places to visit east coast queensland

QUEENSLAND EAST COAST ITINERARY GUIDE

Queensland is the country’s second biggest state by land area (after Western Australia) stretching for over 2,500 km from north to south and 2,000 from west to east. We have already talked about Tropical North Queensland in another post , thus in this article we will focus on the main destinations along Queensland’s East Coast , roughly between the cities of Mackay in the centre and Gold Coast in the south. Here’s our Queensland East Coast itinerary guide.

MUST SEE ALONG QUEENSLAND EAST COAST

We did a two-week-long road trip to cover the 1,100 km separating the forementioned cities. In 15 days you should have enough time to take it easy, stop at some places for two or three nights, without having to drive more than 200 km towards the next destination. If you are coming from abroad to this part of Australia , both Brisbane and Gold Coast airports have international flights daily to fly you straight to Queensland .

If you are coming from Tropical North Queensland and you have been reading our article and following our itinerary , you’ll likely be driving through the town of Mackay, some 150km south to the Whitsundays . And if you do stop here overnight, you could head inland and check out Eungella National Park , home to the longest continual stretch of sub-tropical rainforest in Australia, or even spend the night in a camping site there, provided you have your own RV.

ROCKHAMPTON

I promised earlier that you wouldn’t have had to drive crazy amount of kilometres daily, well I wasn’t totally sincere, this is Australia after all! The section between Queensland East Coast top tourist destinations of The Whitsundays and Fraser Island is almost 900 km long ! Don’t worry, you don’t have to drive that distance in one day, this is exactly what this guide is made for, to suggest places where to stop along the way.

It’s a good idea to stop around Rockhampton , 336 km from Mackay. You will have driven for hours along a boring road, also known as the Fatigue Zone , where your best entertainments are warning signs like “Rest or R.I.P.” and “Survive this drive” , so yeah you definitely need a break when finally getting to Rocky .

TIP: Head to the Botanic Gardens which include a free entry wildlife area where you can spot typical Australia flora&fauna, like kangaroos, crocodiles, koalas, emus… The visitors info point located at Tropic of Capricorn line is worth a visit for more suggestions. EXTRA TIP: If for some reason you didn’t make it to Whitsundays or you want to have another island experience, The Keppels are your go to destination. Just a short 30-minute ferry ride away, you can choose between Great Keppel and North Keppel , where you can spend a day at the beach, walking around the island, and camping overnight too.

1770 & AGNES WATER

Carrying on for 200 km southwards, another “Break the drive, stay alive” worthy spot are the coastal towns of 1770 and Agnes Water , often mentioned in pairs for their similarity and proximity. The correct way of writing the former would be Seventeen Seventy , but it is peculiar and funny enough to actually name a place with a number, or a date in this case. The year 1770 was when Captain Cook made landfall for the first time in today’s Queensland, and the bay where he landed was therefore named after the date. Today, Seventeen Seventy has mainly a tourist purpose, with less than 100 residents living all year long, but a few camping and accommodating facilities . Whereas locals instead live in nearby village of Agnes Water , also RV-friendly with numerous secluded bays and beaches. TIP: head to Bustard Bay Lookout for great views on the Coral Sea on one side and the bay on the other, exactly where Captain’s Cook Endeavour ship anchored 240 years ago. SURFING TIP: want to learn how to surf? Agnes Water is the place to do it, with some of the cheapest surfing schools in the country, and the ideal waves for beginners like us!

The busy industrial and farming area of Bundaberg will welcome you back to civilization, or have you saying goodbye to tranquility, depending how you see it. You made it through the long Fatigue Zone and are almost in gorgeous Sunshine Coast. Bundy is home to acres of sugar cane fields , leading Australia in sugar export and known countrywide for Bundaberg Rhum. As in the Atherton Tablelands in Tropical North Queensland , several varieties of fruit are grown here and foreign backpackers contribute massively to the industry, working seasonally in between their travels. Not much of a tourist hotspot, however very close to our next stop.

HERVEY BAY & RAINBOW BEACH

100 km from Bundaberg – yes 100 km is very close in Australia, literally just behind the corner – Hervey Bay is the first hub for tours to Fraser Island , which we will talk about later. Humpback whale watching is very popular here as well, the migration season goes from July to November. On the opposite end Rainbow Beach is the other gateaway to Fraser Island. Similarly to Hervey Bay, it is worth a visit for its own beauty, the name of the town itself includes the word “beach” for a valid reason. We like to mention Tin Can Bay as well, not far to Rainbow Beach, where you have the chance to see river-estuarine dolphins every morning . If this wasn’t enough reasons to visit, gorgeous State Forests and National Parks surround the immediate inland side of these lovely bays, making it worth a drive even if you are not heading to Fraser Island. TIP: Rainbow Beach is popular for bbq’s and picnic right on the beach, gear up and bring supplies to enjoy a full day on this large strand.

FRASER ISLAND

One of the most famous tourist destinations in Queensland – you probably have already heard of this huge wild island – Fraser Island is the biggest sand island in the world . Rainforests, mangroves, swamps and sand dunes constitute the surface. Despite the absence of roads, driving is actually one of the most exciting experiences to try on Fraser Island , with your own 4WD or joining one of the many daily tours from Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach. Camping is also an option in order to spend one or more nights in this unique location. Perhaps the only downside is that it has become too mainstream and sometimes overcrowded. See Moreton Island for alternatives.

NOOSA – SUNSHINE COAST

The name couldn’t be more welcoming and appropriate, Sunshine Coast is a true paradise . The town of Noosa Heads is the perfect holiday destination, having something for everybody: accommodation along golden beaches, nightlife, hikes, National Parks, festivals, outdoor activities, etc… To escape the crowds just head south of Noosa to find your own quiet place such as around Mooloolaba and Caloundra towns. TIP: don’t miss Noosa National Park to witness amazing coastal views along the seaside and an incredible wildlife sanctuary inland, ideal for hikes and push bike rides.

If you have been travelling on the road all the way from Cairns to Brisbane, getting to Queensland’s capital gives you a true feeling of arrival. A modern vibrant city with great infrastructure, shops, parks, walks, and an overall exciting vibe. It’s easy to spend days in Brissie , visiting some museums, strolling along the river walks and South Bank swimming pools , or just sightseeing popular landmarks like Story Bridge and the City Botanic Gardens , all while still enjoying the warm weather all year long .

MORETON ISLAND

Moreton Island , at day tripping distance from Brisbane, is your alternative if you skipped or missed Fraser Island. Very similar in morphology, it’s the third sand island in the world per dimensions, and offers pretty much the same outdoor opportunities as Fraser does, surely in a less visited setting . Besides, several wreck ships in the shallow waters make Moreton Island a safe and popular diving spot. TIP: ferries from Brisbane to Moreton Island take 75 minutes one way, departing from Holt Street Wharf in Pinkenba.

Once more, the name here is pretty self explanatory. An endless strand is home to hundreds of hotels and skyscrapers in the city of Gold Coast , which is sometimes compared to Miami or Dubai for its imposing skyline against the sea. Come here for nothing but a relaxing hotel+beach stay . Being the last main urbanized area before crossing to New South Wales, Gold Coast is last on the list of our Queensland East Coast itinerary guide. We hope you enjoy your travels, and do let us know your thoughts in the comments!

READ ALSO: What to do in Hobart, Tasmania Best cheap food in Singapore

HOTELS  – WHERE TO STAY IN QUEENSLAND?

• You can book all accommodation in Australia with free cancellation  here.
• The town of Rockhampton has plenty of motels to stop for one night on your way.
• Agnes Water: we stayed at Workman’s Beach Camp Ground , a laid back area by the beach, for just 9$ per person, per day.
• Rainbow Beach Holiday Park is ideal for campers coming in or out Fraser Island, with both cabins and camp ground facilities.
• Noosa Sea Scouts is well located if you have an RV, if you prefer a resort check here what’s available in Noosa Heads.
• We had a fantastic 4-day city stay at brand new Brisbane Skytower Apartments , right in CBD, we got a deal for less than 100AUD(60€)/night.
• As mentioned before, Gold Coast is a futuristic city on the beachside, browse here the endless offer of accommodation.

HOW TO GET AROUND?

• Rent your private car to be free to create your schedule and reach any place in Australia. The cheapest options start from 19€/day, and fuel in Australia is less than 1€ per litre! (1.50AUD). Check your best rental car options in Australia here.
• Tours/Private bus: check CoolDingoTour for Fraser Island, recommended for 18’s to 35’s. If you need help planning your trip to Australia, have a look at Tropical Turtle Travel , specialized on creating personalized itineraries all around Australia and more, and don’t forget to use our code MILLION-TTT for 50$ off your next trip!
• Airplane:  Brisbane and Gold Coast have both domestic and international destinations daily. Singapore and Bali, Indonesia, are the closest international hubs.

WEATHER – WHEN TO GO TO QUEENSLAND?

One of the best aspects of southeastern Queensland is the perfect climate : temperatures rarely go lower than 10°C in July or higher than 30-35°C in January. On top of that, the sun is shining for more than 300 days a year , reason why it is referred to as The Sunshine State .

DO I NEED A TRAVEL INSURANCE?

Yes you do. Never leave home without a reliable travel insurance. Even if you trust yourself, you can’t always trust others. Better safe than sorry!  Get your quote here.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

As you found this post useful...

Follow us on social media!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

You may also enjoy:

Hike to windin falls, far north queensland’…, australia is reopening its borders: when and …, pacific hotel cairns – review, our top 7 instagram spots in melbourne, leave a reply cancel reply.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

SEARCH OUR BLOG

Subscribe to our youtube, disclaimer & privacy.

This site uses affiliate links. If you buy products following our links, we get a small commission at no extra cost for you. Thank you for supporting our blog! Read our full Disclaimer & Privacy policy here.

Instagram @amilliontravels

23 of the Best Places to Visit in Queensland

Are you planning your Queensland holiday but not sure where to go?  Geographically, Queensland is a massive place and with so many awesome things to do in Queensland, it sure can be tough putting together all your itinerary – particularly if you are short on time. 

Which is where this guide comes in handy, as with the help of some of the top travel bloggers, I’ve compiled this guide on 23 of the very best places to visit in Queensland.  From the stunning beaches on the Gold Coast in South East Queensland to the lush rainforests of Far North Queensland and all areas in between, this guide covers the very best of Queensland.

This post may contain compensated links.  Please refer to my disclaimer  here  for more information.

Page Contents

• 1.1 The Gold Coast Beaches
• 1.2 Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
• 1.3 Burleigh Heads
• 1.4 Springbrook National Park
• 1.6 South Bank               
• 1.7 Explore the Brisbane Islands
• 1.8 Glass House Mountains
• 1.10 Australia Zoo
• 1.11 Fraser Island
• 1.12 Whale Watching in Hervey Bay
• 1.13 Sunrise with the Kangaroos at Cape Hillsborough
• 1.14 Airlie Beach
• 1.15 Whitehaven Beach
• 1.16 Sail the Whitsundays
• 1.17 Magnetic Island
• 1.18 Great Barrier Reef
• 1.19 Port Douglas
• 1.20 Kuranda
• 1.21 Stay in a Rainforest Tree House
• 1.22 The Daintree
• 1.23 Cooktown

Planning a trip to Queensland? Have any questions? Join our Queensland Travel Planning Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired!

Best Places to Visit in Queensland

The gold coast beaches.

The beaches are among the most popular places to go in Queensland and some of the best beaches in Queensland can be found on the Gold Coast.  Some of the more popular Gold Coast beaches include Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Burleigh (see more below) and Currumbin.  The beaches are stunning with warm, clear water and long sandy beautiful beaches.  With both surf and calm waters, whether you want to swim, surf, boogie board or SUP, there is the perfect beach for you.

And if you have had enough of the beaches, there is plenty to do in the region including theme parks , hiking trails and national parks. Not to mention shopping centres, boutique shops, cafes, restaurants, and sporting events.

If stunning beaches weren’t enough, the good news about visiting the Gold Coast is given the year-round warm weather you can visit at any time of the year.  However it’s probably worth mentioning that our summers can get super-hot and are long!  Summer is officially between December and February – but more typically is between October and March.  The cold weather is really only across June, July and August which are our winter months.

Click here for our full guide on all there is to do on the Gold Coast.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Thanks to Maureen from So Many Places! So Little Time!

When it comes to Queensland places to visit to see Australian native animals, the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary should be on the top of your list.  It’s got 27 hectares of wildlife park in a tropical rain forest with all the iconic Australian wildlife, flora and fauna all together, in one easy to get to location and suitable for both family groups and solo travelers.

The park opens at 8 am with free entry to the very noisy and colorful lorikeet feeding and the cafe. It is worthwhile doing a bit of homework before you come to prioritize the things you want to see. Go to the website and take note of shows with their times and location so you don’t miss anything. Entry is $49.95 for adults and $39.95 for 4-14 year olds but you can often get discounted tickets online .

Once inside the park, you can wander around the open animal enclosures, cuddling a koala or feeding the kangaroos, or hop on the mini train when you want a break from walking. Catch some of the shows if you can. There’s the Free Flight Bird Show, the Crocodile Show, the snakes and reptiles in the Big Fang Theory Show, the Aboriginal Dance Show or Blinky Bills Studio Adventure.

There’s also a range of extra activities at a surcharge that includes a very interesting tour of the Wildlife Hospital or if you like your adventure sport, there’s the Treetop challenge with its zip line rides and challenges.

If you’re traveling by car, put “28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin” in your GPS. Tomewin Street is just off the Gold Coast Highway. There is both paid parking and free street parking available.

If you’re using public transport and coming from Surfers Paradise, take the tram to  Broadbeach South Station and then the 700 bus to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. The cost will be $8 to $12 and will take about 45 minutes. From Coolangatta take the 700 or 760 bus towards Broadbeach.

Burleigh Heads

Thanks to Carolin from Breathing Travel

When thinking of where to go in Queensland, you cannot go past Burleigh Heads!   Pumping surf, cute cafes, unique boutique stores and friendly locals. Burleigh is a great place to visit for the whole family, there is plenty to do, see and eat. Or simply relax on the beach and don’t do anything. 

A good day in Burleigh starts with a fresh juice from The Fruit Shop on James Street or head to Commune Cafe for a hearty breakfast! Wander along the famous main street and check into the beautiful homeware and clothing boutiques. Then, stroll over to the beach, hit the surf or take a walk in Burleigh National Park. The afternoon is a great time to chill or have a picnic on Burleigh Hill watching the Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach skyline in the distance while the sun glows and slowly goes down behind the mountains.

If you happen to be in Burleigh on the weekend, don’t miss The Village Markets, a lively market with local food stalls, boutique fashion and live music. Come night time, Burleigh also has some great bars. Check out Burleigh Pavilion, Justin Lane Rooftop Bar and Mister Hizolas or Rick Shores for the best places to eat in Burleigh.

Click here to find some great accommodation in Burleigh Heads.

Springbrook National Park

Thanks to Eloise from My Favourite Escapes

Springbrook National Park is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is a Queensland must see. Located in the Gold Coast Hinterland, it offers fantastic opportunities for hiking in the rainforest. There’s no public transport, so the best way to get there is by driving or joining a tour. It’s 40 minutes away from Surfers Paradise and 1.5 hrs from Brisbane.

Natural Bridge is one of the most famous walks there. The 1.5km circuit is accessible for all ages and fitness levels. It leads to a beautiful cave where you can see a rare colony of glow worms at night. Many stunning lookouts are accessible by car, as well as short and long hikes to please all kinds of adventurers.

Springbrook National Park is excellent all year round. If you wish to see the waterfalls full, it’s better to visit in summer or autumn, during or after the wet season. It does get hot in summer, which can be uncomfortable for hiking. But as you are mostly in the shade of the rainforest, so it’s not as bad as most places in Queensland.

If you want to stay in the region for a few days, the Mouses House Retreat has beautiful chalets nestled in the rainforest that can host the entire family or click here for alternative accommodation in the region .

Being Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane is usually the starting point for most when they visit Queensland. It is an excellent gateway to popular Queensland holiday destinations such as gorgeous beaches of the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast and of course, the famous Gold Coast theme parks and attractions.

While Brisbane City is an excellent base for day trips, the city itself is also worth exploring for a few days and the best news is that many of the main tourist attractions are free!!  You can visit museums, art galleries, cruise the river, swim at South Bank (see below), take guided tours as well as get around the city completely free of charge.   And of course, as with all cities, there are plenty of shops to quench your shopping urges in the CBD, and you never know you may win a small fortune at the Treasury Casino, to finance your shopping spree.

My top tips on things to do in the Brisbane CBD are to take a cruise up the river, have a drink or two at a rooftop bar and have dinner at one of the restaurants at Howard Wharf.

Click here for our full guide on visiting Brisbane.

South Bank               

Thanks to Stephanie from Navigating Adventure   

Queensland is known for its spectacular beaches, and arguably one of its most iconic beach is located at South Bank – right on the edge of the Brisbane River and just a short stroll from the CBD.

South Bank parklands were created for Expo ’88 and they have been a popular family destination ever since. Children love cooling off at Streets Beach or paddling in the surrounding lagoons during the warmer months and playing on the numerous playgrounds year-round.

The beautifully landscaped gardens are perfect for enjoying a picnic lunch, or families can eat at one of the many cafes. For a unique experience, you can treat yourself to refreshments high in the sky on the Wheel of Brisbane!

South Bank is home to Brisbane’s cultural precinct, which includes several child-friendly educational attractions. We recommend the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) and the Queensland Museum, which features Sparklab, an interactive science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) space designed for young, curious minds.

Perfect for a whole day out, South Bank is a ten-minute walk from the Queen Street Mall and accessible by train, bus, the City Cat ferry or paid parking. For nearby accommodation, search for apartments at South Brisbane, West End or central Brisbane.

Click here for our full guide on things to do in South Bank.

Explore the Brisbane Islands

If you’re not from Brisbane, you may be surprised to learn that there are some stunning islands off Brisbane including North Stradbroke Island, Peel Island, Bribie Island and Moreton Island to name a few.  These Brisbane islands are some of the best places to visit in South East Queensland and all easily accessible by a short ferry ride.  In fact Bribie Island, you can drive right there.

All of these islands are just stunning and the perfect spot for swimming, as well as other water activities such as kayaking, stand up paddleboarding and snorkelling.  If you can, it’s best to spend a few days at each island exploring all that’s on offer, but if you have only have a day, it’s best to join a tour.

For more information, check out our guide on visiting North Stradbroke Island and our guide on visiting Tangalooma on Moreton Island .

Glass House Mountains

Thanks to Laura from Passport Collective

The Glasshouse Mountains are a group of 13 mountains located in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, around an hour north of Brisbane. The mountains were formed by ancient volcanic activity in the region and as such offer a beautiful and spectacular display of rock formations in the area. Mt Ngungun is popular with families for hiking. It’s well laid track takes around 45 minutes to hike and there are plenty of scenic rest stops along the way. The peak offers the opportunity to scramble over rocks and enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the mountain range.

Mt Tinbeerwah is fantastic for families with younger children. The peak is a 15-minute climb from the car park on a well-made track. Once you reach the summit, you can make the final climb up to the observation deck which gives you a great vantage point for the rest of the range. Mt Tinbeerwah is particularly pretty during sunset. A gorgeous misty glow envelops the surrounding mountain range and the sound of kookaburras can be heard from the trees. The path is not lit, so if you’re planning to stay until dark, make sure to pack a torch.

The range is steeped in Aboriginal history, so make sure to stop and read the trail markers and park signs as you explore.

When it comes to Queensland destinations, they don’t come much more lovely than Noosa.  Noosa is not only a beautiful part of the Sunshine Coast, but with the Noosa National Park, Main Beach and Noosa River, it is a great place to get out and about in the great outdoors.

The Noosa National Park offers both picturesque coastlines as well as a variety of walking tracks from easy to moderate, through the rainforest and along the gorgeous coastline. Walking tracks start from a few hundred metres to 5.4 kilometers.  Some of the best Noosa beaches can be found in the Noosa National Park, such as Tea Tree Bay, Winch Cove and Granite Bay.  Just outside the park you will find my favourite Noosa beach – Little Cove.  With the back drop of the lush Noosa National Park and the calm crystal clear water, these beaches are without a doubt some of the most stunning in Australia. 

These beaches are perfect for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, or stand up paddleboarding.  When the tide is out, the waves pick up just enough for some gentle boogie boarding too.  You’ll find the entrance to the Noosa National Park just a short stroll or drive from the famous tourist strip of Hastings Street.

The calm crystal-clear waters of the Noosa River are ideal for getting out and exploring in a kayak or SUP.  You can bring your own or hire your own or join a tour group.  If you paddle right out to the mouth of the Noosa River, you will find many sand islands where you can hang out on your own deserted island for as long as you like. There are also several pathways around the area perfect for biking, walking and running.

Noosa is also a great place to base yourself for some of the other Queensland attractions located on the Sunshine Coast.

Click here for our full guide on visiting Noosa.

Australia Zoo

Thanks to Sinead from Map Made Memories

One of the most popular Queensland tourist attractions is Australia Zoo.   Located in the small town of Beerwah on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the 1,000-acre zoo was founded by the late Steve Irwin, and the Irwin family still owns and operate the zoo today.

Our family has mixed feelings about zoos so we choose carefully which zoos we visit and support. But each of us loved our packed day at Australia Zoo.  The zoo contains large enclosures as close to the animal’s natural habitat as is possible. You can see animals from all over the world such as tigers, cheetahs and red pandas as well as Australian animals such as wombats, echidnas and the park’s most famous residents, crocodiles.

Our children’s favourite part of the park was hand feeding the kangaroos in their gigantic enclosure. For me, it was tickling a giant tortoise under its chin during an Animal Encounter experience. Education and conservation is a key focus of the zoo and we were impressed with the passion and knowledge of the zoo rangers, many of whom were volunteers. The zoo also has an attached medical centre where sick and injured animals are treated, rehabilitated and wherever possible re-released. 

Fraser Island

Thanks to Nicky from Go Live Young.

Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island, located off the Queensland coast. Stretching for more than 120 kilometres, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, alongside other Australian highlights, including the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and Kakadu. This giant sand island can only be explored by 4WD, either independently or as part of a tour . The island consists of long sandy beaches backed by coloured sand cliffs, huge sand dunes, freshwater inland lakes and ancient rainforest.

We opted to visit Fraser Island independently, hiring a 4WD vehicle from the mainland, complete with camping gear, for a two night/three day trip. Hiring a 4WD gives you complete freedom to roam the island, giving you complete flexibility when travelling as a family. Campsites and ferry crossing are also organised as part of the rental. Other options include organised tours on large 4WD buses and tag-along tours, popular with backpackers, where groups of travellers pile into a 4WD convoy and follow a lead vehicle with a guide. 

The island is known for its natural beauty and the highlights include: the freshwater inland Lake McKenzie surrounded by perfect white sand; the Champagne Pools, natural rock seawater pools; causing along Seventy Five Mile Beach in your 4WD; Eli Creek which you can float down if you bring rubber rings; and Lake Wabby with its huge sand dune. There are no roads on the island, just sand tracks and miles of beach along the east coast of the island. 

Fraser Island is a unique and special place and one of the best places in Queensland for adventure-loving families.

Whale Watching in Hervey Bay

Thanks to Christina from Travel2next.com

One of the best things to see in Queensland is the humpback whales in Hervey Bay.  While whale watching in Hervey Bay it’s possible to see humpback whales on their annual migration in many coastal towns in Queensland.  But there’s only one place where you’re guaranteed to have a fantastic experience. The reason why Hervey Bay is known as the Whale Watching Capital of the World is that lots of humpback whales hang around in the calm and sheltered waters between July and November.

Hervey Bay is a natural resting point for the humpback whales during their long swim back to the Antarctic. Here, the whales are curious and unafraid of the whale-watching boats. It’s common to see whales breaching, blowing, spy hopping and tail slapping in Hervey Bay.   There is a range of different whale watching cruises you can join from half days to full day cruises.

There are direct flights to Hervey Bay from Sydney and Brisbane, or you can hire a car and drive from Brisbane (about 3.5 hours). It’s worth the drive as there are other family-friendly attractions on the Fraser Coast, such as exploring Fraser Island and the historic town of Maryborough.

While in Hervey Bay, stay at one of the hotels (such as Mantra Hervey Bay ) on the Urangan Marina for easy access to the whale watching boats.  

Sunrise with the Kangaroos at Cape Hillsborough

Thanks to Tracy from Tracys Travels in Time  

One of the absolute best Queensland things to do is to visit Cape Hillsborough to see the kangaroos and wallabies on the beach at sunrise. Located a 30-minute drive from Mackay, this experience really should be on everyone’s must-do Queensland list.

To ensure you actually see the kangaroos at Cape Hillsborough beach , it is essential to be on the beach at sunrise as this is when they come down to feed on seedpods that have been washed ashore. If possible, book nearby accommodation at Cape Hillsborough (there are a few options) as it makes it easier (and safer) to get to the beach. 

Remember that the animals are wild – don’t try to feed them or touch them. And don’t stand between them and the back of the bach – they need to know they can leave when they want to.

Also don’t forget your camera – I have literally hundreds of photographs and videos as it is such a stunning sight. The beach turns orange and golden as the sun rays seep over the horizon and is really beautiful, especially with the kangaroos silhouetted.

Another tip If you are visiting in winter is to wrap up warmly as it can be bitterly cold on the beach.     

Airlie Beach

  Thanks to Tina from Hangry by Nature

Laid-back, hip and perfect for those who love the slow life – Airlie Beach is the ideal base to jumpstart your Whitsundays adventures. If you’re planning to tick off Queensland activities such as the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach from your bucket list, then you’ll no doubt be passing through this picturesque coastal town.

We found the best time to visit Airlie Beach is from June to September, outside of stinger and wet season so that you can enjoy the water, sunshine, and possibly even spot a few migrating whales.

If you don’t fancy a dip in the ocean (especially during stinger season), then head to Airlie Beach Lagoon. Situated in the town centre, lagoon features shallow wading pools for kids and deeper swimming areas for adults. 

Be sure to take a sunset stroll along the scenic Bicentennial Walk, dotted with public BBQ facilities and playgrounds; it’s a perfect leisurely walk for families. Admire the sunset over Coral Sea Marina and admire luxury yachts in all their million-dollar glory.

Don’t forget to explore the bustling town centre where you’ll stumble upon boutique shops, restaurants with killer views, trendy cafes and cool bars. While you’re there, stroll over to the revitalised foreshore and let the kids exert their energy at the brand new adventure playground.

Click here for our guide on cheap family accommodation in Airlie Beach.

Whitehaven Beach

Thanks to Jan from Budget Travel Talk  

There are 74 islands in North Queensland’s Whitsunday Group of Islands, with only a handful of islands visited commercially. Although each have individually charming beaches, there is one beach that stands out in the crowd.

Whitsunday Island, the largest of all the Whitsunday Islands, is where you will find Whitehaven Beach, known the world over for it’s shining white sand. An even bigger Whitsunday draw-card is the view over Whitehaven’s Hill Inlet, where the white sand and clear blue-green water challenge each other in an ever-changing display. I liken it to Nature’s lava lamp.

Even with megastar status Whitehaven Beach retains a natural beauty, no doubt due to day visitor numbers being strictly controlled within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Abell Point Marina at Airlie Beach is one mainland departure point for Whitehaven Beach day trips , as is Port of Airlie. Nearby Shute Harbour caters for bare-boating, sailing charters and a barge service delivering campers to the islands.

Whitehaven Beach can be accessed from the other Whitsunday islands including Hamilton Island. If pressed for time, get a bird’s eye view of Whitehaven Beach from a Seaplane or Helicopter.

September is billed as the ultimate month to visit Whitehaven Beach, followed by the winter months of June, July, August. Winter temperatures can be cold, but we wore full wet suits when snorkelling, which can be hired from your boat trip provider.

The best way to arrive in the Whitsundays is by road from Brisbane or Cairns and by plane from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to Whitsunday Coast Airport near Proserpine.  

Sail the Whitsundays

Thanks to Emily from Websites From A Van  

Sailing a yacht around The Whitsunday Islands is one of the best things to do in Queensland with kids and something the whole family will remember in years to come.

The Whitsundays are renowned for calm seas, turquoise waters, tropical weather and of course access to pristine islands and beaches with National Park status. The islands are also the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the natural world.

When you hire a bareboat charter yacht, you’re taught how to manage the craft and then given complete control over where you go and what you see. Don’t let a lack of sailing skills put you off; you can always “sail” with the motor on.

Kids will enjoy snorkelling off the boat, exploring secluded beaches, rainforest walks and learning how to sail. You must visit the world-famous Whitehaven Beach and stop in at Hamilton Island for amazing views and restaurants. 

It is possible to sail the Whitsundays all year round with some great deals in the offseason, however the best conditions are expected between June to October.

Hire a yacht through Whitsunday Rent a Yacht; located in Shute Harbour and you will have the closest access to the islands and they have the most competitive prices.

Proserpine Airport is less than an hour away, and Airlie Beach is the closest town offering the perfect base to prepare for your tropical adventure.  

Magnetic Island

Thanks to Annie from Off Goes Annie  

Magnetic Island is one of the best Queensland tourist destination for any family trip around Queensland. Easily accessible by ferry from Townsville, the 52 square kilometre Magnetic Island boasts a huge 320 days a year of sunshine and is guaranteed to be fun for the whole family.

The most popular attraction on this small paradise island is to hire a car and drive around the numerous secluded bays. In the Northern part of the island, you’ll find an old WWII fort, as part of a brilliant one hour and a half long Forts Walk. Many families choose to hire one of the infamous ‘Barbie cars’ to zoom around the island but note that you must have a 4WD to access the West side’s beaches.

Alternatively, it’s possible to get a $7 per day unlimited bus pass to explore the island, helping to keep costs down. What’s more, take the kids to Bungalow Bay Koala Village to check out the adorable koala sanctuary. 

Click here for accommodation on Magnetic Island.  

Great Barrier Reef

Thanks to Nicci from Trip Chiefs

A visit to the Great Barrier Reef would have to be my number one must-do for families visiting Queensland. And I’m a Queenslander, so I’ve seen a lot! 

Swim amongst stunning coral reefs full of colourful fish, turtles, giant clams, sea cucumbers, and more. There are options to suit all ages, but for me, the ultimate way to see the reef is to take a guided tour to the outer reef from Port Douglas or Cairns where you can snorkel or scuba dive from a pontoon.

For those with younger kids who aren’t strong swimmers, then sticking closer to land would be my recommendation.

Visiting the reef doesn’t come cheap, but it’s absolutely worth seeing, exploring and learning about this incredible slice of nature up close. As the world’s largest coral reef, it needs to be seen in person to be believed.

The best time to visit is late autumn and winter. You can choose to see the Great Barrier Reef anywhere between Bundaberg and Port Douglas.

Click here to view a range of tour options to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns.

Port Douglas

Thanks to Arian from World of Travels with Kids

Port Douglas is one of the best destinations in Queensland for family travellers.  It’s small, charming, and has a beautiful ambiance.  Nestled on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, and close to the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest , Port Douglas makes a wonderful base for day trips.  Alternatively, if poolside relaxation and beach time is your idea of a holiday, there are some stunning resorts that will most definitely tick this box.  Small kids will enjoy the Bally Hooley Train, a restored cane train that puffs around the town, while big kids will enjoy the adventure possibilities.

Port Douglas is best visited in the winter (June to October) a period when it is warm and there is not too much rain. This is also the season when it is safe to swim in the ocean, as there are no stingers.  The Summer is from November through May and the weather is typical for the tropical wet season:  hot with downpours. 

To get to Port Douglas, we flew into Cairns via Brisbane.  From there, we hired a car and drove the 110 kilometres along a stunning highway, with tantalising glimpses of the stunning ocean, palm trees and rainforest vegetation. 

Thanks to Keri from Our Globetrotters  

For an absolute quintessential Queensland experience, head to the village in the mountains, Kuranda, between Cairns and Port Douglas in the Tropical North.   Half the fun of visiting Kuranda is getting there and back with the choice of the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway or the Kuranda Skyrail – a cable car .  Both are amazing experiences offering stunning views over the Barron Falls and McAlister Range, so definitely opt for a different mode of transport in each direction!

Once in Kuranda, there’s a variety of Australian shopping, food and wildlife experiences to choose from, most within walking distance of the adjacent stations.  Some favourites with the kids include the Butterfly Sanctuary , Birdworld and Kuranda Koala Gardens , or simply enjoy the plentiful markets packed with handy crafts and wonderful food – and, of course, the Kuranda Kandy Kitchen!

Slightly further away but a must to truly experience the beauty in among the mountains are the Kuranda River Cruises on the Barron River and Rainforestation Nature Park . Pick your attractions carefully though, as you don’t want to miss your ticket back down the mountains, definitely book early so you have the choice of optimal timings on the train and Skyrail.

The weather is best in the dry season, however a wet season visit will allow you to see the dramatic Barron Falls in full flow.

Click here to read our full guide to visiting Kuranda.    

Stay in a Rainforest Tree House

  Thanks to Katy from Untold Morsels

Imagine waking up to the sound of native birds and the gentle babble of a creek in the middle of pristine nature. You can’t get closer to nature than this, and the best way to experience it is to stay at a rainforest treehouse. Queensland’s tropical forests are some of the oldest and most complex ecosystems in the world. When you stay right in the heart of this special environment, you can discover unique and ancient species of wildlife that have roamed this area for thousands of years. Try to spot a cassowary making its way through the bush or a pademelon wallaby foraging for food from your balcony.

You can stay in a rainforest treehouse in locations throughout Queensland’s tropical north. Our favourite places are in the Daintree Rainfores t and Atherton Tablelands close to Cairns. In particular, the award-winning Canopy Treehouses close to Millaa Millaa Falls are a haven for tree kangaroos, endangered possums and cassowaries.

The Daintree

  The Daintree region covers almost 900,000 hectares of tropical north Queensland and is home to the World Heritage listed Daintree National Park.  The Daintree area covers the Mossman Gorge at the southern point, the Daintree River at its centre and then all the way up to the dense rainforests of Cape Tribulation.  The region has numerous tourist attractions including the lush dense rainforest, crocodile infested rivers, cool fresh water streams, pristine beaches and the Great Barrier Reef.

This is the only place in the world where 2 World Heritage listed sites exist side by side – Daintree National Park and the Great Barrier Reef.

While you can visit the Daintree in a day trip from Cairns, or better still spend a few days exploring this magnificent area.  Whilst visiting the Daintree you must visit the Mossman Gorge (pictured above), take a Daintree River Cruise to see crocodiles and other wildlife, the Daintree Discovery Centre and one of the gorgeous Daintree Rainforest Beaches – where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. 

One of the best things to do in the Daintree is to see the crocs in the wild!  Join one of the various boat tours and get ready to see these massive beasts as they bask in the glorious Queensland sun.  My tip is to go during low tide, this way you will get to see the full views of crocodiles rather then just their tips as they zig zag down the river.

Click here for a our full guide on visiting the Daintree.

Thanks to Natalie and Steve from Curious Campers Australia

Cooktown is 4.5 hours from Cairns. For the more adventurous, take the Bloomfield track, but note that it’s only accessible by 4WD and not suitable for caravans. The track has steep hills and potentially deep water crossings, so be sure to check the conditions before you go.

One of the highlights in Cooktown was the James Cook Museum.  Besides Captain Cook history, the museum also honours the local indigenous people and the early Chinese population. Not every museum is a winner with kids, but ours enjoyed this one. The Endeavour’s canon and anchor really caught their imagination.

We also had great fun fishing at the local wharf. Even if we didn’t catch much, the kids had a ball watching the locals reel in some enormous fish. The water park on the esplanade was also a big hit.

Cooktown Holiday Park is a great place to stay for families.  Here you find fantastic amenities such as a camp kitchen and pool.  For free camping, try Archer Point 20km south of Cooktown.

Cooktown has a wet season and a dry season. If you want to avoid rain, humidity, cyclones and stinger season, May to October is the best time to visit.

___________________________________________________________

Click here for more tips on where to visit in Queensland

1 thought on “23 of the Best Places to Visit in Queensland”

Australian Zoo was the best! I really want to go and know more about it! Thanks for this great post!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Planning a trip to Queensland?

Or just want some ideas on short breaks.

Let us help you plan the  PERFECT ,  STRESS FREE ,  BUDGET  friendly trip to Queensland for  FREE !!

We will send you everything you need for an awesome trip - itineraries, hotel suggestions, budget guides, getting around or just some inspiration on short getaways and day trips.

PLUS  you can download our packing checklist immediately.

Awesome - let's go to Queensland

You can unsubscribe at any time.

Australia Recommends 2024

Travel Inspiration

G'day, the short film

Discover your Australia

Travel videos

Deals and offers

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Northern Territory

South Australia

Western Australia

External Territories

The Whitsundays

Mornington Peninsula

Port Douglas

Ningaloo Reef

Airlie Beach

Kangaroo Island

Rottnest Island

Hamilton Island

Lord Howe Island

Tiwi Islands

Phillip Island

Bruny Island

Margaret River

Barossa Valley

The Grampians

Hunter Valley

McLaren Vale

Glass House Mountains

Alice Springs

Uluru and Kata Tjuta

The Kimberley

Flinders Ranges

Kakadu National Park

Eyre Peninsula

Karijini National Park

Great Barrier Reef

Blue Mountains

Daintree Rainforest

Great Ocean Road

Purnululu National Park

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

Litchfield National Park

Aboriginal experiences

Arts and culture

Festivals and events

Food and drink

Adventure and sports

Walks and hikes

Road trips and drives

Beaches and islands

Nature and national parks

Eco-friendly travel

Health and wellness

Family travel

Family destinations

Family road trips

Backpacking

Work and holiday

Beginner's guide

Accessible travel

Planning tips

Trip planner

Australian budget guide

Itinerary planner

Find a travel agent

Find accommodation

Find transport

Visitor information centres

Deals and travel packages

Visa and entry requirements FAQ

COVID-19 travel and entry advice

Customs and biosecurity

Working Holiday Maker visas

Facts about Australia

Experiences that will make you feel like an Aussie

People and culture

Health and safety FAQ

Cities, states & territories

Iconic places and attractions

When is the best time to visit Australia?

Seasonal travel

Events and festivals

School holidays

Public holidays

How to get to Australia's most iconic cities

How long do I need for my trip to Australia?

How to travel around Australia

Guide to driving in Australia

How to hire a car or campervan

How to plan a family road trip

How to plan an outback road trip

Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland © Tourism Australia

• Share Share on Facebook Share on Messenger Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Copy Link
• Top things to do
• Getting to Queensland

From the bright lights of the Gold Coast to the technicolour underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland has a slice of paradise to suit every traveller.

Home to more than 1,000 ecosystem types and five World Heritage-listed sites, there’s something altogether magical about the beauty of Queensland. Here, islands of white sand dot aqua waters in the Whitsundays, colourful coral bursts to life with fish and turtles on the Great Barrier Reef, and lush green canopies dance in the sun in the Daintree Rainforest.

Queensland may be best known for its sparkling coastline and idyllic islands dotting the wonderous Great Barrier Reef, but the state also features rugged outback landscapes and ancient rainforests which are home to some of the world's most unusual animals. Explore this state to see just how unique it is.

• Snorkel or scuba dive with The Great Eight on the Great Barrier Reef
• Experience Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in the Daintree ; the world's oldest living rainforest
• Enjoy an oceanside escape on K'gari (Fraser Island), the Sunshine Coast , the Gold Coast or The Whitsundays

Queensland has international airports in  Brisbane , Cairns, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, with direct flights from many global hubs, as well as major and regional Australian cities. 

Regional airports in ports like  Hamilton Island  and  Bundaberg  offer regular domestic flights that will help you explore more of Queensland’s diverse destinations. With well-maintained routes and endless adventure, the Sunshine State is also ideal for road trips – the Great Barrier Reef Drive, the  Pacific Coast Way  and Matilda Way are a few of the best.

Popular destinations in Queensland

The Great Barrier Reef

The Gold Coast

The Southern Great Barrier Reef

The Daintree Rainforest

The Sunshine Coast

Trips and itineraries.

10-day coast to coast itinerary

14-day Tropical North Queensland drive

Sunshine Coast: 8-day family road trip holiday

13-day itinerary for foodies and design lovers

6-day family adventure around Cairns

4-day road trip through the Scenic Rim

3 days on the Great Sunshine Way

16-day family road trip: Gold Coast to Cairns

The Pacific Way: Gold Coast to Cairns

10 days of shopping, design and art

4 days on the Great Beach Drive

Things to do in queensland.

The best day trips from Brisbane

Best places to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef

Unforgettable Great Barrier Reef experiences

Looking for more inspiration? Go to queensland.com

Travellers' stories, explore australia's states and territories.

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.  Find out more . By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

• New Zealand (English)
• United States (English)
• Canada (English)
• United Kingdom (English)
• India (English)
• Malaysia (English)
• Singapore (English)
• Indonesia (Bahasa Indonesia)
• Deutschland (Deutsch)
• France (Français)
• Italia (Italiano)
• 中国大陆 (简体中文)

*Product Disclaimer:  Tourism Australia is not the owner, operator, advertiser or promoter of the listed products and services. Information on listed products and services, including Covid-safe accreditations, are provided by the third-party operator on their website or as published on Australian Tourism Data Warehouse where applicable. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator’s website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD). Tourism Australia makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through its websites such as australia.com. Some websites which are linked to the Tourism Australia website are independent from Tourism Australia and are not under the control of Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site.

Coastal Queensland

Book your individual trip , stress-free with local travel experts

Select Month

• roughguides.com
• Australasia
• coastal-queensland
• Travel guide
• Itineraries
• Local Experts
• Travel Advice
• Accommodation

Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert

Book securely with money-back guarantee

Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support

Running for over 2500km from the New South Wales border to Australia’s northernmost tip at Cape York, Coastal Queensland contains almost everything that lures visitors to Australia. Set down in the more developed southeastern corner, the state capital Brisbane is a relaxed city with a lively social scene and good work possibilities. South between here and the border, the Gold Coast is Australia’s prime holiday destination, with a reputation founded on some of the country’s best surf – though this now takes second place to a belt of beachfront high-rises, theme parks, and the host of lively bars and nightclubs surrounding Surfers Paradise. An hour inland, the Gold Coast Hinterland’s green heights offer a chain of national parks packed with wildlife and stunning views.

Ayr and around

North of cairns, sailing boat cruises, power cruisers, day-trip dives, liveaboard dive trips, dive schools, the cape york peninsula and torres strait islands, the capricorn coast, the gold coast, mackay and around, magnetic island, the moreton bay islands, national parks in queensland, rockhampton, the sunshine coast, the whitsundays.

North of Brisbane, fruit and vegetable plantations behind the gentle Sunshine Coast benefit from rich volcanic soils and a subtropical climate, overlooked by the spiky, isolated peaks of the Glass House Mountains . Down on the coast, Noosa is a fashionable resort town with more famous surf. Beyond looms Fraser Island , whose surrounding waters afford great views of the annual whale migration and where huge wooded dunes, freshwater lakes and sculpted coloured sands form the backdrop for exciting safaris.

North of Fraser the humidity and temperature begin to rise as you head into the tropics . Though there’s still an ever-narrowing farming strip hugging the coast, the Great Dividing Range edges coastwards as it progresses north, dry at first, but gradually acquiring a green sward which culminates in the steamy, rainforest-draped scenery around Cairns . Along the way are scores of beaches, archipelagos of islands and a further wealth of national parks, some – such as Hinchinbrook Island – with superb walking trails. Those with work visas can also recharge their bank balances along the way by fruit and vegetable picking around the towns of Bundaberg , Bowen , Ayr and Innisfail . Moving north of Cairns, rainforested ranges ultimately give way to the savannah of the huge, triangular Cape York Peninsula , a sparsely populated setting for what is widely regarded as the most rugged 4WD adventure in the country.

Offshore, the Tropical Coast is marked by the appearance of the Great Barrier Reef , among the most extensive coral complexes in the world. The southern reaches out from Bundaberg and 1770 are peppered with sand islands or cays , while further north there’s a wealth of beautiful granite islands between the coast and reef, covered in thick pine forests and fringed in white sand – the pick of which are the Whitsundays near Airlie Beach and Magnetic Island off Townsville. Many of these islands are accessible on day-trips, though some offer everything from campsites to luxury resorts if you fancy a change of pace from tearing up and down the coast. The reef itself can be explored from boat excursions of between a few hours’ and several days’ duration; scuba-divers are well catered for, though there’s plenty of coral to be seen within easy snorkelling range of the surface.

Brief history

In a way, Queensland’s popularity as a holiday hotspot is surprising, as this is perhaps Australia’s most conservative state, lampooned in the past for being slow and regressive. Marked physical and social divisions remain between the densely settled, city-orientated southeastern corner and the large rural remainder. These divisions date back to when Brisbane was chosen as capital on Queensland’s separation from New South Wales in 1859; the city proved an unpopular choice with the northern pioneers, who felt that the government was too far away to understand, or even care about, their needs. These needs centred around the north’s sugar plantations and the use of Solomon Islanders for labour, a practice the government equated with slavery and finally banned in 1872. Ensuing demands for further separation, this time between tropical Queensland and the southeast, never bore fruit, but the remoteness of northern settlements from the capital led to local self-sufficiency, making Queensland far less homogeneous than the other eastern states.

The darker side of this conservatism has seen Queensland endure more than its fair share of extreme or simply dirty politics . During the 1970s and early 1980s, the repressive stranglehold of a strongly conservative National Party government, led by the charismatic and slippery Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen (better known as “ Joh ”), did nothing to enhance the state’s image. Despite a predominance of Labor, and now Liberal, governments since his time, state politics still have strong right-wing tendencies.

Change came with the new millennium, however: Labor Premier Peter Beattie served for three successive terms between 2001 and 2007 and was the first state premier to act on the Australia-wide water shortage caused by a decade of poor rainfall, by implementing water-recycling measures for domestic, industrial and agricultural use in 2007. He resigned from politics shortly afterwards, and was succeeded by his deputy, Anna Bligh , who became the State’s first elected female premier in 2009. Although Bligh’s popularity spiked in light of her calm handling of the crises caused by extreme weather events in the summer of 2010–11, it was short-lived. The following year, Bligh’s party lost to the Liberal Party, led by former Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman; losing all but seven of its parliamentary seats, Labor’s defeat was one of the worst electoral failures in Australia’s history. In response, Bligh quickly resigned as party leader and had quit politics altogether by the start of April 2012.

After coming into power on a high, the Newman Government pledged its focus on rebuilding Queensland’s flailing economy and unveiled aggressive cost-cutting proposals in their first budget. Combined with the defections of three MPs and nepotism scandals within the party, Newman’s popularity quickly waned. By the middle of 2013, the Newman Government were in the doldrums again after the contentious announcement of a 42 percent salary increase for all 89 Queensland MPs, to bring their wages in line with members of the federal House of Representatives, embarrassingly unveiled on the same day as a series of living expenses hikes.

As a prime tourist destination, Queensland’s coast seldom presents accommodation problems, with a good range of everything from budget to upmarket options in most locations. Just be aware that the Easter and Christmas holidays – or even just weekends – can see room shortages and price hikes at popular spots, including at national parks: booking in advance is wise, and may even get you discounted rates.

As for weather , winters are generally dry and pleasant throughout the region, but the summer climate (Dec–April) becomes more oppressive the further north you travel, with the possibility of cyclones bringing torrential rain and devastating storms to the entire Tropical Coast.

Travel ideas for Australia

Created by local experts

Explore Western Australia from Perth to Broome

Western Australia is the country's largest state, covering more than a third of Australia. This self drive itinerary allows you to explore sunny Perth, stunning national parks and waterfalls, the remote wild west outback, empty beaches and much more.

Explore South Australia and the Northern Territory

Explore South Australia and the Northern Territory on this self-drive adventure. Start in Adelaide and make your way over the Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon, and Alice Springs to the Kakadu National Park and ultimately Darwin.

Cross Western Australia to Darwin

Western Australia offers wonderfully remote outback experiences: from spectacular national parks to sandy deserts, pristine beaches to working cattle stations. This itinerary allows you to explore the way from Perth to Darwin in depth and at your own pace, in your own rental car.

Classic Australia - Sydney, Melbourne and Gold Coast

Explore the best of Australia's cities and nature! From Sydney and Melbourne's urban charm to the scenic wonders of the Great Ocean Road, Cairns' reef adventures, to the lush rainforests of Kuranda. End with nature's embrace at Burleigh Head and Lamington National Parks on the Gold Coast.

The Best of Australia

Discover Australia's allure through this tour! You'll witness Sydney's iconic landmarks and explore the beauty of the Blue Mountains. Dive into Cairns' reef and rainforest wonders before marveling at the breathtaking beauty of the Great Ocean Road in Melbourne.

Further on up the highway, 115km past Bowen, are the towns of Home Hill and Ayr , separated by a mill, a few kilometres of cane fields and the iron framework of the Burdekin River Bridge . This gaping river, one of the north’s most famous landmarks, is still liable to flood during severe wet seasons, despite having to fight its way across three weirs and a dam.

On the northern side, AYR is a compact farming town that’s fast becoming another popular stop on the farm work trail. The highway – which runs through town as Queen Street – is where you’ll find the bus stop and all essential services.

The Yongala

Ayr’s other attraction is easy access to the wreck of the Yongala , a 109m-long passenger ship that sank with all hands during a cyclone in March 1911. It now lies intact and encrusted in coral in 14–28m of water, and is home to turtles, rays, moray eels and huge schools of barracuda, mackerel and trevally, making for a staggeringly good wreck dive . Yongala Dive run trips for certified divers only.

Be aware that the wreck is in an exposed location, and it’s not much fun diving here if the weather is rough; this is also a demanding site – deep, with strong currents and startlingly big fish – and it’s best not to go unless you’ve dived recently and logged twenty dives or more.

BOWEN , a quiet seafront settlement 60km northwest of Proserpine, was once under consideration as the site of the state capital, but it floundered after Townsville’s foundation. Overlooked and undeveloped, the wide sleepy streets and historic clapboard buildings made Bowen’s town centre the perfect film-set location for the 2008 Baz Luhrmann epic, Australia , standing in as 1930s Darwin. Nothing remains from the mass Hollywood intrusion except for the many tales of almost every resident whose world was briefly turned upside down. Stark first impressions created by the sterile bulk of the saltworks on the highway are offset by a certain small-town charm and some pretty beaches just off to the north. The main attraction for travellers, though, is the prospect of seasonal farm work : Bowen’s mangoes and tomatoes are famous throughout Queensland, and there’s a large floating population of itinerant pickers in town between April and January.

Bowen’s centre overlooks Edgecumbe Bay , with all the shops and services spaced out along broad but empty Herbert Street . The town’s attractive beaches lie a couple of kilometres north of the centre. Queens Beach , which faces north, is sheltered, long and has a stinger net for the jellyfish season, but the best is Horseshoe Bay , small, and hemmed in by some sizeable boulders, with good waters for a swim or snorkel.

CAIRNS was pegged out over the site of a sea-slug fishing camp when gold was found to the north in 1876, though it was the Atherton Tablelands’ tin and timber resources that established the town and kept it ahead of its nearby rival, Port Douglas. The harbour is the focus of the north’s fish and prawn concerns, and tourism began modestly when marlin fishing became popular after World War II. But with the “discovery” of the reef in the 1970s and the appeal of the local climate, tourism snowballed, and high-profile development has now overshadowed the unspoiled, lazy tropical atmosphere that everyone originally came to Cairns to enjoy.

For many visitors primed by hype, this sprawling city falls far short of expectations. However, if you can accept the tourist industry’s shocking intrusiveness and the fact that you’re unlikely to escape the crowds, you’ll find Cairns a convenient base with a great deal on offer, and easy access to the surrounding area – especially the Atherton Tablelands and, naturally, the Great Barrier Reef and islands. Cairns’ strength lies in doing, not seeing: there are few monuments, natural or otherwise.

Aside from visiting the reef , or when you’ve had your fill, there’s a fair amount to see and do within a 30-minute drive of Cairns. Highlights include wallowing in the pristine waters of Crystal Cascades or kitesurfing off Cairns’ quieter northern sandy shores.

Just a couple of hours’ drive north of Cairns on the Cook Highway are the Daintree and Cape Tribulation, the tamed fringes of the Cape York Peninsula. The highway initially runs to Port Douglas and Mossman , a beautiful drive past isolated beaches where hang-gliders patrol the headlands. North of Mossman is the Daintree , Australia’s largest and the world’s oldest surviving stretch of tropical rainforest.

Port Douglas

Massive development in recent years has seen the quaint fishing village of PORT DOUGLAS , an hour north of Cairns, turned into an upmarket tourist hub, with a main street full of boutiques, shopping malls and holidaying hordes. However, the town does have the idyllic Four Mile Beach , along with plenty of distractions to keep you busy for a day or two, and it’s getting to be as good a place as Cairns to pick up a regional tour or dive trip to the reef.

The town comprises a small grid of leafy streets centred around Macrossan Street – which runs between Four Mile Beach and Anzac Park – with the marina a couple of blocks back. Between the end of Macrossan Street and the sea, Anzac Park is the scene of an increasingly busy Sunday-morning market , good for fruit, veggies and souvenirs. Near the park’s jetty is the whitewashed timber church of St Mary’s by the Sea , built after the 1911 cyclone carried off the previous structure.

Out to sea, the vegetated sand cays known as the Low Isles make a good day-trip, with fine snorkelling, a lighthouse and an interpretive centre.

Choosing a dive operator

Vessels to take you to the Reef range from old trawlers to racing yachts and high-speed cruisers; cruises and dive trips last from a day to over a week. All day-trip operators have ticket desks at, and depart from, the Reef Fleet Terminal at the end of Spence Street in Cairns; you can also book through an agent, but either way you should do this at least a day in advance. One way to choose the right boat is simply to check out the price : small, cramped, slow tubs are the cheapest, while roomy, faster catamarans – some venturing to activity-packed pontoons – cost more; to narrow things down further, find out which serves the best food .

The reef cruises and diving listings given here are not mutually exclusive – most outfits offer diving (prices vary wildly – you’ll pay anything from $85–245 for two dives including gear), snorkelling (usually free) or just plain old sailing. Prices can come down by as much as thirty percent during the low seasons (Feb–April & Nov). Dive schools usually run trips in their own boats, primarily to take students on their certification dives – experienced divers may want to avoid these, and should always make their qualifications known to onboard dive staff, who might then be able to arrange something a bit more adventurous. Beware of “ expenses only ” boat trips – there may be a catch. If in doubt, ask a booking office in town if you’re dealing with an authorized, registered operator.

Day-trips cost around $130–210.

0458 426 005, fallareeftrips.com . Reasonably priced day-cruises aboard a 1950s Aussie timber pearl lugger, which leisurely visits two reef locations, including shallow Upolu Cay.

Ocean Spirit Cruises

1300 858 141, oceanspirit.com.au . Large vessel that holds well over a hundred passengers – it sails out to Michaelmas Cay and motors back, ensuring adequate time on the Reef. Great presentation but one of the more expensive sailing trips.

Passions of Paradise

1800 111 346, passions.com.au . Popular with backpackers, this roomy and very stable sail-catamaran cruises out to Paradise Reef and Michaelmas Cay. Great value.

Prices range from $150–220 (day-trips only). Some companies cruise out to their own pontoon, stable moorings ideal for families with toilet facilities and underwater viewing chambers where you can get as wet or stay as dry as you like; dive, snorkel, jump in a glass-bottom boat or semi-submersible vessel, or walk underwater on a “helmet” dive. You can also take a ten-minute helicopter reef flight from all pontoons, or opt to fly in or out one-way by air.

Great Adventures

07 4044 9944, greatadventures.com.au . Trips on a large, fast catamaran to a private reef pontoon, with the option of stopping off at Green Island.

07 4052 8300, downunderdive.com.au . Speedy vessel which runs out to the outer Norman and Hastings reefs; comfortable boat, great crew and fantastic BBQ lunch.

Quicksilver

07 4087 2100, quicksilver-cruises.com . High prices, but also one of the largest, comfiest vessels, docking at its own stable pontoon mooring at the outer Agincourt Reef.

07 4031 1588, reefmagiccruises.com . Speedy catamaran, which spends five hours at the Marine World pontoon, on the outer reef, for snorkelling, diving and glass-bottom-boat trips.

Sunlover Cruises

07 4050 1333, sunlover.com.au . Fast catamaran to a private pontoon at Moore Reef where you spend four hours exploring the outer reef.

Expect to pay $180–280 for two dives, gear rental, food and drink; a third dive generally costs around $20 extra. If you’re snorkelling, prices range from $130–200.

MV Reef-Kist

07 4051 0294, cairnsdive.com.au . Budget dive and snorkel operator visiting Moore and Thetford reefs via Fitzroy Island on a modern 17.5m catamaran.

07 4046 7333, diversden.com.au . Stable, well-equipped catamaran visiting Norma, Saxon and Hastings outer reef sites, with the option of diving three times in the day. Good value.

07 4041 6218, seastarcruises.com.au . Long-established family business with permits for some of the best sections of Hastings Reef and Michaelmas Cay, and a no-crowds policy (max 35 passengers).

Silverswift

07 4044 9944, silverseries.com.au . Large, speedy 29m catamaran visiting Flynn, Pellowe, Milln and/or Thetford outer reef sites with time to get in three dives if you want.

07 4047 9100, tusadive.com . Snazzy new purpose-built vessel holding a maximum of sixty passengers, with sixteen dive sites on its daily itineraries and a chance to visit three of them.

Liveaboard trips last from one night (for snorkelling, cruising or diving) to over a week (for experienced divers), and typically cover the best of the reefs: you’ll get longer in the water, visit a greater variety of sites and also have the opportunity to do night dives. Prices vary seasonally, ranging from $460 for overnight trips, $600 for three days and to up to $3500 for a week, with cheaper rates from February to June. All costs generally include berth and meals, with dives typically included for longer voyages, but not gear rental. For further information and comparisons of various operations, check out Diversion Dive Travel (07 4039 0200, diversiondivetravel.com.au ).

Coral Sea Dreaming

07 4041 1600, coralseadreaming.com.au . Sixteen-metre steel ketch sleeping up to eighteen, for two-day snorkelling and diving trips to Flynn, Milin and Thetford reefs.

07 4053 0500, mikeball.com . Luxury diving with one of Queensland’s best-equipped and longest-running operations; venues include the Cod Hole and Coral Sea sites, with most trips including dives with minke whales.

Spirit of Freedom

07 4047 9150, spiritoffreedom.com.au . Huge 37m vessel with superlative facilities, sailing to Cod Hole, the Ribbons and Coral Sea.

07 4041 1054, rumrunnercairns.com.au . Budget motor sailor sleeping sixteen in basic shared cabins, offering 24-hour outer reef trips and affordable three-day Coral Sea expeditions.

Ask around about what each dive school offers, though training standards in Cairns are uniformly sound. You’ll pay around $440–540 for a budget Open-Water Certification course, diving lesser reefs while training and returning to Cairns each night; and $640–800 for a four- or five-day course using better sites and staying on a liveaboard at the reef for a couple of days doing your certification. The following schools are long-established and have solid reputations; certification dives are either made north at Norman, Hastings and Saxon reefs, or south at Flynn, Moore and Tetford. These dive schools also offer one-day as well as longer liveaboard trips.

121 Abbott St 07 4051 0294, cairnsdive.com.au .

Deep Sea Divers Den

319 Draper St 07 4046 7333, diversden.com.au .

Down Under Dive

287 Draper St 07 4052 8300, downunderdive.com.au .

116 Spence St 07 4031 5255, prodivecairns.com .

Cairns’ major draw is the Great Barrier Reef and with so many cruise or dive options available, choosing one can be daunting. There’s often a lot of chat about the inner reef (closer to the coast, and visited by slower boats), the outer reef (closest to the open sea and the target of most speedy operators) and fringing reef (surrounding Fitzroy and Green islands), but the coral and fishlife at any of them can be either excellent or tragic. The state of Cairns’ coral is the subject of much debate: years of agricultural run-off and recent coral-bleaching events – not to mention the sheer number of visitors – have had a visibly detrimental effect in the most visited areas, though remoter sections tend to be in better condition. Having said that, almost everywhere teems with marine life, ranging from tiny gobies to squid, turtles and big pelagic fish – only seasoned divers might come away disappointed.

The Cape York Peninsula points north towards the Torres Strait and New Guinea, and tackling the rugged tracks and hectic river crossings on the “Trip To The Tip” is an adventure in itself – besides being a means to reach Australia’s northernmost point and the communities at Bamaga and Thursday Island , so different from anywhere else in Australia that they could easily be in another country. But it’s not all four-wheel driving across the savannah: during the dry season the historic settlement of Cooktown , the wetlands at Lakefield National Park and Laura ’s Aboriginal heritage are only a day’s journey from Cairns in any decent vehicle. Given longer, you might get as far as the mining company town of Weipa , but don’t go further without off-road transport; while some have managed to reach the Tip in family sedans, most who try fail miserably.

With thousands making the overland journey between May and October, a breakdown won’t necessarily leave you stranded, but the cost of repairs will make you regret it. Bikers should travel in groups and have off-roading experience. Mobile signal is almost nonexistent (tree trunks or termite mounds are often graffitied to identify locations with mobile signal), so it’s worth considering renting a satellite phone.

You’ll find a few roadhouses (with rooms) and motels along the way, but north of Weipa accommodation on the Cape is mostly limited to camping, and it’s inevitable if you head right to the Tip that one night at least will be spent in the bush. Settlements also supply meals and provisions, but there won’t be much on offer, so take all you can carry. Don’t turn bush campsites into rubbish dumps: take a pack of bin liners and remove all your garbage. Estuarine crocodiles are present throughout the Cape: read the warning under “Wildlife dangers” in Basics. There are few banks , so take enough cash to carry you between points – most roadhouses accept plastic. The RACQ ( racq.com ) has up-to-date information regarding current road conditions; for general tips on off-road driving expeditions, see Basics .

Alcohol restrictions

Beware that alcohol restrictions are in place in nineteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities in Far North Queensland and Cape York. Depending on where you go, alcohol may be completely banned or limited to an amount or type of alcohol (usually small quantities of wine and mid-strength beer), even if you are just passing through. Limits apply on a per vehicle basis, not per person. If caught, the penalties are huge – up to $42,250 for first-time offenders. For more information, check out qld.gov.au.

Crossing creeks by 4WD

While Cape York’s crocodiles make the standard 4WD procedure of walking creek crossings before driving them potentially dangerous, wherever possible you should make some effort to gauge the water’s depth and find the best route. Never blindly follow others across. Make sure all rescue equipment – shovel, winch, rope, etc – is easy to reach, outside the vehicle. Electrics on petrol engines need to be waterproofed. On deep crossings, block off air inlets to prevent water entering the engine, slacken off the fan belt and cover the radiator grille with a tarpaulin; this diverts water around the engine as long as the vehicle is moving. Select an appropriate gear (changing it in midstream will let water into the clutch) and drive through at walking speed; clear the opposite embankment before stopping again. In deep water, there’s a chance the vehicle might float slightly, and so get pushed off-track by the current – though there’s not much you can do about this. If you stall , switch off the ignition immediately, exit through windows, disconnect the battery (a short might restart the engine) and winch out. Don’t restart the vehicle until you’ve made sure that water hasn’t been sucked in through the air filter – which will destroy the engine.

Views from the volcanic outcrops overlooking the Capricorn Coast , some 40km east of Rockhampton, stretch across graziers’ estates and pineapple plantations to exposed headlands, estuarine mud flats and the Keppel Islands. The coastal townships of Yeppoon and Emu Park , 20km apart and settled by cattle barons in the 1860s, were later adopted by Rockhampton’s elite as places to beat the summer temperatures. Today, they retain a pleasantly dated holiday atmosphere and are relaxing for a few days – besides being much nicer places to stay than Rockhampton. Great Keppel Island is the coast’s main draw, however, accessed from Rosslyn Bay , just south of Yeppoon.

Beneath a jagged skyline shaped by dozens of high-rise beachfront apartment blocks, the Gold Coast is Australia’s Miami Beach or Costa del Sol, a striking contrast to Brisbane, only an hour to the north. The coast forms a virtually unbroken beach 40km long, from South Stradbroke Island past Surfers Paradise and Burleigh Heads to the New South Wales border at Coolangatta . The beaches swarm with bathers and board-riders all year round: surfing blossomed here in the 1930s and the key surf beaches at Coolangatta, Burleigh Heads and South Stradbroke still pull daily crowds of veterans and novices.

In recent years, other attractions have sprung up, notably the club and party scene centred on Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, and several action-packed theme parks , domestic holiday blackspots mostly based about 15km northwest of the town. Aggressively superficial, Surfers is not the place for peace and quiet, but its sheer brashness can be fun for a couple of days. There’s little variation on the beach and nightclub scene, however, and if you’re concerned this will leave you jaded, bored or broke, you’re better off avoiding this corner of the state altogether.

With around three hundred days of sunshine each year there’s little “off-season” on the Gold Coast. Rain can, however, fall at any time during the year, including midwinter – when it’s usually dry in the rest of the state – but even if the crowds do thin out a little, they reappear in time for the Gold Coast Indy car race in October and then continue to swell, peaking over Christmas and New Year. The end of the school year in mid-November also heralds the phenomenon that is Schoolies Week , when thousands of high-school leavers from across the country ditch exam rooms and flock to Surfers for a few days of hard partying, a rite of passage that causes an annual budget-accommodation crisis.

Surfing the Gold Coast

As locals will tell you, the Gold Coast has some of the best surfing beaches in the world. In terms of consistency this might be true – on any given day there will be good surf somewhere along the coast – with 200m-long sand-bottom point breaks and rideable waves peaking at about 4m in prime conditions.

The coast is known for its barrels , particularly during the summer storm season when the winds shift around to the north; in winter the swell is smaller but more reliable, making it easier to learn to surf. A rule of thumb for finding the best surf is to follow the wind : head to the north end of the coast when the wind blows from the north and the south when it comes from the south. Generally, you’ll find the best swell along the southern beaches, and on South Stradbroke Island. Sea temperatures range between 26°C in December and 17°C in June, so a 2–3mm wet suit is adequate. Hard-core surfies come for Christmas and the cyclone season, though spring is usually the busiest time. On the subject of general safety , all beaches as far north as Surfers are patrolled – look for the signs – and while sharks might worry you, more commonplace hostility is likely to come from the local surfies, who form tight-knit cliques with very protective attitudes towards their patches.

Competitions or events are held somewhere along the coast on most weekends, advertised through local surf shops.

The Gold Coast Hinterland

Beginning around 30km inland from the coast’s jangling excesses, the Gold Coast Hinterland is a mountainous, rainforested plateau encompassing a series of beautifully wild national parks , all packed with scenery, animals and birds. The pick of the bunch is Green Mountain at Lamington National Park , with atmospheric hiking trails through beech forest and a stunning density of birdlife. Tamborine Mountain ’s less rugged walking tracks and country “villages” also provide a relaxing weekend escape, while waterfalls in Springbrook National Park make for an easy day-trip. Access is by tour bus from Brisbane and the Gold Coast but to explore to any degree you’ll need your own vehicle, which will also work out the cheapest option for a group. If you’re driving , carry a good road map, as signposts are few and far between – all places are reached off the Pacific Highway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Weather ranges from very wet in summer (when there are leeches in abundance and some hiking trails are closed) to fairly cool and dry in winter, though rain is a year-round possibility. If you’re planning to hike , you’ll need good footwear for the slippery paths, although trails are well marked. Accommodation , which is best booked in advance, is in resorts, motels and campsites; if you’re on a tight budget bring a tent . You’ll need a fuel stove if you’re camping, as collecting firewood in national parks is forbidden; barbecues and wood are often supplied on sites, however.

Some 360km north of Rockhampton along a famously unexciting stretch of Highway 1, the fertile Pioneer Valley makes the MACKAY area a welcome break from the otherwise dry country between Bundaberg and Townsville. Despite encounters with aggressive Juipera Aborigines, John Mackay was impressed enough to settle the valley in 1861, and within four years the city was founded and the first sugar-cane plantations were established. Sugar remains the main industry today, though the coal mines out west in the Bowen Basin have forced Mackay to become a service centre, and its dreary parade of motel accommodation is usually full with casual workers and travelling business people.

Sugar cane on the Tropical Coast

Sugar cane , grown in an almost continuous belt between Bundaberg and Mossman, north of Cairns, is the Tropical Coast’s economic pillar of strength. Introduced in the 1860s, the crop subtly undermined the racial ideals of British colonialists when farmers, planning a system along the lines of the southern United States, employed Kanakas – Solomon Islanders – to work the plantations. Though only indentured for a few years, and theoretically given wages and passage home when their term expired, Kanakas on plantations suffered greatly from unfamiliar diseases, while the recruiting methods used by “ Blackbirder ” traders were at best dubious and often slipped into wholesale kidnapping. Growing white unemployment and nationalism through the 1880s eventually forced the government to ban blackbirding and repatriate the islanders. Those allowed to stay were joined over the next fifty years by immigrants from Italy and Malta, who mostly settled in the far north and today form large communities scattered between Mackay and Cairns.

After cane has been planted in November, the land is quickly covered by a blanket of dusky green. Before cutting, seven months later, the fields are traditionally fired to burn off leaves and maximize sugar content – though the practice is dying out. Cane fires often take place at dusk and are as photogenic as they are brief; the best way to be at the right place at the right time is to ask at a mill. Cut cane is then transported to the mills along a rambling rail network. The mills themselves are incredible buildings, with machinery looming out of makeshift walls and giant pipes that belch out steam around the clock when the mill is in operation. Cane is juiced for raw sugar or molasses, as the market dictates; crushed fibre becomes fuel for the boilers that sustain the process; and ash is returned to the fields as fertilizer.

Another island named by Captain Cook in 1770 – after his compass played up as he sailed past – Magnetic Island is a beautiful, triangular granite core 12km from Townsville. There’s a lot to be said for a trip here: lounging on a beach, swimming over coral, bouncing around in a moke from one roadside lookout to another, and enjoying the sea breeze and the island’s vivid colours. Small enough to drive around in half a day, but large enough to harbour several small settlements, Magnetic Island’s accommodation and transfer costs are considerably lower than on many of Queensland’s other islands, and if you’ve ever wanted to spot a koala in the wild, this could be your chance – they’re often seen wedged into gum trees up in the northeast corner of the island.

Seen from the sea, the island’s apex, Mount Cook , hovers above eucalypt woods variegated with patches of darker green vine forest. The north and east coasts are pinched into shallow sandy bays punctuated by granite headlands and coral reefs, while the western part of the island is flatter and edged with mangroves. A little less than half of the island is national park, with the settlements of Picnic Bay , Nelly Bay , Arcadia and Horseshoe Bay dotted along the east coast. Shops and supplies are available on the island, so there’s no need to bring anything with you.

Offshore from Brisbane are the shallow waters of Moreton Bay , famous throughout Australia as the home of the unfortunately named Moreton Bay Bug, which is actually a small, delicious lobster-like crustacean. The largest of the bay’s islands, Moreton and North Stradbroke , are generously endowed with sand dunes and beaches, and are just the right distance from the city to make their beaches accessible but seldom crowded. The island of St Helena is not somewhere you’d visit for sun and surf, but its prison ruins recall the convict era and make for an interesting day-trip. In the bay itself, look for dolphins, dugong (sea cows) and humpback whales , which pass by in winter en route to their calving grounds up north.

National parks are run by Queensland’s Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing (NPRSR). Their excellent website ( nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks ) has up-to-date information on walking trails, camping, vehicle access, seasonal closures and other topics of interest to hikers, drivers and bushcampers. Unlike other states, all of Queensland’s parks are free to enter, but in a few cases hiking or vehicle permits must be obtained in advance, either online, over the phone or from a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) office (locations, opening times and current fees are listed on the website). Hiking permits are required for trails on which numbers are restricted, notably Hinchinbrook Island’s Thorsborne Trail. You’ll need a vehicle permit to take a car across to Bribie Island, Cooloola, Moreton Island or Fraser Island.

It’s possible to camp in most national parks. Facilities vary a great deal – some campsites have cooking and washing facilities, while others require you to be totally self-sufficient. Campsite fees are fixed at $5.45 per person per night and usually payable in advance by phone, online or at a nearby QPWS office or ranger station. You’ll receive a booking number and a printable camping tag (if purchased online). When paying camping fees in advance, you can choose between specific slots – required if you’re tackling any of Queensland’s Great Walks – or general-purpose credits that allow you to fine-tune your itinerary later.

Straddling the Tropic of Capricorn, ROCKHAMPTON was founded after a false goldrush in 1858 left hundreds of miners stranded at a depot 40km inland on the banks of the sluggish Fitzroy River , and their rough camp was adopted by local stockmen as a convenient port. The iron trelliswork and sandstone buildings fronting the river recall the balmy 1890s, when money was pouring into the city from a prosperous cattle industry and nearby gold and copper mines; today Rockhampton feels a bit despondent – the mines have closed, the beef industry is down in the dumps and the summers, unrelieved by coastal breezes, are appallingly humid. Bearing this in mind, the city is best seen as a springboard for the adjacent Capricorn Coast.

The city is fairly small and easy to navigate. Divided by the Fitzroy River, services are clustered directly south of the Fitzroy Bridge along Quay and East streets, and the Bruce Highway runs right through town past two pairs of fibreglass bulls (repeatedly “de-balled” by pranksters).

The Tropic Marker , 3km from the river at Rockhampton’s southern entrance, is just a spire informing you of your position at 23˚ 26’ 30” S, backed by a small visitor centre.

The Sunshine Coast , stretching north of Brisbane to Noosa, is a mild-mannered counterpart to the Gold Coast. The larger towns are rather bland, but there’s striking scenery at the Glass House Mountains , good beaches and surf at Maloolaba and Maroochydore , and upmarket beach life at Noosa . Though you’ll find the hinterland far tamer than that behind the Gold Coast, it still has some pleasant landscapes and scattered hamlets rife with Devonshire cream teas and weekend markets.

Glass House Mountains National Park

To the Kabi Aborigines, these 11 dramatic, isolated pinnacles jutting out of a flat plain, visible as far away as Brisbane, are the petrified forms of a family fleeing the incoming tide, though their current name was bestowed by Captain Cook because of their “shape and elevation” – a resemblance that’s obscure today. The peaks themselves vary enormously: some are rounded and fairly easy to scale, while a couple have vertical faces and sharp spires requiring competent climbing skills. It’s worth conquering at least one of the easier peaks, as the views are superb: Beerburrum , overlooking the township of the same name, and Ngungun , near the Glass House Mountains township, are fairly easy to climb, with well-used tracks that shouldn’t take more than two hours return; the latter’s views and scenery outclass some of the tougher peaks, though the lower parts of the track are steep and slippery. Tibberoowuccum , a small peak at 220m just outside the national-park boundary, must be climbed from the northwest, with access from the car park off Marsh’s Road. The taller mountains – Tibrogargan and Coonowrin – are at best tricky, and should be attempted only by experienced climbers.

The exclusive end of the Sunshine Coast and an established celebrity “des-res” area, NOOSA is dominated by an enviably beautiful headland, defined by the mouth of the placid Noosa River and a strip of beach to the southeast. Popular since surfers first came in the 1960s to ride the fierce waves around the headland, the setting is also a haven for gourmets, boating types and conservationists. Beach aside, there’s also a tiny national park with beautiful coastal walks where you’ll almost certainly see koalas , a couple of shallow lakes just north of town and beyond, the biodiverse Noosa River Wetlands , offering good paddling potential.

Regional capital TOWNSVILLE sprawls around a broad spit of land between the isolated hump of Castle Hill and swampy Ross Creek. Industrial in make-up, the town has a rough edge and an air of racial tension. While most travellers skip town altogether and head straight out to the beaches of laidback Magnetic Island , just offshore, the city does have its moments: there’s a visible maritime history; long sea views from the Strand promenade; and the muggy, salty evening air and old pile houses on the surrounding hills, which mark out Townsville as the coast’s first real tropical city.

Townsville was founded in 1864 by John Melton Black and Robert Towns, entrepreneurs who felt that a settlement was needed for northern stockmen who couldn’t reach Bowen when the Burdekin River was in flood. Despite an inferior harbour, the town soon outstripped Bowen in terms of both size and prosperity, its growth accelerated by gold finds inland at Ravenswood and Charters Towers. Today, it’s the gateway to the far north and transit point for routes west to Mount Isa and the Northern Territory; it’s also an important military centre, seat of a university and home to substantial Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal communities.

The city itself is quite easy to navigate. The centre is roughly triangular and hemmed in by Cleveland Bay to the north, Ross Creek to the south and Castle Hill to the west. Following the north bank of Ross Creek, Flinders Street is the main drag, sectioned into a downtown pedestrian mall before running its last 500m as Flinders Street East .

The Whitsunday Islands look just like the granite mountain peaks they once were before rising sea levels cut them off from the mainland six thousand years ago. They were seasonally inhabited by the Ngaro Aborigines when Captain Cook sailed through in 1770; he proceeded to name the area after the day he arrived, and various locations after his expedition’s sponsors. Today, dense green pine forests, vivid blue water and roughly contoured coastlines give the 74 islands instant appeal, and the surrounding seas bustle with yachts and cruisers.

Airlie Beach, around 149km north of Mackay via the workaday sugar town of Proserpine, is the gateway to the islands. Despite an attractive setting, nobody comes here to spend time in town – it’s just a place to be while deciding which island to visit. Island ferries generally leave from Shutehaven (aka Shute Harbour), 10km on from Airlie past Cape Conway National Park. Other cruises leave from Abel Point Marina in Cannonvale, a sprawling community lying in the wooded shadows of the Conway Range, just around the headland from Airlie Beach.

Airlie Beach and around

Buzzing with backpackers, AIRLIE BEACH is nestled between the sea and a hillside covered in apartment blocks, with all services crammed into one short stretch of Shute Harbour Road and the 100m-long Esplanade . Despite the name, Airlie Beach has only a couple of gritty stretches of sand, which get covered at high tide – though the view of the deep turquoise bay, dotted with yachts and cruisers, is gorgeous. To make up the shortfall, there’s a free, open-air landscaped pool between Shute Harbour Road and the sea, complete with showers, changing rooms, picnic hotplates, benches, emerald lawns and even a little sand. From here, a boardwalk skirts around the headland to Abel Point Marina.

The Whitsunday Islands

Resorts first opened here in the 1930s and now number eight, but the majority of islands are still undeveloped national parks, with campsites on seventeen of them. Resorts aside, the few islands left in private hands are mainly uninhabited and largely the domain of local yachties. Those covered here all have regular connections to the mainland. Don’t miss the chance to whale watch if you’re here between June and September, when humpbacks arrive from their Antarctic wintering grounds to give birth and raise their calves before heading south again.

Whitsunday Island

The largest island in the group, National Parks-run Whitsunday Island , is also one of the most enjoyable. Its east coast is home to the 5km-long Whitehaven Beach , easily the finest in all the islands, and on the agenda of just about every cruise boat in the region. Blindingly white, and still clean despite the numbers of day-trippers and campers, it’s a beautiful spot with blissfully little to do. The headland off the southern end of the beach facing Haslewood Island is the best place for snorkelling. On the beach’s northern end, a short track winds up to popular Hill Inlet Lookout for keenly photographed views of the sand-ridden bay.

Over on Whitsunday’s west side, Cid Harbour is a quieter hideaway that lacks a great beach but instead enjoys a backdrop of giant granite boulders and tropical forests, with several more campsites above coral and pebble shingle. Dugong Beach is the nicest, sheltered under the protective arms and buttressed roots of giant trees; from here you can walk along the narrow hill paths to another campsite at Sawmill Beach.

Hook Island

Directly north of Whitsunday, and pretty similar in appearance, Hook Island is the second largest in the group. Cruises sometimes pull into southern Nara Inlet for a look at the Aboriginal paintings on the roof of a small cave above a tiny shingle beach. Though not dramatic in scale or design, the art is significant for its net patterns, which are otherwise found only at central highland sites such as Carnarvon Gorge. On the rocks below the cave is more recent graffiti, left by boat crews over the last thirty years.

Snorkelling on the reef directly in front of Long Island’s resort is a must; snorkelling gear and surf skis are free (with deposit) to guests. The water is cloudy on large tides, but the coral outcrops are all in fairly good condition and there’s plenty of life around, from flatworms to morays and parrotfish. Day-cruises run from Airlie to the snorkelling spots and visit the top-rate fringing coral at Manta Ray Bay , Langford Reef and Butterfly Bay , on the northern and northeastern tips of the island – visibility can be poor here, but on a good day these sites offer some of the best diving in the Whitsundays.

Hayman Island

The extremely high price of accommodation at Hayman pales into insignificance when compared with the resort’s building costs, which topped $300 million. Guests indulge in lush rooms, the best of which have extravagant antique furnishings, and staff move about through underground tunnels so that they don’t get in the way. Public access is restricted to just a couple of luxury tour operators although cruises and some dive-trips stop off for a look at the coral off Blue Pearl Bay – which isn’t actually that exciting – on the island’s west coast.

The Molles and nearby islands

South Molle Island was a source of fine-grained stone for Ngaro Aborigines, a unique material for the tools that have been found on other islands and may help in mapping trade routes. A series of fabulous coastal walking tracks crisscross the island, including one that leads off from behind the nine-hole golf course through gum trees and light forest, encompassing vistas of the islands from the top of Spion Kop and Mount Jeffreys, and on to some quiet beaches at the south end.

Daydream Island is little more than a tiny wooded rise between South Molle and the mainland, with a narrow coarse-sand beach running the length of the east side, and coral to snorkel over at the north end.

Tiny Planton , Tancred and Denman islands are just offshore from South Molle – with no facilities and limited camping at the National Parks sites here, they’re about as isolated as you’ll get in the Whitsundays. All three are surrounded by reef, but be careful of strong currents.

Long Island

Long Island is exactly that, being not much more than a narrow, 10km ribbon almost separated from the mainland forests by a 500m-wide channel. It has some fabulous beaches however, and there are a few looping hikes through the rainforest to Sandy Bay and up Humpy Point .

Hamilton Island

With a large marina, an airstrip, tons of motorized sports and several high-rise apartment towers, Hamilton Island is the only brazenly commercial spot on the islands. Privately owned, its businesses operate under a lease: development includes a quaint colonial waterfront with bank, post office, bakery, nightclub, a handful of overpriced restaurants and four hotels that fall under the umbrella of Hamilton Island Resort , plus many holiday homes. The twin towers of Reef View Hotel loom over the east beach complex, and the best view of the whole area is from one of its external glass lifts , which run up to penthouse level. To explore the island, you can rent a motorized dinghy or a golf buggy to ride around the residential roads twisting along the northern peninsula. The best option, though, is the well-used walking track to the 239m-high Passage Peak, which offers the finest 360-degree panorama in the Whitsundays.

Discover more places in Australia

• The Atherton Tablelands
• The Fraser Coast
• North of Townsville
• The Southern Reef

The Rough Guides to Australia and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Find even more inspiration for Australia here

Planning your own trip? Prepare for your trip

Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates

written by Andy Turner

updated 26.04.2021

Ready to travel and discover Australia?

Get support from our local experts for stress-free planning & worry-free travels.

• Where to stay
• Travel advice

16 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Queensland

Written by Karen Hastings Updated Sep 13, 2021

Queensland, "the Sunshine State," is Australia's most popular vacation destination. Golden beaches, idyllic tropical islands, fantastic surf breaks, World Heritage-listed rainforests, rivers, reefs, and waterfalls are just some of the state's natural jewels.

All Queensland's sun-soaked settings offer exhilarating outdoor adventures. The dazzling Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef offer superb diving and snorkeling. K'Gari ( Fraser Island) is a favorite four-wheel-driving adventure, and the wilderness areas along the Queensland coast are excellent for hiking, biking, boating, and fishing.

For a change of pace, Queensland's capital, Brisbane , delivers big-city attractions with a small-town feel. South of Brisbane lies the glitzy Gold Coast with its hedonism and high rises. Traveling north along the coast from the capital, you can explore a string of holiday resorts, from sleepy beach towns and rainforest villages, to picturesque Port Douglas, and the tropical tourist-magnet of Cairns. Learn more about the best places to visit in this sunny state with our list of the top attractions and things to do in Queensland.

Dive or Snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef

Take a safari through daintree national park and cape tribulation, go four-wheel-driving on k'gari (fraser island), island hop at the whitsundays, stroll along four mile beach in port douglas, visit cairns, bask on the beaches of noosa heads and the sunshine coast, soar over the rainforest to kuranda, live it up on the gold coast, get a culture fix in brisbane, hop aboard a whale watching cruise in hervey bay, enjoy the views in maleny & montville, bird-watch at lamington national park, tour townsville and magnetic island, feed a kangaroo at australia zoo, explore the cape york peninsula & the torres strait islands, map of tourist attractions & things to do in queensland.

It's difficult to overstate the beauty and ecological importance of this World Heritage-listed natural wonder. This is the planet's largest living structure , and it's so vast, you can see it from space.

Much of the reef lies within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park , which extends off the northern coast of Queensland, from Mackay to the northeastern corner of Australia. The park itself is about half the size of Texas and protects more than 3,000 coral reefs, 600 continental islands, 300 coral cays, and a patchwork of mangrove islands.

Diving or snorkeling the reef is one of Australia's must-do outdoor adventures . The astounding diversity of marine life lures visitors from around the world. More than 1,600 species of tropical fish inhabit the reef, as well as sharks, dugongs, dolphins, turtles, giant clams, and kaleidoscopic soft and hard corals. Underwater viewing stations and glass-bottom boats also offer a window into this underwater wonderland.

Other popular things to do during a visit to the Great Barrier Reef include scenic flights, island-hopping cruises, and sailing trips.

On the mainland, Cairns, Port Douglas, and Airlie Beach are the top gateway towns for tours. Alternatively, you can stay at one of the resort islands within the marine park. The Whitsunday Islands offer popular attractions and accommodation options and make a great base to explore the reef.

Remote Lizard Island , the park's most northerly island, is famous for its exclusive resort, and Lady Elliot Island , the reef's southernmost coral cay, is home to a popular eco-resort.

A Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Daintree National Park is the planet's oldest surviving rainforest . That alone should be reason enough to visit, but it also harbors one of the world's highest concentrations of threatened and endangered species.

Located in Far North Queensland, the two main sections of the park include the crystal-clear waters and lush forests of Mossman Gorge , as well as Cape Tribulation , where tropical rainforest fringes the reef-splotched shores of the Coral Sea.

The ecosystems here are incredibly diverse. More than 18,000 plant species, as well as a fascinating array of animals live within the park, including the flightless southern cassowaries (ostrich-sized birds), crocodiles, Boyd's rainforest dragons, brightly hued azure kingfishers, spotted cuscuses, and musky rat-kangaroos.

The best way to explore this area is on a guided safari. Many companies offer tours on amphibious vehicles and include rainforest hikes and tropical fruit tastings. However, you can also take a self-drive tour.

Other popular things to do include ziplining through the rainforest, horseback riding, swimming at Mossman Gorge, looking for cassowaries along the Jindalba Boardwalk , and hiking the many other rainforest trails.

Just south of the park, the resort town of Port Douglas is a popular base for arranging rainforest wilderness safaris. This area is one of the best places to visit in Queensland in winter, during the dry season.

On the beautiful Fraser Coast, about a 3.5-hour drive from Brisbane, World Heritage-listed K'Gari (Fraser Island) is the largest sand island in the world . Four-wheel drive adventures here explore wide windswept beaches, crystal-clear lakes and streams, dingoes, dense forests, sacred Aboriginal sites, and multi-hued rock formations.

Seventy-Five Mile Beach is the island's main thoroughfare and provides access to some of K'Gari's top attractions . These include the rusted hull of the Maheno shipwreck , the bubbling rock pools of Champagne Pools , Eli Creek , and the colored sandstone cliffs of The Pinnacles .

Tiger sharks, dolphins, and whales swim in the wind-whipped waters, and the island's fauna includes Australia's purest strain of dingo and more than 300 species of birds.

Top things to do inland include swimming in the aquamarine Lake McKenzie ; exploring the rainforest trails of Central Station; and visiting Lake Wabby , backed by a towering sandblow.

The most popular access point for tours to Fraser Island is Hervey Bay, the whale watching capital of Australia. From here, you can hop aboard a car or passenger ferry to K'Gari or book a Fraser Island day tour.

Off the coast of central Queensland, the Whitsunday group encompasses 74 stunning islands strung along the Great Barrier Reef . The Whitsundays are continental islands, the summits of a coastal range emerging from the sea. All but five of them have been declared national parks, and about eight are home to popular resorts.

Popular things to do in the Whitsundays include diving and snorkeling tours, sailing trips, basking on the dazzling tropical beaches, and relaxing at the island resorts.

The most famous resorts include luxurious Hayman Island ; tiny Daydream Island Resort; well-developed Hamilton Island , the largest of the island resorts; and Palm Bay Resort on beautiful Long Island, with access to 13 kilometers of walking tracks.

On uninhabited Whitsunday Island, Whitehaven Beach, with its powdery white sands and turquoise water, is one of the most beautiful beaches in Australia .

Airlie Beach is the main launching points for island excursions.

Dotted with palms and mango trees, the once-sleepy village of Port Douglas is now a charming holiday resort. It's the closest mainland town to the Great Barrier Reef , making it a popular base for reef trips, as well as wilderness safaris in Daintree National Park . This picturesque town lies about an hour's drive north of Cairns, along a scenic coastal road, which winds between beaches and rainforest-cloaked hills.

Skirting the beautiful blond sweep of Four Mile Beach , Port Douglas has a relaxed tropical vibe, with cute cafés, shops, and art galleries. From the Flagstaff Hill Lookout enjoy breathtaking views of the palm-fringed beach merging with the turquoise Coral Sea.

Top things to do in Port Douglas include getting up close to Aussie animals at the Wildlife Habitat , shopping at the farmers markets, and soaking up the downtown scene on Macrossan Street. Other adventures on offer include safaris in all-terrain vehicles to Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation , fishing trips, northbound expeditions through the rugged landscape of the Cape York Peninsula , and boat trips to Cooktown and the Great Barrier Reef.

Thanks to the year-round toasty weather in the tropics, Port Douglas is one of the best places to visit in Queensland in winter. This is the prime tourist season, when the weather is typically sunny and dry.

In a superb location, between the Great Barrier Reef and the dark hills of the Atherton Tableland, Cairns is one of the most popular tourist towns in Far North Queensland. It makes a great base to explore the best of Queensland.

Cairns is a friendly, laid-back town, with palm-fringed streets, large parks, and colorful gardens. Beautiful beaches radiate out along the coast from Trinity Bay and Palm Cove to Port Douglas. Feel like a stroll? The five-kilometer-long Cairns Esplanade runs along the bay, with a saltwater swimming lagoon and free water-themed playground for young children.

Cairns is an excellent base for day trips. It's one of the most popular launching points for excursions to the Great Barrier Reef , as well as tropical islands such as Green Island and Fitzroy Island .

The Atherton Tableland to the southwest is another popular day trip destination, where you can explore rainforest reserves, waterfalls, and the charming attractions in the mountain village of Kuranda. The Kuranda Scenic Railway or the Skyrail cableway offers spectacular views over the surrounding countryside and the World Heritage-listed rainforests of Barron Gorge National Park .

Other top things to do in Cairns include visiting the Flecker Botanic Gardens, with more than 100 species of palms, and learning about the region's history at Cairns Museum. Cairns is also one of Australia's best fishing destinations .

Wondering where to stay in Cairns? You'll find accommodation to suit all budgets, from buzzy backpacker digs to flashy resorts.

Stretching from Caloundra to Noosa Heads, the Sunshine Coast is one of the most popular places to visit in South East Queensland. Known for its beautiful beaches, it's also a popular holiday spot for Aussies, only about two hours north of the Gold Coast high-rises but seemingly a world away. Beaches are among the top attractions on the Sunshine Coast , from peaceful, cliff-fringed bays to famous surf breaks.

Noosa Heads is one of the most popular resort areas. Its postcard-perfect slice of sand and sea, Main Beach, is one of Noosa's top attractions , and it's also home to a famous surf break.

For more beautiful beaches and fantastic surfing, Coolum is another great place to visit on the Sunshine Coast. The Point Arkwright Trail here connects a series of secluded cliff-fringed bays, where you can escape the crowds and take a cool dip on a hot summer's day.

And more beaches await at Caloundra , from popular Kings Beach, with its oceanfront pool, to Moffat's point break and the perfect paddling waters of Paradise Beach.

Maroochydore is the region's bustling commercial center and the location of the Sunshine Coast airport.

A trip to Kuranda, a charming rainforest village on the Atherton Tableland, is as much about the journey as the destination. From just outside of Cairns, you can take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and fly over World Heritage-listed rainforests and the beautiful Barron River and Gorge .

Alternatively, the Kuranda Scenic Railway chugs through the rainforest, past rugged peaks and waterfalls. The journey ends in the little station at Kuranda, about 25 kilometers northwest of Cairns, which is almost hidden by tropical plants and palms.

Exploring Kuranda's highlights starts with a stroll around the village. Artsy shops, galleries, and the colorful Kuranda markets sell souvenirs and local crafts, and you can soak up a slice of nature at several animal sanctuaries. The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Birdworld, Kuranda Koala Gardens, and Rainforestation Nature Park are favorite things to do in Queensland for families.

Walks can be arranged on request from Kuranda to the wildly romantic Barron Gorge National Park . At Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park by the Caravonic Lakes, you can learn about Aboriginal culture and enjoy frequent native dance performances.

Travelers wishing to take the scenic self-drive route to Kuranda will also enjoy the journey.

The Gold Coast is one of Australia's best-known holiday regions. During the last few decades, a building boom transformed the coast into a kind of tropical Las Vegas, with skyscrapers and shopping malls stretching from Southport in the north to Coolangatta in the south.

Packed with tourist attractions and high-rise hotels, Surfers Paradise - "Surfers" for short - is a tourist magnet, legendary for its alliterative assets: sun, surf, and sand. But it's easy to escape the crowds in the surrounding wilderness areas or on the outlying beaches.

Despite Surfers Paradise's reputation for hedonism, you'll find plenty of Queensland attractions for families in the region. South of Surfers Paradise, kids love Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary , and Movie World , where old film sets have been recreated by Warner Bros. To the north, in Southport, you can see your favorite marine creatures at Sea World .

Not surprisingly, swimming, sunbathing, and surfing are popular things to do on Queensland's Gold Coast , and nature lovers will find plenty of attractions to explore. Excellent networks of roads lead to scenic lookouts in the hinterland, where many wilderness areas are within easy reach, including popular Lamington National Park .

To visit the Gold Coast, you can fly into Coolangatta airport, near the Queensland-New South Wales border.

Brisbane, Australia's third largest city and the capital of Queensland, offers a more relaxed pace than the larger capitals in the country's southeast. It makes a great base to explore Queensland. The city straddles the Brisbane River and is bounded on the east by the sea and on the west by the Great Dividing Range.

Visitors love the city's sunny climate and its luxuriant parks and gardens. Top things to do in Brisbane include strolling around the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, with more than 2,000 species of plants, and visiting Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary , one of the few places where you can touch and feed koalas.

Family-friendly South Bank Parklands features riverside walking and biking trails, lush gardens, shops, and restaurants.

River cruises are also popular. One of Brisbane's best known tourist attractions is the Kookaburra Queen , an old paddle steamer, which cruises down the Brisbane River, and the River Life Adventure Centre offers adrenalin-fueled water sports on the river.

Other things to see and do include shopping at the Queen Street Mall , climbing the Story Bridge , exploring the exhibits at the kid-friendly Queensland Museum , browsing the inspirational art exhibits at QAGOMA , and enjoying beautiful city views from Mt Coot-tha Lookout .

Brisbane is also a great jumping-off point for a range of rewarding day trips that showcase the best of Queensland, from island getaways and wildlife-rich national parks to the famous Australia Zoo and family-friendly theme parks.

Ever wanted to swim with a humpback whale or come eye-to-eye with one of these gentle giants? This bucket-list adventure is one of the top things to do in Hervey Bay , the whale watching capital of Australia .

In 2019, Hervey Bay became the first place in the world to earn a World Cetacean Alliance designation as a Whale Heritage Site .

What makes it so special? K'Gari (Fraser Island) shelters the shallow waters off Hervey Bay, providing a sanctuary for these magnificent marine mammals. Here, they take a break from their long migration to rest, socialize, and teach their calves, and lucky visitors can enjoy up-close exhilarating encounters with them. Some cruises even offer you the chance to swim with the whales , one of the unique things to do in Queensland.

Wondering about the best time to visit Hervey Bay for whale watching? Late July through early November are the prime months. And if you're not visiting during whale season, you'll find plenty of other nature experiences in Hervey Bay, from eco-cruises , sunset cruises, and fishing charters to Indigenous cultural tours and spending time on the peaceful beaches.

Craving some tranquility in the country? Head to the Sunshine Coast hinterland villages of Maleny & Montville. Both these charming villages sit high in the Blackall Ranges with breathtaking views of the Glasshouse Mountains, a cluster of volcanic plugs rising out of the coastal plain.

Maleny is dairy country. That means rolling green hills, cows, and, best of all, cheese! You can sample some while you're here, as well as other artisan products, like the sweet cocoa treats at Maleny Chocolate Factory.

Montville also offers inspirational views of the lush valleys and the Glasshouse Mountains. Art galleries, craft cottages, boutiques, and gift shops peek out from veils of blossoms on the main street. Along with Maleny, it's one of the best country towns to visit in Queensland, and it's the perfect place to linger and enjoy Devonshire tea.

Nature is also never far away. Look for pademelons on the rainforest trails at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve , enjoy a picnic at Barron Pocket Dam , spot platypus on the Obi Obi Boardwalk right near downtown Maleny, or hike to Kondalilla Falls .

About a two-hour drive south of Brisbane, Lamington National Park is a World Heritage Area and one of the state's most popular national parks. Located on the Lamington Plateau of the McPherson Range , amid the remnants of an ancient volcano, the park contains spectacular scenery, with steep gorges, more than 500 waterfalls, tropical and subtropical rainforests, and beech forests in the higher elevations.

Nature buffs will be in heaven here. More than 190 species of birds live in the park, including bowerbirds and colorful flocks of parrots. Red-necked pademelons, a small kangaroo-like marsupial, frolic at the rainforest fringes, and the shy platypus swims in the park's river rock pools.

Lamington National Park is also a haven for hikers with more than 150 kilometers of walking trails.

Official site: http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/lamington/

Townsville is the largest tropical town in Australia. It's an excellent base for excursions and tours, particularly to beautiful Magnetic Island and the Great Barrier Reef, but it also offers plenty of tourist attractions of its own.

The town lies on Cleveland Bay at the foot of Castle Hill , a 300-meter-high granite crag. Walking tracks lead to its peak, with panoramic views over the town and sea. But perhaps the best place to start exploring the city is the Strand . Strolling along this scenic waterfront promenade, you can take a dip at one of the swimming areas, soak up some of the region's history at Jezzine Barracks , enjoy a picnic in a park, or dine at a nearby café.

Apart from the picturesque waterfront, Townsville owes much of its charm to its many parks and private gardens filled with luxuriant tropical flowers. While you're here, be sure to take a stroll through the Queen's Gardens, Townsville's oldest botanical garden, and Townsville Palmetum, with the world's largest collection of palms.

Families will find plenty of kid-friendly attractions. Pack a picnic and head to Riverway , with its pretty riverfront parkland, walking and biking trails, art exhibits, and free swimming pools, and if you're interested in the local aquatic life, Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium features an underwater tunnel where you can view the coral reef and marine life up close.

Other popular things to do in Townsville include visiting the Museum of Tropical Queensland and diving the SS Yongala wreck.

Made famous by the late Steve Irwin, the charismatic croc-loving Aussie conservationist, Australia Zoo is one of Queensland's best loved family attractions. An easy day trip from Brisbane , the zoo has a strong focus on education and conservation. As well as Aussie favorites like kangaroos, koalas, emus, dingoes, - and crocs - you can also see exotic animal species, including Sumatran tigers, rhinos, meerkats, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, and elephants.

Crocoseum performances are a great way to learn more about some of the fascinating creatures that call the zoo home, including birds of prey, snakes, and the venue's namesake crocodiles. You can also ride a camel, feed a kangaroo or red panda, and cuddle a koala. The zoo is spread out over 110 acres, so make sure you wear your walking shoes.

Official site: http://www.australiazoo.com.au/

Remote, rugged, and rich in Aboriginal history, the Cape York Peninsula & Torres Strait Islands are some of the most the unique places to visit in Queensland.

Looking for adventure? You'll find it on the legendary "trip to the tip" of Cape York Peninsula, one of Australia's epic road-trips. You can also reach some of the top Cape York destinations on a day trip from Cairns, including the historic settlement of Cooktown and the wildlife-rich wetlands of Lakefield National Park .

But to hit the northernmost tip of Australia, excellent planning and an off-road vehicle are essential. River crossings are part of the adventure, and in the far north, wet season deluges wash out the rudimentary roads, so travel must be tackled during the dry season, from May to October.

Along the way, you'll see jungly rain forests, wild mangrove-fringed beaches, sprawling savannah, croc-filled rivers, ancient rock art, and fascinating Aboriginal communities. North of Weipa, it's usually necessary to camp, and satellite phones are highly recommended.

If you're not up for the planning and logistics of a self-drive tour of this wild, relatively unspoiled region, you can always take an organized tour or fly directly into one of the 274 Torres Strait Islands north of Cape York's tip. Thursday Island is the main administrative center and a great place to learn about the culture of the Torres Strait islanders. Horn Island reveals a fascinating military history. Private Roko Island offers a unique glamping experience, and you can tour a pearl farm here and on Friday Island .

Fishing charters off Weipa are another popular way to explore this untamed coast.

More on Australia

3 Weeks on East Coast of Australia

DISCLAIMER: This post might have links to travel services and products that we enjoy. We might make a commission from it at no extra cost to you.

The East Coast of Australia is a dream destination for many. With its stunning beaches, famous cities like Sydney and Brisbane, and the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef, there’s something for everyone.

If you’re an adventure seekers, you can enjoy surfing and snorkelling , while those who love culture can explore vibrant city life and rich history. Plus, with its friendly locals and diverse wildlife , it’s a place where unforgettable memories are made, making it a must-visit spot for foreign visitors.

Australia’s beautiful East Coast has been drawing travellers from all over the world for decades. The postcard white sand beaches, shimmering water, world-class surf, and laid-back Australian island ambience – this is an exciting way to spend 3 weeks on East Coast of Australia.

We also have this massive 3 weeks across Australia itinerary where you could include a visit to the West Coast.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE GOING TO THE EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA

Before you go book anything, there are a few things you should be aware of about visiting Australia, specifically the East Coast. In this part of the itinerary, I will help you decide when to visit, how much to budget, how to get around, and other travel tips:

When is the best time to go to the East Coast of Australia

The best time to visit the East Coast of Australia is generally during spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) . These seasons offer pleasant weather with moderate temperatures, ideal for outdoor activities and exploring the coast.

The peak tourist season is during the Australian summer, from December to February . This period sees the warmest weather, perfect for beach activities, but it also brings larger crowds and higher prices.

Winter, from June to August, is cooler and less crowded . While it’s winter, the climate remains relatively mild, making it a good time for those who prefer a quieter experience.

The rainy season varies along the coast but is typically during the summer months, especially in the tropical regions of Queensland, where you might experience tropical showers and occasional cyclones.

Are 3 weeks enough for East Coast of Australia

If you put together a list of cities properly, 20 days on East Coast of Australia is plenty of time. You can easily visit 4-5 cities. Planning what mode of transportation to use will also play a big role in ensuring that you can maximise your time without wasting it on airport and transport terminals.

What to pack

This depends on which season you plan to visit and the activities you want to do. If you’re an experienced surfer, you probably want to bring your own board, but you can also rent at many places along the Sunshine Coast.

If you plan to hike, don’t forget to bring comfortable shoes . I also recommend you bring at least one jumper/pullover because the wind at night, especially along the coast, can still be chilly, even in summertime.

How to get around

Getting around the East Coast of Australia offers various options. The most affordable is often buses, providing extensive coverage at low costs . But they can be the slowest choice.

For speed and convenience, flying is ideal , especially for covering long distances quickly. Trains offer a scenic and comfortable journey, though they might not be the fastest.

Renting a car is ideal for flexibilit y and exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations. It allows you to travel at your own pace and access areas not served by public transport, making it a great choice for a comprehensive and personalized travel experience.

However, Australia is massive, even with just visiting the East Coast. This means that you must craft your travel itinerary carefully to avoid spending more time driving than exploring.

This 3 weeks on East Coast of Australia itinerary is perfect for renting a car though . You can pick up the vehicle in Melbourne and then take it all the way to Sydney (it’s a 9-hour drive, but you can also take a break in Canberra for a night and explore the capital city.

From Sydney, you can take the car to the Blue Mountains, and finally, your last leg of the trip, from Sydney all the way to The Whitsunday Islands. You can then drop it off there and fly from Whitsunday Coast Airport to Cairns.

Language and currency

The main language spoken in Australia is English . While English is predominant, the country’s multicultural population also means that languages like Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, Cantonese, and Greek are widely spoken within various communities.

The main currency in Australia is the Australian Dollar (AUD) . Tourists generally cannot pay with other currencies directly. Card payments are widely accepted and often more convenient than cash, especially in cities and tourist areas. Using cards also provide better exchange rates and security for international travelers, but don’t forget to have some local cash in hand for emergencies.

Average travel cost for East Coast of Australia

The cost of a vacation in Australia can really vary depending on your style and level of comfort. Visiting during the summer season, the prices skyrocket. On the other hand, the shoulder seasons can save you a great amount of money.

• Affordable : B udget travellers can expect to spend around AUD 1,500-2,500 . This includes hostel stays, public transport, and mostly self-catered meals.
• Midrange : For a more comfortable trip with midrange hotels, some dining out, and domestic flights or car rental, the cost can range from AUD 3,500-6,000 .
• Luxury : Luxury travellers might spend AUD 8,000-15,000 or more . This includes staying in high-end hotels or resorts, dining at upscale restaurants, private tours, and possibly internal flights in business class.

These estimates cover accommodation, transport, meals, and some activities. Prices can vary based on the specific destinations within the East Coast, the season, and personal spending habits. Activities like diving, guided tours, and special experiences will add to the overall cost.

If you plan to do extreme activities such as sky diving, diving, surfing, and others, you should really make sure that you have travel insurance valid for Australia .

Australia has a strict visa policy. There are a limited number of countries that could visit Australia without a needed visa.

If your passport is from the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan, you can enter and travel around Australia for up to 6 months, depending on what passport you hold.

However, all visa-free countries are still required to get an eVisitor permit , which you can obtain online. Make sure to get this at least one or two weeks prior to your departure date to Australia.

New Zealand citizens have a freedom of movement in Australia.

Other foreign visitors not mentioned above must apply for a visitor visa from the nearest Australian embassy or consulate in your location.

You must also remember that Australia has a strict import law . There are many foods that you cannot bring here (e.g. dried fruit, homemade food, etc), which were put in place to protect its sensitive ecosystem.

Other travel tips

You can start arranging some travel items, such as booking your accommodation and tours, once you have the dates picked. It’s the hotel that you want to book as soon as possible, especially if you plan to visit during the peak season.

The travel sites below are what we highly recommend on our blog because many of them are super flexible with cancellations and offer a wide range of choices.

PINNED MAP OF MUST-SEE PLACES ON THE EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA

Click the enlarge button on the top right corner. Credit: map data: Google

TRIP COST CALCULATOR

Trip cost calculator, 3 weeks on east coast of australia itinerary.

Starting in Melbourne, Victoria, and ending in Cairns , Queensland, this detailed itinerary takes you through 3 Australian states . This means that if you follow this itinerary, you want to book your flight into Australia to Melbourne and then fly out of Cairns.

From mountainous bushland and rainforests to the whitest sand beach in the world to small surf towns, iconic sprawling cities, and pristine islands, this itinerary has it all.

For extra local tips and tricks to help you have the best time possible, I also reached out to my friend Luca Saunders. Luca is an 18-year-old traveller and creator of the travel blog Hello World, Here I Come . She’s also an Australian local who’s spent a large amount of time travelling up and down the East Coast. 

So what are you waiting for? Here is the top 3-week itinerary that’s guaranteed to give the best, authentic, and memorable experience of Australia’s beautiful coastline.

Melbourne for 4 days

Melbourne is one of Australia’s most popular and iconic cities, known for its art and music scenes, lively young crowds, and delicious food.

Melbourne is one of Australia’s most accessible cities by plane, making it a good starting point to access the greater East Coast . You can also take plenty of day trips to famous landmarks like the Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles, and more.

From here, you can pick up a car rental, or you can do that once you reach Sydney instead.

Things to do in Melbourne

• Melbourne Cricket Ground – a tour that you can join
• National Gallery of Victoria
• Day trip to Phillip Island – see the penguins and Moonlit Sanctuary or the one with Penguin and Koala tour
• Shrine of Remembrance
• Melbourne Skydeck – check the updated price
• Federation Square
• Great Ocean and 12 Apostles – book a day tour from Melbourne
• South Wharf Area
• Polly Woodside – the country’s last surviving 19th-century ships
• Garden and Sporting Precinct River Cruise
• Ride Hot Air Baloon – check the tour price and reviews
• City Circle Tram
• Skydive Melbourne
• Luna Park in Melbourne
• Yarra River Cruise – enjoy a dinner cruise or balloon flight at sunrise or a bottomless brunch cruise
• Visit Yarra Valley and go on a Winery Tour
• National Tennis Centre (Rod Laver Arena)
• Williamstown Ferry Cruise – read the reviews and see the tour price
• Royal Botanic Gardens
• Day trip to Healesville Sanctuary – ride Puffing Billy and see the rescued wild animals
• Go to an art gallery

You wouldn’t have really visited Melbourne if you didn’t check out the city’s famous art scene. Visit the famed Australian Museum of Modern Art, then head to the Linden New Art Gallery to see some of Australia’s upcoming contemporary artists’ work.

• Go to an underground concert

Melbourne’s music scene is renowned, but not for large artists in stadium tours. Melbourne has a thriving underground music scene, with tiny packed bars showcasing local bands and artists. These shows aren’t often publicly promoted, so head to a Melbourne music Facebook page to see what you can find.

• Do a day trip along the Great Ocean Road and Visit the 12 Apostles

The best day trip from Melbourne has to be a drive along the Great Ocean Road. You can even stop along the way to see the iconic 12 Apostles. ( suggested tour ). So book a tour or rent a car and head out for a full day of exploring some of the country’s most dramatic coastal scenery.

• Take a food tour

Melbourne has some of Australia’s most diverse and delicious cuisine. Grab a tour or simply walk through the streets of some of Melbourne’s hip districts and find an unbelievable range of cuisines to taste. I recommend visiting A1 Bakery and Very Good Falafel.

• Try a delicious Australian coffee

Australia is famous for its coffee, and for good reason. Just walking around, you’ll find thousands of little coffee shops dotting the streets. The best coffee usually comes from small businesses, and for the full experience, get yourself the quintessential Aussie drink, the flat white.

• Take a walk through Fitzroy and Northcote

Fitzroy and Northcote are two of the city’s trendiest suburbs. Take a walk through the graffitied back allies to see street art, vintage shops, tiny galleries, record stores, and hip restaurants. 

Accommodations in Melbourne

• Affordable: Space Hotel or Flinders Backpackers
• Mid-range: The Victoria Hotel or Atlantis Hotel
• Luxury: The Langham or Crown Towers

Sydney and The Blue Mountains for 6 days

Sydney and its nearby Blue Mountains are two of the most famous spots to visit in Australia. S ydney is famous for its iconic landmarks like the Opera House and Harbor Bridge , while the Blue Mountains are famous for their stunning viewpoints and diverse native Australian forests. 

To get there from Melbourne, you can either take a short 1-hour flight, a 10-hour train or drive for roughly 8 hours. From the airport, the centre of Sydney is easily accessible due to the city’s amazing public transport system.

Things to do in Sydney and The Blue Mountains

• Sydney Opera House – book your tour in advance or watch La Boheme
• Chinese Garden of Friendship
• Explore the city and Bondi Beach – get your bus ticket or join a half-day tour or join a crime tour
• Darling Harbour
• Sydney Tower- look at the tour price and reviews and enjoy a buffet feast at the tower
• Luna Park Sydney
• Blue Mountains – book a day trip with a cruise
• Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
• Day trip to Katoomba Scenic World – get your hop-on, hop-off bus and park pas or bushwalk and lunch
• Cruise at Circular Quay
• Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park
• Madame Tussauds – skip the line and get a ticket in advance
• Queen Victoria Building
• Sydney Harbour – enjoy a sunset cruise or an all-inclusive dinner cruise
• BridgeClimb Sydney
• Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Day trip to Hunter Valley for wine, cheese, and chocolate tour
• King Street Wharf Darling Harbour
• Visit the iconic Australian landmarks

You can’t visit Sydney without visiting its iconic Australian landmarks. The Opera House, Luna Park, and the Harbor Bridge are the two most notable.

 For the cheapest experience, I recommend taking the Ferry from Circular Quay to Luna Park, which takes you right under the harbour bridge. From there you can take the train back over the bridge to see views of the Harbour and Opera House. 

Then take a picnic lunch and relax next to the Opera House in the beautiful Botanical Gardens.

• Relax at Manly Beach

Next, you have to visit the city’s iconic beaches. The best by far for overall experience is Manly. The beach has beautiful bright green ocean pools to swim and relax in, plus a surf break and hundreds of beautiful cafes, stores, and restaurants lining the beachfront. 

But make sure to put on sunscreen, and the Australian sun is relentless!

• Spend 2 days in the Blue Mountains National Park

A visit to Sydney is incomplete without heading to the Blue Mountains National Park, which is also where Luca grew up. The Blue Mountains are one of Australia’s natural wonders, with mountains that are actually… blue to the eye. 

The Mountains are the perfect place to go if you’re looking for peace, beautiful scenery, bushwalks, and adventure experiences. Relax under a waterfall, head for a walk, and enjoy the beautiful ambience. 

The Mountains are also one place in Australia where you can see snow! Read more in Luca’s expert guide on seeing snow in Australia . 

Read more about what to do and see in Luca’s Guide about why the Blue Mountains are worth visiting !

• Go rock climbing or canyoning 

One thing you must do in the Blue Mountains is experience Its world-class adventure. The Mountains are considered to be a mecca of Australian rock climbing, and with towering cliffs as far as the eye can see, that’s no surprise. Similarly, if you aren’t comfortable with heights, a canyon might be the way to go. 

If you aren’t experienced, make sure to book a tour instead. Try to book only tours with local guides from local companies, as private tourism has hurt the Blue Mountains over the last 10 years.

Accommodations in Sydney

• Affordable: Wake Up! Sydney Central or Sydney Harbour YHA
• Mid-range: Mariner’s Court Hotel or Meriton Suites
• Luxury: Sofitel Darling Harbour or Radisson Blue Plaza or Shangri-La

Noosa, Fraser Island, and The Whitsunday Islands for 9 days

Next, rent a car for the road trip of your life. Starting in Sydney, drive 11 hours up to the Sunshine Coast, stopping along the way if need be. You can take a night off at Rockhampton City, which is about 6 hours from Noosa, and then 5 hours to The Whitsunday Islands.

Spend 2 days exploring the beautiful beach town of Noosa , which has an unbelievable balance of facilities, rainforest, and beautiful beaches. There’s also a boat trip to Noosa Heads that you can book.

Then, drive just 4 hours from Noosa to K’gari (meaning paradise) , also known as Fraser Island. Spend 2 days there to soak up the unbelievable wildlife and natural scenery. You can see dolphins while doing sea kayaking as well.

From there, drive up to Airlie Beach , where you can access the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. The Islands are famed for being the whitest sand in the world and are an incredible place to explore Australia’s beautiful beaches and marine life. You need at least 3 days to experience this slice of paradise. 

Things to do in Noosa, The Whitsunday Islands and Fraser Island

• Noosa- Explore the hidden beaches

Noosa is famous for its beautiful boardwalk that spans from the town centre, along the main beach, and along the coast through the surrounding national park. Take a walk along the boardwalk to see some of Queensland’s most beautiful scenery, and hop off to spend some time at one of the pristine hidden beaches!

• Noosa- Do a surf lesson

Noosa has been a hub for surfers for decades. Take an afternoon to hop on a board and enjoy one of Australia’s world-class surf breaks. If you’re a pro, you can rent a board along the beach. If not, grab a surf lesson and experience a big part of Australia’s beach culture.

• K’gari- Drive a 75-mile beach

Taking a drive along a 75-mile beach is one of the best things to do on Fraser Island. Cars are allowed on the sand, so many locals can be found on nice days parked on the beach with a picnic and some beers to watch the sunset.

Driving along the beach is one of the best ways to experience the beautiful coastline to the fullest!

• K’gari- Explore the natural wonders

K’gari/ Fraser Island has some of Queensland’s most incredible natural sites. Find teaming Australian wildlife like quokkas and kangaroos, dunes as tall as the Opera house, crystal clear water, and native Australian bushland as far as the eye can see.

Spend a day simply hopping between the famous Champagne pools, the Pinnacles, and Lake Mckenzie, or take a drive along the sandy 4WD tracks from Eurong Beach to Kingfisher Bay to see the sub-tropical rainforest. From Noosa, you can book a cruise through Noosa Everglades .

• Whitsunday Islands- Relax on the whitest beach on earth

Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands has been named the whitest beach on earth multiple times, and you can’t visit the area without seeing it at least once. Boats to the beach depart from the Port of Airlie Marina or the Coral Sea Marina daily. 

• Whitsunday Islands- Take a snorkelling tour

And you can’t miss a stay near the great barrier reef without going snorkelling. Here you can see vibrant coral, schools of colourful fish, turtles, manta rays, and much more. Dives and snorkelling expeditions can be expensive, but they’re well worth the experience and exposure to marine life you can’t find in many other places on Earth.

• Airlie Beach – Go Skydiving

For the adrenaline junkies among us, Airlie Beach is one of the best places on earth to go skydiving. Jump from 15,000ft and fall over some of the bluest water and lushest rainforests on the planet. The air is also warmer, making skydiving an even more enjoyable experience!

Accommodations in Noosa

• Affordable: Noosa Flashpackers or Ingenia Holidays or Robyn’s Nest BnB
• Mid-range: South Pacific Resort & Spa or At The Sound Motel or River Retreat Apartments
• Luxury: Sofitel Pacific Resort or Noosa Place Resort or Caribbean Noosa

Accommodations in Rockhampton City

• Affordable: The Heritage Hotel or Palms Motor Inn or The Q Motel
• Mid-range: Quest Rockhampton or Coffee House Apartment Motel or Denison Boutique Hotel
• Luxury: Korte’s Resort or CocoBew Boutique Apartments or The Stirling Motel

Cairns for 2 days

And finally, fly or drive from Airlie Beach to Cairns at the northeast tip of Australia. The city has one of Australia’s biggest airports, making it a great place to finish up your East Coast trip. But spend 1 to 2 days exploring the city before heading off. If you’re interested in the native tribes, join an Aboriginal cultural tour.

Here, you can also reach The Great Barrier Reef, which is definitely a must-see during your 3 weeks on East Coast of Australia. Plus, the fact that you can simply lie on the beach and enjoy the sun and water, is a great way to wrap up your trip.

Things to do in Cairns

• Head to Crystal Cascades

Head to Crystal Cascades for a nice afternoon relaxing by the natural freshwater pools and waterfalls. Drive through the rainforest to find this secluded spot, if you rent a car in Sydney, make sure to keep it to make these waterfalls more accessible.

• Take the Kuranda Scenic Railway

The Kuranda Scenic Railway is a train service that has been running since 1891 over the great dividing range, from Cairns to the town of Kuranda. The railway runs over raised tracks around the rainforest, towering mountains, and beautiful waterfalls. 

Make sure to bring your camera! This is one of the most beautiful scenic train rides in Australia. There’s a day trip to Kuranda to make your visit more convenient.

• Grab a bite to eat at the Cairns Night Markets

Finally, you can’t miss grabbing some delicious food at Cairns Night Markets. The markets have over 70 stalls and vendors, with countless choices for a delicious dinner experience in the city. 

• See the Great Barrier Reef

There are a few ways to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef, the most popular and easiest is taking a scenic flight over the reef . For those who want to get in the water, there’s a snorkelling or dive tour that you can sign up for. For an easier snorkelling day, you can skip the Barrier Reef, and book a full-day Green Island cruise .

Accommodations in Cairns

• Affordable: Cairns City Backpackers Hostel or YHA Cairns Central or Mad Monkey Central
• Mid-range: Nightcap at Balaclava Hotel or Estilo Bed & Breakfast or Coral Tree Inn
• Luxury: Crystalbrook Riley or The Abbott Boutique Hotel or Crystalbrook Flynn or Shangri-La The Marina or Crystalbrook Bailey

MUST-TRY AUSTRALIAN DISHES AND DRINKS

Australia might not be known for their food, but you have to try at least a few dishes and see which ones you like. Plus, it’s a diverse country offering fusions from cuisines of India, East Asia, and Europe. Don’t forget to try the local coffee as well as visiting breweries.

• Barramundi Fish – A popular Australian fish often grilled or fried.
• Moreton Bay Bugs – A type of lobster native to Queensland, usually grilled or barbecued.
• Lamingtons – A classic Australian cake, dipped in chocolate and coated in coconut.
• Meat Pie – A staple snack, often filled with minced meat and gravy.
• Chicken Parmigiana – A pub favourite, featuring breaded chicken topped with tomato sauce and cheese.
• Damper – A traditional Australian bread, typically baked in a campfire.
• Pavlova – A meringue dessert with a crisp crust and soft, light inside, topped with fruit and whipped cream.
• Vegemite on Toast – A quintessential Australian spread made from yeast extract, commonly eaten on toast.
• Tim Tams – Iconic Australian chocolate biscuits.
• Anzac Biscuits – Oatmeal coconut cookies, originally made for soldiers during WWI.
• Fairy Bread – Bread spread with butter and covered in sprinkles, a children’s party favourite.
• Golden Syrup Dumplings – Sweet dumplings made with golden syrup, a classic comfort food.
• Flat White – A popular coffee drink, similar to a latte but with a higher coffee-to-milk ratio.
• Bundaberg Ginger Beer – A famous non-alcoholic ginger beer from Queensland.
• Lemon, Lime and Bitters – A refreshing drink made with lemonade, lime cordial, and Angostura bitters.

SUMMARY OF 3 WEEKS ON EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA ITINERARY

This East Coast of Australia Itinerary has everything, spanning 3 states and all kinds of experiences. From white sand beaches to sprawling mountains to iconic cities and towns, you’ll be able to experience everything the East Coast has to offer.

With Luca’s extra local knowledge, you’ll be able to visit undiscovered gems, have fun, adventurous experiences, and explore only the best the East Coast has to offer.

I hope that you found this itinerary for 3 weeks on East Coast of Australia helpful in planning your upcoming trip.

SAVE THIS TRAVEL ITINERARY ON YOUR PINTEREST:

12 best places to see on Australia's east coast

Mar 2, 2021 • 6 min read

Bondi Beach is one of the highlights of the east coast of Australia ©Getty Images

The ultimate Aussie road trip, East Coast Australia connects the Great Ocean Road with the Great Barrier Reef , with picture-perfect beaches, hip cities, charismatic wildlife and rainforests all along the way. There are many reasons to come here, and to linger, but none more impressive than the sheer natural drama of East Coast Australia.

Strung out for nearly 10,000km end to end, Australia’s east coast is, on land, a stirring succession of beaches, vast rainforests and alluring wildlife. Offshore, the Great Barrier Reef is a 2000km-long hyper-coloured haven for astonishing tropical marine life. There’s a lot to look at, but there’s even more to do. It could take a lifetime or, with just 10 days and a handful of airline tickets, you could taste a few of the east coast’s highlights from Melbourne to Cairns . The hardest part is deciding what to try first. To make it easier, here's 12 of the best places to see.

Editor's note: during COVID-19 there are restrictions on travel and opening hours may vary. Check the latest guidance in Australia before planning a trip, and always follow local health advice.

1. The Great Barrier Reef & the Daintree - Queensland

Best for ecotourism and astonishing marine life

The Great Barrier Reef and its 900 coral-fringed islands unfurl over 2000km along the Queensland coastline. This vivid undersea kingdom is an unforgettable world waiting to be discovered. And in Queensland’s far north, the Daintree Rainforest , one of the earth’s oldest, reaches right down to the shores of the sea.

Read more: How to have a sustainable visit to the Great Barrier Reef

2. Sydney - New South Wales

Best for iconic sights

Sydney is all about big-ticket sights – the Sydney Opera House , the Rocks and Sydney Harbour Bridge top most people’s lists. But to really catch Sydney’s vibe, spend a day at the beach. Stake out a patch of sand at Bondi Beach , slather yourself in sunscreen and plunge into the surf, or hop on a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly for a swim, surf or walk along the seasprayed promenade to Shelly Beach.

3. Great Ocean Road - Victoria

Best for scenic coastal drives and quaint towns

The Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road rank among Victoria ’s defining sights, but it’s the getting-there road trip that doubles their impact. Take it slow along roads that curl beside Bass Strait beaches, then whip inland through wildlife-rich rainforest and quaint towns. Further west are pretty Port Fairy and hidden Cape Bridgewater. For the ultimate in slow travel, hike the Great Ocean Walk from Apollo Bay to the Apostles.

4. Byron Bay - New South Wales

Best for surfing, glamping and celebrity-spotting

Australia’s most easterly point, Byron Bay or Byron to its mates, is one of the enduring icons of Australian culture. Families on school holidays, surfers and sunseekers from around the globe, and those seeking to escape the rat race gather here, drawn by fabulous restaurants, a laid-back ethos, surf beaches and an astonishing range of activities. It also inhabits one of the most beautiful stretches of coast in the country.

5. The Whitsundays - Queensland

Best for sailing and turquoise seas

You could spend a lifetime exploring tropical islands and never find anywhere with the sheer magnificence of the Whitsundays . Travellers of all monetary persuasions launch yachts from party town Airlie Beach and elsewhere to drift between these lush green isles in a slow search for paradise (you’ll probably find it in more than one place). Sheltered palm-fringed coves, some of the world’s most stunning beaches, turquoise seas – what more could you wish for?

6. Melbourne - Victoria

Best for music, art, cafe culture and food

Whether it’s the arts, cafe culture, the restaurant scene or big international sports events, Melbourne is a happening place. The next best restaurant, chef, cafe, barista or hidden bar may be the talk of the town, but some things endure: the gritty street-art laneways; galleries and dynamic cultural life; the leafy parks and gardens in the inner city; the trams to sea-breezy beaches; and the passionate allegiances that living in such a sports-mad city brings.

7. The Sunshine Coast - Queensland

Best for pretty villages and glamorous resorts

They don’t call it the Sunshine Coast for nothing. Sun-soaked beaches, the glamorous resort town of Noosa , Noosa National Park , Australia Zoo ... Few regions pack so many attractions into such a small space. Surfers come here for the long, rolling waves and, in the national park, lovely hiking trails criss-cross the park and take you within sight of sleepy koalas in the trees and dolphins swimming off rocky headlands.

8. Fraser Island - Queensland

Best place to see dingoes, sand dunes and shipwrecks

Fraser Island is an ecological wonderland created by drifting sand, where wild dingoes roam free and lush rainforest grows on sand. It’s a primal island utopia, home to a profusion of wildlife, including the purest strain of dingo in Australia. Explore in a 4WD, cruising along the seemingly endless Seventy-Five Mile Beach. Elsewhere, tropical rainforest, pristine freshwater pools and beach camping under the stars will bring you back to nature.

Read more: A first-timer’s guide to visiting Australia’s Fraser Island

9. South Coast New South Wales

Best for families, white-sand beaches and whale-spotting

If the glamour of Sydney is making you dizzy, or the road trip to Melbourne feels a little drab, then seek out the New South Wales South Coast , a gorgeous stretch of sandy coves, sea pools and often empty national parks oft overlooked in favour of the more direct Hume Highway route. From June to November, watch for whales from the coast at Eden and elsewhere, with other iconic wildlife never far away.

10. Brisbane - Queensland

Best for emerging cultural scenes and waterfront vistas

Once considered a provincial sidekick to Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane has reinvented itself as one of Asia Pacific’s hippest hubs. No longer happy to settle for 261 days of sunshine a year, Queensland’s capital is smashing it on the cultural front, with an ever-expanding collection of ambitious street art and galleries, boutique bookshops, secret cocktail bars and award-winning microbreweries.

12. Wilsons Promontory & Gippsland - Victoria

Best for wildlife, hiking and wildly beautiful beaches

Mainland Australia’s southernmost tip and finest coastal national park, Wilsons Promontory, is heaven for bushwalkers, wildlife watchers, surfers and photographers. The scenery here is out of this world: even a short detour from the park base at Tidal River will access swathes of white-sand beaches and bays.

12. Canberra - Australian Capital Territory

Best for museums, galleries and history

Canberra has always been preoccupied with the nation’s history – the major draws here are lavishly endowed museums and galleries. The National Gallery of Australia , National Museum of Australia , National Portrait Gallery and Australian War Memorial all offer visitors a fascinating insight into the country’s history and culture. An emerging culinary scene, small-town feel and beautiful natural surrounds only add to the appeal.

You might also like:

Top 15 beaches in Australia Top 20 free things to do in Sydney Unforgettable road trips on Australia’s East Coast

This article was first published Apr 29, 2010 and updated Mar 2, 2021.

Explore related stories

Feb 13, 2022 • 6 min read

Australia's best wild swimming spots are the ones you have all to yourself, even in the middle of summer.

Sep 24, 2020 • 7 min read

Sep 22, 2024 • 6 min read

Sep 21, 2024 • 7 min read

Sep 21, 2024 • 11 min read

Sep 21, 2024 • 9 min read

Sep 20, 2024 • 9 min read

Sep 18, 2024 • 6 min read

Sep 18, 2024 • 2 min read

Sep 18, 2024 • 4 min read

Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary: A Complete Guide

Australia’s East Coast is one of the most popular places in the world to travel. It spans the length of Queensland and into New South Wales, and features the larger cities of Cairns and Brisbane. With its world class beaches, ancient rainforests, endless adrenaline activities and charming towns, it’s truly a destination like no other. So the main aim of this guide is to equip you with everything you need to know to plan your own Australia East Coast road trip itinerary.

I’ve done three road trips along Australia’s East Coast (mad, I know!). The first time, I joined an organised tour from Brisbane up to Cairns. It was fast paced and more fun than I could have ever imagined. The second time, I chose to do the journey more slowly in a camper van south from Cairns to Byron Bay. For the third visit, I did an awesome but far shorter one week road trip from Byron Bay to Noosa. So I feel I’ve got really sound experience in devising an East Coast itinerary.

One of the best things about the East Coast of Australia is the sheer variety in things to do. On each East Coast trip, I’ve ended up doing completely different things and each road trip has been equally incredible.

If you’re trying to decide which direction to travel the East Coast, there aren’t really any overarching reasons to go one way and not the other. The biggest factors will be around your plans before and after the East Coast, plus the time you have available. If you are planning to take 6+ weeks, I would suggest perhaps starting in Cairns. Then you could carry on driving south past Brisbane and on towards Sydney and Melbourne.

For the purpose of this blog post, I will share an Australian East Coast road trip itinerary starting in the tropical city of Cairns in the north. From here, the itinerary will weave south past pristine beaches, rugged mountains ranges, waterfalls, tropical rainforest, charming surf towns, some of the world’s best diving spots, as well as the epic K’gari island (also known as Fraser Island).

This guide is aimed at all travellers, with suggestions for both backpackers and those on a slightly bigger budget throughout. It can be used for anyone travelling in Australia as it covers all the best things to do along the East Coast.

Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary: Essential things to know

Wow, so where to start! Some of the most important things to consider for an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary are time of year to visit, vehicle type and budget. So let’s get stuck in!

When is the best time to travel the East Coast of Australia?

First things first – when is the best time of year to plan a road trip for Australia’s East Coast?

As you can see below, Australia is a huge country. You can fit about two thirds of Europe into its land mass. And therefore, the weather across the whole of Australia does vary, especially more so in the Australian winter months (May to September). I’ve summarised this below, but do make sure to check out my detailed Australia climate guide too.

Cairns, in Tropical North Queensland, is the largest northernmost town on the East Coast and has hot weather year-round. However, this is divided into two distinct seasons – wet and dry.

During the Australian winter ( May to September ), Cairns experiences warm, dry weather and low crowds .

During the Australian summer ( November to April ), Cairns is hot and humid, with plenty of rain . This tropical monsoonal starts building up in December and by January, the rains are mostly daily and can be torrential.

Although the days can still be hot and sunny, the tropical rains can make diving conditions more challenging, and visibility worse for seeing underwater life. And as Cairns is popular for diving, it could be a real shame to visit and not be able to enjoy this fully.

Another key factor with Cairns and the surrounding area is stinger season. This refers to the presence of tiny stinging box jellyfish in the water. The sting can be extremely painful, and can be fatal in some cases. If you do visit in the months when this is at its worse (Jan to March), you will have to wear stinger suits in the water.

So, where possible, visiting Cairns in the Australian winter means long, sunny days, with minimal rain and no stingers in the water. As mentioned above, conditions for diving in the Great Barrier Reef are optimal with perfect water temperatures and visibility in excess of 50m. It’s also an excellent time to see the magnificent Daintree Rainforest at its best and full of life. Furthermore, the water levels are ideal so white water rafting is an awesome activity to during this time, but can often be too dangerous during the months from January to March.

From personal experience, I found the weather in Cairns during August/September to be perfect. We were able to experience every activity and as this is the start of spring, there was plenty of colour and life in the plants and trees. On my second road trip, we were in Cairns in the month of December which was still quite good, although noticeably hotter and humid. It was early December and we experienced no rainfall, but prices for accommodation were higher. I also got stung by a rogue stinger who had made an early arrival into the waters in the Great Barrier Reef. It was very painful for about 30 minutes, and then the sting subsided.

So to summarise, it depends on the activities you plan to do in Cairns as to when is the best time to visit, but generally the months from May to September are best.

Then, at the southern end of Queensland is Brisbane. It receives some of the most enjoyable and reliable weather in Australia throughout the year. It has a warm-temperate climate, meaning there are few days you’d need a jumper.

As with Cairns, the Australian summer from January to March bring the hottest and most humid weather . During this period is the highest chance of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, although they are mostly in the late afternoon.

The best time to visit Brisbane is April to May and September to November , when temperatures are comfortable and humidity and rainfall are low. However, June through to August is also a great time to go to Brisbane, but the temperatures are slightly cooler.

I found Brisbane in the months of September and December to be really lovely, with long hot, sunny days. However, visiting Brisbane and the surrounding area in February did bring a lot of rain.

So when should I plan my East Coast road trip?

Overall, visiting Queensland, which spans from Tropical North Queensland to just south of Brisbane, is best avoided from January to March in order to have the best experience for most activities. If you’re embarking on a longer Australia trip, then it might be best to spend these months in New South Wales (Sydney and surrounds) and Victoria (for Melbourne and surrounds), as the weather here is at its peak from January to March. The same goes for visiting the Outback, which is generally best visited from April to October/November.

If your Australia trip is focused purely on the East Coast, with the Cairns to Brisbane road trip being the primary focus, then a trip from May to August would be the best time. This also avoids stinger season completely. It would be slightly cooler in Brisbane, but you would still unlikely need a jumper or a jacket.

If you’re on a longer trip in Australia, then as just mentioned, you could spend December – March exploring Victoria and New South Wales, before then heading to the East Coast from April onwards. Alternatively, you could do the Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary during August, September and/or October, before heading down to Victoria and New South Wales onwards for the better weather during the Australian summer.

How long does it take to travel East Coast Australia?

If you’re short on time, then it can be done in two weeks. This would cover the highlights. If you can spare longer, perhaps 4-6 weeks you’ll have enough time to see and do just about everything, and have some time to relax!

If you have two months or so, then an awesome adventure would be to drive from Cairns to Melbourne which would easily take in some of the very best parts of Australia. You’d traverse through some seriously different climates and experience both the tiniest beach towns as well as the huge, cosmopolitan cities of Sydney and Melbourne.

Should I go for a car or a camper van for my East Coast road trip?

Any road trip in Australia is best with a camper van. The freedom is unparalleled and you can truly travel at your own pace.

With a camper van, you can adjust your itinerary more easily and generally, it offers better value as the camper van doubles up as your accommodation each night. However, a camper van isn’t for everyone as space can be challenging.

The main camper van companies in Australia are:

• Spaceships Rentals
• Wicked Campers

Pros and cons of a camper van

• Can save costs on more expensive hotel or lodging accommodation
• It can save money on food costs as you have your own stove/kitchen area in the van which is great for easy breakfasts and some dinners
• Is a good way to split fuel costs between friends if there’s a few of you
• You can easily stay longer somewhere you like if you don’t need to look for accommodation
• There are many free campsites, motorway rest stops or areas to park and sleep overnight (check Wikicamping and the state parks’ app/websites )
• You can sleep and wake up so much closer to nature
• You don’t need to carry suitcases or bags in and out of hotels
• In the busiest months, the cost of a camper van can be steep
• You will spend more on fuel as the vehicle is heavier
• Making the bed each night can get a little tiring and sand from the beaches gets everywhere
• You can’t really keep the air-con on overnight without draining the battery, so it gets hot!
• Also, it’s likely you will lose stuff within the van all the time. There are just way too many cubby holes and spaces for things to fall down
• There may be some days you go without a shower
• Can be moments where it’s difficult to park, especially if you visit cities like Brisbane
• There are many ways to lose money from your deposit with a camper van as there are so many more parts to it to break!

If you really fancy resting your head somewhere a little more comfortable each night, then a car is a great option. You still have a huge amount of freedom, but just slightly less freedom as you do need to find somewhere to sleep each night.

Pros and cons of hiring a car

• Lower initial cost for renting a vehicle
• Also lower petrol costs
• Easier to park in general
• You have a boot to keep your suitcase in, and act as an on-the-go wardrobe space
• Less risk of losing things as the vehicle is way smaller
• No need to go without showers and guaranteed a slightly more comfortable and cooler sleep every night
• May save money if hotels, lodges etc include breakfast in the rate
• Need to find a place to stay each night, which can be expensive and time consuming/stressful in peak season
• In my option, there’s a slight less feel of ‘adventure’ with a normal hire car, as opposed to a camper van

Joining an organised tour or using bus services

I joined an organised tour one year with Topdeck (read all about the trip here ). Generally, I don’t tend to join multi-week tours but it was aimed at students and more than 40 of my friends booked on. So as you can imagine, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I enjoyed some awesome adventures each day, with nearly all meals and activities included, it was excellent value. Except for skydiving, all other activities were already paid for, including bungee jumping, white water rafting and admission to the Australia Zoo.

Organised tours along the East Coast of Australia are very popular, but naturally, they don’t allow for any freedom or adjusting the itinerary at all. However, it can be a great way to meet people and have all logistics taken care of.

Some great companies include: Contiki , G Adventures , the Oz Experience, Intrepid

Stray also has a great value Cairns to Sydney bus pass, which you can book online here .

Another alternative is to use bus services such as Greyhound or Premier. Both of these companies offer dozens of buses stopping at hundreds of convenient stops across the East Coast every day. Plus, you can book the tickets just the day before and sometimes on the day, which can be really handy. If you don’t fancy driving the East Coast yourself, this is a great way to travel. They also offer hop-on hop-off bus passes which can be great value – for example, Greyhound has a bus pass that covers you for 90 days and starts at around $349.

Greyhound offers the slightly more expensive bus tickets of the two, but the buses are comfortable and offer on board Wi-Fi.

Finally, I wouldn’t recommend planning to do this trip by hitchhiking. It’s not as common as movies might suggest!

Eating on the East Coast

Three meals a day, plus snacks and coffees/drinks can add up quickly when travelling in Australia.

Fortunately, BBQ-ing in Australia is every bit as popular as you might imagine. There are gas BBQs all over Australia in parks, by beaches, in national parks and next to boardwalks. They are free to use and really easy to operate, most having utensils to use too. There’s always plenty of table space nearby and it’s one of the most easy ways to assimilate into Australian life, as these are equally popular with locals and tourists.

Supermarkets are really geared up to this, and their meat section sells all kinds of meats in different marinades, making it really easy. Furthermore, they always have a delicatessen section with choose-your-own salad bowls and side dishes. It couldn’t be more simple to pull together an amazing BBQ spread in Australia.

The big supermarket chains are Woolworths and Coles, which have the most competitive pricing and a huge range. In some smaller locations, you might find an IGA or a SPAR which can be a tad more expensive.

When you don’t feel like cooking or don’t have the chance to do a food shop, there are popular fast food chains such as Hungry Jacks and Pie Face, or smoothie chains like Boost. I personally prefer to sample the local food in cafes in town, or a family-owned fish and chip shop instead. There are also plenty of pubs in Australia, which are pretty cheap but the quality can be a bit iffy (like Wetherspoons in the UK).

A popular place for a pub-like meal on a Sunday is the local Surf Life Saving Club, and you’ll see these dotted all along the coastline – particularly in the Gold Coast. Mostly aimed at local members, they nearly all welcome in tourists (with sign-in at the door). It’s a very Australian experience if you like beer, local live musicians and ridiculously big portions of chips, nachos and battered fish!

Then of course there are excellent restaurants all across the East Coast.

Deciding where to stay on the East Coast – hotels, lodges, hostels or camping

Even if you do the road trip along the East Coast in a camper van, there will be some nights where you’ll need to opt for a campsite for its shower facilities.

And there are hundreds of campsites along the East Coast. Some are your traditional pitch and stay camping grounds, and some are huge, expansive holiday resorts. Whilst these are typically aimed at domestic travellers, everyone is welcome and you may be blown away by the facilities.

The best resources for campsites on the East Coast of Australia are:

• Pitchup (can book directly on this site too)
• Tourism Australia
• Camping in Queensland
• Camping in NSW

The East Coast is also home to hundreds and hundreds of hostels. There are also some hostel chains in Australia, and nearly always one where you’re travelling. The two biggest chains are Nomads and Base. Staying in one of these means a fairly reliable and comfortable experience. The dorms are clean and secure, and the social areas are often amazing. Staying in hostels add to a quintessential Australia experience. I’ve had some brilliant stays and met some awesome people.

However, I prefer now to travel and stay in hotels where possible. On my most recent visit to Australia, we had a hire car and spent our nights in various Airbnbs and hotels along the East Coast. We stayed in some amazing Airbnbs, including a treehouse in the Gold Coast and a Balinese style villa in Noosa.

However, throughout this itinerary I will suggest a couple of options for each destination that cover campsites, hostels and hotels. I’ve managed to stay in all three types nearly everywhere along the East Coast now, so I’ve got some good experience!

Money and Budget

The currency in Australia is the dollar (AUD). Generally across Australia card payments are widely accepted, and contactless is very popular as the limit is $200.

For slightly more remote locations or for any really small villages you visit, I would recommend keeping cash on hand.

In terms of budgeting, prices are approximately the below:

Accommodation:

• Camping site (tent) – $10-20 per night
• Camper van spot at campsite – $20 – $50 per night, depending on size and facilities of the campground/holiday resort
• Double room in a value hotel or holiday resort: $100-140
• Double room in a 4 or 5 star hotel: $200 – $300 depending on time of year you visit

Food (based on two people):

• On-the-go coffees: $9
• Fast food or take away meal: approx $20
• Local cafe or pub meal: $60
• 3 Course meal in a good restaurant: $140-200

In terms of alcohol, it’s not sold at supermarkets but instead at bottle shops such as Dan Murphy’s. Prices are a little more than in the UK and the US, but they do sell boxed wine, affectionally called ‘goon’ in Australia. Boxed wine doesn’t taste the best BUT it’s cheap and lasts longer than a bottle!

Excursions and activities are likely to be your greatest expenditure. There are so many bucket list activities on the East Coast of Australia vthat I highly recommend putting budget aside so you can make the most of these. As an indication, here are the approximate prices of several activities:

• Animal sanctuary entrance fee: approx $40 per adult
• 15,000 ft sky dive in Cairns: $359 per person (not including video or photos)
• Entry to Daintree National Park and canopy walk: $35 per adult

As an approximate guide, the AUD to GBP conversion is roughly half. So animal sanctuary entrance is around £20 ($40).

The AUD to USD conversion is about 1.5, so animal sanctuary entrance is around USD $25 (AUD $40).

Finally, fuel in Australia is similar in price to the UK, but more expensive than the USA. Fuel for the whole route could cost around AUD$600-800, or more depending on detours you might take.

Deciding where to go on your Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

So you’ve decided when to embark on your epic road trip, and you’ve got your vehicles or bus pass sorted. Now the fun part – deciding where to go!

If you can’t already tell, I love the East Coast of Australia. It has everything AND warm weather year round.

As mentioned above, I have driven the route in both directions but my favourite was probably the Cairns to Brisbane drive. This would also be considered the most iconic road trip for the East Coast of Australia too. It spans world class beaches, dozens of stunning national parks as well as incredible Great Barrier Reef and the twinkly Whitsunday Islands.

So for the purpose of this blog post, we’ll be starting in Cairns but this itinerary can be modified in any way, and of course started in Sydney, Byron Bay or Brisbane. I also list the minimum to maximum number of days needed in each place to help you plan and decide where to visit.

The most important thing to remember is that Australia is BIG . The Cairns to Brisbane road trip spans 1,682km (or 1,045 miles), and that’s taking the most direct route without any detours. It’s around 19 hours of driving if you were to go straight through. There are also some seriously long stretches of driving without any major towns or stops too.

One thing you must remember is to fill your car or van with fuel whenever you can. Never leave a town with less than a full tank – I speak from experience!

So without further ado, let’s jump in with our first stop, Cairns!

Suggested time for Cairns: 3-5 days

This tropical city is one of my favourite places in Australia. Although the town is somewhat unassuming, the adventures to be had in and around Cairns are epic!

The relaxed tropical lifestyle in Cairns will ease you in to an Australia road trip, but could also make a relaxing end point too to your road trip.

Cairns could easily be one of the places where you choose to spend longer, but only if your budget allows. There are countless awesome sights to see and places to visit in Cairns , but the tours can add up and makes Cairns quite an expensive stop. That being said, one of the best things to do in Cairns is free – and that’s spending the day at the incredible Esplanade Lagoon in the heart of town.

Best things to do and see in Cairns

Free or low cost:

• Cool off and relax in the magnificent Cairns Lagoon
• Take a road trip to the Daintree Rainforest at Cape Tribulation via Port Douglas
• Spend the day in the Behana Canyon, a swimming hole surrounded by dense rainforest. Why not join this tour .
• Eat and drink your way around some of the beautiful waterside restaurant and bars
• Visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Centre

More expensive but bucket list activities:

• Join a boat trip to the incredible Great Barrier Reef where you can snorkel or learn to dive
• Take a boat out to the stunning Fitzroy Island
• Brave the ultimate leap of faith at the AJ Hackett bungee jump centre
• Go ATV riding in the rainforest
• Take the train to spend the day at the Kuranda Rainforest Skyway , an awesome journey across the rainforest finishing at the epic Mossman Falls
• Enjoy a hop on hop off beer and drinks tour of Cairns
• Join a tour of the Atherton Tablelands , and visit beautiful waterfalls and scenic lakes (including the famous Milla Milla Falls)
• Enjoy a foodie tour and wine tasting in the Atherton Tablelands
• Visit the Daintree Rainforest and enjoy Cape Tribulation .

Blow-the-budget fun:

• Book a super special day on the Sunlover Reef pontoon , where you enjoy all the activities at this mini village floating on the Great Barrier Reef
• Organise a helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef, a true once in a lifetime experience, or even a scenic flight !
• Enjoy an epic skydive over Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

Where to stay in Cairns

In Cairns, there are no free camping options in the city centre, but there are some paid campsites on the edge of town. Make sure to check this guide on camping near Cairns .

And here are my best picks for accommodation in Cairns:

Best luxury stay: Shangri-La at The Marina (£90pn) or the Pullman Reef Casino (from £97pn)

Great value mid-range stay: Pacific Hotel Cairns (from £63pn)

Best hostel: Gilligans Backpacker Resort (dorm from £17pn, private room from £70) has some of the best facilities I have experienced anywhere. It’s a lively party place but does also offer great value if you book out a 4 or 6 bed dorm for your group.

Cape Tribulation, Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest

• Suggested time for the Daintree Rainforest: 1-2 days
• Driving distance from Cairns to Port Douglas: 68km (1hour) along the Captain Cook Highway
• Driving distance from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation: 75km (1h30)

This beautiful corner of Australia is home to the Daintree Rainforest, which is the world’s oldest! It is also unique as it the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites meet – the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.

Cape Tribulation however is considered one of the most dangerous beaches in the world. This is due to the huge population of crocodiles that reside here, as well as the often-fatal stings from Box Jellyfish in the water.

Whilst driving to Cape Tribulation can easily be done as a full day trip , it’s well worth an overnight stay if you have the time. I would perhaps recommend opting for a small hire car for the day, instead of taking a camper van however. The roads can be narrow and difficult to drive, especially as you get deeper into the rainforest. Note that driving further north from Cape Tribulation towards Cooktown and the Cape York Village requires a 4WD and some previous experience essential as the tracks here are very challenging.

Port Douglas on route is also a beautiful upscale resort town which is definitely worth a stop for a few hours. The beach is beautiful and over four miles long, and its main street is packed with quirky shops and independent cafes and restaurants. If you visit on a Sunday, make sure to check out the beachside markets too.

In terms of activities in the Daintree forest, there are plenty:

• Soar above the rainforest on a zipline adventure
• Explore the rainforest from the elevated walkways
• Take on some of the best hikes, including the Mount Sorrow hike
• Spot crocodiles on a river cruise on the Daintree River
• River drift snorkelling near Port Douglas
• Explore the deserted and untouched beaches, and see where the rainforest meets the reef
• Visit the Daintree tea plantation
• Swim in the Mossman Gorge

The Cairns to Port Douglas drive is spectacular, with the road weaving between the rainforest and the azure ocean. The views are stunning. From Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation, the road is often surrounded by the dense, lush rainforest and you have to take a small ferry to cross the Daintree River. I’ve written a complete itinerary guide to driving from Cairns to Cape Tribulation, so make sure to check this out.

In terms of places to stay in Port Douglas or Cape Tribulation, there are some wonderful eco-stays including:

• Niramaya Villas & Spa (around £450pn)
• Noah Creek Eco Huts (around £157pn)
• Thala Beach Nature Resort (around £220pn)

In Port Douglas, there is also the beautiful Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort (from £129 pn) too or the stunning Shantara Resort (from £229 pn).

Alternatively, you can of course join a day trip, such as this one which is a full day exploring the Daintree rainforest, the Mossman Falls and Cape Tribulation . Or this day trip, which includes a stop at Port Douglas and Wildlife Habitat .

Mission Beach

• Suggested time for Mission Beach: 1-2 days
• Driving distance from Cairns to Mission Beach: 139km (1h50)

Next stop, Mission Beach. In my opinion, the drive from Cairns south is stunning with the Bruce Highway bordered on both sides by sugar cane plantations, followed by banana trees. The first moderate sized town is Innisfail, which I personally don’t think is worth a stop. So I recommend heading straight to Mission Beach. Make sure to look out for cassowaries at the side of the road!

Mission Beach is popular with backpackers for its laidback vibes and excellent beaches. What it lacks in obvious activities and sightseeing opportunities, it makes up for in huge stretches of glorious sandy beaches and walking tracks in the rainforest. I’ve only ever stopped at Mission Beach in October and December which is stinger season, so we could not enter the water.

I would recommend a night in Mission Beach, especially as it provides a decent break in the long drive between Cairns and Townsville, which is the next large town (347km, 4hrs). Mission Beach is also right next to Tully’s River, which is home to some of the best white water rafting in Australia.

Book your white water rafting trip to Tully’s River here!

Where to stay in Mission Beach

• Best luxury stay: Castaways Resort & Spa Mission Beach (from £100pn)
• Good value mid-range stay: Mission Reef Resort (from £54 pn)
• Best hostel: Jackaroo Treehouse (from £30pn)

Townsville & Magnetic Island

• Suggested time for Townsville: half day (but longer if visiting Magnetic Island)
• Driving distance from Mission Beach to Townsville: 235km (2h40)

This large town is largely residential and also home to a big Australian military and naval base. I personally don’t think there’s a huge amount to see in Townsville but it is home to my absolute favourite wildlife sanctuary in Australia, which is the Billabong Sanctuary .

I cannot recommend stopping at this amazing wildlife sanctuary more! It’s the perfect place to meet a whole host of the most iconic Australian animals, such as the echidna, wombat, koala and kangaroo. Billabong Sanctuary is a really well-run wildlife centre, with lots of opportunities for animal interaction, plus the location itself is beautiful. It’s located 17km south of Townsville, so you could spend the afternoon there as you continue on your road trip south.

Townsville is the starting point for the ferry to Magnetic Island. This slice of paradise is popular with backpackers but a little less frequented by other types of tourists. I haven’t been to Magnetic Island, so I cannot comment from personal experience but I understand it’s super-laidback and full of beautiful, scenic spots. Make sure to book your ferry tickets from Townsville to Magnetic Island in advance here.

If you do choose to spend a night in Townsville, the Oaks Gateway Suites offer great rooms at a good price (£67 pn). Alternatively, there is a BIG4 Holiday Park at Rowes Bay with beachside cabins from £50.

Airlie Beach & The Whitsundays

• Suggested time for Airlie Beach & The Whitsundays: 2-5 days
• Driving distance from Townsville to Airlie Beach: 273km (3h10)

Airlie Beach is the gateway to The Whitsundays, and this stop is a must-do on any East Coast road trip itinerary. Make sure to read my detailed guide to visiting the Whitsunday Islands here .

The town itself is popular with backpackers, although there are few luxury hotels. Those on a slightly smaller budget or tighter time frame can visit The Whitsundays on a full day boat trip.

But if you have time, then I highly recommend splurging on a sailing trip around the Whitsundays. You can spend around 2-3 days on living onboard a sailing boat, where you can snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef and visit Whitehaven, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Alternatively, you could stay on one of the Whitsunday Islands for a couple of nights, for the ultimate barefoot paradise experience.

There are some amazing resort hotels in The Whitsunday Islands, with the InterContinental Hayman Island being one of the very best stays.

I’ve done both a sailing trip and a 3 night stay on the islands, and I honestly couldn’t say which I preferred. Both were incredible.

For day sailing trips, you could wait to book this in Airlie Beach, but you risk the boats being full, so I recommend booking a tour in advance. Here are a few excellent suggestions:

• Whitsundays Full-Day Catamaran Sailing Adventure from Airlie  (£108pp)
• Half Day Whitsunday & Whitehaven 6-Hour Cruise  £63pp)
• Whitsundays Ocean Rafting Tour: Snorkel, Walk & Whitehaven  (£85pp)

For 1 or 2 night sailing trips, you could check the below companies:

• OzSailWhitsunday s (2 day, 2 night trips) – starts at £208pp
• Whitsundays Sailing Adventures  (offer a 1 night sailing trip) – starts at £216pp
• The same company also offers an awesome  3-day, 2-night sailing and diving trip  – starts at £390pp
• Red Cat Adventures  (2 nights) – starts at £260pp
• Wings Whitsundays Adventure  (2 nights) – starts at £260pp
• ProSail offer 2 or 3 night sailing adventures – starting at £398pp

Back on Airlie Beach, there isn’t a huge amount to do, so if you choose to visit the islands as a day trip, you could spend a relaxing day at the Airlie Beach Lagoon.

But this could be a place to splurge and explore the Whitsundays from a difference perspective entirely. For example, this  1-hour scenic flight over the Whitsundays Island archipelago  looks incredible, or what about a  tandem skydive over the Whitsundays ?

Or you could go all out with a  helicopter trip to the Whitsunday Islands . It even lands on Whitehaven beach – possibly the most incredible day imaginable.

Slightly further inland from Airlie Beach (and slightly more affordable), there are some great hiking routes in the Conway National Park and waterfall swimming at the beautiful Cedar Creek Falls.

Where to stay in Airlie Beach

There’s a huge number of places to stay in Airlie Beach, covering every budget. In fact, you can find some seriously nice stays at very good value. Here’s my pick:

• Base Airlie Beach (dorm from £16 per night, double from £53)
• Big4 at Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort (camping from £19 per night)
• Magnums Airlie Beach (from £31 per night)
• Mantra Club Croc Airlie Beach (from £57 per night)
• Airlie Beach Hotel (from £82 per night)
• Mirage Whitsundays (from £117 per night)
• Coral Sea Resort Hotel (from £139 per night)

Where to stay on the Whitsundays

I’ve written about all the various options in the Whitsundays in more detail, which I recommend you check out.

Fortunately, there’s a good range of tropical island resorts to stay on, with Daydream Island offering excellent value. Rates here start from £150 per night.

One of the most luxurious resorts to stay in in the Whitsunday islands is the InterContinental Hayman Island  (formerly the One&Only). Rates start from around £450 per night.

Alternatively, some other ultra-lux options include:

• Beach Club , an opulent hotel on Hamilton Island . Rates start from £397 per night
• Elysian Retreat  can only host 20 people at any time, and is the ultimate in barefoot luxury with all stays on all-inclusive basis. Rates start at £630 per night.
• Or, the exceptional Paradise Cove Resort. I recommend this excellent boat tour and 2 nights all inclusive in a secluded villa  at the island resort. (£311 per person)

Capricorn Caves

• Suggested time for the Capricorn Caves: 1/2 day
• Driving distance from Airlie Beach to the Capricorn Caves: 460km (5hrs)

The stretch south from Airlie Beach is a long one – I think the second longest stretch of driving on this road trip. Optional stops before the Capricorn Caves include Mackay, a small quiet town with some lovely cycling and hiking, but no essential bucket list adventures. After Mackay, the next potential stop point would be Rockhampton, where (without exaggerating) there is nothing to do.

I recommend breaking up the long drive from Airlie Beach to the next key stop (Hervey Bay/K’gari Island) with a visit to the Capricorn Caves. These are fairly near to Rockhampton, so depending on the time you arrive in this area, you may want to consider an overnight stay near Rockhampton or a little further south at Gladstone (137km/1hr41).

The Capricorn Caves are called this because they are located on the Tropic of Capricorn. They are an awesome complex of caves, with over 1.5km of passages to explore. They only way to visit is on a tour, often called the ‘Cathedral Tour’ as they all take in the incredible largest cave, which often holds wedding and special events. The acoustics are incredible and it was like nowhere I’d seen before.

Book a tour to the Capricorn Caves here!

Taking around one hour in total, it’s well worth a visit and is often missed off travellers’ East Coast itineraries.

Suggestions for affordable places to stay around this area:

• Mackay: Central Tourist Park (£41 per night)
• Rockhampton: Denison Boutique Hote l (£54 per night)
• Capricorn Caves: Capricorn Motel (£65 per night)
• Gladstone: Barney Beach Accommodation (£50 per night)

Rainbow Beach

• Suggested time for Rainbow Beach and K’gari Island: ideally 3-4 days
• Driving distance from Rockhampton/theCapricorn Caves to Rainbow Beach: 601km (6hrs40)

From the Rockhampton area onwards, there are a few stops to consider including Agnes Water/1770 and Bundaberg. The latter is famous for its rum, and visiting the Bundaberg Distillery makes for a brilliant stop. Make sure to book a tour to the local brewery too!

The town of 1770, sometimes written as Seventeen Seventy, is the second spot in Australia that James Cook and his crew landed in the year 1770. We did stop here and I was fairly disappointed with the lack of things to do and see, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend visiting.

So unless you make a brief stop at Bundaberg, I recommend driving straight through to the Rainbow Beach area. It’s a long old drive, that’s for sure! Looking back, that was why we stopped at 1770 – to break it up!

Rainbow Beach is located in the Great Sandy National Park and is a tiny backpacker town, surrounded by huge, towering sand dunes. The town is mostly a starting point for Fraser Island tours, but you can definitely spend a relaxing day here too.

One of my favourite things to do in Rainbow Beach is climb the huge Carlo Sand Blow and admire the spectacular views across the ocean. The Great Sandy National Park is well worth exploring too – you can even do this on horseback !

Where to stay in Rainbow Beach

There are quite a few places to stay in Rainbow Beach, many of which offer great value stays. Here are my suggestions:

• Freedom Hostels (formerly Dingos) – from £26 per night
• Pippie’s Beach House – from £77 per night
• Rainbow Ocean Palms Resort – from £110 per night

K’gari Island

K’gari Island, previously referred to as Fraser Island, is one of the most popular things to do in Australia. Most tours here are typically aimed at a young backpacking crowd and last 2 days/1night or 3 days/2 nights. There are several other options, including day trips too but as the world’s largest sand island, there’s something special about staying overnight if you can. Unless you have a 4WD drive and significant experience driving on sand, you won’t be able to take your own car to K’gari Island. Several tours however let tourists drive the company’s 4WD vehicles though on what they call a ‘tag along’ basis .

If you book an overnight K’gari Island tour you will have a briefing the evening before departure at 6pm, so you’ll always need to stay the night before in Rainbow Beach. You may also want another night in the town once you come back from K’gari so you don’t have to rush straight off. However it’s worth nothing that you can also start a K’gari Island from trip from Noosa or Hervey, if you prefer.

K’gari Island is a bucket list activity in Australia and for good reason. For many people, K’gari Island is the highlight of their Australia trip!

You definitely should book your K’gari Island tour in advance. Do not leave it for on arrival in Rainbow Beach/Hervey Bay/Noosa, unless you’re arriving several days in advance (at least).

These are the best K’gari Island tours:

• Full day Fraser Island tour from Rainbow Beach (£125pp)
• 2 day/1 night tour from Rainbow Beach (£218pp)

Best things to do on Fraser Island

• If you’re over 21 and on a tag-along tour, you’ll have the opportunity to drive the 4WD along the sand, which is epic
• Swim in the crystal clear freshwater Lake Mackenzie
• Bathe in the beautiful Champagne Pools
• Drift along the natural lazy river at Ely Creek
• Explore the tropical rainforest
• Spot dingos (wild dogs) from afar
• If on an overnight tour, spend the evenings around the campfire drinking and relaxing with new friends
• Drive along 75 Mile Beach
• Hike up to Indian Head to spot sharks and stingrays
• Explore the Maheno shipwreck
• Hike to Lake Wobby

If you visit Fraser Island on a one day tour from the mainland, you’ll be able to do most of the above, but at a quicker pace.

• Suggested time for Noosa: 2-4 days (or as long as possible..)
• Driving distance from Rainbow Beach to Noosa: 117km (1hr37)

Noosa is an absolute must-visit on any East Coast road itinerary and is hands down my favourite place in Australia. Whether you’re a backpacker, on honeymoon, a group of friends or a family, Noosa is the perfect place. The town centre is charming with some brilliant shopping, the beaches are phenomenal and the surrounding scenery is just breathtaking. It’s also the place in Australia where I’ve seen the most koalas in the wild.

Best things to do in Noosa

• Explore the magnificent Noosa National Park, which is easily accessed whether on foot from the town centre or if you drive to its entrance and park
• Beach hopping from Noosa Main Beach to the dog-friendly waters at the Noosa Spit and over in Noosaville too
• Get surfing or take part in a surf lesson
• Go on a dolphin-watching safari by kayak , where your chances of seeing dolphins are super high
• Bar hopping along Main Street
• Tucking into some of the town’s best food, including the phenomenal Spanish set menu at 10 Hastings Street
• Kayak through the Noosa Everglades
• Hike nearby Mt Coolumb
• Get stuck into the craft beer scene in Noosa
• Drive to nearby Emundi to go to the popular Farmer’s Market, running Wednesday to Saturday until 1pm or so
• Go hiking in the magnificent Glasshouse Mountains

Most of Noosa’s main attractions revolve around the beautiful beaches, the National park, the surf and the food. It’s pretty easy to see why I love it so much.

Where to stay in Noosa

There are some beautiful places to stay in Noosa, covering all budgets and preferences.

Best luxury hotels: There are some amazing hotels in Noosa. Some of top luxury stays would be Noosa Shores (£350), Netanya or the beautiful Sofitel Pacific Resort (from £158 per night). However, there’s also the more affordable Peppers Resort on the beach (from £92 per night) and Tingirana .

Good value stays: My favourite good value spot is 10 Hastings Street Boutique Motel . It also has one of the best restaurants town downstairs! Rates start from about £60 per night.

Best hostels: Nomads Backpackers is the best spot in town. Dorm rooms start at £37, or a double is £44.

• Suggested time for Brisbane: 1-2 days
• Driving distance from Noosa to Brisbane: 141km (1hr44)

Queensland’s big city! Brisbane is a modern metropolis, with year-round warm weather and unique city beaches. I like Brisbane, but not even half as much as Melbourne and Sydney.

It’s probably a great city to live in, but visiting for a couple of days at a time, I have never fallen for Brisbane. However, it does have a fantastic manmade city beach at South Bank where I have spent many hours catching the rays.

I also have to recommend my favourite restaurant in Brisbane, which is New Shanghai located in the Myer Centre on Queen Street. There’s a few of these dotted across Australia, but for me, the Brisbane one is just amazing.

Things to do in Brisbane

Brisbane as a city may not be quite as cosmopolitan and lively as Melbourne and Sydney, but it does happen to make a fantastic base to visit other nearby areas. The winter months are an especially lovely time to visit the city, so make sure to check out this guide to the top things to do in Brisbane in the winter .

For example, if diving is your thing, then there are some impressive shipwrecks at Moreton Island.

You can also visit the famous Australia Zoo near Brisbane , which is of course known for being founded by Steve Irwin himself.

• Take a boat ride along the river onboard a Kookaburra River Queens Cruise, which are old style paddlewheel vessels
• Hike a bike to explore the city or join a guided segway tour
• Spend some time in the city’s magnificent Botanical Gardens
• Join a guided kayak tour along the river
• Visit the city’s impressive collection of museums and art galleries
• Take the river boat to the popular Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary on this excellent city tour
• Go shipwreck diving at Moreton Island or visit on snorkelling day tour
• Take a day trip to the beautiful Stradbroke or Bribie Islands

Where to stay in Brisbane

Best luxury hotel: W Brisbane is the coolest place to stay, with rooms starting from £127 per night. Another great luxury hotel would be The Westin (from £155 per night).

Great value stay: Royal on the Park is a beautiful hotel, and a steal with rooms starting from £53 per night

Best hostel: Bunk Hostel (dorms from £21) or Base Brisbane (dorms from £11)

Cairns to Brisbane road trip itinerary

So there’s my Australia East Coast road itinerary, covering the Cairns to Brisbane drive. As you can see, this route takes in countless iconic Australian experiences. I would say this is easily one of the best road trips in the world.

For international travellers coming to the end of the trip, Brisbane makes a wise finishing point as it has an international airport.

However, for those flying onto Australian domestic destinations or with more time, then I highly recommend continuing your journey. For example, onto the Gold Coast and Byron Bay where there are domestic airports in both destinations. If you have plenty of extra time, you could do the Brisbane to Sydney drive. Although this is another 1000km and 10hrs driving, the beaches are fantastic. However, as mentioned before, the drive from Byron Bay to Sydney would be quite cool if done in the Australia winter (May to August).

Brisbane to the Gold Coast and Byron Bay

• Driving distance from Brisbane to the Gold Coast: 99km (1hr10)
• Suggested time for the Gold Coast: 1-4 days
• Driving distance from Brisbane to Byron Bay: 166km (1hr50)
• Suggested time for the Byron Bay: 1-4 days
• Driving distance between Gold Coast and Byron Bay: 93km (1hr)

Both Gold Coast and Byron Bay are popular holiday destinations with Australians as well as international travellers. And as mentioned, with domestic airports near both locations, you could potentially also finish your road trip itinerary further south of Brisbane. For example, we finished our road trip from Cairns at Ballina Airport, which is just near Byron Bay. This was really convenient as there were rental companies to return you car or camper van.

Gold Coast and Surfer’s Paradise

Gold Coast is a city made up a dozens of smaller beach areas, with expansive stretches of white sand and some of the best surfing in Australia. This whole area is the most popular tourist place in Australia. It’s like visiting a beach resort town in Florida, USA or a resort in Spain. Gold Coast is where young Australians flock to party and have fun every summer, and there are a lot of bars and activities geared towards this. Surfer’s Paradise is at the heart of all the action but I wouldn’t recommend spending long here, unless partying is something you’re keen to do.

The other beach areas surrounding Surfer’s Paradise are amazing, and a great spot to recoup for a couple of days. In fact, the challenge can be deciding which beach to spend the day at.

Alternatively, Gold Coast is packed with all kinds of tourist attractions, including theme parks like Wet’n’Wild and Dreamworld . My personal favourite thing to do in Gold Coast is to visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary . This is a brilliant place to spend a full day. Plus, they have their own wildlife hospital with huge glass windows so you can see all kinds of animals being operated on. On the day we went, I saw birds, tortoises and koalas being treated!

Best things to do in Gold Coast

• Go hiking in nearby Tamborine Mountain or get your adrenaline pumping at the high ropes course
• Or why not visit Mt Tamborine and stop by the beautiful wineries and distilleries on this tour with lunch
• Explore Springbrook National Park and swim in the refreshing waterfalls
• Meet some of Australia’s most unique wildlife at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
• Head to the farmer’s markets at different beaches – my favourite is at Burleigh
• Rent bikes and cycle from one point to another, for example Burleigh Heads to Mermaid Beach
• Explore the stunning waterways of Coolangatta
• Join a surf lesson in Surfer’s Paradise
• Visit the World-Heritage Listed Lamington National Park and explore the beautiful waterfalls and landscape
• Check out the incredible views from the Sky Point Observation Deck

Where to stay in the Gold Coast

There is a seriously huge amount of places to stay in the Gold Coast. It’s hard to even know where to start.

If you are looking to get stuck into the nightlife, then you could stay right in the heart of Surfer’s Paradise .

Otherwise, I recommend picking a beachside community for a couple of days such as Burleigh or Coolangatta . Due to the sheer number of hotels and places to stay in the Gold Coast, you can definitely find some good value stays!

Check rates for all hotels, lodges and holiday parks in the Gold Coast here.

I’ve stayed in several areas around the Gold Coast, and I particularly love the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort . This resort is beyond stunning, with a huge lagoon beach swimming pool, and access to an amazing health club with golf and tennis.

I could have stayed here for weeks, so I’d say, if there was once place to splurge en route, it would be this resort!

Book your stay at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort here.

There’s a certain magic in the air in Byron Bay that makes so many fall in love with the town. So many travellers arrive for a couple of days, but end up staying for weeks.

The main thing Byron Bay is known for is surfing, but there’s so much going on away from the away from the waves. The town is particularly popular with backpackers who get quickly drawn into Byron Bay’s hippy, bohemian, anything-goes lifestyle. But there’s increasing appeal for honeymooners, families and even those looking for a spot of luxury.

Best things to do in Byron Bay

• Hit the waves, or take the chance to learn to surf
• Beach hop – as well as the main beach, visit Clarks Beach, Tallow Beach, Belongil Beach and The Pass
• Go dolphin-spotting from your kayak
• Hike to the Cape Byron lighthouse, the most eastern point in Australia
• Visit one of the many local markets, for example the Byron Bay Artisan Market (every Saturday evening from October to March)
• Enjoy live music at one of the awesome bars
• Shop at some the wonderful unique boutique stores
• Stop for happy hour at some of the excellent cafes
• Explore the craft beer scene in Byron Bay
• Experience a scenic hot air balloon journey over Byron Bay
• Get up and close personal with the elusive platypus a nature walk with a local guide
• Take a day trip to nearby Nimbin, a small hippie town stuck in the 60s which is famous for its very liberal attitude towards marijuana. There’s an iconic bus tour which you can book onto.
• Dance the night away with local musicians performing on Main Beach
• Explore the beautiful Nightcap National Park with waterfalls and great hiking routes
• Go hiking along the trails in the Arakwal National Park, followed by a swim in the ocean
• Have a delicious dinner at The Roadhouse , just on the edge of town
• Drive to Byron Bay Farm for day surrounded by farm animals, and for some seriously delicious food

Where to stay in Byron Bay

Best luxury hotel: Far and away, the most opulent hotel is Elements of Byron Resort & Spa . It’s perfect for couples, groups of friends and honeymooners. Rates start from around £245 per night, per villa.

Other great upscale stays include Atlantic Byron Bay (from £130 per night), Azur Villas (from £142 per night), The Bower Byron Bay (from £151 per night).

Great value stays: Bayhaven Lodge (from £71 per night) or Byron Palms (from £70 per night)

Best hostels: There are plenty of hostels in Byron Bay, as it’s so popular with backpackers and Australians visiting for ‘schoolies week’. There is the Byron Bay YHA , Nomads and Wake Up! all with similar rates for double rooms and dorm rooms (around £33 per night).

Finally, I couldn’t not mention the iconic Arts Factory Lodge . Located just outside of town in a beautiful forested area, this a mammoth campground, lodge and artsy bohemian stay all in one.

We chose to stay here with our camper van which was great – it has a pool, on-site cafes and bars, and even things like didgeridoo lessons! A dorm bed here is around £14 per night, and a double room around £68 per night.

Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

So that rounds out my super long and very detailed itinerary guide for an East Coast Australia road trip.

I really hope this is useful for you if you’re planning a trip to the beautiful East Coast of Australia. As you can see, there is literally so much to do, particularly on the Cairns to Brisbane stretch. And as I said, you can do the highlights in two weeks, but the longer you have, the more you’ll be able to take in and soak up. Ideally, a month to 6 weeks would be the best for an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary.

If you enjoyed my Australia East Coast road trip itinerary guide, then please do consider sharing through one of the below links, that would be amazing. Also, if there’s anything else I can share or answer for you, please do let me know in the comments below.

For further Australia guides, please do check out my other guides:

• Visiting the Whitsunday Islands
• Noosa Travel Guide
• Best day trips from Cairns
• Cairns to Cape Tribulation road trip
• Taking the Ghan train from Darwin to Alice Springs

Wanna see more? Check my Instagram  here , my Facebook  here  or my Twitter  here !

Disclaimer: This Australia East Coast road trip itinerary guide is based on multiple visits to Australi a . There was no involvement from any local companies or the tourist board . However icelolly.com arranged two local tours on the East Coast: dolphin watching in Noosa and entry to Currumbin Wildlife Park.

Enjoyed my guide to an Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary? Pin it!

You may also enjoy:

Best time to visit australia – climate …, cairns to cape tribulation & the daintree …, new zealand travel guide: best places …, sailing the whitsunday islands in australia: ….

What an incredible resource! Thank you so much! Do you have something similar for New South Wales and Victoria?

Thank you! Unfortunately no! Although I lived in Victoria, I didn’t travel the state as extensively as Queensland 🙁

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s connect

41 Best Places to Visit in Queensland Australia

By: Author The Aussie Tourist

Posted on Last updated: 03/28/2021

Categories Queensland (Qld)

Sharing is caring!

Looking for the best places to visit in Queensland including some of Queensland’s secret spots?

So, you’ve done it; You’ve saved up your money, purchased your plane ticket, sat through the long flight to arrive in the land most of us experienced through watching the Crocodile Hunter on television. Now you are dying to explore, stretch your legs and start enjoying your vacation.

What do you do first? What are the best things to do in Queensland?

If you are out of ideas, overwhelmed by the endless possibilities, or just plain unsure of where you should go while you are there, look no further. We are going to review the best places to go in Queensland, including the top 10 attractions, to really experience what Australia is all about.

41 Top Queensland Tourist Destinations

Our first stop is the city of Cairns where you can get a taste of pretty much anything. As you walk down the streets there are plenty of shops to peruse and restaurants when you want a quick bite to eat.

The real attraction though is that it is the closest city to the Great Barrier Reef, which means more time for scuba diving and less travel! One of the cool driving routes we would recommend from Cairns is the Cairns to Port Douglas Drive .

Due to the location of Cairns it is one of the best places to visit in Queensland in winter – it is hot all year round! It is also one of the best areas to stay in Queensland due to the affordability. A nice hotel in Cairns is much less than in Brisbane for example. For instance, this 5 star hotel would be double the price elsewhere.

• Things to do in Far North Qld

Whitsundays

There are 74 islands off the coast that offer so much to the adventurous soul. Most of these islands are uninhabited and are perfect for hiking or experiencing a little slice of the rain forest.

After wandering through nature and taking in the view you can easily take a dip in the ocean that surrounds you and enjoy your toes in the nice white sand. Definitely one of the best Queensland places to visit.

Kuranda really knows how to kick it up a notch!

Not only can you view the breathtaking waterfalls and vast rainforest from the safety and comfort of the railway, but if trains aren’t your idea of a good time they have a gondola ride to relax on.

Need something more exciting? You need to check out the amazing view from the Skyrail. Hope you aren’t afraid of heights! One of the most unique places to visit in Queenland.

The Gold Coast is the place to be with a balance of city life, scenery and long sandy beaches to enjoy. One of the best weekend getaways from Brisbane .

But what it is really known for are the number of theme parks it offers. You can enjoy your day at places such as Sea World, Wet’n’Wild,or Dreamworld then enjoy some hiking in the national park’s mountains.

If you keep your eyes peeled you might even see a few rare birds that call the Gold Coast home.

Known for its perfect surfing conditions Noosa is the place to be. Sunshine Beach is the best place for relaxing on the beach, shopping, grabbing a bite to eat and, more importantly, enjoying the surf either from the beach or from the board.

Further inland, if you need a break from the salt water, Noosa River is the best place to enjoy some kayaking or canoeing through the everglades.

As you make your way around Queensland you should stop in Mackay to visit Eungella National Park. There are rare frogs that call this place home along with the very unusual platypus.

If you want to continue with the foliage theme you can also visit Mackay’s botanical gardens and enjoy the afternoon seeing the nature, art exhibits and grabbing a snack in the café.

Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation

For nature lovers, the next must see would have to be Daintree National Park. There are many trails and tours you can take to enjoy one of the world’s oldest rainforests that many exotic birds call home.

Then on the edge of the park you will come upon Cape Tribulation; secluded beaches where rainforest meets sea. There you can swim, visit the reef or even take a self-guided horseback ride.

Fraser Island

If you get sick of your hotel room and are looking for something more authentic, head to Fraser Island, one of Australia’s best island across from Harvey Bay .

Go camping among the multicolored cliffs and gorgeous beaches. There are even fresh water lakes on the island so you can take a nice refreshing dip in the middle of all that natural beauty.

Just remember to pack everything you’d need including water, it is very secluded!

Heron Island

For a more pampered Island stay, Heron Island is the way to go. The island is a coral cay with its own resort so you can lounge and relax in the sun or go out and enjoy snorkeling among the coral reef.

Don’t forget to see the turtle nesting hatching sites from October to April to see the tiny newly hatched turtles march to the ocean!

Daydream Island

Another terrific resort location is Daydream Island.

Relax in the ocean air and take advantage of all the resort has to offer. Taste the Asian fusion cuisine while overlooking the pool from your spacious newly renovated hotel suite. Take a yoga class with the waves as your background noise. Take a guided tour.

Whatever you do, you will not be disappointed – one of the best places to go in Qld.

Green Island

What would a visit to Australia be if you didn’t see any crocodiles?

Safer, for sure, but one of the safest ways to see these reptilian creatures is by visiting Marineland Melanesia on Green Island. Its home to Cassius, the largest crocodile in captivity at nearly 18ft long and weighing more than a ton! Truly a once in a life time opportunity.

Springbrook National Park

Back to the outdoors and straight to Springbrook National Park.

They have the most breathtaking mountains, caves and waterfalls, among them being Springbrook Natural Bridge cave which is a sanctuary for glow worms. Take a walk through the cave and the walls light up like something out of the movie Avatar. The waterfall in the cave adds to the unique atmosphere and proves that nature is truly amazing.

Mt Tamborine Skywalk

For an even better view of the trees, try walking through the canopy on the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk. Admire the bird’s eye view of all the diverse flora and fauna the rainforest has to offer while strolling at your own pace nearly 100 feet in the air!

Now that’s an adventure!

Port Douglas

Feeling the need to do a little Golfing on your trip? Stop by Palmer Sea Reef in Port Douglas. The city has many shops and restaurants to try, beaches and rainforest to visit, but if you like to hit the green, they have a tropical links course that is truly a one of a kind experience.

Don’t forget to watch out for crocodiles while you play, they enjoy the green too.

If you are visiting between July and November, Hervey is the place to be.

During this time the humpback wales are visiting and you can either watch them from shore or get a better view from a whale watching boat tour. Whichever you choose, enjoy some local cuisine, put your toes in the sand and relax while watching the tails of humpbacks clap the ocean surface.

For a step back into history, travel to the Mount Isa for a tour of the underground Hard Times Mine. It was once one of the most productive mines in history, and being situated in the outback, it’s a must see.

If you wish to go even further back in time, check out the Riversleigh Fossil Fields where you can see the evolution of animals in limestone.

• Things to do in Mt Isa
• Mt Isa Accommodation 

Boodjamulla National Park

Have you ever wanted to walk through the outback?

If you go to Boodjamulla National Park that is exactly what you’ll do. They have trails that will lead you through the best the outback has to offer; gorgeous scenery, orange sandstone cliffs, and Emerald green waters. There is even a trail that will lead you to see the rock art of the Aboriginal people.

Town of 1770

If you find yourself yearning for more history in a more relaxed setting, the town of 1770 will be your favorite place to stay. It was one of the first settled towns and the locals are very proud of the history.

Take surf lessons, backpack along the coast and look for kangaroos, snorkel. Whatever you wish to do you can find it here loaded with historical fun.

Charleville

In Charleville you’ll enjoy the many different museums in the area.

Highly suggested is the Charleville Cosmos Center where you can view the wonders of the Milky way and see the night sky without any interruption. Learn about Astronomy in a friendly comfortable setting then head to the Royal Flying Doctor Hangar Visitor center for a cozy non-staffed experience where you can see what there is to see without interruption.

• Things to do in Charleville

Carnarvon Gorge National Park

No matter your interest, you must make your way to the unbelievably beautiful Carnarvon Gorge.

You can walk the easy trails and be captivated by the wildlife or you can challenge yourself by climbing the gorge walls in search of the perfect view. There is camping, biking, and hiking throughout the park, everything you need for the perfect outdoors adventure.

Don’t forget your camera, it is one of the best places to visit in Qld.

North Stradbroke Island

For a natural, relaxed, laid back vibe, head to the North Stradbroke Island, known as ‘Straddie’ to the locals. It is one of the Queensland tourist attractions for locals and tourists alike.

Kangaroos and Kolas hang out wherever they wish, you can whale watch from the coast and kookaburra can be spotted on the island. Also an interesting site is the Blue and Brown lakes; the brown lake has its color because of the native tea trees around it.

Agnes Waters

Close to the Town of 1770 you will find Agnes Waters, a little town that share’s in its rich local history.

It’s also at the southernmost end of the Great Barrier Reef so it is wonderful place to go for underwater activities. But there is so much to see and do here!

From hiking the Red Rock Trail to walking along the boardwalk or strolling the beaches, you will never be bored. I would rate this one of the best places to relax in Queensland.

See more: 

• Things to do in Agnes Waters

Lamington National Park

Another National Park you need to see is Lamington National park.

The forest and mountain range alone is worth the trip down the trails, but the Mountain View Alpaca farm is a great place to have lunch on the weekends and feed the alpacas.

There is also a treetop walkway, if the ground trails aren’t enough, Lookout point will provide a panoramic view of everything the park has to offer, and then some!

A nice relaxing family trip would be going to the Rotary Park in Redcliffe. There are plenty of jungle gyms to crawl around on for the little ones, and a beautiful ocean backdrop for a picnic lunch.

While you are there don’t miss the Redcliffe Botanical Gardens or the markets. In both locations you get to look at everything at your own pace, only at the markets you can bring it home with you.

• Things to do in Redcliffe

After traveling around so much, you are sure to want a nice glass of wine. Look no further than Stanthorpe. You can find plenty in some of the highest vineyards in Australia. Stroll through the luscious gardens, enjoy the fruit trees and surrounding farms as you taste Australia in every glass.

Remember, it is more than ok to have more than one!

Rainbow Beach

There are very few places where you can actually drive through the sand on the beach. Rainbow Beach is one of the places that does. It is one of the must see places in Queensland.

Drive through the sand dunes to the edge of the water where you can take surfing lessons. If you would rather stay in the water rather than doing doughnuts in your vehicle, you can also swim, snorkel or even do a little kayaking with the dolphins.

• Things to do in Rainbow Beach

Great Keppel Island

Need a unique ocean experience? How about a Jet Ski safari?

If you make your way to Great Keppel Island you can take a guided Jet Ski tour around the island and see some of the most beautiful scenery it has to offer.

If Jet Ski’s aren’t your idea of a good time there are still tons of stuff to do like snorkeling, swimming and waterboarding.

If you are wondering where to do in Queensland – head to Roma and you will be impressed with its interesting claim to fame.

Roma has the biggest cattle sale yards around, moving over 400,000 cows each year. You can take a tour and see all the different types of cows for sale and learn about the process.

After that, watch the Big Rig Night Show; a fun way to learn with trivia and a show.

• Things to do in Roma
• Best Places to Stay in Roma

Bunya Mountains

Want a trip that the whole family can enjoy? Take to the trails in the Bunya Mountains.

They are home to the Bunya trees that drop pines containing nuts that are a local delicacy and can be tasted in many of the foods nearby.

You can even stay in cabins in the mountains if the walk was just not enough of the fresh mountain air.

If you want to see cows but want a little more to go along with the trip, give Dalby a go. They have cow sales there as well as the Lake Broadwater Conservation Park which is a great place to walk, swim, ski and you can even go camping.

There is also Dalby Country Antiques if you would like to view, and possibly purchase, a little bit of local history.

• Things to do in Dalby
• Best Accommodation in Dalby

Townsville and Magnetic Island

You cannot visit one and not the other.

Townsville has the Reef HQ Aquarium that allows you to get up close to the marine life that resides in the surrounding ocean and the Billabong Sanctuary wildlife park where you can see creatures native to the area like koala and wombats.

But when you are that close to the Magnetic islands you must take the ferry so you can enjoy the ideal beach vacation complete with snorkeling in the surrounding coral reef.

If you are looking for that small town feel on your vacation, head to Burleigh where they have a laid back life style and eating out is the thing to do.

They have many different types of restaurants to choose from and you can work off all those calories by surfing the perfect waves for any level of experience, so no need to feel guilty! One of the best places to go in Southern Queensland.

• Things to do in Burleigh

Moreton Island

One of the most incredible things to see is just off the beaches of Moreton Island.

This gorgeous island is perfect with its white sandy beaches, sand dunes and places to hike, But in the waters around the island there is the Tangalooma Wrecks where old rusty boats are sunken into the water.

And if that doesn’t grab your attention, the Dolphin feeding spot nearby is sure to do the trick!

Bribie Island

Still looking for that perfect panoramic view?

Try Wild Horse Mountain and its scenic lookout point on Bribie Island. You can see for miles, viewing all of the lush greenery and other mountain peaks.

If you would rather stay in the sea, rent a boat or go kayaking to see the beauty of the island from the outside.

• Things to do in Bribie Island

The biggest draw to Currumbin, other than the beautiful beaches, shopping opportunities and local cuisine, is the Wildlife Sanctuary. They participate in many different preservation projects and provide homes for as many threatened and endangered species from all over Austrailia.

Come visit the Tasmanian Devil’s, the Bilby’s, Goodfellow’s tree Kangaroos and more. Make learning about them and how to save then fun and adorable.

From thrill-seeker’s paradise to family vacation, whichever you are looking for you will find in Caloundra. For the brave of heart there is sky-diving, jet-skiing and go-carting.

For those of tamer interests, there is plenty of food, scenery and swimming to entertain. If you visit on Sunday there is the Caloundra Street Fair with all kinds of food and crafts. Try a little of everything and see it all.

• Things to do in Caloundra

In Mooloolaba you will find relaxation and easy days as you stroll Mooloolaba Beach and take in the gorgeous view of sun and sand.

From there if you are curious about ocean life, visit SEA LIFE Sunshine zoo and aquarium where you can see everything up close and learn more about everything.

Of course there is always Moolooaba Osteopathy and Massage clinic where you can have them rub away vacation tension.

Hopefully you are not lactose intolerant because it would be a shame for you to miss out on Maleny Dairies. They have won awards for their milk and produce some of the best ice-cream and yogurt around.

When you are done taste testing, head to Maleny Cheese to see cheese being made and explore the café and shop.

And that is only a sample of what Maleny has to offer!

• Best things to do in Maleny

Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast

Surfer’s Paradise is perfectly named because it is right next to the perfect surfing beach. Become one with the waves and ride your board with ease, but this place is not just about the surfing.

They offer many different attractions such as an amazingly built skyline, plenty of shops and cafes, an incredible view from Sky Point Observation Deck, and for the night owls, plenty of nightclubs on the strip.

The most populated city in Queensland, but the most activities to offer is Brisbane. Unmissable places to visit in Brisbane include: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane Botanical Gardens and Mount Coot-tha.

Brissie or Bris-vegas, as the locals call it, is bustling with city life and culture, an interesting mix that you can see at any of the local art galleries or museums. You will never be bored in Bris-vegas!

• Fun things to do in Brisbane at night
• Romantic things to do in Brisbane

Cape York Peninsula & the Torres Strait Islands

Last but not least is Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait Islands.

Cape York is mostly flat and used for cattle grazing, but you can bike or drive through the beautiful land with ease.

From there you can travel to the Islands which are the northernmost part of Australia before you hit New Guinea. Because of its location it is full of cross cultural history, which they are more than happy to share.

Hopefully now you have some ideas as to where you wish to travel on your vacation. Relax, seek adventure, learn about culture and the land around you, swim, do something new. Whatever you want to do you can find it here in Queensland, Australia.

Looking for places beautiful places beyond Queensland?

• Things to do in Melbourne at Night
• Romantic Things to do in Sydney
• Romantic Things to do in Melbourne
• Day Trips from Melbourne

Don’t forget to end your trip with some epic Australian Quotes !

10 epic spots to stop at on your east coast Australia road trip

Put together an awesome playlist, stock up on snacks, and hit the great open road on your way to some of Australia’s most beloved destinations.

The east coast of Australia is a traveller’s paradise with its internationally renowned beaches, centuries-old rainforests, and vibrant cities. Spanning 3,000km down the east side of Australia , a coastal road trip promises plenty of breathtaking landscapes and activities that will get your heart racing.

So you don’t miss out on a single must-stop-at destination, we’ve put together a complete list of the most popular places to adventure through, from the bustling city of Melbourne to the trendy neighbourhood of Byron Bay and the tropical Port Douglas . Whether you visit them all or just pick out your favourites, you’re bound to create a whole heap of memories you’ll cherish forever. Happy road-trippin’!

1.      Melbourne

While most east coast Australia road trips don’t start in Melbourne, we thought it best to include it on this list because it’s one of the most iconic cities in Australia and it’s definitely worth a visit.

From its graffiti-ridden laneways, addictive café culture (Melbourne’s known as the coffee capital of the country), historic shopping arcades, and world-class restaurants, this multi-cultural melting pot will delight your senses and ignite your imagination, proving to be the best spot to kick off your east coast adventure.

Whether you want to catch a game of footy at the iconic MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), walk beside the water along St Kilda Beach, view the city skyline from above at the Eureka Tower, or try out one of the hundreds of rooftop bars scattered throughout the city, Melbourne is bound to get you excited for what’s to come.

RELATED: YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MELBOURNE

2.       Sydney

Another day, another famed Australian city to explore. Perhaps the most recognizable city thanks to its impressive Harbour Bridge and architecturally designed Opera House, Sydney will enchant you from the moment you set foot in its energy-filled city centre.

Whether you’re a thrill seeker looking for an adrenaline hit (you can find it at the centrally located amusement park, Luna Park) or a foodie salivating at the thought of their next meal in one of Sydney’s trendiest restaurants, a couple of days here is just what your east coast road trip needs.

If you’ve had enough of the swarming crowds and lively atmosphere and want to experience something a little lowkey, all you have to do is head to one of the city’s many stunning beaches. From the super popular Bondi Beach and Manly Beach to the lesser visited but still insanely beautiful area of Cronulla, the city of Sydney offers travellers a diverse range of natural landscapes just waiting to be explored.

EXPLORE SYDNEY ON OUR SYDNEY TO BRISBANE ADVENTURE

3.      Byron Bay

If you think you’ve been to the prettiest place in Australia, but you haven’t stepped foot in Byron Bay then prepare to have your mind blown and your camera roll filled up. Known for its bohemian and relaxed vibe, this beach town remains firmly on travellers’ bucket lists thanks to its abundance of spas, yoga retreats, plant-based cafes, and restaurants bursting with freshly caught seafood.

From hitting the surf in the early morning – check out one of Byron’s quirky cafes for a delicious cold brew to properly wake you up – to hiking your way to the Cape Byron Lighthouse for an epic sunset you’re guaranteed to be transfixed by, Byron Bay is one of those special destinations you simply have to visit. If not for the endlessly captivating landscape, then for the solace and relaxation you’re sure to find walking its streets and sitting on its beaches

4.       Brisbane

The city of Brisbane may often get overlooked for its more laidback and tropical neighbours (such as Surfers Paradise and Noosa ), but it’s more than still worth a visit and has a different vibe to that of either Sydney or Melbourne.

There’s plenty to do in Brisbane from basking in Queensland’s good weather by taking a ferry over the gentle waters of the Brisbane River to setting up a picnic and marvelling at the colours that dance their way across the sky at sunset from some iconic Brisbane spots.

Whether you want to spend as much time as you can outdoors, like the idea of strolling through a gallery or two in the city centre or want to delight your tastebuds by dining on fresh produce at one of Brisbane’s best restaurants, this friendly and excitement-filled city will set you up perfectly for the next leg of your east coast Australia road trip.

5.      Noosa

You may have visited multiple stylish beach towns in your travels, but you haven’t stepped foot in one quite so captivating as Noosa. Often described as having as much star quality as any Hollywood A-lister or TikTok influencer, this tropical paradise isn’t afraid to flaunt its naturally good looks and once you set sail along its stunning coastline or test out several trails in Noosa National Park, you’ll understand why it deserves a spot on this list.

However, Noosa isn’t all natural beauty and no substance with the seaside town boasting plenty to do including shopping in trendsetting boutiques, eating out at classic Noosa restaurants, and drinking it up at several bars heavy with electric atmospheres – all while enjoying the fantastically warm and sunny weather this memorable region is known for.

RELATED: DINE AT THESE NOOSA RESTAURANTS ON YOUR NEXT TRIP

6.      Rockhampton

While Rockhampton may not instantly jump out at you as a must-travel-to destination, this unassuming yet naturally beautiful town adds the diversity your east coast adventure needs – after all, it can’t be stunning seaside spots and stylish cities all the time, can it?

Packed full of cultural history and a welcoming environment you’ll feel right at home in, Rockhampton offers fun activity after fun activity from wandering around its impressive art gallery and Heritage Village (a reproduction of the town in the 1850s-1950s) to relaxing on Great Keppel Island, this town’s best-kept secret.

7.      Townsville

You’d be forgiven for thinking your east coast Australia road trip can’t get any better, but Townsville will quickly prove you wrong and have fun while doing it. Not only does this tropical town boast 320 sunny days every year (yes, you read that right), but its laidback vibe and relaxed feel, as well as its mesmerising natural landscapes, promises to be the perfect next stop on your adventure.

Nestled at the base of luscious mountains and surrounded by crystal-clear water you could easily get lost in; Townsville is one of the best spots to enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer. Proving that she did her best work in this tropical destination, Townsville is full of secluded watering holes, cascading waterfalls, and easy-to-challenging hiking trails guaranteed to gift you with the most epic of views to keep you busy.

EXPLORE TOWNSVILLE ON OUR QUEENSLAND COAST & ISLANDS ADVENTURE

8.       Airlie Beach

If there’s a destination along the coast that knows how to have a good time, it’s Airlie Beach. The beautiful Whitsunday Islands (where Airlie Beach is located) are breathtaking in themselves but this popular tropical spot is on another level.

Whether you feel like hopping on a jet ski and skimming along the crystal-clear water’s surface, taking in the Coral Sea from above on a scenic flight, or embarking on a day tour to the Great Barrier Reef , Airlie Beach offers enough activities to keep you occupied for days.

If those options don’t tickle your adventure-loving fancy, then you can also try your hand at sea kayaking, segway riding, or sail boating, and if you’d rather use your feet for exploring then strolling along the town’s quaint and charming main street is another great way to pass the days in paradise.

VISIT THIS STUNNING SPOT ON OUR WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS EXPLORER

9.       Cairns

The next stop on your east coast Australia road trip is Cairns, a place where the weather’s hot and the landscapes are even hotter. You’d be forgiven for thinking Cairns is just a jumping-off point for adventures to the Great Barrier Reef, but this tropical far north Queensland town has a lot more going for it with Fitzroy Island, Cape Tribulation and Mossman Gorge all spectacular highlights.

Definitely a bucket list destination you want to cross off, Cairns promises a plethora of natural wonders to explore and plenty of native animals to ooh and ahh over from the sleepy koala bear lazing in the region’s eucalyptus trees to the colourful cassowary making its over way over the rainforest floor. Consider taking a ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway or on the Kuranda Scenic Railway to marvel at the city from a different perspective.

RELATED: THE 5 EXPERIENCES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IN CAIRNS

10.  Port Douglas

While this tropical holiday spot offers easy access to some of the world’s most beloved natural wonders – the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef – it also makes for a perfect final road trip destination in its own right because of its undeniable beauty. Not only is Port Douglas known to have one of the best beaches in Australia (Four Mile Beach we’re looking at you) but it’s also filled with trendy restaurants all offering delicious meals featuring fresh, Queensland produce.

If that’s not enough to convince you to end your adventure in this laidback town, you can also head out on a hiking tour through the rainforest, take a cruise along the river, catch sight of a massive crocodile (in a perfectly safe and supervised setting), or swim amongst brightly coloured fish and over uniquely shaped coral on a snorkelling trip you’re going to remember forever.

What on earth are you waiting for?

BEGIN YOUR EAST COAST AUSTRALIA ROADTRIP ON ONE OF OUR TOURS

Feeling inspired?

Kate Gazzard

When I was 11, my parents asked me whether I wanted a pool for the house or a trip to Fiji. I chose Fiji, and I've made travelling as much as I can a priority ever since.

You might also like

Visiting cotopaxi: ecuador’s iconic volcano, 7 interesting facts about the czech republic, 10 must-see places when you visit georgia, the truth about antarctica – 8 burning myths..., why you should hike in the winter, learn how to leave hack your 2025 canadian..., 8 of the best hikes in the canadian..., level up your australian public holidays in 2025, how to make the most of us federal..., make the most of nz’s public holidays in..., top us national parks.

• Accommodation
• Holiday Destinations
• QLD Tourist Information
• Queensland Maps
• Moving to Queensland

• Brisbane Accommodation
• Cairns Accommodation
• Capricorn Coast Accommodation
• Darling Downs Accommodation
• Far North Queensland Accommodation
• Port Douglas Accommodation
• Gold Coast Accommodation
• Outback Queensland Accommodation
• Sunshine Coast Accommodation
• Brisbane City
• Brisbane Moreton Bay & Islands
• Brisbane Region
• Cairns Tablelands & Gulf Savannah
• Capricorn Coast
• Far North Queensland
• Gold Coast Hinterland
• Great Barrier Reef
• Outback Queensland
• Port Douglas
• Sunshine Coast
• Sunshine Coast Hinterland
• The Whitsundays
• Queensland Image Tours
• Queensland Movies & Videos
• Guide to Queensland Weather
• Car Hire Price Comparisons
• QLD Beach Safety
• Language & Lingo
• Australian Currency
• Airports in Queensland
• Travel Articles
• Travel Insurance

Queensland State Maps

Queensland regional maps.

• Real Estate
• Jobs & Employment
• Guide to Queensland Education
• Tertiary Education Queensland
• Driving & Transport
• Queensland's History
• General Information & Statistics
• Government, Tourism & Business Links
• Latest Queensland News

Find Queensland Accommodation

Home » Queensland Maps » Queensland State Maps » Queensland Tourism Map

QLD Activities

Find great deals on tours and activities right here!

Show Me Deals

• Queensland Tourism Map

You’ll find most of the towns and tourism centres along the east coast of Queensland and for good reason. You’ll see below the Great Barrier Reef runs along almost the entire coastline and is dotted with tropical islands of all different sizes. The Queensland Coast is virtually a non-stop waterpark full of beaches, diving, fishing, island adventures, sun, sand and surf.

The Great Dividing Range, the third longest mountain range in the world, runs adjacent to the east coast. These mountainous areas just in from the coast are lush and green, providing wonderful scenic drives, ocean views and some quaint villages up in the cooler climate above sea level.

The regional areas, while spread out, are linked by the state rail system with the journey out there showcasing a wonderful array of Australian landscapes.

Queensland Map, Queensland Tourism

This map is not to be reproduced outside Queensland Tourism guidelines. e-CBD is not able to give permission to reproduce this map.

• Interactive Queensland Map
• Queensland Airports Map
• Railways Map with Ports & Rail Networks
• Queensland Scuba Diving Location Map
• Map of Australia showing Queensland

• Southeast Queensland Highways Map
• Brisbane Distances Map
• Brisbane City Map
• Bundaberg Map
• Cairns City Map
• Cairns Region & Atherton Tablelands Map
• Map of Cairns to Cooktown
• Cairns and Nearby Islands Map
• Cairns Ferries and Beaches Map
• Cape York Map, including Cooktown
• Fraser Coast & Sunshine Coast Map
• Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg Map
• Gladstone Map, Including Islands
• Gold Coast Map
• Innisfail Map
• Western Queensland Map
• Maryborough Map
• Moreton Bay Map
• Rockhampton Map
• Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Map
• Toowoomba & the Golden West Map
• Townsville Map
• Whitsundays & Islands Map
• Southern Downs Map

Queensland Australia is Copyright © e-CBD and Intaanetto.com Social Media. Web Design by e-CBD. | About Us | Privacy | Disclaimer | Contact Us

Big Australia Bucket List

Absolutely EVERYTHING to see, do and experience in Australia

15 BEST Beaches in Queensland (inc. Map & Photos!)

With swirling sandbanks, aqua blue water and dreamy islands, the beaches of Queensland have acquired a near-legendary status for their beauty. And with over 1,700 beaches in the state, you’ll never run out of options of wonderful beaches to spend time on!

But with that much choice, it can be difficult to narrow all of them down into a manageable list of the best beaches in Queensland. After all, even if you visited a new Queensland beach every single day, it’d still take you almost five years to see them all!

That’s where this post comes in. With beaches from right on the New South Wales border to way up in Tropical North Queensland and island beaches to city beaches, this round-up spans the whole of this great state to share our hand-picked selection of 15 the very best beaches in Queensland to visit.

Table of Contents

• 1 A Map of the Best Beaches in Queensland
• 2 Sunshine Beach, Noosa
• 3 Rainbow Bay, Coolangatta
• 4 Mooloolaba Beach, Sunshine Coast
• 5 Mission Beach, Cassowary Coast
• 6 Double Island Point, Cooloola
• 7 Surfers Paradise Beach, Gold Coast
• 8 Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands
• 9 Noosa Heads, Sunshine Coast
• 10 Burleigh Heads Beach, Gold Coast
• 11 North Stradbroke Island
• 12 Elliott Heads Beach
• 13 75-Mile Beach, Fraser Island
• 14 Tangalooma Wrecks Beach, Moreton Island
• 15 Palm Cove Beach, Palm Cove
• 16 Nudey Beach, Fitzroy Island

A Map of the Best Beaches in Queensland

Psst. If you’re heading out on a road trip, check if you have downloaded our Best Apps for Travel .

Sunshine Beach, Noosa

Sunshine Beach marks the end of the 5.4km Noosa coastal walk, one of the best activities in Noosa . The walk starts in central Noosa, meandering through the forest, along the Noosa headland and passing by many of the other beaches in Noosa  before finishing at beautiful Sunshine Beach.

Unlike the many other beaches in Noosa, Sunshine Beach is huge and also quiet. It’s part of a 15km stretch of sand, so no matter how many people visit there is always plenty of space to spread out! A huge attraction of Sunshine Beach is its ideal surfing conditions, which draw surfers from across Australia. Even if surfing is not your thing, the beach is still a great place to relax and swim, and lifeguards patrol the beach every day.

How to get to Sunshine Beach: The coastal walk is the best way to get to the beach from central Noosa. The 620 and 627 buses both stop at Sunshine Beach from central Noosa. The journey takes around 10 minutes.

Rainbow Bay, Coolangatta

It is home to Rainbow Bay beach, also known as Greenmount Beach – which is known for its white sands and epic waves; Snapper Rocks – known for its rock pools with stunning ocean views; and Point Danger – known for its walking tracks and super scenic views.

Next door to all this loveliness there is also Coolangatta Beach (patrolled surf beach with smaller waves) and Kirra Beach – a huge expanse of white sands and calm waters, popular with families as one of the great swimming beaches in the area; and just a short 15-minute drive will take you to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary where you can meet some of our incredible native Australian animals .

How to Get to Rainbow Bay: Practically on the border with New South Wales, Rainbow Bay is just south of Gold Coast airport and easily reaching by following Highway 2.

Mooloolaba Beach, Sunshine Coast

Little kids will enjoy the rock pools at the northern end of the beach, while the bigger kids (and adults) can learn to surf with one of the local surf schools; and the nearby shops, bars and restaurants (including The Mooloolaba Surf Club) are great places to stay well-fed and hydrated.

Snorkellers and Scuba Divers will not be disappointed either, with the opportunity to dive the ex-HMS Brisbane Shipwreck just off the coast, while those preferring the stay on dry land can explore the area by bike or on foot.

Getting to Mooloolaba Beach: The closest airport is Maroochydore (MCY) – also known as the Sunshine Coast Airport. From there it is a short 15-minute drive to Mooloolaba Beach. Alternatively, it is 100km North of Brisbane, which takes approximately 1hr 30 minutes to drive.

Mission Beach, Cassowary Coast

Situated midway between Townsville and Cairns it is made up of four beach villages (Bingil Bay, Mission Beach, Wongaling Beach and South Mission Beach) linked by 14 kilometres of wide golden sands and has a variety of accommodation options to suit every style of traveller on any budget.

Backpackers flock to Mission beach as a tropical paradise and a great place to Skydive , but there are also BnBs, Campgrounds, luxury boutique hotels and eco-friendly lodges.

Regardless of where you stay on Mission Beach, visitors can take tours of the Great Barrier Reef (from taking a helicopter above to diving below!), head inland to ride the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, go fishing to catch your dinner, or simply swim in the ocean.

Due to its northern location, there are usually stinger nets deployed between October and May, but it is best to check on the North Queensland Surf Lifesaving website if the nets are currently active.

How to Get to Mission Beach: Mission Beach is located approximately 2 hours south of Cairns and 3 hours north of Townsville, both have airports that are serviced by flights from most major cities in Australia.

Double Island Point, Cooloola

Despite its name, this isn’t an island at all, but rather a long sand spit with huge sand dunes towering over it. This beach is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in all of Australia. Here, you’ll find powdery-white sand, transparent water and stunning views from the lighthouse which you can hike up to.

Double Island Point is a big hit with surfers, as it’s home to Australia’s longest right-hand break. Since the waves here break over sand, they’re not too powerful and very clean – perfect for beginner and intermediate surfers.

Double Island Point is not an easy beach to get to, but if you do make the effort you’ll be rewarded with an incredibly quiet beach with jaw-dropping beauty.

Getting to Double Island Point: Double Island Point is only accessible by 4wd. If you want to drive here yourself, you’ll need to get a permit to drive in the Cooloola Recreation Area. If you don’t want to drive yourself, tours run from both Noosa and Rainbow Beach.

If you’re feeling fit, you can also walk from Rainbow Beach to Double Island Point. The walk is 15km and takes almost a full day. Because of this, it’s common for people to spend a day walking to Double Island Point then camp there for a few days before making the return journey.

Surfers Paradise Beach, Gold Coast

Obviously, and as indicated by the name, the 2km of golden sands at Surfers Paradise are part of the surfing beach, with the towering skyscrapers of the Gold Coast providing an incredible backdrop.

The beach is patrolled by surf lifeguards in various sections, and as always, we encourage people to swim between the flags where they are present. (Even if you consider yourself a strong swimmer – our Aussie rips can be dangerous, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for).

Locate at the heart of the Gold Coast, there are restaurants, bars, theme parks and more for visitors to enjoy.

How to get to Surfers Paradise: From Gold Coast airport it is a 30-minute drive to Surfers Paradise by car. Alternatively, you can take a bus (no.700 or 777) to Broadbeach station from where you can hop on a tram up to Surfers Paradise. If travelling from Brisbane it is a straight shot south along the Pacific Motorway which takes approximately 1 hour by car.

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands

Not only is Whitehaven Beach surrounded by miles of natural beauty in the Whitsunday Islands National Park, but it’s also in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s just not possible to find a beach in a more picturesque location!

The beach stretches for 7 kilometres and the sand fades out into the ocean in swoon-worthy swirls of blue, green and white. The best way to view the beach is from a scenic plane ride, as you’ll be able to take in the full view of the sand swirls from above.

A much cheaper way to see Whitehaven Beach from above is to walk to the Hill Inlet Lookout, an unmissable viewpoint. The walk is only a 1.3km return journey from the beach, but it’s very steep. It’s definitely worth it though, as this is the best place on Whitsunday Island to take photos of the beach and the ocean.

On the beach itself, it’s possible and safe to swim in the water, although a stinger suit will be necessary from October to May.

Getting to Whitehaven Beach: The easiest way to get to Whitehaven Beach is on a sailing cruise tour from either Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island. These tours can last for a half-day, a full day, or multiple days including overnight stops. The only other option is to charter a private boat.

Noosa Heads, Sunshine Coast

Although Noosa has kilometres of pristine coastline, Noosa Heads isn’t just about the beaches but is also home to some of Australia’s most spectacular natural environments. From Noosa National Park to the Noosa Everglades; Noosa Biosphere Reserve and Great Sand Biosphere; not to mention the nearby Glass House Mountains, Mapleton Falls National Park and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

How to Get To Noosa: The closest airport to Noosa is the Sunshine Coast Airport located 30 minutes south of the town. Alternatively, it is a 2-hour drive north of Brisbane, either by car or shuttle bus.

Burleigh Heads Beach, Gold Coast

Burleigh Heads Beach is safe for swimming, but it’s the epic surfing conditions that really put Burleigh Heads on the map. After all, the first one-on-one professional surfing competition was held here!

The beach is famous for its incredible sunrises, when the sky is streaked with vibrant pinks, oranges and yellows. The locals love to watch the sunrise on the beach and follow it up with breakfast at one of Burleigh’s most beloved spots – Commune Cafe.

There’s also a short coastal walk you can join at Burleigh Heads which lasts for 1.5 miles and takes in the beauty spot of Tallebudgera Creek.

How to get to Burleigh Heads Beach: Burleigh Heads is just above the QLD-NSW border in Burleigh Heads National Park, 13km south of Gold Coast and 85km south of Brisbane. It’s easy to visit by car or public transport.

North Stradbroke Island

This does not make it easy to try and pinpoint where the best beach on Straddie is though, and to be honest, will depend on what you are looking for in a beach. For clear blue waters and a long stretch of golden sand, head to Adams Beach; for fishing or crabbing, Bradbury’s Beach is the place for you and surfers can’t go wrong with the beaches at Point Lookout. And if none of these take your fancy, there are plenty more to chose from!

How to get to North Stradbroke Island: From Brisbane, head to Cleveland for all water taxi, passenger and vehicle ferries. It’s an approximately 50-minute drive from Brisbane CBD.

Elliott Heads Beach

This surf beach is seasonally patrolled, although is extremely tidal, so if you are visiting with littlies, we recommend you stick to the Elliott River mouth area where the waters are calmer and there are plenty of rockpools to play in. It’s also a great place to snorkel or hop on a stand-up paddleboard.

Elliott Heads is also popular with sufers, jet-skiers, kite-surfers as well as fishermen.

How to get to Elliot Heads Beach: Popular with campers and grey nomads, Elliott heads is a 4-5 hour drive north of Brisbane (and is often overlooked by nearby Hervey Bay and Fraser Island). Simply hit the M1, keep driving until you hit the A1 and turn right when you see the signs. Or hop on a domestic flight to Bundaberg Airport, from where it is a 25 minute drive to Elliott Heads.

75-Mile Beach, Fraser Island

Unfortunately, due to dangerous rip tides and a huge population of sharks, you can’t swim at 75-mile beach, but the beautiful swimming spots of Lake Wabby and Lake McKenzie are just a short drive away from 75 mile beach and are ideal for sunbathing and swimming.

The best activity to do on 75 mile beach is to zoom along it in a 4wd vehicle. As you do this you can take in the isolated beauty of Fraser Island, try to spot some of the native dingoes, and stop off at some of Fraser Island’s best tourist attractions. These include the Wreck of the SS Maheno, which is right on the beach, and floating down Eli Creek to cool off.

How to Get to Fraser Island: To get to Fraser Island, you’ll either need a very durable 4wd, or to join a group tour . Ferries run from Rainbow Beach to Fraser Island daily, between 6am and 5pm.

Tangalooma Wrecks Beach, Moreton Island

This beach has perfect powdery white sand, clear blue waters and, of course, the Tangalooma Wrecks, a set of ships deliberately sunk in 1963 to create a safe harbour for small boats to dock at the island. Snorkelling or kayaking around the wrecks is the best way to explore them, and you’ll be amazed at all the weird and brightly coloured fish swimming in the water around the wrecks.

The water is safe to swim in around the wreck area, but we wouldn’t recommend swimming past the wrecks or in areas further away from them, as there are no lifeguards on the beach.

Getting to Tangalooma Beach: Ferries run between Holt Street Wharf in Brisbane and Tangalooma Beach on Moreton Island multiple times a day. If you’re just staying at the beach or visiting the Tangalooma Resort you can arrive on the island on foot. If you’re planning to drive on the island you’ll need a sturdy 4wd.

Day tours of Moreton Island from Brisbane are incredibly popular and are the ideal way to explore the island without your own vehicle.

Palm Cove Beach, Palm Cove

Unfortunately, you can’t surf this far north. However, near the beach, you’ll find a watersports shop where you can hire kayaks and stand up paddleboards.

The palm trees lining the beach offer shade from the harsh sun, perfect for sheltering during the hottest parts of the day, and the beach is clean and perfect for sunbathing.

How to Get to Palm Cove Beach: The drive from Cairns to Palm Cove Beach is around 25 minutes, and direct buses also run between Cairns and Palm Cove Beach.

*OUR TOP TIP* If you’re this far north, be sure to include a trip up to Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest – they are some of the most beautiful places to visit in Queensland.

Nudey Beach, Fitzroy Island

Located in Far North Tropical Queensland, Nudey Beach gets warm weather year-round, making it perfect for some winter sunbathing. If you’re looking to be more active, Nudey Beach is a perfect spot for swimming and snorkelling. Coral reefs surround the beach, making it the ideal spot to explore part of the Great Barrier Reef without having to join an expensive tour.

Despite its unusual name, Nudey Beach is not, in fact, a nudist beach, and is actually very family-friendly!

Getting to Nudey Beach: Ferries run between Cairns and Welcome Bay on Fitzroy Island daily, and the journey takes just 45 minutes. From Welcome Bay, Nudey Beach is a very scenic 15-minute walk away.

And that’s a wrap folks! We hope you enjoyed our guide to the best beaches in Queensland Australia and Queensland travel guide. With 15 epic beaches to add to your Queensland bucket list, we know that you’ll soon be falling as hard for Queensland as we did!

Are any of the beaches we mentioned your favourite beach in Queensland? Let us know in the comments! And if you know of anyone heading to QLD who love the beach, please share this article with them via Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Whatsapp or Flipboard. Just remember, sharing is caring!

READY MORE TRAVEL INSPIRATION? YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THESE RECENT POSTS, TRAVEL ARTICLES, DESTINATION GUIDES, TRAVELER RESOURCES, TRAVEL GEAR GUIDES AND RELATED POSTS ABOUT OTHER AMAZING PLACES AROUND AUSTRALIA:

• Test Your Aussie Knowledge: The Big Australia Trivia Quiz + 80+ Interesting Facts about Australia
• New South Wales: Top Things to do in Sydney (inc. The Sydney Opera House, Byron Bay & the Blue Mountains ) & Best Places to visit in NSW
• South Australia: Guide to the Ikara Flinders Ranges
• Northern Territory: Best Things to do in Darwin
• Victoria: The Ultimate Victoria Bucketlist, Melbourne Travel Guide (Perfect for First Timers), Best Time to Visit Melbourne , Free Things to do in Melbourne + 16 Best Day Trips from Melbourne
• General Australia Inspiration:  Best Australian Travel Apps + Australia Travel Tips to Know Before You Go
• Queensland News & Events: Things to do on the Gold Coast, Great Barrier Reef & 50 Things to do in Outback Queensland

Hi There! Thanks for reading our guide to The Best Beaches in Queensland (inc. Map & Photos)   I just wanted to let you know that this post contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something after clicking a link, I may get a small commission – which is at absolutely no cost to you . If you enjoyed this article and are going to be searching for some of the things I mention anyway, I would love it if you could click through from the links above & thank you in advance! Read my full disclosure here .

• GetInspired

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases: “Big Australia Bucket List are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites”

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures and to the elders past, present and emerging.

Copyright © 2020-2022 Big Australia Bucket List . All Rights Reserved

11 Best Places on the East Coast of Australia

I’ve been almost everywhere along the east coast of Australia . This includes every place you should visit and every place nobody ever should. Over nine weeks I backpacked my way through 22 cities and towns from Sydney , NSW to Cairns, QLD. This means I only got to spend a few days in each place when, in fact, I could have spent more time in fewer places. The guide books I read had a way of making me feel like every stop on the east coast was worth a visit but, as it turns out, that’s not entirely true. Don’t get me wrong–I love Australia, but if you’ve got a limited amount of time, stick to the following cities!

3) Byron Bay

4) Surfer’s Paradise

5) Brisbane

7) Fraser Island

8) Whitsunday Islands

9) Magnetic Island

10) Mission Beach

But prepare to party hard!

Originally published on Travel Freak.

Of course, Sydney, the most famous of all Australian cities, is a must visit. It spans multiple boroughs, each one offering something entirely different.

A small, lesser-known town on the east coast with an immense amount of charm. The beaches are breathtaking and the views I was lucky enough to witness were some of the best I’ve evern seen. Yamba is also known, within the right crowds, to provide some of the best surf on the east coast. Most other people just haven’t heard that yet. Be sure to sign up for ‘Shanes Ten-Buck Tour’ at the local YHA hostel.

A party town and a beautiful beach make this a great stop for backpackers. Be prepared to spend some money on a few blurry nights!

Surfers Paradise

Very touristy but it’s a must visit. Lots of shopping and beach bodies everywhere. Despite its name, there are better places along the coast to surf.

Great nights out in Fortitude Valley, and enjoy a ride up the river. Culture abounds in Brisbane, too, making it a must-see destination in Australia.

Noosa Heads

A small, quaint town offering magnificent views, some really nice hikes and loads of boutiques along the esplanade. The beach here was one of my favorites.

Fraser Island

Be sure to do a 4WD tour of Fraser Island. Spend three days and two nights driving along the beach, through the water and over obstacles with a group of seven others in your vehicle. The tour companies provide you with menus, food, tents and every other necessity. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip.

Whitsunday Island

Whitehaven Beach is a beach unlike any you’ve ever seen before. A cruise through the islands will take you there and possibly elsewhere, depending on the vessel. You can dive or snorkel along the way, creating a fulfilling experience. I’d recommend a smaller boat with fewer people–larger boats become more commercialized and a bit less personal.

Magnetic Island

A tiny little island (seven minutes from end-to-end on a scooter) off the coast of Townsville. Some fantastic hiking and walks, remnants of World War II barracks and a beautiful beach made this one of my favorite stops along the way!

Mission Beach

Stop by Mission Beach if you’re interested in skydiving. It’s one of the only places you can land on the beach and the views from 14,000 feet in the air are spectacular!

Backpacker central! There’s lots to do from Cairns but not much to do in Cairns. It’s the jump-off point for diving on the Great Barrier Reef as well as other day trips to surrounding areas like Kuranda and the Atherton Tablelands.

Frequent Searches Leading To This Page:-

top australia tour package with price , cheapest australia tour package, australia tour packages from india, australia tour packages from ahmedabad, cost for 7 day trip to australia

Queensland Packages

More Stories For Queensland

Further Reads