How to spend Christmas in Queensland - and have the holiday of a lifetime

Enjoy the quintessential Australian summer with a Christmas spent on the Gold Coast. One of the most persuasive reasons to spend Christmas in Queensland is the chance to indulge in a festive season on the beach, playing cricket, swimming and sunbathing. And surfing too for those who want to learn on some of the world’s most famed swell, around Currumbin.

Post-beach take to the region’s best restaurants at Burleigh with a family feast on the beachfront. Spend the surrounding days exploring with the family, taking the kids to the cluster of theme parks that call the district home, meeting Aussie animals, or exploring the luscious rainforests within arm’s reach, meandering the valleys, mountains and waterfalls of the Gold Coast Hinterland.

2. Christmas on the Sunshine Coast

Get a taste of some of Australia’s best beaches with a festive season spent among the pristine Sunshine Coast. Pack your swimwear - this collection of staggeringly beautiful beaches has a reputation for both surf breaks and swimming spots. Sick of the crowds on the sand? Make way for Noosa National Park for a bushwalk and a dip at in hidden beaches.

While Noosa is the jewel in the region’s crown there's plenty more to see, especially with the kids in tow. Head for the shores of family-friendly Mooloolaba where neighbouring the beach sits a gathering of trawlers full of fresh seafood. Get to know the local flora and fauna at Steve Irwin’s famed Australia Zoo, or get into the Aussie spirit at theme park Aussie World nearby.

3. Christmas in Brisbane

"Baby, it’s cold outside?" Not in Brisbane. This is the ultimate destination for foodies thanks to the impressive array of restaurants and cafes. Don’t miss out on a chance to drop by Howard Smith Wharves, a gourmet haven of bars, restaurants, and breweries on the riverfront. Not to mention James Street in neighbouring Fortitude Valley, a premium shopping strip as well-versed in bars as it is boutiques; or Eat Street Northshore with its festive, fairylit atmosphere.

The River City really comes alive in Christmas magic, from the big tree in King George Square and city buildings lit up in spirit, to all its neighbourhood corners. Putt-putt through festive scenes and frosty trees at Victoria Park; pick up unique, locally-crafted gifts at holiday markets across the city; and wander through the awe-inspiring Enchanted Garden in Roma Street Parkland (running 20 November - 20 December 2023). 

This is your chance to treat yourself and your family with a stay at one of Brisbane’s many boutique hotels. Want out of the city? Spend Christmas among the great outdoors on Brisbane’s doorstep, from camping on idyllic Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) or nearby Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), where you can snorkel the famous shipwrecks and hand-feed wild dolphins come nightfall.  

4. Christmas in The Whitsundays

Immerse yourself in paradise with a silly season in The Whitsundays. Among the 74-strong group of islands with crystalline waters, rainbow hued reefs and white sands, you’ll find plenty of ways to spend your time. Fill your days adventuring the region's famous natural wonders, making a visit to the iconic Whitehaven Beach, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and Hill Inlet Lookout.

As for accommodation, the options are endless - man your own yacht and sail your way (with your family as your crew). Or make for the resorts, like the family-focused Daydream Island Resort or the offerings found on nearby Hamilton Island, like the much-revered qualia, or the more wallet-friendly Beach Club or Palm Bungalows.

5. Christmas in Bundaberg

Experience something new this Christmas in Queensland with a holiday spent in Bundaberg. Nudging the Southern Great Barrier Reef, you’ll be able to spend the silly season within arm’s reach of the world-famous natural wonder, taking day trips to its coral cays.

Of course there’s still plenty to do in town itself - the stand-out is to see the turtles at Mon Repos. It’s in Bundaberg that half the Southern Hemisphere’s loggerhead turtles descend to lay their eggs. During Christmas is turtle nesting season, and you’ll be able to get up close and personal with some at the Mon Repos Turtle Centre.

Foodies may prefer to hit the road and meander the North Burnett Food Trail including a stop at must-visit Bundaberg Rum Distillery - 'tis the season of indulgence (and rum balls) after all.

6. Christmas in Southern Queensland Country

Christmas in Queensland doesn’t just mean days spent at the beach. Make way for the rolling hills of Southern Queensland Country where fertile soils have created a haven for producers of all kinds. It’s here you can kick back and relax among the farms, sampling the best of the region’s produce (wines included when it comes to the Granite Belt) and the garden city of Toowoomba.

Or take to the great outdoors, pulling on your walking boots for an exploration of Girraween National Park, home to the Granite Arch and the Pyramid. There’s also Main Range National Park where you'll find Queen Mary Falls and a collection of campsites for sleeping under the stars.

Craving a low-key but luxurious Christmas in Queensland with just the two of you? Check into Spicers Peak Lodge for a few days, where you can unwind with award-winning dining, day spa treatments, and plenty of outdoor activities when it's time to take a break from your lush robes. 

7. Christmas on the Fraser Coast

The adventurous will find no better place to spend Christmas in Queensland than along the Fraser Coast. Start your trip in Hervey Bay - is the whale-watching capital of Australia and world’s first whale heritage site, and while you’ll be visiting out of season, you’ll still be able to get up close and personal with plenty of other marine life amongst this unspoilt coastline. Along with some incredible beaches and fishing spots the whole family can enjoy - plus some great restaurants in case you don't reel in prize catch. 

Or grab a 4WD and make way for the dunes of World Heritage-listed K'gari (Fraser Island), the largest sand island on earth. While you’re welcome to venture solo along the 120 kilometre beach highway, those unfamiliar with the territory may be better in joining day tours for a guided adventure. Keen to relax? Take a Christmas dip in the sapphire waters of Lake McKenzie, or a dreamy float down the serene Eli Creek.

8. Christmas in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Instead of laying presents under the tree, experience what’s under the sea on the Great Barrier Reef. When summer hits the tropics, incredible water clarity arrives on the reef – making it a great time to don your protective suit and descend below the surface on a reef day trip (check out Sailaway, Passions of Paradise or Dreamtime among the many tours available from Cairns or Port Douglas) or by getting a little island time under your belt. Fitzroy Island and Green Island are just a stone’s throw from Cairns, while the Frankland Islands offer more remote, untouched beauty.

Fill your stocking with fresh-off-the-farms tropical fruits, ripe and ready to eat from farm stands dotted along Cairns highways and country roads. Ditch the usual Christmas dinner and feast in the ancient Daintree with Flames of the Forest – or take your pick of exceptional restaurants around Cairns and Port Douglas and its surrounding Tablelands food trail.

This is also a perfect time to cool off on the waterfall trail or swap carols for culture at Rainforestation to learn Queensland’s rich history through song and story. And if it’s your school holiday getaway, there’s plenty to keep the kids inspired and active.

9. Christmas in Townsville

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Hightail it to Townsville and sink your toes into the white sand beaches of Magnetic Island. This little destination packs a punch with a pulsating energy just 20 minutes cruise time from the city, and long summer days that are made for beach hopping. And you can take your pick here, with 23 beaches and bays to explore and find your own little stretch of paradise. Not to mention the abundance of wildlife, walking tracks, and reef snorkelling all at your fingertips.

Chasing fresh catch? Cast a line in Hinchinbrook Channel and you’ll quickly be reeling in your own seafood dinner. Chasing cooler air? Head into the hills of Paluma Range National Park and take a dip in the swimming holes – or seek out the rooftop pool at Rambutan and an iced coffee from one of the city’s best cafes.

10. Christmas in Mackay

Mackay is all about natural encounters: whether you’re traipsing through the great outdoors, meeting wallabies on the beach, day-tripping to the Great Barrier Reef or platypus-spotting at Broken River. So if you’re ready to switch off this Christmas and switch on to some incredible experiences, make your base Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park.

Little adventurers will have a field day filling their school holidays; but whether you choose to spend your time on land or sea, you’re in for an incredible Christmas in Mackay. 

Looking for gift ideas that will seal the deal on your Christmas in Queensland? Give the gift of travel experiences this Christmas.