Queensland Holidays

Darling Downs [south east Qld]
Rural Australia at its best- area of beauty and prosperity

Gold Coast Hinterland [south east Qld]
Panoramas & rainforests in the "green behind the gold"

Gold Coast Theme Parks [south east Qld]
Family fun at the Gold Coast entertainment parks 

Fraser Island [south east Qld]
Beautiful sand island, a favourite for 4WD adventures

Sunshine Coast Hinterland [south east Qld]
Charming villages, crafts and mountain scenery

No matter what your interests or your budget, you'll find that Queensland has lots to offer. With non-stop sunshine, friendly climate and a laid back lifestyle, Queensland is the perfect destination for outdoor holidays. Airports in all the major cities and towns, a sophisticated rail transport network and world standard highways make it simple to reach all the major holiday destinations.

The majority of Queensland's most popular holiday attractions are found along the coastline. The pristine beaches of the Gold Coast are world renowned as is the tropical Daintree Rainforest in far north Queensland. The beautiful Whitsunday Islands include some of the most popular of the Great Barrier Reef destinations.

The Queensland outback has it own unique character. This is a land of wide open spaces and star filled nights, a place where dinosaurs once roamed the land and where opals attract hopeful fossickers. A self drive tour is the perfect way to explore the diverse attractions of the outback at your own pace and with your own itinerary.

Queensland Holidays - Things To Do

In addition to the highlights detailed above, here are just a few ideas on getting the maximum enjoyment from a Queensland holiday.

Barrier Reef resorts and vacations Surfing on the Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast Diving - many locations Sailing the Whitsunday Islands Snorkelling on the Barrier Reef Explore the tropical north rainforests Eco tours - many areas Bushwalking in the National Parks Hiking the heritage trails Sport fishing - anywhere along the coast Jet boating on the Gold Coast

Whale watching at Hervey Bay Outback tours and adventures Hot air ballooning - several locations White water rafting in the tropical north Canoeing - many locations Sea kayaking - many locations Campervan & 4WD tours - all areas Farm holidays - many locations Nightlife - all major cities Golf - hundreds of world class courses Barramundi fishing in the tropical north

For a list of tours and activities, see the Tour Booking Centre banner above

Queensland Holidays - Places To Stay

Holiday destinations in Queensland are mostly beach locations, with self contained holiday apartments (condominiums) being the most popular type of accommodation. These units range from of 1 to 4 bedrooms, with fully equipped kitchens for self catering and all linen included. Guests only need their personal effects and foodstuffs. 

During holiday periods, the greatest demand is for holiday accommodation on the Gold Coast and also Sunshine Coast accommodation, so advance bookings are recommended. This type of accommodation usually has a minimum stay requirement of 2 or 3 nights. For single night stays, hotels and motels are recommended.

Queensland's major holiday destinations all offer traditional and boutique hotels. The majority of hotels are in the major cities such as Brisbane and other major towns. In the country regions motels and motor inns are more common. One of the most popular choices for family holiday lodgings are the Breakfree accommodation properties whereas the Mantra Hotels and Resorts cater for the luxury end of the market.

The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are both renowned holiday destinations. The popular accommodation centres such as Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads are all subject to extremely heavy demand for beds in the school holiday periods and advance bookings are absolutely essential.

Getting to and from holiday destinations usually involves an airport transfer. These can sometimes incur significant costs as distances to some of the accommodation properties can involve a lengthy trip.

Bed and breakfast establishments are not as numerous in Queensland as they are in the southern states. The majority are in the hinterland areas of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, the Darling Downs and the Atherton Tableland inland from Cairns. There are a small number B&B's in the suburbs of Brisbane.

Queensland Holidays - Transport

All major coastal and inland towns are accessible via an efficient train services network. Due to the long distances involved in travelling within Australia, air services are the most popular way to travel. There are three carriers, namely Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar and between them, they provide services to all major towns as well as direct flights to some of the Barrier Reef island resorts.

The major arterial road that links the south and north is the Bruce Highway between Brisbane and Cairns. The towns along this coastal route have their own tourism attractions. Several bus transport companies travel both coastal and inland routes throughout the state.

All major Australian car rental companies are represented. Many of the second tier rental companies offer late model used cars as well as new cars. Campervans and motor homes rental is available for both sealed road and off-road touring. Campers are only available in capital cities or major towns and booking well in advance is strongly recommended.

Unsealed roads in some of the more remote areas can only be travelled in 4 wheel drive vehicles, especially in the wet season. There are numerous tour operators with itineraries that cover all the popular Queensland sites and destinations.

If a self drive holiday is planned, you can get driver information, maps and travel planning guides  from the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) which has offices throughout the state. Road travel within Queensland involves long distances and we recommend a distance calculator so that the time required can be estimated.

Queensland Holidays - When Is The Best Time

Queensland is an all year-round destination and a major tourist region attracting both domestic and international travellers. The best time of year for you will depend on what you plan to do and where you plan to visit. 

The June - August winter period is the coolest time of the year and may suit holiday makers who prefer to miss the heat and humidity of the summer season. If personal comfort is a major consideration then this may be the best time for travels to the outback and the tropical north. If you plan to visit the Outback during summer, then expect extreme temperatures.

The major Queensland holiday destinations are the South East region and the Great Barrier Reef. Both regions have milder summer weather with less humidity. There is always an increased demand for accommodation and travel bookings during school holiday periods.

Also see Australian Bureau of Meteorology - official Australian weather web site

Sunshine Coast - highlights and attractions on the ever popular Sunshine Coast in SE Qld
Queensland Travel and Tourism - official website of the Queensland Tourism Authority
Broadbeach Holiday Accommodation - a selection of quality Broadbeach holiday accommodation
Queensland Holidays Locality Maps - gateway to locality map pages for all the major Qld regions
Gold Coast Apartments - superb Gold Coast apartment style accommodation at the popular locations
Luxury Gold Coast Apartments - some of the Gold Coast's finest holiday penthouses
Gold Coast Apartments & Resorts - index of the finest holiday accommodation on the Gold Coast
Australian Hotel Accommodation - comprehensive listing of Australian holiday accommodation
Gold Coast Car Rentals - compare the best rental prices from all the major rental companies
Brisbane Car Hire - compare discounted prices from all the major rental companies
Gold Coast Holidays - Visitor attractions, highlights & best accommodation on the Gold Coast