Day Trips in Queensland

If you live in Queensland or are there on a holiday, this page has been created to give you some options for a day out. This can be with the family, with friends or by your self.

It could be a day at the zoo, botanical gardens, markets, galleries, events, festivals and everything in-between.

Where do you recommend others go?   If you have enjoyed it we want to know!  Please add by clicking the box below.

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Tamborine Mountain

Nature and Wildlife

Flecker Gardens, Cairns with Anne and Chris

Flecker Gardens, Cairns with Anne and Chris

Brisbane Botanic Gardens

Bullocky Rest

A ideal spot that looks out onto the picturesque surrounds of Lake Samsonvale.Open from 6am daily.With a kids playground, numerous picnic shelters, BBQ’s and toilets, an ideal spot to spend the day, do a spot of fishing maybe.There are spots around the lake you are able to do water sports on your paddle boards and kayaks but this is in selected sites so be sure to check the maps around the lake for where you can go. Tanya

@tanya_australianadventures

Cruise from Brisbane to Airlie Beach, with a day trip to Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday islands

This was an experience of a lifetime! The beauty of this place is astounding, it almost feels make believe! We boarded a P&O cruise from Brisbane and traveled up the coast to Arlie Beach, where we disembarked and joined a pre-booked tour operator (there are plenty about!) for a trip to Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays. Stopping en-route for a spot of snorkeling which was so much fun.

Jess Aumonier

Lonepine Koala Sanctuary

Really fab little zoo, just south of Brisbane. Not as big as Australia Zoo, but a lot more intimate and quiet. Plenty to see and do, including the usual koala cuddling, sheepdog herding, birds of prey shows, kangaroo and emu paddock with very friendly roos and emus to hand feed.

Jess Aumonier

Mt. Ngungun and Wld Horse Mountain, Glasshouse Mountains

A really lovely activity for those wanting to work up a bit of a sweat! The reward is incredible panoramic views across SE QLD. Neither trail is particularly taxing or long (Ngungun takes about 30 mins to climb) but it’s a great way to spend a couple of hours and perhaps have a picnic at the top!

Jess Aumonier

Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World, Maleny

HUGE aviaries full of parrots and other exotic birds, where you can freely walk around and interact with the birds, whilst getting some interesting info and talks from the staff and handlers. Gorgeous views across SE QLD, a lovely restaurant for lunch, and plenty of walking trails too.

Jess Aumonier

Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)

Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) is a short boat trip from Brisbane. Its

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natural beauty is breathtaking all year round. In August and November, you can often see hundreds of Whales passing by from Point Lookout, and in summer, the beaches and sea are too lovely to resist! Be careful, though, as the waves can get quite big, so always swim between the flags at designated surf lifesaving beaches.

I recommend taking your car over on the barge. It isn’t cheap, but it’s nice to have a car once you get to the island to drive around and explore. Otherwise, you can catch the passenger ferry and a bus will come and pick you up to take you to Point Lookout (which is where the best parts of the island are).

If you enjoy scuba diving, there is a company on the Island who can take you out for a dive. In August, heavily pregnant grey nurse sharks ‘hang out’ in one place, so it’s an amazing opportunity to see them, as well as a lot of other marine life (even whales if you’re lucky!). Unfortunately, my Go Pro died so I don’t have any photos of my recent dive, but you can check out Manta Lodge and Dive Centre if you’re interested. They also offer cheap accommodation.

Minjerribah is important and significant to the indigenous people of Australia, so it is protected from too much construction. For this reason, if you want to stay overnight, there aren’t any big hotel chains, but a lot of rental properties and amazing camping.

It is yet unchallenged as my favourite place on earth!

Shelley

Bribie Island with Mars

Fantastic drive on beach!

Whitsunday Islands

Take a day trip to Whitsunday Islands for the most amazing snorkeling and beach fun. If you have a beach BBQ watch the birds don’t pinch your steak!!

Lynne Maxwell

Rockhampton Zoo with Lynne Maxwell

Australia Zoo

This has been one of our favourite days out. We decided to buy the annual pass as we knew we’d visit multiple times and it definitely works out brilliant value for money.There is so much to see and the crocodile show is a must see, it’s very informative.We loved sitting with the kangaroos feeding and stroking them.There are lots of experiences toChoose from. We’ve cuddled a koala and now we have walk a tiger on our list of things we’d like to do.Lots of picnic areas and even an bouncing pillow and splash area.We’ve added lots more pictures to our Instagram:https://instagram.com/red.mancs_australia?r=nametag

Catherine Hartigan

Tin Can Bay

Feeding the Dolphins at Tin Can Bay – such an amazing experience.

Catherine Hartigan

Tamborine Mountain

A great trip out to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. With its exceptional views of the Gold Coast hinterland.

It’s a quirky mountain village with, unique gifts to purchase, great places to eat and lots of different activities for all to enjoy.

We visited the botanical gardens, an ideal spot for a family picnic and lovely walking trails to enjoy with fun activities for children to do along the way.

Before we left we stopped to enjoy the short walk to see Curtis falls and loved the sound of the natural waterfall splashing down

Tanya Fell

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a fantastic day out for all. They also have a treetops walk that can add a bit of adventure or adrenaline to the day if holding crocodiles and snakes isn’t enough. Holding the Koala was my highlight.

Lynne Maxwell

Mt Coot-Tha Forest

Mount Coot-Tha

Anne

Karanda

Australia Zoo with Jess Aumonier

A zoo like no other! So much to see and do, loads of experiences and activities to take part in – the kangaroo paddocks are a highlight! A really fun day out for kids and adults alike.

HMQS Gayundah – Redcliffe shipwreck

Cairns Aquarium

Crystal Cascades, Cairns

20 minute drive from Cairns is a great walk with waterfalls and water holes for swimming.

Markets and Boutique Festivals

Rusty Market, Cairns with Anne and Chris

Anne

Chris

South Bank Market

Anne

Botanical Gardens Market

Chris

Noosa Farmers Market with Anne and Chris

Noosa Farmers Market with Anne and Chris

Galleries and Events

Van Gogh Alive

A spectacular event that happened on the north shore of Brisbane.
A large space filled with a vibrant unforgettable multi-sensory experience for all visitors.
Your able to walk around the space and admire the supersized scale of Van Gogh’s art been brought alive and immerse your self into it.
There was slotted times for children to be able to experience this opportunity to and Harry loved the art and seeing it on a large scale a great learning opportunity for him

Tanya

Pop Up Event in Brisbane

Brisbane often has pop up events. This can be art or interactive.

Anne

Art Gallery Brisbane

Anne

Tewantin Art Gallery- Noosa

Anne

Other

The Guardian

This 6 feet tall stainless steel statue by artist Cezary Stulgis dubbed The Guardian keeps a watchful eye over the busy intersection of Wharf St & Ann St in Brisbane, Queensland.

@davesphotos2023

Student One Wharf Street

Student One Wharf Street is the worlds tallest student only accommodation building! At the time of construction they didn’t know it would end up breaking the previous record by 11 metres!

@davesphotos2023

Harry Potter shop, Samford Valley

We had SO much fun in here! An excellent place for kids and adults, loads to see and buy, they have a sorting hat which you can try on too! Samford Valley itself is also really beautiful to wander around, and have lunch.

Jess Aumonier

Saint John’s Anglican Cathedral

The building of Saint John’s Anglican Cathedral began in 1906 and was only fully completed in 2009!

Saint John’s Anglican Cathedral is the second oldest church in Brisbane and attracts 20,000 visitors from around the world annually!

@davesphotos2023

Bundaberg Distillery

Bundaberg distillery is a place to visit if, like me, you are a lover of Bundaberg rum!

Lynne Maxwell

Kanara – Noosa

Has a large amount of organic foods, they also have a bulk store in Maroochydore. The coffee from the barista was delicious!

Anne

Eagle Farm Racecourse

A good ladies day, a great way of getting that best dress on and enjoying the company with your new Australia friends.
The race course also has some great family days for the children to enjoy one been a teddy bears picnic at the races with lots of entertainment for them to enjoy.

Tanya

Brunswick heads fairy house trail

A great wee free activity.

Lynne Maxwell

South Bank, Brisbane

Lots of nice walking trails here, a ‘beach’, cafes, restaurants, bars, green areas and views!

Kangeroo Point, Brisbane

Really lovely spot for a picnic (or BBQ!) and a walk along the river with great views of the city. There are a few activities about as well, such as a climbing wall.

Jess Aumonier

Cairns Performing Arts Centre with Anne and Chris

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