11 incredible solo travel experiences in Queensland

Easily accessible from Brisbane and Gold Coast international airports, this southern stretch of sparkling beachfront is a playground for solo travel – from the party-soaked backpacker trail to time out in nature.

Take a surf lesson and you’ll soon blend in with the locals paddling out to meet the coast’s best breaks. Or, bend your elbow with a paddle of craft beers at Balter Brewery: you’ll find just as many surfers here of an afternoon.

Wander through the heritage rainforest of Lamington National Park, sleep and spa amongst the trees at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, or climb into the canopy for a Treetop Challenge. Learn about the region’s Indigenous history, before finding a slice of paradise at Tallebudgera Creek – a favourite swimming spot. Time your visit when there’s an exciting event in town: BLEACH* Festival is one you shouldn’t miss.  

Become an eco-tourist at Lady Elliot Island

Just off Bundaberg’s coast, Lady Elliot Island is a sanctuary for marine life and turtles, as well as solo travellers craving a bit of ecotourism.

Here you won’t find Netflix, fluffy towels or even WiFi. Lady Elliot is about connecting with an untouched landscape, and the only souvenirs are the experiences that will stay with you for life. Experiences like swimming with turtles, snorkelling with manta rays, and diving into the wonders of the coral reef.

January to late March is turtle-hatching season, when baby turtles make their way down to the water. It’s an absolutely breathtaking sight and well worth organising your solo travel escape around it.

Ready to book? Here’s how to spend 48 hours on Lady Elliot Island.

Craving another Southern Great Barrier Reef adventure? There are so many other islands to explore. 

Find yourself in two world heritage-listed wonders at Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Fancy snorkelling among millions of sea life in one of the seven wonders of the natural world? How about wandering through the world’s oldest rainforest? You can do both at Cape Tribulation.

The Cape is the ideal place to get back in touch with nature when you’re travelling solo in Queensland. Cape Trib Beach House is about as close to nature as you can get before falling off the face of the earth. Sleep right in the heart of the rainforest, kept company by the gentle hum of wildlife all night long. Wake refreshed, and head out on a half-day trip to with Ocean Safari to explore a barely touched side of the Great Barrier Reef. Your afternoon? Find a freshwater dip at Emmagen Creek or take a horse ride along the beach.

You won’t be short on adventures if you base your solo travel in Cairns, either. There's bungee jumping, diving the reef, exploring the Daintree with Kuku Yalanji guides, or road-tripping along the waterfall circuit in the Atherton Tablelands.

Soak up city and sand in Brisbane

There’s not many capital cities in the world that offer island-hopping by day and sipping cocktails at a rooftop bar by night. But then again, not many cities quite are like Brisbane. A casual charm that’ll suck you in, as well as plenty of adventures for solo travellers – like climbing a city icon for the best views, a little retail therapy, or quad biking the sand dunes of Moreton Island – make this the place to be.

Dive into the famously blue waters of the Whitsundays

Google ‘paradise’ and you’ll find directions to The Whitsundays. From luxury resorts to untouched pockets for island-hopping, you’ll find it all here. As a solo traveller, you’ll probably want to base yourself in Airlie Beach: a hotspot for dining, bars and accommodation from affordable backpacker hostels to indulgent waterfront hotels. The must-do’s while you’re here? Day trip to the Great Barrier Reef with Ocean Rafting to explore the Whitsundays' wild side. You'll jet to the famous sands of Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, snorkel more secluded spots around smaller islands, and see plenty of wildlife along the way in an exhilerating adventure.

You can also hike Passage Peak, and island-hop with an Ngaro Indigenous guide to see the sights through a cultural lens.  

Share sunrise with the wallabies in Mackay

Where else in the world can you share breakfast with kangaroos and wallabies on the beach? Make your way to Cape Hillsborough for this once-in-a-lifetime that’ll leave you speechless – and in serious need of more memory space on your phone.

Local encounters don’t have to end here: Mackay offers the chance to spot platypus in the wild, cool off in secluded swimming holes, and plenty more.

Trek through the outback

Experience an unforgettable Outback adventure without the logistical hassles of doing it alone thanks to Trek West. Led by passionate guides who know our backyard like the backs of their own hands, explore one of Australia’s most hidden landscapes on a hiking trip that’ll move your body and still your mind.

Get a glimpse of life on one of Australia’s largest cattle stations, explore the gorges and watering holes of Boodjamulla National Park, and watch the sunset transform into a bright night sky over a cheese platter.

See a new side of Townsville

Dive into the tropical waters off Townsville and you’ll find more than reefs below. Home to the Museum of Underwater Art and some of the world’s best shipwreck diving, Townsville should be high on your list of places to solo travel in Queensland.

And while you could easily spend a week exploring the Wet Tropics beauty that lies inland, every travel itinerary should include a visit to Magnetic Island. Just 20-minutes ferry ride from the city, you’ll feel a world away here. 

Hit the beach on the Sunshine Coast

Known for being the Sunshine Coast’s social hub, Noosa is famed for wining and dining. So if it’s flavour you seek, nab a table along Hastings Street – the restaurant strip just steps from the sand of Noosa Main Beach.

Here, there’s a beach adventure for every traveller: find solace on a private cove along Noosa National Park, go remote 4WDing on the Great Beach Drive, or test your limits at the annual Mooloolaba Triathlon.

But escape the crowds and you’ll discover a whole new side of the Sunshine Coast filled with active adventure (including one of the world’s only everglades systems). The hinterland is bursting with wineries, berry farms and national park hiking.

Discover the world’s largest sand island

Dip your toe into the clear water surrounding K'gari (Fraser Island) and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in the heart of the tropics. But this raw natural beauty lies much closer to Brisbane, on the Fraser Coast.

And while known for being a 4WD adventure paradise, one of the best ways to see it solo is with Tasman Venture Tours. Journey to the most remote corners of the island for bushwalking, snorkelling and kayaking: and keep your eyes peeled for dingoes. You can even pair this day trip with a whale watching tour when these gentle giants make their annual migration along the coast. Want to stay overnight? There's multi day adventure tours for solo travellers too.