Queensland with kids: A handy holiday guide
Queensland
Explore Queensland with your family
For Aussie families itching for a beach getaway or rainforest escape, Queensland ticks the boxes all year round. Our guide to the Sunshine State’s holiday hotspots will help you plan the ultimate getaway in every season.
From the glittering Gold Coast all the way up to the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll find sun and surf in spades, as well as culture, entertainment and delicious eats. Plus, there are animal encounters and outdoor activities to delight kids of all ages – and plenty of theme park thrills too.
Dive into our Queensland family travel guide and start dreaming today!
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Tropical North Queensland
You’re in Great Barrier Reef territory when you arrive in this exotic part of Queensland, where reef meets rainforest – Cairns, Mission Beach, Palm Cove and Port Douglas – and where the locals greet you with ‘Welcome to Paradise’!
Base yourself at one of the tropical towns on the mainland or book a relaxing stay on one of the dozens of beautiful islands the Great Barrier Reef encompasses, including Great Keppel Island, Hamilton Island, Hayman Island, Magnetic Island and Fitzroy Island.
Gold Coast
It’s consistently at the very top of the pile when it comes to favourite Aussie family holiday destinations, and while Gold Coast beaches (Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Miami and Burleigh Heads to name just a handful) are inducement enough, the extra lure comes from the Gold Coast’s deserved reputation as the ‘Theme Park Capital of Australia’ with Sea World, Dreamworld, Movie World and Wet ‘n’ Wild all must-visits on any Gold Coast family holiday!
Sunshine Coast
Beautiful one day… beautiful the next … they don’t call it the Sunshine Coast for nothing! Stretching along the Coral Sea are the premium coastal holiday towns of Noosa, Coolum, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba and Caloundra. You want beaches? You’ll run out of fingers and toes to count them on – all the way to the multi-coloured sands of the aptly named Rainbow Beach.
The Noosa Everglades’ spectacular network of waterways and wetlands is the perfect place to immerse yourself in nature. Catch a fish, cruise the waterways, hit a golf ball, or just relax, revitalise and refresh with Noosa’s beachfront resorts and restaurants.
Head into the hinterland for a scenic drive along Blackhall Range Tourist Drive and to marvel at the magnificent Glass House Mountains. At the southern end of the Sunshine Coast lies the Irwins’ Australia Zoo in Beerwah.
Fraser Coast
The diverse and naturally beautiful Fraser Coast encompasses the UNESCO World Heritage-listed K’gari (Fraser Island), the whale watching capital of Hervey Bay, plus the towns of Maryborough, Tiaro, old gold mining hub Gympie, Cooloola National Park and the Great Sandy Strait.
Head north to chase the tropical sun of Hervey Bay, approximately three and a half hours from Brisbane. Walk along the delightful Esplanade, and from June to October, keep your eyes peeled for humpback whales.
Offshore, you’ll find Australia’s most famous sand island, K’gari. This beach paradise is perfect for a long weekend, but too far to venture for one night. You can go four-wheel-driving on 75 Mile Beach, check out the shipwreck at Eurong Beach, and enjoy a refreshing swim at Lake Mackenzie, the Champagne Pools or Eli Creek.
Wildlife encounters in Queensland
It’s not all swimsuits and snorkels – Queensland offers loads of wildlife and animal encounters.
For totally wild crocodile shows, visit Australia Zoo on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. The late Steve Irwin made Australia Zoo famous worldwide, and his family is continuing his legacy with the conservation-focused attraction at Beerwah on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Venture behind-the-scenes at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital on Bindi’s Island, where a team of vets provides lifesaving treatment to sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife.
Soak up the farm vibes and meet Australia’s unique wildlife at Paradise Country on the Gold Coast, and ride camels at Summer Land Camels on the Scenic Rim. Meet, greet and eat with some of Australia’s most iconic animals with a Breakfast with the Koalas experience at Bungalow Bay Koala Village on Magnetic Island, near Townsville.
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Opening image: A family on the Gold Coast. © Tourism and Events Queensland