No matter what your interests or your budget, you'll find that Queensland has lots to offer.   With non-stop sunshine, friendly climate and a laid back lifestyle, Queensland is the perfect destination for outdoor holidays. Airports in all the major cities and towns, a sophisticated rail transport network and world standard highways make it simple to reach all the major holiday destinations.

The majority of Queensland's most popular holiday attractions are found along the coastline. The pristine beaches of the Gold Coast are world renowned as is the tropical Daintree Rainforest in the north. The beautiful Whitsunday Islands include some of the most popular of the Great Barrier Reef destinations.

The Queensland outback has it own unique character. This is a land of wide open spaces and star filled nights, a place where dinosaurs once roamed the land and where opals attract hopeful fossickers. A self drive tour is the perfect way to explore the diverse attractions of the outback at your own pace and with your own itinerary.

Queensland Holidays - Not To be Missed

Great Barrier Reef [central to far north Qld]
Best seen by boat, either your own, a charter boat or one of the many cruise boats

The Gulflander [far north Qld]
Step back to another era in this unique rail trip from Normanton to Croydon

Kuranda Scenic Railway [far north Qld]
Spectacular steam train ride from Cairns to Kuranda. Return on the Skyrail Cableway

Carnarvon National Park  [central Qld]
Beautiful park with a magnificent gorge and Aboriginal art

The Gemfields [central Qld]
Try your hand at finding rare gemstones at Anakie, Rubyvale and Sapphire

Darling Downs [south east Qld]
Rural Australia at its best- an area of beauty and prosperity

Gold Coast Hinterland [south east Qld]
Spectacular scenery and rainforests in the "green behind the gold"

Gold Coast  DreamWorld Theme Parks [south east Qld]
Dreamworld Gold Coast, Australia
Home to Tiger Island, Nick Central, The Australian Wildlife Experience, Wiggles World, Big Brother, FlowRider and some of the tallest, fastest thrill rides in the world, Dreamworld is the ultimate place for family fun.
WhiteWater World, Australia's brand new water park
Brought to you by Dreamworld, WhiteWater World is heated all year round and boasts the most extreme waterslides and family friendly attractions from the Wiggles and Nickelodeon. For information & prices visit whitewaterworld.com.au

Gold Coast  Warner Theme Parks [south east Qld]
Seaworld, Movieworld, Wet 'n Wild, Aussie Outback Spectacular - family fun

Fraser Island [south east Qld]
Beautiful sand island, a favourite for 4WD adventures

Sunshine Coast Hinterland [south east Qld]
Charming villages, crafts and mountain scenery
 

Queensland Holidays - Things To Do

In addition to the highlights detailed above, here are just a few ideas on getting the maximum enjoyment from a Queensland holiday.

Barrier Reef resorts and vacations Surfing on the Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast Diving - many locations Sailing the Whitsunday Islands Snorkelling on the Barrier Reef Explore the tropical north rainforests Eco tours - many areas Bushwalking in the National Parks Hiking the heritage trails Sport fishing - anywhere along the coast Jet boating  on the Gold Coast

Whale watching at Hervey Bay Outback tours and adventures Hot air ballooning - several locations White water rafting in the tropical north Canoeing - many locations Sea kayaking - many locations Campervan & 4WD tours - all areas Farm holidays - many locations Nightlife - all major cities Golf - hundreds of world class courses Barramundi fishing in the tropical north

Queensland Holidays - When Is The Best Time

Queensland is an all year-round destination and a major tourist region attracting both domestic and international travellers. The best time of year for you will depend on what you plan to do and where you plan to visit. 

The June - August winter period is the coolest time of the year and may suit holiday makers who prefer to miss the heat and humidity of the summer season. If personal comfort is a major consideration then this may be the best time for travels to the outback and the tropical north. If you plan to visit the Outback during summer, then expect extreme temperatures.

The major Queensland holiday destinations are the South East region and the Great Barrier Reef. Both regions have milder summer weather with less humidity. There is always an increased demand for Gold Coast accommodation and travel bookings during school holiday periods.

Also see Australian Bureau of Meteorology - official Australian weather web site

Queensland Holidays - Places To Stay

Holiday destinations in Queensland are mostly beach locations, with self contained holiday apartments (condominiums) being the most popular type of accommodation. These units range from of 1 to 4 bedrooms, with fully equipped kitchens for self catering and all linen included. Guests only need their personal effects and foodstuffs.  The greatest concentrations of this type of accommodation occur at the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

This type of accommodation usually has a minimum stay requirement of 2 or 3 nights. For single night stays, hotels and motels are recommended.

Queensland's major holiday destinations all offer traditional and boutique hotels.  The majority of hotels are in the major cities such as Brisbane and other major towns. In the country regions motels and motor inns are more common. 

The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are both renowned holiday destinations. The popular accommodation centres such as Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads are all subject to extremely heavy demand for beds in the school holiday periods and advance bookings are absolutely essential.

Getting to and from holiday destinations usually involves an airport transfer. These can sometimes incur significant costs as distances to some of the accommodation properties can involve a lengthy trip. Ask about this when booking your accommodation.

Bed and breakfast establishments are not as numerous in Queensland as they are in the southern states. The majority are in the hinterland areas of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, the Darling Downs and the Atherton Tableland inland from Cairns. There are a small number B&B's in the suburbs of Brisbane.

Queensland Holidays - Transport

All major coastal and inland towns are accessible via an efficient train services network. Due to the long distances involved in travelling within Australia, air services are the most popular way to travel. There are three carriers, namely Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar and between them, they provide services to all major towns as well as direct flights to some of the Barrier Reef island resorts.

The major arterial road that links the south and north is the Bruce Highway between Brisbane and Cairns. The towns along this coastal route have their own tourism attractions. Several bus transport companies travel both coastal and inland routes throughout the state.

All major Australian car rental companies are represented. Many of the second tier rental companies offer late model used cars as well as new cars. Campervans and motor homes rental is available for both sealed road and off-road touring. Campers are only available in capital cities or major towns and booking well in advance is strongly recommended.

Unsealed roads in some of the more remote areas can only be travelled in 4 wheel drive vehicles, especially in the wet season. There are numerous tour operators with itineraries that cover all the popular Queensland sites and destinations.

If a self drive holiday is planned, you can get driver information, maps and travel planning guides  from the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) which has offices throughout the state. Road travel within Queensland involves long distances and we recommend a distance calculator so that the time required can be estimated.