10 reasons why you should explore Queensland in winter
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By Sarah Bristow
Queensland is known for warm, sunny days and spectacular beaches - and it doesn't stop when the calendar flips over to winter.
But it’s not just the weather that warrants a trip between June and August. As well as being able to escape the cold, throw on a swimsuit, avoid the crowds and save on costs, this time of year is the perfect opportunity to embrace scenic drives, our vibrant art scene and culinary delights, and it's when our beaches, tropical islands and Great Barrier Reef are at their best.
Dreaming of that mid-year getaway? Warm up with these 10 reasons to visit Queensland in winter.
It's one of the best times to explore the Great Barrier Reef
Heron Island, Gladstone
Swimming might be best left to summer where you're from, but not in Queensland. The mercury is high enough to make a beach day sound like the best idea, and winter is actually one of the best times to visit our tropical north - especially if you plan to dive or snorkel the Great Barrier Reef.
Visibility underwater is great throughout winter, and this is the best time of year to spot manta rays around southern islands like Lady Elliot Island, Lady Musgrave Island and Heron Island.
It's time to start planning that long-awaited Great Barrier Reef adventure.
The surf's up
The Spit, Gold Coast
Consider yourself a swell seeker? You’ll no doubt be tempted to book a visit to Queensland in winter once you learn that the waves are better this time of year. A lack of northerly winds mean that the swell is smoother and cleaner than warmer months, making waves easier to catch.
If you’re not yet a veteran surfer making for the likes of Snapper Rocks or Alexandra Headland, don't worry - you can learn the skill for yourself at one of the many surf schools littering the coastline, with classes available for all ages. Some of the most reputable sit across the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, like Currumbin Alley Surf School or Noosa Learn to Surf.
Once you've got the hang of it, you can steer towards the best surf spots in the state.
You get the best of both worlds
Hidden Creek Winery, Granite Belt
If you're craving a winter’s eve spent cosy by the fire, you're in luck too. Cool temperatures are available on request. You need only make your way to the Granite Belt, where winter is rather frosty, dipping into single digits and sometimes even collecting snow.
But destination understands the art of winter like nowhere else in the state. Spend your days taste-testing your way around the wineries scattered across this region, which lie between rolling hills and rugged national parks, and nights curled up by the fire at one of its many luxury lodges.
Sink into relaxation on a glamping getaway
Nightfall, Lamington National Park
Soaking up nature surrounded by luxury: Queensland's vast glamping offering connects visitors to the great outdoors at every turn - and you're never far from a plush bed or a scenic spot to crack a bottle of wine.
Stay in your very own safari-tent at Nightfall on the Gold Coast, set beside Lamington National Park. With sumptuous home-cooked organic food and the relaxed feeling of staying with old friends, this experience is the winter tonic both your body and mind will thank you for. Prefer the beach? Couples should escape to Wilson Island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef to glamp steps from the sand.
It’s whale-watching season
Spirit of Hervey Bay, Fraser Coast
One of the top reasons to visit Queensland in winter lies in your chance to get up close and personal with the giants of the deep. June through November is when you’ll catch humpback whales on their journey from Antarctica along the Queensland coastline - and this migration is best witnessed in Hervey Bay. Recognised as the world’s first whale heritage site, Hervey Bay’s calm, protected waters host crowds of mothers and newborn calves, best witnessed aboard one of the region’s many specialty tours.
From the boat, you'll be able to take in the glory of a tale fluke splash, but if you are hoping to get a closer look (and listen), grab a wetsuit and swim with these gentle giants in Hervey Bay or on the Sunshine Coast.
Desperate to meet a minke whale instead? Make your way north to Cairns & Great Barrier Reef in June and July, the only known congregation point of dwarf minke whales in the world.
Brisbane is at its best
Riverlife Adventure Centre, Brisbane
Free from the humidity and soaring temperatures of summer, Brisbane is arguably best explored in the cooler months. Slightly cooler weather allows for more time to get out and about to soak up culture. You won’t be bored here: Brisbane is heaving with inner-city adventures, most of which are outdoors. Hike your way through Mount Coot-tha’s walking tracks, abseil down Kangaroo Point, or kayak the iconic Brisbane River.
Once you've worked up your appetite, sit down at Brisbane's best restaurants and cool down at these rooftop bars.
Our events calendar is overflowing
BLEACH* Festival, Gold Coast
Winter in Queensland isn’t a time for hibernation but celebration, particularly in the cultural sphere. Our events calendar is bursting at the seams - it can almost be tricky choosing which winter events to venture north for.
Artistically inclined? Put the Gold Coast's BLEACH* Festival, the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, or Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville on your radar. Film buff? Head west for Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival. Foodies will enjoy Scenic Rim Eat Local Month among many other food festivals. Though it’s truly athletes' time to shine, with the chance to get to the start line of Cairns IRONMAN, Gold Coast Marathon, Reef to Reef MTB or Hamilton Island Endurance Series, and many more.
Natural landscapes are yours to explore
Mount Barney, Scenic Rim
If you're looking to immerse yourself in our natural wonders and national parks, this is one of the best reasons to visit Queensland in winter.
Cooler days and drier weather makes winter an ideal time of year to pitch a tent in the wilderness and camp your way along the coastline, discover our national parks, or lace up your hiking boots for a Great Walk.
The stargazing potential is unmatched
Charleville Cosmos Centre, Charleville
The crisp, clear skies of a Queensland winter make for the perfect stage for some stargazing. Especially in the more remote parts of the state, where wide open spaces sit free from the obstructive skyrises of the southern cities.
Guide your own way through these parts, keeping an eye out of constellations along the way, or guarantee some sightings by setting off with a guide, like Charleville’s Cosmos Centre where you'll peer into the depths of space and learn about star clusters, planets and nebulae.
It’s ideal for outback adventures
Cobbold Gorge, Outback Queensland
No one feels the Queensland heat quite so intensely as the Outback. With summer months seeing temperatures crawl their way up to the 50-degree mark, it’s best to make your way through the red dirt during the cool, dry weather of June, July, and August.
There’s plenty to see and do in the west of the state, with a road trip one of the best ways to get better acquainted with the diversity of Queensland on offer. Hit the bitumen to make your way through the dinosaur fossils of Winton (fossicking as you go of course), or drop by Longreach, the birthplace of QANTAS. Perhaps plan a visit to the rowdy races that take place annually in the small outpost of Birdsville, or make your way north to the natural wonders of the Gulf Savannah.
Ready to experience winter in Queensland? Discover these incredible places to stay while you're here.
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