Travelling solo? You can’t beat days like this in Queensland

What’s your ultimate solo adventure?

Whether you prefer off-the-grid island safaris and nature escapes, feeling the pulse of city lights, or diving into a day on the reef, Queensland serves up moments to remember for a lifetime – and you just can’t beat days like this.

Jewel of the north: Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Experience the unparalleled natural beauty of Cairns, where spectacular reefs, ancient rainforests, rich culture, adventure experiences and an alfresco dining scene collide. 

Whether it’s snorkelling coral gardens, flying over the infinite blues or sailing to tropical islands, there’s an adventure reserved for you in Cairns and Great Barrier Reef. Connect with culture through the local Indigenous people who have lived on the land for over 40,000 years. Take a guided tour through the Wet Tropics and explore a 100-million-year-old UNESCO World Heritage-listed rainforest, or experience the diversity, flavours and landscapes with one of these day trips from Cairns.

How to get there

The compact city of Cairns is easy to get around and has the reef, rainforest and outback on its doorstep. With the Cairns International and Domestic airports only 10 minutes from the Central Business District, Cairns is the ideal entry point for a North Queensland adventure.

Where to stay

Cairns has an incredible range when it comes to accommodation options. Choose from five-star international hotels, luxurious resorts, waterfront apartments, family-friendly motels and fun backpacker hostels.

Where to eat

Stay awhile and enjoy the abundance of fresh flavours to be had in this producer-rich region; this is the tropics after all. This foodies guide on where to eat in Cairns will help you plot your trip.

Head for the misty hills of Brisbane’s national parks

A short escape in nature works wonders to reset – so why not embark on a few days camping and hiking in a landscape that dates back to before the dinosaurs?

Just outside of Brisbane lies World Heritage status subtropical rainforest that’s been thriving since Gondwanaland. But it’s not just pretty to look at. Adventure runs deep here, whether you’re walking suspension bridges through the treetops, scaling rugged summits, or cooling off in natural swimming holes.

If you're looking for a ready-made itinerary, check out this guide, or have a read of our in-depth guides on Lamington and Springbrook National Parks.

How to get there

Drive 90 minutes south-west of Brisbane into the Scenic Rim. 

Where to stay

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park offers camping, glamping and lodge accommodation. Mount Barney Lodge has camping, rustic cabins and homesteads for larger groups.

Where to eat

Fuel your days exploring with stops along the food trail: O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyard is a must to pick up local wine to enjoy by the campfire.

Discover the Gold Coasts' vibrant playground 

Set your sights on the glittering sights of the Gold Coast; where beautiful sandy beaches, ancient rainforests, thrilling theme parks and vibrant dining and cultural scene come to life in this entertainment playground. 

Escape to the seaside to experience a sunrise at Burleigh, take in the golden sand at Surfers Paradise, or watch the pro-surfers at Coolangatta. There’s no short of adventure on the coast, so try diving into sky-diving, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, jet skiing, jetpack riding, or learn to surf at this slice of paradise. Or for a more peaceful escapade, explore the serene Gold Coast Hinterland and its surrounding national parks, local wildlife and natural wonders.

How to get there

Fly directly to the Gold Coast International Airport (at Coolangatta) to take in the warm sunshine and lively ambience. The Gold Coast lies just over an hour's drive or train from Brisbane and is serviced by a light rail tram network linking Helensvale to Broadbeach.

Where to stay

No matter your taste or budget, the Gold Coast is bursting with accommodation options to suit your holiday experiences. Plan your stay at one of these epic accommodation options.

Where to eat

Surf, sand and seriously good food. When you visit you'll quickly realise there aren’t enough mealtimes in the day to get through this mammoth list of the best restaurants and cafes on the Gold Coast.

Spend a day on Lady Musgrave Island 

Lady Musgrave Island is the jewel in our sparkling Southern Great Barrier Reef. This coral cay is the place to play with turtles, manta rays and Queensland’s Great Eight in between marvelling the coral reef at your fingertips.

The best way to spend a day like this is on board a luxury catamaran with Lady Musgrave Experience: your ticket to cruise tropical waters, snorkel and scuba dive, or take a guided island walk and glass bottom boat tour – you’ll discover that Lady Musgrave has no bad angles. You can even become a marine biologist for the day and help collect research data while you explore.

How to get there

Lady Musgrave Experience departs from Bundaberg Port Marina, a four-hour drive north of Brisbane or 45-minute flight.

Where to stay

Base yourself in Bundaberg or explore the island in solitude after the day-trippers leave – fully self-sufficient campers can camp here.

Where to eat

Taste your way through Bundaberg’s restaurants, farm gates, distilleries and breweries with this guide

Take a Brisbane city-cation

Feel the energy of a city that doesn’t take itself too seriously, because what you’ll find here speaks for itself - whether you’re here for a quick jaunt or a long weekend.

By day, discover the art that fills our galleries and lines the laneways, wander through riverside parks and neighbourhoods each with their own character.

By night, take in the views from a rooftop bar or climb to the top of Story Bridge for the best views in the house. Foodies can get your fill on everything from casual bites at global food market Eat Street to more upscale East Asian cuisine at Southside or buzzy Agnes’ impressive wood-fired menu, then dive into the live music scene.

How to get there

Fly into Brisbane Airport from any major city.

Where to stay

Choose your base with this essential Brisbane accommodation guide.

Where to eat

Discover the best brunches, restaurants, degustations – plus newcomers that are making big waves.

Find paradise on K’gari

K’gari (Fraser Island) isn’t just the world’s largest sand island. Rich in rare natural beauty, Indigenous culture and one of the country’s leading eco-tourism destinations, this is one of the most unique places on earth.

With so many ways to experience it, the choice is all yours. Set out on 4WD along the sand highways to discover all its corners, spend a day seeing the sights, set sail, or make new friends on an overnight safari (Fraser Explorer, Nomads and Dingo’s are popular choices)

K’gari raises the bar on island escapes, especially when migrating humpback whales come to play.

How to get there

To get to Fraser Island, you can drive or fly into Hervey Bay then catch the barge or passenger ferry across to the island. Or, 4WD enthusiasts can travel the Great Beach Drive to Inskip Point, then board the barge to Fraser Island. Don’t forget to grab a vehicle beach access permit before driving on Fraser.

Taking a tour? Many of these will depart from Hervey Bay.

Where to stay

From beach camping to glampsites and resorts, take your pick.

Where to eat

Taste native ingredients on a bush tucker tour or dine in at Kingfisher Bay Resort.

Searching for more solo travel experiences in Queensland? This list will get you started.