AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA (PART 1)

The Sunshine State in Australia is the perfect place to explore.

And with millions of visitors amazed by the fun things to do in Queensland, you can see why it’s so popular.

From tropical destinations like Fraser Island, the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef, to crocodiles, koalas and more, here’s what we love about Queensland.

1. Gold Coast Experience

Queensland has some of the most stunning beaches in Australia.

With warm weather all year round, no matter what time of year you visit, you’re sure to be able to enjoy the beaches.

Even on a cold winter day, there are still many tourists coming to take a dip!

Down on the Gold Coast (south of Brisbane) there are 17 different beaches to choose from.

One of the most famous and loved beaches on the Gold Coast is Surfers Paradise.

But I recommend trying beaches like Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta, where there are fewer tourists and the beaches are even nicer.

When you’ve had enough swimming, there are plenty of cafes, restaurants and shops nearby.

However, when it comes to the best beaches in Queensland, I recommend the Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane.

Stretching from Caloundra to the north of Coolooa, you’ll find some of the best beaches in the world!

In my opinion, the best beach on the Sunshine Coast is Noosa.

But beaches like Caloundra and Coolum are also beautiful.

The calm crystal clear waters of the Noosa River are the perfect place to get out and explore by kayak or SUP.

You can bring your own or rent it privately or join a tour group.

If you paddle right out to the mouth of the Noosa River, you’ll find many sand islands where you can hang out on your own private desert island for as long as you like.

There are also some beautiful beaches in Tropical North Queensland, such as Port Douglas and remote Cape Tribulation. But the further north you go, you’ll need to be careful where and when you swim.

In Queensland we have problems with stingrays as well as crocodiles (this is Australia after all!), so read the signs before getting in the water.

Wherever you swim in Queensland, swim between the flags.

2. Scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the world and the world’s largest coral reef system.

Located in the waters of Queensland’s east coast, the Great Barrier Reef stretches from Bundaberg in the south up to the northern tip in Queensland.

Most people tend to visit the Great Barrier Reef from the north in Cairns, Port Douglas or the Daintree.

Cairns is the most popular and accessible place for reef tours. Port Douglas, a little further north, tends to have fewer crowds.

Some tours will take you to a pontoon stationed on the reef, where you can take glass-bottomed boat trips as well as snorkeling.

From Bundaberg, you can take a day trip with Lady Musgrave Island Experience and explore the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef.

On cruises as well as snorkeling, other activities on offer often include scuba diving, swimming, glass-bottomed boat tours and even helicopter rides.

No matter where you experience the reef from, keep an eye out for marine life.

On some of my trips, I’ve seen turtles, dolphins, and manta rays.

3. Hug a cute Koala

Have you even been to Queensland if you haven’t hugged a koala?

Years ago, you could occasionally spot these cute little creatures in rubber trees in the suburbs.

Sadly, these days, however, the only place you can see brats is one of the many wildlife sanctuaries around Queensland.

Some places you should consider going are Lone Pine in Brisbane, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast or Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast.

If you want to cuddle, know that they only allow so many cuddles a day, so be sure to book early when you get to the parks.

4. Adrenaline Bumping at one of the Gold Coast Theme Parks

One of the more fun things to do in Queensland is visit any of the theme parks.

The Gold Coast is home to some of the best theme parks in the world!

I love theme parks and have been to quite a few around the world in my time. But I still enjoy visiting those on the Gold Coast.

In my opinion, the best theme park for rides is Dreamworld.

Dreamworld also has the benefit of having a wildlife park where you can see native Australian animals as well as a water park with great water slides to cool off.

Other theme parks include Movie World (brilliant roller coasters) Sea World (lots of sea life and some rides) and Wet n Wild (some of the best water slides on the planet!)

If you are a kid or a good kid, don’t miss a day at least one of these amusement parks.

5. Drink at all the rooftop bars in Brisbane

Visiting Queensland is sometimes best from a rooftop bar in Brisbane.

While everyone thinks of Melbourne and Sydney as “cool cities”, Brisbane is pretty awesome too.

I love hanging out in Brisbane. With warm weather all year round, we’re very casual and just enjoy hanging out with our friends for a few drinks outdoors.

Over the past few years, Brisbane has seen a bunch of super cool rooftop bars pop up across the city.

These bars are a great place to go after a day of sightseeing or to see the city from a different perspective.

Visit rooftop bars like Terrace at South Bank, where you get great views of the South Bank Parklands.

Or pop by the super trendy Howard’s Wharves and head to Fiume at The Fantauzzo for great views of Storey Bridge.

I recommend visiting these bars just before sunset, so you get great views of the city during the day as well as at night.

Some other interesting rooftop bars include Eleven, Sixteen Antlers, and Wet Deck.