Things to do in Gladstone, Queensland

The best things to do in Gladstone, Queensland, include industrial tours, the Gladstone Maritime Museum and watching turtles on Curtis Island.

There are many delightful tourist towns along the Queensland coast – Coolangatta, Mooloolaba, Hervey Bay, Airlie Beach, Innisfail… But it’s fair to say that Gladstone is not one of them.

Fix up your hotel in advance for the best Gladstone accommodation deals.

Gladstone is one of the bigger cities along the Queensland coast, found on the drive from Hervey Bay to Rockhampton. Along with Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville, it feels like a proper city. Unfortunately, it’s also a proper industrial city. If you like aluminium refineries and power stations, you’re in luck. If not, then this is not tourist central.

Things to do in Gladstone, QLD: Gladstone Maritime Museum and HMAS Gladstone II

There are, however, a few things to do in Gladstone. These include the Gladstone Maritime Museum and HMAS Gladstone II.

The Gladstone Maritime Museum is opposite Auckland House in the East Shores Parklands, and opens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It’s an inessential place of navigation aids, shipwreck relics and model boats. But the Gladstone Maritime Museum also runs weekend tours of the HMAS Gladstone II. This is a decommissioned Australian Navy ship, now used as a museum ship.

If you’ve got a really strong appetite for cultural attractions in Gladstone, there’s also the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum. But please don’t get too excited about that…

Things to do in Gladstone, QLD: Industrial tours

Other things to do in Gladstone revolve around the city’s industries. Gladstone Region Tours runs half day trips around Gladstone, focusing on the big, dirty industries. These industrial tours visit Queensland’s largest power station, the QAL alumina refinery and Boyne Smelters on Boyne Island.

These tours aren’t going to appeal to everyone, but they are weirdly fascinating.

What to do in Gladstone: Curtis Island ferry

For something more visually appealing, take the ferry out to one of the Gladstone Harbour islands. Curtis Island and Facing Island provided the protection for Gladstone’s deep water port, and Curtis Ferry Services provides a regular connection.

Curtis Island has the most to offer, including camping at South End, hiking trails and one of the largest turtle breeding sites in Queensland. You can see mother flatback turtles coming to lay their eggs at Turtle Beach between October and January. The baby hatchlings emerge between January and March.

Curtis Ferry Services also runs Port of Gladstone cruises every Wednesday and Sunday, with commentary explaining how the port works.

Find your ideal Great Barrier Reef tours by location

Great Barrier Reef tours run from numerous destinations along the Queensland coast. Different tours cater to different tastes – some make sure they go to the best snorkelling spots, others build in beach time and some throw in extra such as underwater observatories and glass bottom boat tours.

Use the following links to start picking the best Great Barrier Reef tour options where you’re going on holiday.

The best Great Barrier Reef tours in… 1770 | Airlie Beach | Bundaberg | Cairns | Cape Tribulation | Mackay | Magnetic Island | Mission Beach | Palm Cove | Port Douglas | Townsville.

Things to do in Gladstone, QLD: Great Barrier Reef islands

Go further from shore, and you reach the Great Barrier Reef. There are a few Great Barrier Reef islands within reasonably easy reach of Gladstone. Heron Island is 72km away, and the Heron Islander boat transfer departs most days at 9.30am. It takes two hours, and realistically, you need to be staying at the Heron Island Resort to visit. Getting to Wilson Island is even trickier. This adults-only Great Barrier Reef Island hideaway is a half hour boat ride from Heron Island.

Wilson Island near Gladstone, Queensland — Wilson Island is small and exclusive. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland

If you want cheaper accommodation in a more visually appealling setting than Gladstone, there are a couple of good choices nearby. Try the Tannum Sands caravan park in beachside Tannum Sands or camping at Lake Awoonga.

The drive from Bundaberg to Gladstone takes around two hours and 10 minutes.

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