Extreme adventure experiences to tackle in Queensland

Mother Nature’s masterpiece, Queensland is an outdoor playground for adrenaline junkies and adventure chasers. Vast open spaces, raging rivers and thundering waterfalls, expansive bush land, thousands of kilometres of coastline, and that big red centre; this is the place if you’re looking for some of the best extreme adventure experiences going.

Got a head for heights and a sense of adventure? Queensland’s got you covered.

Go on an ocean safari on the Gold Coast

Go full Miami Vice on the Gold Coast with Jet Ski Safaris, where revved-up fun is just another day’s play in paradise. Don your very own jet ski and follow your guide as you make your way across some of the most beautiful ocean scenery on the east coast. Spot dolphins, turtles, even dugongs, as you glide at high speed over turquoise waters. It’s one of the best ways to see the GC.

Already tried jet skiing? Take to the water with Fliteboard Gold Coast instead.

Cruise white water rapids in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

A region boasting some of the most illustrious, most awesome waterfalls and gorges in all of Australia, it’s no surprise white water rafting is one of the most popular extreme adventure activities in Queensland. Dishing out thrills along the mighty Baron River and Russell Rivers, Raging Thunder Adventures are experts in chasing white water rapids. Offering half and full-day experiences ranging from a gentle trundle to warp speed, there’s nothing like sailing top speed along a roaring river to get the heart racing.

Dip a toe in croc-infested waters in the Tropical North

Giving new meaning to the phrase ‘live bait’, extreme adventure activities don’t come more adrenaline-inducing than swimming with crocodiles. Get up close and personal with resident salties, Big Al, Digger and Ton, at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, where brave visitors can get closer than ever before to these living dinosaurs. Don’t worry, there’s a thick wall of glass between you and one-tonne crocs – but the Swim With Saltoes experience will leave you breathless.

Scale the deft-defying Manjal Jimalji (Devil’s Thumb) 

Rising over 1,000m out of the Daintree Rainforest, Manjal Jimalji, or Devil’s Thumb, is infamous among hiking circles. A challenging 10.6 km, 10-12hr trail, scale boulders and tackle dense rainforest and coral ferns as you push yourself to the limit to reach the summit. Your reward? Jaw-dropping views across Main Coast Range, coastline and Coral Sea, plus a wealth of wildlife-spotting. Bliss.

Up for another challenge? Set your sights on Queensland's highest mountain, Mt Bartle Frere or take one of our Great Walks. 

Note: Due to track maintenance, Manjal Jimalji will reopen on 31 October 2024. See Qld Parks website for more information.

Hit the skies and then the (bike) trails on the Scenic Rim

There are  countess exhilarating mountain biking experiences in Queensland; lush rainforest trails to rugged bush tracks, north and south have you covered. Wanting to up the ante? Arrive at your next trail by air.

The wildest ride on two wheels, Hidden Vale Adventure Park and Elite Helicopters have teamed up to offer riders double the thrill: exclusive drop off and pick up by helicopter, pus top-of-the-range mountain bikes to spend the day exploring some of the 110km of tracks that wind through Ipswich's iconic mountainside. It’s the definition of levelling up.

Go remote on an overnight sea kayaking expedition in the Whitsundays

If you’re looking for an adventurous and unique way to explore The Whitsundays this is it. Join the experienced team at Salty Dog Sea Kayaking on their ultimate overnight sea kayaking expedition. Spend 6 unforgettable days kayaking, snorkelling, bush walking and camping out under the stars in The Whitsundays wilderness.

Prefer your action on two wheels? Bike and Hike Whitsunday gives you the chance to ride the only mountain bike trail in Whitsunday Islands National Park. Get the heart pumping with blue and black level downhill or cross-country adventures through remote wilderness areas while taking in the stunning panoramic views the region is famous for.

Ride Queensland’s famous ‘Bump Track’

Founded in 1875, Cairns’ Bump Track was originally used as an access route to the region’s gold mines. These days, however, it makes for the perfect BMX trail – and the crew at Bike Shop & Hire Port Douglas are the perfect hosts. Follow your expert guide on a day out you won’t forget, riding cross country through the tablelands, through pristine rainforest streams and waterfalls, before cruising along golden stretches of sand on Four Mile Beach.

Cruise the sand dunes of Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) on a quad bike

From beach to bush, Moreton Island’s ATV Quad Bike Adventure tours give visitors a totally unique snapshot of the island. With the coastal wind in your hair, hop on your very own quad (or go tandem) and hit the stunning sandy trails. Scale the island’s beaches and bushland, stop along the many lookout points for insane views of the Tangalooma wrecks and picturesque oceanscape, even have a go at ‘dune bashing’.

Dive with sharks at the legendary Osprey Reef

Located off Cairns in the Coral Sea, Osprey Reef is renowned as one of the most spectacular dive sites in the world. The North Horn section of the reef features spectacular wall drop-offs, amazing visibility and provides the perfect natural amphitheatre to witness these impressive apex predators.  Shark feeds have been conducted at North Horn for decades, providing adrenaline-pumping close encounters with a variety and great number of sharks.

Due to its remote location, this area of the reef is only accessible via liveaboard trips, with Mike Ball Dive Expeditions and Spirit Of Freedom offering various multi-day dive expeditions to this untouched section of the Reef.

Get the Bear Grylls experience in Cairns

Looking to test the limits of your strength, stamina and mental agility? With an expert guide in tow from Cairns Canyoning, spend the day repelling, jumping, abseiling, climbing, swimming, even cliff jumping, in and around lush, Tropical north Queensland rainforest at Behana Gorge, just south of Cairns.

Initiation starts at the top of the gorge, where you’ll abseil or jump into the deep waters below, before undertaking a slew of natural agility challenges. Not just a high adrenalin workout, exploring on foot is one of the best ways to experience this beautiful part of the world.

Ride a hog through Queensland’s top end

Hit the road on a 7-day ‘top end’ hog tour unlike anywhere else on Earth. This epic ride encompasses Cape York’s most famous tracks – Starke, CREB, Frenchmens and Telegraph, just to name but a few. Cape York’s incredible scenery is a rare sight; not many people explore Australia’s most northerly point, but with the friendly hog crew as your guide, even motorbike newbies can experience this exhilarating adventure.

Feel the Gs at Australia’s only bungee 

The home of extreme adventure experiences, Skypark by AJ Hackett is the destination for holidaymakers seeking the ultimate adrenaline hit. As Australia’s only bungy, this is a recreational jumper’s Mecca, with visitors from all corners of the globe seeking out the only jump in World Heritage rainforest. In addition to traditional jumps, there’s a whole host of deft-defying experiences to be had; BMX jumping, the giant swing and walk the plank. It’s ‘choose-your-own-adventure’, just with the ante well and truly upped.