Plan your romantic getaway with these things to do for couples in Queensland

Sunshine above, your favourite person on your arm, and nothing but adventure ahead. Queensland sure is something special, so why not share it with your special someone?

Whether your taste is rugged and adventurous, remote and romantic, or lapping up luxury, there are endless things to do for couples in Queensland. There’s good reason this is one of the world’s most popular wedding and honeymoon destinations – but there’s plenty more reasons to take a couples holiday in the Sunshine State. 

Retreat into the wilderness

Reconnect where the only distraction is the sounds of nature. For a short escape close to Brisbane and the Gold Coast, head for the treetops at O’Reilly’s or ensconce yourselves in luxurious glampsites at nightfall. If you can peel yourself away from these digs, the beauty of Lamington National Park and the Scenic Rim is right on your doorstep.

Up in the tropics, discover your own slice of the world’s oldest surviving rainforest at Daintree Ecolodge. Or for a retreat that’s equal parts nature escape and adventure, settle into Habitat Eco Camp on the Sunshine Coast, on the edge of the Noosa Everglades. 

Love is in the air

Whether you’re planning a grand gesture or seeking views that’ll sweep you both off your feet, the sky’s the limit in Queensland.

Watch the sun rise over the Gold Coast from a peaceful hot air balloon ride followed by a champagne breakfast in the hinterland. Or sip bubbly on a picnic in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef: Nautilus Aviation will soar you over the big blue to a private sand cay, where you can snorkel and swim between bites.

Want to visit Australia’s best beach? Arrive in style on a seaplane, squeak your toes into Whitehaven’s silica sand, then continue on to explore the best of the Whitsundays. Base yourselves at Coral Sea Resort in Airlie Beach and you can take an afternoon dip in the lagoon, then cheers to sunset drinks at One Tree Hill. It’s well worth the short detour to Bowen for a meal at Bird’s Fish Bar, a snorkel at Horseshoe Bay and stop by the Big Mango for a Christmas-card-worthy snap.

Share a once-in-a-lifetime experience

Romance can’t get any more literal than a heart shaped reef in the middle of the ocean. Journey to the Heart is one of the most exclusive, luxurious Great Barrier Reef day tours, which combines a scenic helicopter flight, marine biologist led tour, snorkel time and gourmet bites too.

Turn your day trip into an overnight stay at Australia’s first underwater hotel, ReefSuites. Cruise to the Hardy Reef pontoon in the middle of The Whitsundays where you’ll dine under the stars, and sleep with the fishes. 

Embark on an adventure like no other

Test your sense of adventure with Yagurli Tours and you’ll be rewarded with a life-changing experience. Deep in Gulf Savannah, you'll be led by a local Indigenous guide from Burketown to Australia's largest salt pans where they'll share the stories, culture and history of the Gangalidda and Garawa people, while stargazing with state-of-the-art telescopes. It's a side of Queensland you've never seen before. 

Prefer your remote adventures to be on island time? Pack your 55L backpack and find nature’s most stunning infinity pool along the four day Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island, or hit the sand on four-wheels to discover nature’s finest on K'gari (Fraser Island) – the world’s largest sand island. 

Hit the road

Every day is a new adventure driving the Matilda Way: a road trip through the heart of Queensland’s outback, from Cunnamulla to Karumba. Over eight action-packed days, soak up Australian history, dig for dinosaur bones, be dwarfed by huge landscapes, then chill out at sunset on the Gulf Savannah.

Prefer golden sand to red dirt? Download your favourite playlists and steer north along the Pacific Coast Way from Brisbane to Cairns (or vice versa) to experience one of Queensland’s most famous road trips. From small coastal towns to national parks and the opportunity for day trips out to the reef, this journey has it all. But if you’re after a short escape, land in Cairns (dinner at Prawn Star is a must) then drive the spectacular waterfall circuit in Atherton Tablelands. There’s plenty of farm-to-table stops to feed your appetite, too.  

Set sail on the Great Barrier Reef

There’s plenty of places to set sail in Queensland, but the chance to captain your own yacht and island-hop through The Whitsundays shouldn’t be missed: this is one of the only spots in the world you can do so without a license (though if you don't want to take the helm, you have a lot options).

Holidaying in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef? Kick back with a cold one and let the experts do the sailing instead: Sailaway has the best sunset cruises in Port Douglas, while Passions of Paradise will show you an unforgettable, eco-minded day on the reef.

Here’s a few other ways to explore the Great Barrier Reef as a couple. 

Indulge in the city

Splash out on a city escape to taste the best of Brisbane’s nightlife and culture. First port of call is luxury accommodation, like riverside Crystalbrook Vincent or urban oasis The Calile. Feed your thirst for culture with a browse through Queensland Art Gallery and Indigenous-owned Birrunga Gallery, then quench your thirst at the waterside bars of Howard Smith Wharves for sundowners overlooking the city. Tick off a few Brisbane must-do’s with a poolside lunch at Hellenika, window-shopping along James Street, a stroll through the Saturday markets and picnic in New Farm Park, and dinner at Agnes – one of the city’s buzzing foodie hotspots.

If your idea of city escape includes some golden beach views, make tracks to the sparkling Gold Coast instead. Shop up a storm at Pacific Fair, hit the beach (and grab post-swim drinks at beachside Burleigh Pavilion) before tasting your way through the food scene. 

Escape to an island

Switch off and rack up some quality time on tiny Wilson Island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef. This is barefoot luxury at its best, where local turtles outnumber guests: arrive by boat, and spend your days snorkelling the reef in between blissing out in your solar-powered safari tent.

Looking for a truly unique and heartfelt destination for island glamping? Make your way north to the Torres Strait, where Indigenous culture and tropical beauty collide on Roko Island - one of the smallest inhabited islands in the region, and former pearl farm. Settle into your glamping accommodation, then get ready to explore, dine on freshly-caught seafood, and shop for pearl jewellery straight from the waters they're created.

For an island escape with all the bells and whistles, including your own private infinity pool overlooking the ocean, you can’t beat Bedarra Island. Off the coast of Mission Beach, the private helicopter flight here sets the scene of what’s to come: chef-prepared meals, luxury reef tours, and sunsets you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Here’s a few more island getaways to inspire your wanderlust. 

Learn a new skill together

Can you handle the heat in the kitchen? Learn some new tricks and cook up a feast of Asian flavours with the chefs at Spirit House Restaurant and Cooking School on the Sunshine Coast. Turn class into a fully-fledged couples holiday with these things to do in the region while you’re here, like a jet ski safari or hinterland escape, complete with a stay in a luxury treehouse.

Prefer cocktails? Head to Gin School instead, where Brisbane Distillery teaches you the tricks of the trade as you craft your own gin based on the botanicals and flavours you love. Afterwards, take a seat at one of the city's fine diners then settle in for a luxurious evening among city lights.