The best things to do in Gladstone

There’s a lady here you have to meet, and she’s surrounded by some of the most spectacular beauty on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

Lady Musgrave Island is a jewel of Gladstone’s coast, so climb aboard Lady Musgrave Experience from Bundaberg or travel with 1770 Reef Great Barrier Reef Eco Tours from 1770 to experience it for yourself.

This coral cay island is fringed by rainbow-hued reef, turtles and the chance to see the great eight. The calm waters here feel more like a giant swimming pool that’s all yours to explore.

It’s also one of the best island camping spots in Queensland: you can wild camp here for less than $10 a night to fall asleep under the stars and wake up to the reef just outside your tent.

Paddle out

Watch the sky turn orange on a sunset kayak tour where you’ll explore inlets, spot wildlife and even get a little history tour. You’ll paddle past Captain Cook’s landing point and on towards the headland to watch the sun set over the ocean (a rare sight on Australia’s east coast).

Go to surf school

Take the northern most surf beach in Queensland, add laidback coastal vibes, and you’ve got the perfect spot to learn to surf.

Surfy twin towns Agnes Waters/1770 are known for their ideal conditions for surfing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. Sign up with Lazy Lizard, Gnarly Tours or Reef 2 Beach surf shop to learn a few skills you’ll be able to take home with you.

Feast your own way

Once your legs are tired from exploring, take a culinary journey around Gladstone. Taste your way through local beers, fresh-off-the-boat seafood at the Fish Markets, cocktails and coffee with this guide to the best eats.

Get amphibious

The kids will squeal as you ride across deserted sandy beaches and straight into the water on an amphibious adventure with 1770 Larc Tours. You’ll visit isolated Bustard Head Lighthouse located within Eurimbula National Park (Queensland’s only operating lighthouse open to the public). Hear the history of the region while exploring it all from your seat – and there’s a good chance you’ll have some wildlife encounters along the way.

Climb a mountain

Stretching 632 metres above sea level, Mount Larcom towers over Gladstone’s horizon. And its distinctive summit is a must-do hike for adventurous locals and travellers.

Walk through eucalypt forest and grass trees before ascending up the volcanic rock face. The sweat of a five hour hike is worth the reward: on a clear day, you’ll get panoramic views of reef islands, surrounding national parks and Rockhampton to the north.

Hop on a fishing charter

Gladstone is an angler’s dream, with plenty of prime fishing spots on land and sea.

For a real adventure, Eastern Voyager Charters offers multi-day Great Barrier Reef fishing tours where you’ll cast a line among the outlying islands, remote estuaries and natural harbours in the region.

Or keep your feet on dry land and head to these spots to try to bag barramundi, mangrove jack, mud crab and saratoga.

Learn about the reef at a research station

Whether you have time for a day trip or a long weekend escape, a visit to Heron Island will be an unforgettable thing to do while in Gladstone.

Not just an awe-inspiring place to visit, Heron Island is home to the world-class University of Queensland’s research station – the largest island-based research station in the Southern Hemisphere. Take one of the daily tours to learn how the station operates, and the research being conducted there.

Heron Island is also a scuba diver mecca, home to one of Queensland’s best dive sites. And if you time your visit for January - March, you can witness to turtles hatching too.

Celebrate at an event

Gladstone’s community spirit shines through its events calendar, so if you’re a music fan or history buff try to time your visit with the Agnes Blues, Roots and Rock Festival in February, the Gladstone Harbour Festival at Easter or commemorate the landing of Captain Cook in 1770 in May.