7 of the best things to do for teenagers in Queensland

Making regular stops is key to keeping your teens absorbed en route. Luckily you’ll find plenty of things to do for teenagers in Queensland that involve stretching your legs in the great outdoors. There are bushwalking tracks galore criss-crossing their way around the state’s bounty of national parks. If you find yourself on the southern border, stop in ancient Lamington National Park, Springbrook National Park and neighbouring O’Reilly’s where wandering under the rainforest canopy is welcomed. Or on the Sunshine Coast, wander to Kondalilla Falls. Further north in the luscious Atherton Tablelands sits the Waterfall Circuit, a self-drive through native scrub, accompanied by views of some of the region’s best falls.

Say g’day to wildlife

You’ll find wildlife experiences plentiful in these parts and one of the top things to do for teenagers in Queensland. Near Mackay you’ll be given the chance to greet the locals on Cape Hillsborough when the population of resident wallabies emerge on the beach at sunrise and sunset. Keep heading north towards the Daintree and it’s here that you’ll greet a bounty of local fauna, cassowaries and crocodiles included. Marine creatures of more interest? Hervey Bay is the world’s whale watching capital and home to plenty of opportunities to swim alongside them out at sea.

Educate along the way

Learning a lesson or two while on your road trip is an easy way to keep young adults entertained. There are plenty of educational opportunities to be had around here, especially when it comes to Queensland’s history. Get better acquainted with the Sunshine State’s original inhabitants with one of the many indigneous tours scattered across the state - Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tour showcases traditional culture on Cooya Beach near Port Douglas, then there’s the famed guided Dreamtime Walks found at Mossman Gorge Centre, and closer to the southern border, Jellurgal Aboriginal Centre in Burleigh Heads.

Greet the reef

A trip to the Great Barrier Reef belongs on any guide to things to do for teenagers in Queensland. It’s not only world famous, but overflowing with educational opportunities for teens. Immerse yourself among the landmark for the day, taking a day trip from Cairns that will see you snorkel and dive among the coral. Or see a new side to the natural wonder - join Salty Dog Sea Kayaking on an island-hop around the Whitsundays, or become a marine biologist temporarily courtesy of the Lady Musgrave Experience. Conservation opportunities are also rife - drop by Bundaberg’s Mon Repos Turtle Centre to learn more about marine turtle research, protection and education. Or ReefTeach in Cairns, a program which promises to satisfy the most inquisitive and enquiring of young minds.

Go west

Make your way for the red dirt of regional Queensland with a road trip to the outback. There are plenty of famous stretches of bitumen winding their way from town to town here, taking in gemfields, geological landmarks and ancient Indigenous sites among more. Like the Capricorn Way, which weaves in a visit to the ancient limestone formations dubbed the Capricorn Caves. Or the Australian Dinosaur Trail, which moseys through region’s rich in prehistoric findings - just make sure you take the time to stop in at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, a Winton-based museum which is home to the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils.

Hit the beach

One of the cheapest things to do for teenagers in Queensland involves the coastline - the beach is free, abundant, and appropriate for all ages, after all. Not a fan of sitting still? There’s plenty of opportunity to hire a stand-up paddle board for the day and cruise the waterways, or entertain your brood with a morning spent learning to surf.

The Sunshine State is home to some of the best surf breaks in the world - making it ideal for learning the craft yourself. You’ll find surf schools scattered along the coast, from the Gold Coast’s Currumbin Alley, to the Sunshine Coast’s longboard haven of Noosa, and even beyond, in northern towns including Agnes Water and 1770.

Make for an amusement park

Spend the day riding roller coasters and stuffing yourself silly with hot chips with a day pass to one of Queensland’s bevy of amusement parks. The Gold Coast is home to the most concentrated population of theme parks - it’s here you’ll find the likes of Warner Bros. Movie World, the animal-heavy Dreamworld, marine-loving Sea World, and the self-explanatory Wet N Wild. But the Sunshine Coast is no stranger to an amusement park either, as the host of Aussie World, the Ginger Factory and the adrenaline-filled BLAST Aqua Park Coolum.