Things to Do in Queensland

Things to Do in Queensland

Home to the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest and beaches that turn up in everyone’s camera roll, Queensland has more things to do than you’ll fit into one trip. Locals call it the sunshine state, and the sunshine is really just the start. Whether you’re chasing warmth from down south or showing a visitor your own backyard, there are Queensland attractions worth building a whole trip around: Brisbane’s river and hinterland, the Gold Coast’s beaches and theme parks, the Whitsundays’ postcard islands and Cairns’ gateway to the reef.

Queensland tourism moves at its own pace too. Dry season (roughly May to October) brings clear skies and calmer reef conditions, while wet season turns the Daintree lush and green if you don’t mind a downpour. Either way, there’s a reason Queensland’s tourism and events calendar never really stops: something is always in bloom, in season, or worth the trip.

Our range of Queensland activities is built for however you like to spend a day. Partners, kids, whole families or a mate you owe a favour to, you’ll find Luxury Getaways and fine dining right alongside skydives and reef tours. And because these are experiences rather than things, they make a genuinely good gift. A birthday, an anniversary, Christmas, or just because: give someone a Queensland experience and they’ll remember the day, not just the parcel.

Places to Visit in Queensland

Queensland is big. Bigger than most countries, actually. Here’s where to start when you’re mapping out places to visit in Queensland.

Brisbane

Queensland’s capital has a reputation for sunny days and an easy pace, and it’s earned. Places to visit in Brisbane, Queensland range from a lazy river cruise to getting properly sideways in a WRX Rally Drive, 4 Laps plus 1 Hot Lap. If the pace of the week has caught up with you, book a Massage or Day Spa Package instead.

Gold Coast

No trip to Queensland is complete without the Gold Coast. Things to do on the Gold Coast, Queensland range from SkyPoint climbs to theme park days, and most of the well-known Gold Coast attractions sit within a short drive of each other. Watch the sun come up over the coastline with a Gold Coast Hot Air Balloon Flight with Breakfast and Photos, a five star buffet included at the Sheraton Grand Mirage, or spend the day on rides with a Theme Park Pass. The best time to visit the Gold Coast, Queensland really is whenever suits you: winter still sits in the low 20s, and summer just means more beach.

Sunshine Coast

Mooloolaba, Noosa and everywhere in between make up the Sunshine Coast, and things to do here lean toward the water and the hinterland in equal measure. Take the plunge with a 14,000ft Tandem Skydive with Beach Landing in Caloundra, floating back over the coastline before touching down on the sand. Or slow right down with a Day Trip into the hinterland instead. Anyone searching for things to do in Mooloolaba, Queensland will find plenty right along this stretch of coast.

Noosa

Noosa gets searched more than almost anywhere else in the state, and the National Park, the Main Beach and the river all explain why. Noosa suits a slower kind of day: a walk through the park, then a Noosa River Sunset Cruise with Welcome Drink as the light goes gold.

Cairns, Port Douglas and the Great Barrier Reef

This is where two World Heritage sites sit side by side: the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, stretching up toward Cape Tribulation. Cairns is the easiest base for reef trips, and the best time to visit Cairns, Queensland tends to be the drier months between June and October, when the water is calmer for snorkelling. Further north in Port Douglas, the Outer Barrier Reef Platform, Snorkel and Lunch cruise gets you out to Agincourt Reef for a full day among the coral.

The Whitsundays

Seventy four islands, one very famous beach, and water that looks retouched even in real life. The Whitsundays are built around Whitehaven Beach, and the Whitsunday and Whitehaven Beach Cruise is a half day out on the water that ends with a wander along seven kilometres of the whitest sand in the country. If you’re planning around Hamilton Island, the best time to visit tends to sit outside wet season, roughly May through October, when the passage is calmer.

K’gari (Fraser Island) and Beyond

Further south, K’gari rounds out the list with sand dunes, freshwater lakes and a coastline unlike anywhere else. And if you’re chasing quieter corners of the sunshine state, from the Southern Downs to the Capricorn Coast, Regional Queensland tourism is worth the detour too, with day trips and getaways scattered right across the countryside.

Queensland Getaways Worth Gifting

Some Queensland experiences are best given as a whole occasion rather than a single afternoon. A 2 Night Luxury Treehouse Getaway with Bubbly and Breakfast tucked into the Gold Coast Hinterland is exactly that kind of gift: two nights switched off, rainforest views, and someone else handling breakfast. Browse the full range of Queensland Getaways or Luxury Retreats if you’re after something similarly slow.

Kids Activities in Queensland

If you’re filling school holidays or just a weekend, Queensland’s kid-friendly range covers everything from height, to water, to horsepower. A few of our customers’ favourites:

– Tamborine Mountain High Ropes & Flying Fox Treetop Adventure: 100 challenges and 12 ziplines through the Gold Coast Hinterland rainforest, with courses easy enough for younger kids and tough enough for the rest of the family.

– Cairns Jet Boat Ride – 35 Minutes: 35 minutes of spins, slides and splashes through Trinity Inlet, departing Cairns’ Marlin Marina. Kids need to be at least 1.1m tall, and everyone gets wet.

– 5 Day Unlimited Park Pass to 4 Theme Parks, Gold Coast: five days across Movie World, Sea World, Wet’n’Wild and more, for whenever the family needs a proper theme park week.

There are plenty more Queensland attractions and experiences on offer at RedBalloon. Don’t know which one to pick? A Gift Voucher can be used toward any experience or accommodation within Queensland, so the choosing part can happen later.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Queensland? It depends on who’s asking, but the shortlist usually includes snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, sailing out to Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, a hot air balloon flight over the Gold Coast hinterland, and a proper day exploring Brisbane’s river and laneways. Queensland’s range covers water, height, food and everything in between, so start with whichever pulls you in first.

What are the top attractions in Queensland? The Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach top most lists, alongside the Daintree Rainforest, K’gari’s dunes and lakes, and the Gold Coast’s theme parks. Brisbane’s South Bank and Noosa National Park round things out for anyone staying closer to the cities.

What are the best day trips in Queensland? A Moreton Bay Sailing Trip with an island stop and lunch, departing Cleveland, is an easy one from Brisbane. From Cairns or Port Douglas, a reef cruise is the obvious choice, and from the Gold Coast, the hinterland makes for a cooler change of pace. Browse the full Day Trips and Tours range for more.

When is the best time to visit Queensland? Dry season, roughly May to October, brings the clearest skies and calmest water for reef trips and island cruises. Wet season, from November to April, is warmer and wetter, and it’s when the Daintree and hinterland are at their greenest. Queensland tourism runs year round either way, so the better question is usually what you want to do, not when.

What are the best beaches to visit in Queensland? Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays is the one everyone’s seen a photo of, and it earns the reputation. Closer to the cities, Surfers Paradise and Noosa’s Main Beach both deliver, while Mooloolaba keeps things a little quieter.

What are the best outdoor activities in Queensland? Snorkelling the reef, flying fox courses through the Gold Coast Hinterland, and walking trails through the Daintree or K’gari all sit near the top. Add a hot air balloon flight for a different kind of outdoor morning altogether.

What are the best things to do in Queensland with kids? Theme park passes on the Gold Coast, a family-friendly jet boat ride in Cairns, and high ropes courses in the Gold Coast Hinterland all cover different ages and energy levels. Most of Queensland’s kid-friendly range comes with family rates built in.

What are the best things to do in Queensland for couples? A hot air balloon flight at sunrise, a private treehouse in the Gold Coast Hinterland, or a half day sailing out to Whitehaven Beach all make the shortlist. Browse Romantic Getaways in Queensland for more.

What are the best places to visit in Queensland for nature? The Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation cover the tropical end of things, K’gari brings dunes and freshwater lakes, and the Great Barrier Reef covers everything below the surface. All three are best explored slowly.

Exploring Beyond Queensland

If the Queensland leg of your trip is done and you’re weighing up where to next, Victoria is worth a look. Swap reef for coastline along the Great Ocean Road, trade tropical for cool climate in the Yarra Valley, or spend a few days around Melbourne instead. It’s a different kind of Australian trip, and just as good a reason to gift an experience.