Things to do in Queensland, Australia

The best things to do in Queensland include snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, Whitsundays cruises, Sunshine Coast beaches and Fraser Island 4WD tours.

The Australian state of Queensland combines a massive range of experiences for visitors. There’s city life and urban energy in Brisbane, theme parks and surf on the Gold Coast, and adventure on Fraser Island.

Further north in Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef becomes the focal point. Snorkelling tours, Whitsunday Island cruises and tropical island stays become the major draws. But go beyond the traditional Queensland holiday sights, and the state has plenty of rainforest and outback to enjoy. Just be aware of the long driving times in Queensland.

Australia Travel Questions covers hundreds of Queensland attractions and activities. Below are some of the most interesting things to do in Queensland if you’re going to head beyond Brisbane.

Things to do on the Gold Coast

Walk the Purling Brook Falls Circuit in Springbrook National Park.
Take in Surfers Paradise from the Skypoint observation deck at Q1, Australia’s tallest building.
Taste wines at the Witches Falls Winery or browse the shops at Tamborine Mountain.
Take a Gold Coast hot air balloon tour to Beaudesert in the Scenic Rim.
Go swimming in the rock pools at Cedar Creek Falls or walk to Curtis Falls.
Taste wines and pet alpacas in Canungra.
Dare to jump from the cliffs at the Currumbin Rock Pools.
Brave the zipline course at Thunderbird Park.
Browse more than 400 stalls at the Carrara Markets.
Surf the Superbank in Coolangatta or dive on Wonder Reef.

Purling Brook Falls in Springbrook National Park, Gold Coast hinterland — The Purling Brook Falls Circuit gives splendid views of this tall Springbrook National Park waterfall. Photo courtesy of Set In Stone Media.

Things to do in Moreton Bay

Go camping on Bribie Island or take a Moreton Island camping trip.
Pay homage to the Bee Gees in Redcliffe, then head to the beach at Woody Point.
Take the Coochiemudlo Island Ferry for a day out on Coochiemudlo Island.
Take in 360 degree views from the Wild Horse Mountain Scenic Lookout.
Snorkel around the Moreton Island shipwrecks.

Moreton Island near Brisbane, Australia — Moreton Island in Queensland is home to 15 shipwrecks. This makes a Moreton Island shipwreck snorkelling tour a great day trip from Brisbane. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Things to do in the Somerset region and Darling Downs

Ogle Lake Wivenhoe from the Wivenhoe Lookout near Mount Glorious.
See South American animals at the Darling Downs Zoo.
Enjoy all manner of watersports at Lake Dyer in Laidley.
Stroll the beautifully-tended gardens of Toowoomba.
Learn about the rabbit-catching industry in Texas.

couple walking in Toowoomba — The Toowoomba weather is surprisingly mild. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Things to do on the Sunshine Coast

Step inside the Bird World Aviary at Maleny Botanic Gardens.
Walk to Kondalilla Falls in the Kondalilla National Park near Montville.
Swim in Gardners Falls on Obi Obi Creek in Maleny.
Hunt for bargains at the Yandina Markets in Yandina.
Decide which you like best out of Wappa Falls and Buderim Falls.
Swim or surf at Mudjimba Beach before flying out of Sunshine Coast Airport in Marcoola.
Mooch and graze at the enormous Eumundi Markets.
Go swimming with humpback whales in Mooloolaba.
Drive a 4WD from Noosa up Teewah Beach towards Double Island Point.
Learn to surf at Kings Beach or Dicky Beach, then drink craft beer at the Moffat Beach Brewing Co.
Go kayaking amongst the sandbars of the Pumicestone Passage from Golden Beach in Caloundra.
Tuck into fish and chips overlooking the ocean at the Mooloolaba Surf Club.
Take a submarine tour from Mooloolaba.
Go diving on the HMAS Brisbane.
Walk to Mount Ngungun and Mount Tibrogargan in the Glasshouse Mountains National Park.
Tackle the thrill rides at Aussie World in Palmview.
Go camping at Booloumba Creek in the Conondale National Park.
Lap up Noosa, the best beach town in Queensland.
Hit the swanky shops on Hastings Street, Noosa.
See koalas in the Noosa National Park.
Relax on a Noosa Everglades cruise.
See the multi-coloured sands of Rainbow Beach on a day tour from Noosa.

Booloumba Falls on Booloumba Creek in the Conondale National Park — The walk to Booloumba Falls on Booloumba Creek is one of the best reasons to visit Conondale National Park in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Things to do on the Fraser Coast

Go whale-watching in Hervey Bay – either on a cruise or from land at Urangan Pier.
Take a Fraser Island 4WD tour.
Look for dingoes at Rainbow Gorge on Fraser Island.
Get an education at the K’Gari World Heritage Discovery Centre.
Walk through the Fraser Island rainforest.
Swim in the astonishingly pure waters of Lake McKenzie.
Drive up 75 Mile Beach from the Eurong Beach Resort to see the Maheno Shipwreck.
Treat Eli Creek like nature’s own lazy river.

How big is Fraser Island? Well, it has more than 250km of beaches. — How big is Fraser Island? Well it has more than 250km of beaches. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Things to do in Bundaberg and the Burnett Region

Taste rum at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery in Bundaberg.
Watch turtles hatch on Mon Repos Beach.
Sleep underwater on the Great Barrier Reef at Lady Musgrave HQ.
Go fishing for Barramundi at Lake Monduran near Gin Gin.
Enjoy the heritage buildings of Gayndah.
Learn about pastoral life at the Queensland Heritage Park in Biloela.
Get a tour of the night sky at the Kingaroy Observatory in Kingaroy.

Things to do in the Capricorn Region

Visit the Capricorn Caves near Rockhampton.
Go barramundi fishing at Lake Awoonga near Tannum Sands.
Enjoy a romantic Reef island stay on Wilson Island near Gladstone.

pub in Rockhampton, central Queensland — The handsome old pubs are major attractions in Rockhampton, Central Queensland. But most things to do in Rockhampton are outside the city. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Things to do in the Whitsundays region

Swim safely in the Airlie Beach Lagoon in Airlie Beach.
Paddle around the islands on a Whitsundays kayaking tour.
Take a day tour to Whitehaven Beach with Ocean Safari.
Do a crocodile cruise on the Proserpine River in Proserpine.
Take a flight over Heart Reef from Hamilton Island.
Indulge in watersports at Catseye Beach on Hamilton Island.
Take a day tour to Daydream Island.
See kangaroos on the beach at Cape Hillsborough near Mackay.
Go camping and birdwatching at Cape Palmerston.
Get the ferry to Hamilton Island.
Go on a Whitsunday Islands sailing cruise.
See a platypus at Broken River or swim at Finch Hatton Gorge in Eungella National Park.

Heart Island aka Heart Reef on the Great Barrier Reef in the Whitsundays — Heart Island (or Heart Reef) on the Great Barrier Reef in the Whitsundays. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Things to do around Townsville

Hop on board the ferry to Magnetic Island.
Say hi to the Magnetic Island koalas.
Go snorkelling and sailing around Magnetic Island.
Dive the SS Yongala wreck from Ayr.
Go for a swim at Crystal Creek in the Paluma Range National Park.
Hike to the base of Wallaman Falls, Australia’s highest waterfall.
Explore gold rush history in Charters Towers.

view from Forts Walk on Magnetic Island, Queensland — View from the top of the Forts Walk on Magnetic Island. The walk is one of the best places to see koalas on Magnetic Island. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Things to do in Far North Queensland

Get an education on the region’s ecosystems at the Cairns Aquarium in Cairns.
Chill out at Kewarra Beach in Cairns.
Learn how plants have evolved at the Cairns Botanic Gardens.
Take the Fitzroy Island ferry to the Fitzroy Island Resort.
Take a selfie at the top of Windin Falls.
Climb Mount Bartle Frere – Queensland’s highest mountain.
Check out Barron Falls while walking in Barron Gorge National Park.
Take a Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise to Moore Reef or Hastings Reef.
Take a helicopter flight over the Great Barrier Reef to Vlasoff Cay.
Cuddle a koala in Kuranda.
Spot a platypus from the bridge in Yungaburra.
Explore the ancient volcano at the Mount Quincan Crater.
Embrace the weirdness of Paronella Park.
Go for a rainforest swim at the Babinda Boulders.
Go camping and walking on Dunk Island near Mission Beach.
Visit Nandroya Falls and Millaa Millaa Falls on a waterfall-heavy drive from Innisfail.
See the enormous Cathedral Fig in Danbulla National Park near Lake Eacham.
Dip your toes in the Innot Hot Springs near Ravenshoe.
Admire the absurd Golden Gumboot in Tully.
Feed crocodiles with a pole at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures near Port Douglas.
See native creatures at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas.
Take the Daintree River ferry into the wild rainforest.
Spot crocodiles on a Daintree River cruise.
Go zipwiring at Cape Tribulation.
Make a photo stop at the Alexandra Lookout on the drive from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation.
Take a Great Barrier Reef tour from Cape Tribulation.
Drive to the northernmost point in Australia.

Sunrise at the summit of Mount Bartle Frere, the highest mountain in Queensland. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland

Things to do in outback Queensland

Go hiking at Robinson Gorge in the Expedition National Park.
Tackle the six day Carnarvon Great Walk through Carnarvon National Park.
Take on the epic drive from Cairns to Darwin, stopping to learn all about Barramundi in Karumba.
Discover the history of Qantas at the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach.
Cruise through Cobbold Gorge.
Go for a soak at Talaroo Hot Springs.
Watch the auction at the southern hemisphere’s largest cattle saleyards in Roma.
Learn about Australia’s favourite song at the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton.
Cruise through Lawn Hill Gorge in Boodjamulla National Park near Camooweal.
See a giant Van Gogh painting in Emerald.
Investigate the strange Min Min Light in Boulia.
Visit the Burke and Wills Dig Tree from Thargomindah.

expedition national park gorges — The gorges of the Expedition National Park in Queensland are stunning, but hard to get to. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.