Locals' secrets: Queensland's most underrated towns

If you’ve been crushing on Queensland for a while now and have holidayed here pretty hard, chances are you’ve probably hit most of our hot spots. But what you might not know we also like to keep a few local secrets up our sleeve.

So if you want to find out where to pick up the freshest fish and chips in North Queensland or take a dip in a natural spa pool the shade of Tiffany blue… read on, because we’re about to dish up a few of the surprises you’ll find in Queensland’s most underrated towns.

Bowen

Sitting on top of the Whitsundays’ ridiculously good looking crown, but often overshadowed by its fancy island neighbours, is Bowen. This underrated town is a just a 45-minute drive north of Airlie Beach and sits on the sweeping coastline overlooking the sparkling blue waters of Edgecumbe Bay. With a vibe that whispers relaxed seaside village with a lazy Sunday lifestyle lasting all week, why not wander eight picturesque palm-fringed beaches and find out for yourself why Horseshoe Bay regularly polls amongst Australia’s very best.

Bowen’s fruit and seafood are high achievers also. Does the name ’Kensington Pride’ make your tastebuds skip? The mango was first grown in Bowen and now accounts for 80% of mango consumption in Australia. Stop in at the Big Mango to get more of the inside juice, but be sure to try their to-die-for mango sorbet, or pick up a juicy dozen roadside from September through to February when the orchards heave. Bowen is a verdant produce bowl contributing over 90% of Australia’s tomatoes and capsicums during winter, plus there’s beans, corn, melons, pumpkins, squash, eggplant, cucumbers… you get the idea.

If your weakness is seafood instead, you’ve also come to the right place. For a fix of fresh prawns, bugs, crab and fish, Bowen Fishermans Seafood Company has been dishing the finger-licking goods for over 30 years. Select your own at Birds Seafood and have it expertly cooked the way you like it or take it home fresh to DIY. 

For a worthy walk, hit the silo trail, found on top of Tynwald Avenue. The art fuses community collaboration with the towns strong local love, plus you’ll get a good look at Bowen's impressive coastline and all those fancy islands we mentioned earlier dotted offshore. And Bowen is also a little bit famous, you’ll be interested to learn Baz Luhrmann loves the place too, with one-third of the scenes from his epic blockbuster film Australia filmed right here. Put it on your Queensland bucket list.

Cardwell

Cardwell sits snuggly between Townsville and Cairns, and, outside of Bowen, it was the second town to be settled in 1864, making it another oldie but a goodie. With a rich Indigenous culture, you’ll find the Girringun Aboriginal Cultural Centre headquartered in Cardwell; a collaboration between nine of region's Traditional Owners. Pop in to stir your spirit and enrich your soul with a history that dates back thousands of years to country creation and be mesmerised by storytelling woven through nature, art, music and lore.

Cardwell hovers in the blur of green meets blue, with a backdrop of verdant World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics Rainforest and fronted by the colourful coral gardens of the also World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. Did we also mention that Cardwell is cocooned within Australia’s largest National Park? Hinchinbrook National Park is a beguiling oasis of waterways, islands, mountainous peaks and rainforests, and Cardwell is the stepping stone to exploring its breathtaking, unbridled terrain. If you are an adventurous type, the Thornsborne Trail is an icon, spanning 32 km and globally renowned as one of the world's seven greatest walks.

Remember that natural spa pool the colour of Tiffany Blue we mentioned? You’ll find it in Cardwell; and while seasonal, at capacity its luminescent turquoise waters are best enjoyed semi-submerged. For waterfall devotees, take the spectacular Forest Drive through the Cardwell State Forest to delightful Attie Creek Falls for a refreshing dip. Anglers won’t be disappointed either, Cardwell is considered amongst the best recreational fishing spots in Queensland with beach, jetty, estuary, reef and the deep blue sea to choose from. And wildlife lovers - be sure to keep an eye out for crocs, cassowaries and the brilliant electric blue Ulysses butterfly - they all like to hang around here too.

Julia Creek

Right in the heart of Outback Queensland, Julia Creek is often known as the Gateway to Gulf Country, but a little furry marsupial and a swag of artesian outback baths have been putting it firmly on the ‘must visit’ map also.

The first European settlement in north-western Queensland, Julia Creek serves as a vital service outpost for folk of the land farming sheep and cattle, and while considered a rest stop on the long drive from Townsville to Mount Isa, it’s truly deserving a destination in its own right.

The state-of-the-art visitor centre offers an interactive view of the geological events taking place right underneath your feet. Julia Creek sits above the Artesian Basin and you’ll learn how its mineral-rich waters flush the town quite literally - even the loos! But it’s the Julia Creek Dunnart who are the stars at the visitor centre, their daily feeding is not to be missed. Found in the wild on the Mitchell Grass Downs, these inquisitive, darting nocturnal marsupials are rare and endangered, but with the help of a program to breed them in captivity, they are fighting back to re-populate their Outback Queensland home.

Time your visit to coincide with the annual Julia Creek Dirt ’n’ Dust Festival held in April. If you fancy your endurance, enter one of Australia's toughest triathlons, or if you are more aesthetically blessed, why not give yourself a chance to be crowned with the best butt in Australia; both true blue highlights of the festival.

For some outback inspired relaxation, check in to Julia Creek Caravan Park and book a private bathhouse to enjoy a soak in the earth-warmed waters, drawn from 900 meters below. It’s an infusion of soothing, natural minerals for your body and if you’re peckish, pre-order the cheese platter and a bottle of bubbles as your self-care strategy too. The new Boundary Rider Huts are flash with a fold-back roof to enjoy what could easily count as the best outback spa/stargazing experience in Australia.

Charters Towers

If you like to delve into Australia’s gold rush history, Charters Towers is a charming town holding on to its yesteryear heritage, just an hour and half west of Townsville. Gold was discovered in 1871 and the town went from basic to banging almost overnight when 25,000 fortune seekers flooded in. At the time, Charters Towers was the second largest town in Queensland, and affectionately dubbed “The World” for its cutting edge amenities which were considered luxurious in comparison to other gold mining towns.

Wander beautifully maintained streets full of heritage-listed buildings echoing grand glory days. The World Theatre, City Hall and Post Office Tower stand as a splendid testament to prosperity, and buy something small at the Stock Exchange Arcade to see the money whizz from the front counter all the way up to the counting-house above before your receipt is duly returned.

You can get your Aussie Gold Hunter on by panning for magnificent metal at the Miners Cottage or check out the largest surviving battery in Australia (who knew!). With big skies aplenty in Charlies Trousers (affectionate dub by locals), kick back under the velvet, star-studded skies while enjoying an old fashioned flick at the drive-in cinema.

And if that is not enough to convince you Charters Towers is worth the stop, how about a Guinness World record-holding bull? JR is a Texas Longhorn and has held the title of longest horns since 2013. You can meet him and all the other Longhorns at Texas Longhorn Wagon Tours and Safaris - and they’ll even get you sorted with damper and billy tea.

Ipswich

All aboard - if you’re a locomotive lover (or just think it’s cute when trains go choo choo) pop Ipswich on your train-spotting list. Just 40 minutes’ drive from Brisbane, you’ll find a provincial city underpinned by stately history and old-world charm, plus a train museum that we just know will make your whistle go toot.

Multi-award winning, and with 20 exhibits to explore, the Workshops Rail Museum is not just any old train museum. You’ll find lovingly restored locos that welcome you onboard to enjoy an immersive simulator experience where the kids (or your good self) can step into the role of driver, passenger or even the conductor. And if you froth over model trains, you’ll find Queensland’s largest tiny railway here too.

Kids are considered king at the Ipswich Art Gallery, the first Gallery in Australia to dedicate a space entirely to kids. Littles can get hands-on across several interactive areas that encourage creativity, sensory play and critical thinking; but most importantly entertainment for hours while parents have a well-earned rest. 

If that all sounds too slow-paced for you, why not charge the adrenaline with a spin in a V8 race-ready car or jump on board as the passenger of a daring customised dragster. 

Tambo

Teddy bear heaven in the middle of the outback? Yes, you heard that right. Tambo is a living museum for history buffs as the oldest town in the west, but back to those teddies. Tambo Teddies is world-famous for their cuddly, snuggly teddy bears.

They might set you back a bit, but when it comes to craftwork, they’re worth every cent. Made with locally sourced sheepskin, they’re all named after one of the hundreds of stations that dot the big, open outback. Royal babies are sent a Tambo Teddy as a gift from Australia, so if you like your cuddles with a side of Australia’s best, consider it a worthy investment.

Miles

Head west on the Warrego Highway and make your way to what we believe could very well be one of Queensland’s best outback pubs. And you won’t get looked at like you’re un-Australian if you ask for a vegetarian meal around here. The Windsor serves all sorts of delicious fare, but try Granny’s Garden Pizza for a delish veggo favourite without the scorn.

For those who prefer to try the local beef (we don’t blame you, it’s the best in the country), Wagyu spring rolls for the win. And no matter which way you swing in the food stakes, wash it down with a mouth-watering selection of frothy craft brews.

Imbil

If you’re headed to the Sunshine Coast, add Imbil to your plans. Just 48kms from Gympie, it boasts spectacular 360-degree views over the famed coast and mystical mountains that you’ll just have to see to believe. Lake Borumba is the perfect spot for a camping weekend, with fish on the bite and a gold and silver perch hatchery to ensure the fingerlings are restocking the waterways for the fishing folk of the future to enjoy catching too.

Wander the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Poetry Trail for hidden inscriptions and an unique, wheelchair accessible fig tree forest. Be sure to keep a lookout in the picturesque Little Yabba Creek where we may have spied some Platypus at play.

Childers

With a name like Childers, you already know you’re in for a treat. This storybook village near Bundaberg is filled with heritage buildings and long preserved businesses sharing stories of times gone by. But don’t read that as old news, Childers has a progressive food scene cultivating everything from grapes (at the poetically named Hill of Promise Winery where you can indulge in a true grape to glass experience) to multi-award winning ice-cream. Choose from seven mouth-watering macadamia options on offer at Mammino Gourmet Ice-Cream, plus an array of fruity flavours freshly grown nearby or a few cheeky liquor varieties for the adults.

And one to share with the grandkids - step back in pharmaceutical time with a visit to the Old Pharmacy Museum to see Australia’s largest collection of lotions, potions and pills alongside apothecary vials and vessels that once were. They may be interested in the boiled lollies the chemist used to dish out to make the medicine go down a treat too.