If you’re looking for a place to take the family for a holiday, Queensland offers plenty of options. From the Gold Coasts’ theme parks to star-gazing in the Outback or staying at a farm. Here are some ideas for your next family vacation.
1-Gold Coast
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Murray Waite & Assoc
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Matt Harvey
This is the land of theme parks, mini golf and places where you can learn to surf like Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta. For a change of scenery, head for the Gold Coast Hinterland where you can be active with long walks and see eye-catching waterfalls in the lush green rainforest.
2-Brisbane
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Paul Ewart
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland
The third most populous city in Australia, Queensland’s capital is the ideal place to ensure youngsters learn about the significance through the various collections of artefacts and other objects of historical, artistic, scientific, artistic or cultural importance at a gallery or a museum. There’s rock climbing, kayaking and riding on Segways. Why not chill out at Southbank Pool or head across to Moreton or Stradbroke Islands?
3-Sunshine Coast
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Ezra Patchett
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Darren Jew
If you love ice cream, then swim at kid-friendly beaches like Bulcock in Caloundra where you’ll find numerous varieties of ice cream after a dip. Look out for koalas while walking through Noosa National Park and, of course, pay a visit to Australia Zoo.
4-Southern Queensland Country
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Christian Nott
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland
Stay at farm and feed cows, chickens, pigs. Be adventurous be set out in search of waterfalls and waterholes. Then when the hunger pangs strike, head over to Stanthorpe to pick fruit and eat to your heart’s content! Queensland’s countryside has plenty of attractions for families and there are lots of top spots to go camping.
5-Outback Queensland
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Cathy Finch
Star gaze at the Cosmos Centre, come face-to-face with a bilby, gain first-hand knowledge about rural living and stay on a farm, find ways to learn more about our heritage, dig for dinosaurs or climb Big Red near Birdsville. Queensland’s Outback offers an adventure that all the family will remember for years.
6-Fraser Coast
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Peter Lik
This is where you must be between June and November every year if you want to see the migrating humpback whales. While watching these impressive mammals is spellbinding, Fraser Island is also popular for camping and day tours for children of all ages. Children can learn how to fish, so grab your reel and rod and make your way to the piers at the beach at Burrum Heads or Hervey Bay. Kingfisher Bay Resort has a Junior Eco Ranger program that incorporates star-gazing, campfire fun and bush and beach walks.
7-The Whitsundays
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Mike Hilburger
Have oodles of fun at Hamilton Island resort’s kids clubs and reef ranger programs, along with heaps of snorkeling straight off the beach. It’s also a wonderful place to learn to sail and get a photo for the family album of the Big Mango in Bowen. If the weather gets humid, then one of the best places to cool down is the Airlie Beach Lagoon. For more islands, here’s our big list of islands in Queensland.
8-Townsville, North Queensland
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Ben Southall
Home to the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium, ReefHQ is a great spot to learn about the Great Barrier Reef. Children will learn through active play through such inventive reef education programs as Reef Kids. Visit the turtle hospital or hop on a ferry to Magnetic Island for koala encounters in the wild. If you go along the Strand, you are sure to find a variety of gelato options and terrific playgrounds.
9-Tropical North Queensland Green Island
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Vince Valitutti
Looking for Nemo? Take the kids to or go for the day to the reef and snorkel or learn to dive, though you have to be eight years old for a PADI Bubblemaker experience. North of Cairns, the family can learn to forage for bush tucker, throw a boomerang or play the didgeridoo. Get onboard a quad bike or a horse and explore the lush rainforest, bushland and waterfalls. Check out the Cairns Tropical Zoo, Wildlife Habitat, Kuranda Sky Rail and tropical treats to be tasted in the Atherton Tablelands. Alternatively, you can swim closer to home at the Cairns Lagoon.
10-Bundaberg, North Burnett
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland
Two things to light up the life of the young ones – ice cream and turtles. Head to Mammino’s and Nana’s Pantry for an ice cream. Bundaberg is home to Mon Repos, where you can watch turtles hatch. The turtles make their way to the beach, find a safe place to dig a nest and lay their eggs.
Heron Island and Lady Elliot Island are two more places for turtle encounters. Here, you can snorkel and swim with friendly turtles.
11-Gladstone Region
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland
Get off the grid and go on horseback at Kroombit Tops National Park or snorkel right off the beach at Heron Island.Take pleasure in luxuriating on a Great Barrier Reef family holiday on Heron Island. This is where you begin your day with stunning sunrises and end with dazzling sunsets. The Junior Ranger curriculum is a hands-on program designed especially for seven-to-12-year-olds and includes walks out in the lagoon at low tide to learn about the reef.
12-Capricorn Region
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Paul Giggle
Create some vital family time to bond and escape and head to Great Keppel Island. Nestled among tropical gardens and a short stroll to the beach, it’s ideally located to offer secluded beaches, turquoise waters and great bushwalking areas. The Capricorn Region is often overlooked when planning a holiday in Queensland. There are plenty of fun things for kids to do, such as exploring caves and Byfield National Park. Here’s what Rockhampton photographer Nathan White has to say about his region.
13-The Mackay Region
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Amber Toms
It will be an early start, but worth the effort if you head to Cape Hillsborough National Park at sunrise and make the most of the opportunity for a momentous meeting with kangaroos and wallabies. If you want to meet a platypus, the right times are at dawn and dusk at the Eungella National Park. On the other hand, you can fly (like Tarzan) through the forest at Finch Hatton Gorge.
Discover Queensland
For more things to see and do in Queensland see Best of Queensland and holidaying in Queensland at www.Queensland.com
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