Visiting Queensland is a once in a lifetime experience! There are so many things to see and do, which is why I have compiled a comprehensive list of 11 Bucket List Experiences in Queensland in 2023 for your next trip!
1. great barrier reef diving
In my humble opinion, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most beautiful spots in the whole entire world! Not just Queensland! The reef spans from the very North of Queensland down to roughly the height of Bundaberg. It is considered to be the world’s largest coral reef and is one of the seven wonders of the natural world! Therefore, exploring this fascinating underwater world is 100% a bucket list experience in Queensland! There are many tours out there that can take you to the reef. I personally went with Passions of Paradise and would highly recommend them!
2. daintree river cruise
The Daintree River passes through the Daintree Rainforest (surprising, right?). You’ll cruise along the river with an experienced guide. The atmosphere is really exciting as everyone on board keeps looking around in hope of spotting the croc before everyone else! If you’ve been to the Everglades before, this experience might not be as exciting for you. This was the case for me, but I still had a great time and would highly recommend it to anyone!
3. surfing in noosa
Ayooo, time to surf! Noosa Heads is one of the few spots in Queensland where surfing is even possible. Noosa is a laid back beach town in Southern Queensland. There are some great beaches along the coast with waves that suit every level of surfer. So whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you’re sure to find a good wave! There are also several surf schools, in case you want to pick up surfing for the first time!
4. mount coot-tha lookout
Mount Coot-Tha is a mountain and a suburb of the City of Brisbane. There is a lookout platform on the peak that offers unobstructed views over all of Brisbane. There is also a lovely café on the top, to complete your visit!
5. magnetic island forts walk
This ist he moment you’ll think “Wow, I’m really in Australia!”. The Forts Walk on Magnetic Island is your best bet to see Koalas in the wild. It’s a fairly easy 1.5-2 hours trek, taking you through the Magnetic Island National Park. Besides Koalas, you can expect stunning views of the ocean and some interesting World War II relics. Make sure to look out for arrows made of sticks and stones on the floor, which people make to indicate that there is a Koala in that direction! The Forts Walk should really be on your list of once in a lifetime bucket list experiences in Queensland!
6. whitsundays sailing trip
The Whitsundays are a group of 74 dispersed islands off the coast of Queensland. There are many different ways to explore the Whitsunday Islands. You can go to a resort island such as Hamilton Island or take a day trip on a fastboat to the famous Whitehaven Beach.
But my personal favourite is taking a multi-day sailing trip. Here’s why. The sailing boat is slow enough to let you fully take in the beautiful blue waters and the white sandy beaches of all the islands you’ll pass. A multi-day sailing trip also lets you see several different islands. Most importantly, you’ll be able to get to the most famous attractions far before the day-tripper crowd arrives! Additionally, you also get to watch beautiful sunsets from the middle of the ocean. Oh and you can stargaze as much as you want! Definitely one of the top bucket list experiences in Queensland!!!
If you’re interested, here is a link to the tour that I went on.
7. swim in lake mackenzie (k’gari)
Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world, which already makes it unique and worth a visit in itself! But more specifically, you must add a swim in Lake MacKenzie to your bucket list for Queensland! The lake is a ‘perched’ lake, which means it contains only rainwater and it is not fed by streams and doesn’t flow into the ocean. The sand and organic matter at the base of the lake form waterproof layer, which prevents the water from draining.
But besides these fascinating natural facts, the lake is also just beautiful to look at. The sand is white silica sand (just as the Whitehaven beach in the Whitsundays!) and you’ll see several shades of blue. The locals say that bathing in the water and rubbing the sand on your skin will make you look younger, so I believe a visit is worth it to find out whether that’s true…
8. Hold Koala in Lone Pine koala sanctuary
The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane is home to over 30 koalas and other typical Australian animals. The animals are very well cared for and the organization runs on a nonprofit basis, while also contributing to the animals’ conservation and research. The unique thing about the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is that they allow visitors to hold Koalas for a short amount of time! If you love Koalas as much as I do, this will be one of those once in a lifetime bucket list experiences in Queensland that will make you so happy! They are so fluffy I can’t even explain it!
9. Feed Rock Wallabies at Geoffrey Bay
Another bucket list experience on Magnetic Island! Besides the Forts Walk for Koala spotting, there are also other unique Aussie animals on the island! Make your way to Geoffrey Bay, where you will find many large rocks along the coast. At first, this might seem highly uneventful. But if you look around a little you should see several small rock wallabies either lying around or shyly hiding behind a rock. One of the main attraction is actually feeding the little fellas. It’s recommended to give them either carrots, food pellets or apples. But to be on the safe side, make sure to read the info sign at Geoffrey Bay before really feeding the wallabies!
10. Have a beer at Felon’s Brewery
Felon’s is a modern brewery located right on the banks of the Brisbane River, with a beautiful view of the central business district and the stunning Story Bridge. The brewery has a very laid back, chill vibe and welcomes you to stay for a while and taste all of their delicious locally brewed beers.
11. Party at Gilligan’s
The last one is very specific, and mainly refers to the younger crowds out there. I mean, when I was at Gilligan’s I was 25 years old and definitely in the upper range of the age band! Gilligan’s is a party hostel located in Cairns. They have all kinds of themed parties on every day of the week – if you visit, you’re guaranteed to have a good time! You don’t necessarily need to be staying at the hostel to go to their parties, however, you will need to pay an entry fee as an outside visitor 🙂 It’s a good time for sure though, and the drinks are quite affordable as well!
If you’re looking for an itinerary that combines all of these bucket list experiences into a 2 week trip, check out my post here! Let me know if you have any other experiences that I have missed, I’d love to chat <3