Must-see places to visit in Queensland.
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsundays, Queensland’s pristine 74 islands. It is a vibrant cosmopolitan town filled with palm-fringed beaches, waterfront parks and alfresco dining restaurants.
Airlie Beach is the epitome of a beach town; you’ll instantly feel the carefree and relaxed attitude emanating from every space. You’ll find it in the Airlie Beach Lagoon, a manmade saltwater swimming area surrounded by sand and grassy knolls. You’ll find it in the beachside parks where afternoon barbeques proliferate and continue into the evening hours. You’ll find it in the alfresco restaurants where fresh seafood overflows from every dish. But once the sun sets on Airlie Beach, another ambience embraces the town. You’ll find thriving energy exuding from the bars and nightclubs where backpackers and travellers party together well into the night. This energy is both contagious and irresistible, often encouraging travellers to stay longer than expected.
Brisbane
Where else but Queensland will you find a city like Brisbane - warm and welcoming, colourful and cosmopolitan, has perfect weather and is abuzz with arts, entertainment, sporting and cultural events.
Queensland’s sub-tropical capital, Brisbane is modern, fresh and sophisticated and thrives on its outdoor lifestyle. Enjoy a year-round calendar of events, alfresco dining, funky shopping precincts and a range of cultural and recreational experiences worthy of Australia’s fastest-growing capital. Explore the scenic Brisbane River which meanders through this vibrant city, or venture further and visit the surrounding highlights.
If shopping is a holiday priority, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Brisbane – from the international Tiffany and Co. to local legends Easton Pearson, from farmer’s markets to factory outlets. The Queen Street Mall offers hundreds of speciality stores, while Fortitude Valley, Riverside and South Bank host popular weekend markets.
Brisbane’s award-winning dining scene sets the pace for foodies everywhere, with trendy Modern Australian, elegant silver service, exotic ethnic, cool café society and plenty of alfresco options. When the sun goes down, Brisbane hits overdrive with funky bars and clubs, the casino and river cruising to enjoy the night away.
From big-name Broadway shows to local productions and contemporary live arts to sporting events, there’s always something happening in Brisbane. Riverfestival, Brisbane’s yearly cultural extravaganza is a highlight, with spectacular fireworks, endless entertainment and a party for all!
Beyond Brisbane is an exceptional array of regional treasures. The aquamarine waters of Moreton Bay are a sanctuary for abundant marine life including whales (June to November) and dolphins. Travel west to find forests and mountains, country charm and romantic retreats. The Gold and Sunshine Coasts’ sandy beaches and glorious green hinterlands are right on Brisbane’s doorstep.
Cairns
Cairns is the gateway to Tropical North Queensland. This beautiful tropical city is teeming with, restaurants, nightlife and shopping. Most day tours depart from Cairns making it an ideal base to explore the best that Tropical North Queensland has to offer. Cairns makes a great base for exploration; ballooning, white water rafting, reef cruises, diving and rainforest tours are just a few of the wide range of activities accessible when staying in Cairns.
Cobbold Gorge
Outback Queensland is home to a breathtaking natural wonder. A hidden oasis tucked away within the rugged sandstone formations of North Queensland. Welcome to Cobbold Gorge, in the heart of the Gulf Savannah region. A pioneering place. An ancient landscape which invites you to breathe in the bush and breathe out your worries.
Cobbold Gorge provides tours and accommodation, immersing you in the natural wonder of a truly unique Outback Queensland holiday destination. Cruise the gorge and walk atop its walls on a guided tour, exploring the ancient geological landforms and our savannah wonderland.
Discover the wildlife, go bushwalking, bird watching, canoeing and even mountain biking.
Stay awhile in Cobbold Village, which provides all the modern comforts including Ensuite accommodation, Ensuite drive-through and powered van sites, camping and self-contained sites, a licensed bistro and bar, laundry facilities, infinity swimming pool and so much more.
Hervey Bay
Bordered by 40 kilometres of pristine beaches, Hervey Bay is one of Queensland's best natural holiday destinations offering convenient access to World Heritage-listed K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) - the largest sand island in the world, and Lady Elliot Island - the first coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef.
Hervey Bay is Australia's whale watch capital. Between mid-July and early-November whales can be sighted breaching and playfully chasing each other in the warm waters off-shore. Visitors can choose an aerial tour or take one of the many day-long or half-day whale watch cruises, which depart from Hervey Bay Marina daily during the season. From Hervey Bay escorted tours to K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), daily or self-drive packages are available with a flight or barge crossing option.
Hervey Bay is also a major access point for Lady Elliot Island, the first of the Islands of The Great Barrier Reef, with flights running several times daily. In perfect, stinger-free water enjoy kayaking, yachting, diving, water and jet skiing, windsurfing and snorkelling. Boating and fishing enthusiasts enjoy estuary, beach, jetty, reef and game fishing. Join a tour or charter your own vessel, yacht or houseboat. Enjoy a bicycle ride along the picturesque foreshore, visit places such as the Orchid House within the beautiful Botanical Gardens, the Marina area or one of the many restaurants and cafes situated along the Esplanade.
Longreach
Home of the Stockman's Hall of Fame, Longreach might have a population of only 4000. But toss in 20,000 head of beef cattle, 750,000 sheep and the tens of thousands of visitors who flock into the town to pay homage to both the giants and the villains of the bush, and you get some idea of the economic importance of this Thomson River town to the western district and the state.
Local dignitaries never let you forget that while the founding directors of Queensland and Northern Territory Air Services might have held their first board meeting in the rival town of Winton, they very quickly moved the operation to Longreach - all of which, and much more, is documented and recorded in the superbly presented Qantas Founders Outback Museum.
An imaginative and colourful tribute is paid to the hardy men, women and assorted ratbags who opened up the Australian bush in the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, while the Powerhouse Museum reflects on the social history of the bush.
You can absorb more of the bush ambience on a Billabong Cruise of the Thomson River which dinkum bushies reckon is the dividing line between "town and Outback".
Mission Beach
Running from Cairns to Cardwell, the Cassowary Coast is one of the undiscovered gems of Queensland, a quiet stretch of coastline bordered by the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef with Mission Beach at its heart. Despite its popularity, the town has retained a dreamy, laid-back vibe and the welcoming locals are never outnumbered by tourists.
The area around Mission Beach is home to one of Australia's highest concentrations of the endangered cassowary. These large flightless birds can be spotted walking through fields and gardens and even occasionally swimming across rivers.
From October to June, dangerous marine stingers (including box jellyfish) are found in the ocean off Mission Beach, during this time, swim only within netted areas.
Mount Surprise & Undara
The lava tubes at Undara are claimed to be the largest in the world. Formed some 190,000 years ago, they resulted from a volcanic lava flow which followed a riverbed. The water rapidly cooled the outer layer of molten rock, while the inner layer remained molten and flowed away, leaving the characteristic tube formations we see today. There are two main branches to the lava tubes, one of which runs for 16km and the other for some further distance. "Undara" is an Aboriginal language word for "a long way".
The lava tubes can only be visited as part of a guided tour, which highlights the local flora and fauna and allows access into the tubes themselves. It is essential to book your tour of the lava tubes before making your way to Undara as the tours are popular.
Near the lava tubes is a unique resort, where guests are accommodated in old railway carriages scattered through the bushland setting.
Noosa
Discover the beautiful and diverse natural wonders of this stunning region. With over 100 kilometres of sparkling beaches, picturesque national parks and rolling hinterland, the Sunshine Coast offers something for everyone.
From cosmopolitan Noosa to the quiet, relaxing surrounds of Coolum, from the family-friendly beaches of Caloundra to cosy rainforest hideaways in the hinterland, no matter what holiday experience you desire, you can find your own space on the Sunshine Coast.
Tantalise your taste buds with an excellent array of dining experiences. Award-winning restaurants, beachside dining and hinterland cooking schools showcase the region’s fresh locally grown produce and seafood.
From designer-label clothing to boutique shopping, and art galleries to quirky handmade arts and crafts, you’ll find it all on the Sunshine Coast.
Winton
Aussie bushies reckon you haven’t experienced the true blue Outback until you have crossed the Thomson River on the Landsborough Highway run from Longreach to Winton.
And Winton, about 172km west of Longreach at the headwaters of the Diamantina River, is not only dinkum Outback but was guaranteed a leading role in Aussie folklore in 1895 when A.B. (Banjo) Paterson wrote Australia’s national song, Waltzing Matilda, while marooned by floodwaters on nearby Dagworth Station.
Paterson wrote the timeless ballad to a traditional Scottish marching song "Bonnie Wood of Craigielea", played for him on the autoharp by Christina Macpherson, daughter of his Dagworth Station hosts.
Waltzing Matilda was first sung in public in Winton’s North Gregory Hotel on April 6, 1895. The Combo Waterhole (the billabong in Banjo's ballad) is a fair drive away but reeks of history, and you can hitch a ride to the gemstone fields on fossicking tours.
Wander down to the Swagman statue near the swimming pool in town, and pay a visit to the pioneer and the bottle museums.
A two-hour drive or tourist coach will take you to the extraordinary Lark Quarry Environmental Park - the only site in the world to preserve the footprints of a dinosaur stampede.
Don't Miss... Queensland
Blackall
Blackall is located on the Matilda Highway and is named after Sir Samuel Blackall, the second Governor of Queensland. The town was discovered in 1846 by explorer Major Thomas Mitchell. Rest, relax and revive at Blackall's Aquatic Centre and home to the artesian spa and swimming pool. Famous for many reasons, blade shearer Jack Howe put Blackall on the map in 1892 at ‘Alice Downs' when he set a world record by shearing 321 sheep in seven hours and 40 minutes. It took another 58 years before anyone could match this feat, which was by machine shears.
Blackall was also the first town to start drilling an artesian bore back in 1885. It is also the home of the Black Stump which was used for surveying purposes and permanently marks the original Astro Station established in 1887. Anything west of this point is said to be ‘beyond the black stump'.
Dalby
In the heart of the black soil plains of the northern Darling Downs of Queensland, 84km north-west of Toowoomba, Dalby is a thriving, picturesque town at the crossing of the Warrego, Bunya and Moonie Highways.
The spot where explorer Henry Dennis camped in 1841 is marked by an obelisk in Edward Street and also where Dalby farewelled Ludwig Leichhardt on his 1844-45 expedition from the Downs to Port Essington.
The Pioneer Park Museum pays tribute to those who opened up the Downs while the Cactoblastis Memorial Cairn in the Myall Creek picnic area pays homage to the imported Argentinian caterpillar, which virtually ate the cursed prickly pear into oblivion in the late 1920s. It is one of the world's most successful attempts at biological pest control.
Dalby is an attractive, well-planned rural centre of 10,000 people in the centre of what has long been regarded as Australia’s richest grain and cotton growing area.
Karumba
The Gulf Savannah is an interesting region to visit all year, however during the monsoon season, transportation methods must be carefully considered, as some parts of the Gulf Savannah region suffer from a lack of road infrastructure.
Karumba is situated at the mouth of the Norman River and is the centre of the Gulf's prawning industry. The surrounding environment is flat wetlands which extend inland for approximately 30 kilometres. Wetlands are a series of meandering saltwater tidal estuaries, habitats for saltwater crocodiles and a vast array of bird species, such as pelicans, Cyrus cranes, brolgas and black swans. Distance from Brisbane (State Capital) via Cairns is 2,501 kilometres and via Mount Isa is 2,382 kilometres.
Mount Isa
A big, bustling mining town in Queensland's rough-and-ready far north-west, Mount Isa boasts one of the largest silver, lead and copper mines in the world. While its location places it squarely in the Queensland Outback, the Isa is a large, modern city which provides all the creature comforts required by long-distance travellers for forays into the bush.
There's just so much Outback adventuring to do using Mount Isa as your base: chartering a barramundi fishing flight to the remote Mornington Island, or Sweers Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, visiting abandoned gold mine and Aboriginal cave painting sites about 100km to the north of town, bull catching and water skiing at Gunpowder Resort about 140km to the north-west.
In between excursions, you can fill in your time round town by taking in the likes of the National Tent Museum, the Frank Ashton Rotary Underground Museum, the city sights from the lookout opposite the Tourist Information Centre or simply by relaxing in Lake Moondarra's recreation park.
Rockhampton
Rockhampton, the Beef Capital of Australia is located on the Tropic of Capricorn and is the gateway to the Coast and the Outback.
Founded in 1853, Rockhampton's historical architecture's majesty has captured visitors' hearts for decades. Many fine public and private buildings, including the Customs House, old Post Office, Cathedrals, banks, business houses and homes, are constant reminders of the city's exciting background. The listing of Quay Street facing the river as a historic streetscape that is unique in Australia.
Rising out of Rockhampton's northeastern suburbs, Mt Archer National Park provides magnificent views of the city and showcases a spectacular range of native Australian flora and fauna. Frazer Park at the summit of Mt Archer is approximately 604 meters above sea level.
Six bull statues representing the main breeds of the area are situated throughout Rockhampton in recognition of Rockhampton's Beef Capital of Australia title. Gracemere Saleyards, on the outskirts of Rockhampton, handle the largest throughput of export beef cattle in Queensland and is the largest stud-selling venue in the Southern Hemisphere.
Roma
Steeped in colourful history, Roma, 261km west of Dalby, claims many firsts: the first gazetted settlement after Queensland separated from NSW in 1859; the state's first wine-making venture in 1863; the first natural gas strike in Australia in 1900.
Although sheep and cattle are major resources of this area, natural gas is still piped 480km to Brisbane. A brief rush for oil was short-lived, and the area is now dotted with abandoned rigs. The Big Rig at the entrance to the town stands as a memorial to the heady days of oil mania.
They are still making wine for visitor tasting pleasure at the Romavilla Winery. Grapes were first planted in the Roma district around 1857, and since the 1950s, the winery has built a reputation for fortified and sweet white wines.
Bushranger Harry Redford (Captain Starlight) was tried here and cleared of cattle rustling. Redford later masterminded the theft of 1000 heads which were driven to South Australian sale yards - an epic drive that partly-inspired Thomas Alexander Browne"s (Rolf Boldrewood) novel, Robbery Under Arms, which was subsequently made into two feature films.
Roma sits at the junction of the Warrego and Carnarvon highways - strike south on the Carnarvon Highway and you are on your way to St George while the road north passes through Injune on the way to the spectacular Carnarvon Gorge. The streets of Roma are lined with Queensland bottle trees, fat-trunked trees which look like (but are not related to) the boab trees of WA and NT.
Townsville
Townsville, North Queensland combines sun with sand and city for a unique tropical holiday experience that you won’t forget. The Townsville region encompasses the rugged beauty of the bush, the natural awe of the rainforest, and the paradisiacal allure of the tropical islands scattered throughout the Great Barrier Reef, with winter days warm enough for you to explore these at any time of the year.
Magnetic Island is a smooth 20-minute ferry trip from Townsville’s city, with a thoughtful mix of high-end development and raw beauty. Alongside the world-class harbour are impressive resorts, marina and award-winning restaurants for a little taste of luxury. Nearby, sea kayaking, scuba diving, jet skiing and other water adventures await. For nature lovers, adventure hikes and bush trails tour the undeveloped heart of the island, and many secluded beaches beckon discovery, and the local wildlife is there for the meeting. Go to the koala village to pet a cuddly icon, listen to the native anthem of the resident birds and keep your eyes open for a wallaby.
Yeppoon
Yeppoon is the gateway to the Capricorn Coast. The township has retained its village-style appeal yet offers a variety of wonderful restaurants, accommodation, shops and galleries. A charming esplanade with grassy knoll, palms and covered picnic and play areas form a backdrop to a vista of sea, sky and islands.
Annual events, including the Pineapple Festival held in September, also enliven the town with gala activities, contests and displays. Local markets offer bargains a plenty. The Great Barrier Reef and the Keppel Bay Islands protect the whole coastline. The Capricorn Coast has some of Australia's most picturesque and safe swimming beaches.