5 Unmissable Places to Visit in QLD

Now is the perfect time to get out see the great Australian countryside! With travel restrictions easing and no overseas travel, why not experience our own beautiful landscape?

To give you some inspiration for your next adventure, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite places in Queensland that you absolutely can’t miss out on! Why not look into visiting one yourself?

Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of nature’s most spectacular wonders and one of the best places to experience it is from sunny Cairns!

With campgrounds opening back up, it’s the perfect place to head up to for the winter and explore the coastal reef. From Cairns, you can take a day cruise out to view the Great Barrier Reef, hop on the ferry across the pristine water to visit the picturesque Fitzroy Island or book a tour to Green Island nearby.

Head out back of Cairns to Lake Morris and the Crystal Cascades for a walk and swim in the rainforest, or you can head up north to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for an aerial view above the canopy.

Daintree Rainforest

Sound familiar? The Daintree Rainforest was recently featured on David Attenborough’s Seven Worlds, One Planet series! If you’re in Cairns or heading through the area, you’ll want to make sure this stop is on your itinerary.

The Daintree is a World Heritage-listed rainforest and is the oldest tropical rainforest in the world. There are heaps of ways to see the remarkable beauty of the Daintree. You can book a guided walking tour and get in-depth knowledge of the local fauna and flora, adventure seekers can zip-line through the canopy, or you can book a leisurely cruise up the Daintree River to see how much natural wildlife you can see (watch out for the salties!).

If you have time, you should also visit the nearby Mossman Gorge and experience a one-of-a-kind guided Dreamtime Walk with a local Aboriginal guide.

The Whitsundays

If Cairns is a little lacking in the “tropical island” feel for you, look no further than the Whitsundays! The Whitsundays generally refers to Whitsunday Island, as well as its surrounding islands and the nearby coastline on the mainland.

You’ll recognize Whitsunday Island from its pristine beaches and clear blue water, but the whole island is an uninhabited national park - you can even go camping with the coral reef at your door! There are endless things to do from sailing on a yacht to chartering a flight over the coral reefs. Back on the mainland, the tropical town of Airlie Beach is filled with delicious fresh seafood bars, water adventures, and holiday parks. It’s a great spot for budget travellers and RVers alike!

The Whitsundays are the perfect place to experience luxurious Australian beaches and if you’re there around winter, you might even catch a glimpse of a whale!

Sunshine Coast

For a more relaxed coastal experience, don’t miss out on the Sunshine Coast, just north of Brisbane. There’s a ton of activities to do and see here that you can take at your own pace.

The Sunshine Coast is alive and bustling with art, sport and cultural experiences – there’s always something on. Up in Eumundi, you can’t miss out on their huge markets every Wednesday and Sunday! You’ll find a range of local artisans selling jewellery, souvenirs, clothing, and food all while being entertained by local performers! In August, the Horizon Festival is hosted in Caloundra to celebrate community arts and culture. And of course, you can’t miss out on the South Queensland Caravan, Camping, Fishing and 4x4 Expo in September at the Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Before you go, head on over to Australia Zoo with the kids where they can learn about Australia’s amazing wildlife and their conservation – you can even cuddle a cute koala!

Gold Coast

Just south of Brisbane is Australia’s biggest playground – the Gold Coast! There’s something for all ages and budgets here whether you’re a thrill-seeker or a chill-seeker.

Greet the morning at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary where colourful Lorikeets happily land on your head for the perfect photo. Take a long leisurely stroll along Surfer’s Paradise huge beach and browse the local markets and waterfront restaurants, or enjoy a meal up on the SkyPoint Observation Deck overlooking the city. For those looking to get their heart-rates up, grab yourself a pass to one of the many theme parks like DreamWorld and Wet ‘n’ Wild. For the surfers, head up to Burleigh Heads to catch some waves in a quieter area.

If you’re looking to get in touch with nature, just south west of the Gold Coast sits the beautiful Lamington National Park and Springbrook National Park that you can spend all day exploring!

So where are you going to head off to next? Tell us your absolutely unmissable places to visit in Queensland!