10 best places to visit in Queensland in 2021

1. Noosa

From hiking trails through the national park to kayaking up close and personal with the region's dolphins and whales. Noosa is a great spot if you're after a jam-packed holiday. The activities don't stop there, with climbs to Laguna lookout, the Alexandria Bay Walk, Hell's Gates lookout and the Fairy Pools.

• Best for: Adventure Travellers
• Where is it? South East Coast of Queensland
• Top 5 things to see/do: Noosa National Park, Dolphin Safari, Self-guided Water Bike tour, Whale Watching, Learn to Surf
• How long do I need? 3-4 days
• Recommended tour: Get out onto the water with a Kayak with the Dolphins Say hello to the water's locals on a guided tour of Noosa.

Book your flight Book your accommodation

2. Brisbane

Brisbane is perfect for a weekend away or a five-day escape from reality. The city is easily explored via bike or scooter, as well as cruising options for romantic dinners. Shop til you drop on James Street and eat your heart out at Howard Smith Wharves where you'll find endless restaurants and bars. Ferries make passage between different parts of the city easy, and Eat Street (as the name suggests) will have you lost for choice on a Saturday or Sunday night.

• Best for: All travellers
• Where is it? Queensland's South East Cost
• Top 5 things to see/do: Roma Street Parkland, Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary via a cruise, Glow Worm Cave at Springbrook and Tamborine Rainforest and day trips to Stradbroke Island.
• How long do I need? 3-4 days
• Recommended tour: Doing the Brisbane Segway Sightseeing Tour will have you zipping through the CBD for a couple of hours in the morning or afternoon.

Book your flight Book your accommodation

3. Gold Coast

For whole family fun you can't look past Gold Coast for your next holiday. From DreamWorld, Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet'n'Wild, the kids entertainment is automatically sorted. Get amongst nature with multiple national parks waiting to be explored including Springbrook. The Gold Coast doesn't leave out the shopaholics either, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre is have you shopping til you drop.

• Best for: Families
• Where is it? Queensland's South East Cost
• Top 5 things to see/do: Gold Coast theme parks, Burleigh Head National Park, canoe down the Tallebudgera Creek, Sightseeing River Cruise, SkyPoint Observation Deck.
• How long do I need? 4-5 days
• Recommended tour: Take to the water with a Sailing Cruise with wine and nibbles. Discover luxury onboard while enjoying views of Marina Mirage, Wave Break Island and Surfers Paradise.

Book your flight Book your accommodation

4. Sunshine Coast

Escape with the whole family to the Sunshine Coast. Appropriately named, the Queensland coastal town is home to endless beaches that will have you enjoy some fun in the sun. Keep them entertained with Go Karting and Whale Watching - or for those of you after a thrill, why not swim with them? There is no limit to the fun.

• Best for: Families
• Where is it? South East Coast of Queensland
• Top 5 things to see/do: Sunshine Beach, Australia Zoo, Glass House Mountains, Mudjimba Beach, Alexandra Headland Beach.
• How long do I need? 4-5 days
• Recommended tour: Partner up and enjoy a one hour segway tour of the Sunshine Coast.

Book your flight Book your accommodation

5. Hamilton Island

Nothing says a romantic getaway quite like an escape to Hamilton Island. From golf carting your way around the island to snorkeling through the beautiful Great Barrier Reef, you won't be stuck on things to do. The island boasts a tonne of outdoor activities including hikes to Passage Peak, Resort lookout, Coral Cove and the Whitsunday Islands National Park.

• Best for: Couples
• Where is it? Off the North East Coast of Queensland
• Top 5 things to see/do: Great Barrier Reef Cruise, Snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven Beach, Bike tour through Whitsundays
• How long do I need? 4-5 days
• Recommended tour: Get amongst the romance with a Sunset Cruise with a private charter.

Book your flight Book your accommodation

6. Cairns

Known for its impeccable temperatures all year round, Cairns is a great location for mingling and adventure. With tours and group attractions left, right and centre, there's no shortage in things to do. From Cairns you can head out to the Great Barrier Reef and visit neighbouring islands including Fitzroy and Green.

• Best for: Solo travellers
• Where is it? North East Queensland
• Top 5 things to see/do: Palm Cove, Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Snorkeling off Green Island, Fitzroy Island Day trip
• How long do I need? 5-6 days
• Recommended tour: Atherton Tablelands Waterfalls Tour from Cairns will have you one with nature. Enjoy swims at Lake Eacham and multiple waterfalls including Josephine Falls and Millaa Millaa Falls.

Book your flight Book your accommodation

7. Port Douglas

Located the furthest north on the Queensland coast, Port Douglas is the perfect getaway. Ideal for all types of travellers you'll find yourself at the feet of the Sunshine state's beautiful reefs. With plenty to do on land including hikes, scenic tours and beach-going, it's just a matter of what to pick first.

• Best for: All travellers (Family friendly)
• Where is it? North East Queensland
• Top 5 things to see/do: Four Mile Beach, Kuranda Scenic Railway, Wildlife Habitat, HorseBack Riding at Cape Tribulation, Trinity Bay Lookout
• How long do I need? 5-7 days
• Recommended tour: Swim with the local sealife on a Port Douglas cruise to the Great Barrier Reef. You'll be stopping off at three different locations with lunch and tea included.

Book your flight Book your accommodation

8. Tropical Far North

A collection of 11 distinct destinations with hundreds of places to see, the Tropical Far North is at the top of many travel lists. Outside of the resort areas of Cairns and Port Douglas, here you'll find numerous national parks, Indigenous cultural opportunities, swimming holes and waterfalls, barefoot beach towns and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Probably the main reason you’ll be in this part of Queensland is to catch a glimpse of the Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia’s most popular natural wonders.

• Best for: The all-rounder.
• Where it is and how to get there: The Tropical Far North is found at the north-eastern end of the state. Cairns is the main transport hub with domestic and international flights arriving daily. The Spirit of Queensland train from Brisbane to Cairns runs five days a week, and there are regular buses touring up and down the coast.
• Top five things to see and do: Explore the Great Barrier Reef; visit Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park; Daintree Rainforest; Mission Beach; Atherton Tablelands.
• How long do I need? A weekend.
• Recommended tour: Great Barrier Reef Diving and Snorkeling Cruise – Spend five hours at two different spots on the reef for your chance to see tropical marine life in the clear waters.

Book your flight Book your accommodation

9. Whitsundays

The Whitsundays is made up of 74 islands with stunning natural landscapes and coasts dotted with secluded beaches and friendly towns.

The Whitsundays is all about the sailing, the natural islands and setting your sights on the outer reef including the ever-romantic Heart Reef.

• Best for: The island hopper.
• Where it is and how to get there: The Whitsundays is located off the central coast of Queensland. The islands are accessible by plane or boat transfer from nearby Airlie Beach.
• Top five things to see and do: Go sailing; visit Daydream Island Living Reef; Hamilton Island; dive, snorkel or fly over the outer reef; spend time at Whitehaven Beach.
• How long do I need? A weekend.
• Recommended tour: Whitehaven Beach Sailing Tour – Explore the beautiful Whitsundays region including Hill Inlet Lookout and Whitehaven Beach aboard a catamaran.

Book your flight Book your accommodation

10. Fraser Island

Fraser Island is one of the world's most unusual islands. As the largest sand island in the world, it’s also the only place on earth where tall rainforests grow on sand dunes at elevations of more than 200 metres, and it also contains 1,000+ freshwater lakes.

Fraser Island is great for wildlife spotting as well. It’s home to one of the purest strains of dingoes remaining, and is one of the best vantage points to spot humpback whales.

• Best for: The nature lover.
• Where it is and how to get there: Fraser Island is 300km north of the state capital Brisbane. Virgin Australia and Qantas operate direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to the Fraser Coast. From the coast it’s a 50-minute ferry trip across to the Island.
• Top five things to see and do: Lake McKenzie; Champagne Pools; Eli Creek; sunrise at Maheno Shipwreck; whale watching at Indian Head.
• How long do I need? A full day.
• Recommended tour: Fraser Island 1 Day Tour – See Fraser Island like a local in a 4WD full-day tour with an authentic Aussie lunch.

Book your flight Book your accommodation