture and old timber high set Queenslander homes. Cairns Esplanade features a world-class facility incorporating an outdoor Amphitheatre, large sandy swimming lagoon, grassy picnic areas, walking tracks, free public barbeques and children’s playground. Shops, restaurants, and the Cairns Great Barrier Reef Cruise departure terminal (gateway to your reef experience) are all along the waterfront. Cairns is the hub to the attractions of Far North Queensland. To its west, the lush Atherton Tablelands, has the Waterfall Circuit, Crater Lakes and fabulous fresh produce. The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway links Cairns to Kuranda on the Tablelands, enjoy the spectacular views of Australia's World Heritage Rainforest and Barron Falls. To the north a string of palm-fringed tropical beaches can be seen on the scenic drive up to Port Douglas, Mossman and Daintree.
The Gulf Savannah is some of the norths most remote country, stretching west to the Northern Territory border. Home to vast cattle stations, historic old gold towns, rugged gorges, caves and rock formations as well as the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria – you can experience some fantastic seasonal fishing. The Savannahlander and Gulflander offer unforgettable outback rail journeys through parts of this region. See the stars from the Chillagoe Observatory’s fully equipped dome and two telescopes – the Eco Lodge offers great accommodation. Fossick at Mt Surprise and enjoy a meal at the licensed café before heading to Undara Volcanic National Park to see the spectacular lava tubes. Cobbold Gorge (only 55 mins southwest of Forsayth) has fantastic scenery, tours and excellent facilities for travellers to the Savannah Country. Croydon, with its quaint streets, heritage buildings and friendly locals is one of the most delightful and serene outback towns on the Savannah Way. Normanton, home to the ‘Big Barra’ has a unique flavour that is enriched by its diverse population and colonial history that has seen both boom and bust years. Karumba offers a fantastic ‘outback-by-the-sea experience’, visit the Barramundi Discovery Centre to see, touch and feed barramundi. Enjoy a ‘coldie’ at the Sunset Tavern – you will never forget the sunsets at Karumba!
Cooktown (330km north of Cairns) is one of Queensland’s hidden gems – a beautiful, unspoilt coastal town, and one of Australia’s most historically significant townships. Today Cooktown has a population of 2,950, and the town is growing as word spreads of its beautiful location and the friendliness of its people. A visit to the Cooktown Museum is a must, located in a former convent built in the 19th century and now restored.
Cape York is Australia’s ultimate self-drive location – in fact, you’ll find more 4WDs here than anywhere else in the country. You’ll need one if you want to access most of the region as paved roads are a rarity, which adds to the sense of adventure. A 1200km strip of road connects Cairns with Cape York and will take about seven days to drive. Punsand Bay at the very tip offers an oasis for travellers that make the journey. Cape York is pure adventure!
The Tropical Top is all this and more….
Outback Queensland
Mt Isa, Charters Towers, Winton, Longreach, Barcaldine, Birdsville, Charleville, Cunnamulla, Corner Country
Sealed and well sign-posted roads will take you from Camooweal (on the QLD/NT Border) in the far northwest to Cunnamulla in the far southwest.
Along the way you can experience life on a working cattle and sheep station, camp under the stars, 4WD drive, fish, fossick for gemstones, soak in a spring or enjoy a cold beer in a pub with the locals. Outback rodeos, races and festivals are events that unite these communities so be sure to find out when and where!
Mt Isa has one of the most productive single mines in world history. Go on an underground mine tour, check out Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre, get a taste of the Outback with a Bush Tucker Experience or take in an amazing Outback sunset from one of the local lookouts. If you want to cool off, Lake Moondarra is perfect for boating, fishing or water-skiing.
Winton (5 hours southeast of Mt Isa) is known as the Dinosaur Capital of Australia, the birthplace of an iconic Australian airline (QANTAS), and Banjo Patterson’s Waltzing Matilda. You must visit the recently rebuilt Waltzing Matilda Centre and the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, home to the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils.
Longreach and Barcaldine are great central stop off points. In Longreach you can visit the Stockman’s Hall of Fame and the Thompson River for camping, fishing and wildlife spotting. Barcaldine has The Australian Workers Heritage Centre offering an insight into the region’s history, the Tree of Knowledge and amazing murals in the town centre.
Charleville is the largest town in Queensland’s southwest, making it a hub for tourists and locals. The Cosmos Centre is on the top of everyone’s list to do some star gazing, the World War II Secret Base is also amazing (but we can’t tell you about that, it’s a secret) and the Charleville Bilby Experience because Bilby’s are just adorable. The Save the Bilby Fund has been working hard on the breeding facility here in Charleville and they have produced over 50 babies in the last couple of years. Your visit will help this program!
Cunnamulla on the banks of the Warrego River is only 140kms north of the New South Wales Border. It is known as the hot spring’s capital of Australia, so think ‘relaxation’. You can take a selfie with the Cunnamulla Fella or wander the River Walk, fish, birdwatch and just kick back.
Birdsville (only 14kms from the SA Border) is situated on the eastern edge of the Simpson Desert in the heart of wild isolated country. The town and surrounds have many historical and important landmarks, desert wonders including the extremely rare Waddi tree and red sand dunes as high as 30 metres. There are also significant annual events including the Birdsville Races where the town swells from around 110 to more than 7,000. The famous Birdsville Hotel is where the action all happens, literally and oasis in the desert if has cold beer, great food and comfortable accommodation.
The Corner Country (of Outback NSW) is the area north of Broken Hill that is bound by the state borders of New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. The touring route connects about 1100 kilometres of sealed and unsealed roads in an easy and safe to navigate circular route from Broken Hill to Packsaddle, Milparinka, Tibooburra and Cameron Corner. For more information on this region visit our Corner Country feature in New South Wales. Be sure to check road conditions!
Outback hospitality is an attraction in itself….
