Queensland Holidays

Queensland is a big place, with an even bigger selection of activities on offer. Friendly, palm-fringed Cairns, in the far north of the state, is popular with tourists and makes a great base for exploring Tropical North Queensland. Adventurous types can snorkel over the Great Barrier Reef, surf in Caloundra or even ride sand-boards over the dunes on Fraser Island.

Slightly less adrenaline-fuelled activities include searching for glow worms in the Gold Coast’s rainforests, or enjoying a boat ride on the sky-blue waters that surround the Whitsunday islands. Dotted with mango and palm trees, the charming village of Port Douglas is a great base for reef trips and wilderness safaris in Daintree National Park, which is home to an array of unique Australian wildlife.

If you’re seeking a cultural hit, get your fix in Brisbane. Here you’ll find a buzzing music scene, a host of galleries housing Australian masterpieces, and the country’s largest contemporary art gallery. Visit in the first weekend of May and you’ll catch Opera in Vineyard – a spectacular music event held among the vines of Ballandean Estate Wines in southeast Queensland.

For something unique, be sure to explore Queensland’s bountiful indigenous culture. This is the only place in the world where both of Australia’s indigenous cultures converge and thrive. Aboriginal and Torres Strait cultures date back over 40,000 years and descendants still practice indigenous cultural traditions in Queensland today. Across the state, you can gain an extraordinary understanding of the state’s ancient life through dance, art and guided tours. 

Queensland’s culinary credentials are advancing all the time. The state’s signature foods rely heavily on the subtropical climate and, of course, the sea. Seafood reigns supreme – look out for delicacies like Moreton Bay bugs, mud crabs, scallops and king prawns. Delicious fresh fruits, including mango, avocado and papaya, make a refreshing treat, while native Macadamia nuts pop up in all sorts of dishes, from salads to desserts.

Brisbane is heaven for foodies, with its plethora of award-winning restaurants, sprawling farmers markets and trendy cafes. Both the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are known for their exceptional eateries. Queensland also knows a thing or two about tipples. In recent years, Brisbane has seen an explosion in microbreweries and specialist wine bars, while the Sunshine Coast has enjoyed a boom in craft beer. And Queensland’s Granite Belt wine region is a must-visit for wine lovers. 

Queensland has a subtropical climate with two seasons. October to May is likely to be wet and humid, while June to September is relatively dry. Generally speaking, you’ll find that precipitation increases as you travel north of Brisbane, and temperatures also rise the further up the coast you go. For instance, in summer between December and February, Brisbane temperatures average 28°C, while the mercury in Cairns often soars above 30°C.