7 days that make the holiday of a lifetime

A day on island time in Queensland has an unexplainable way of rejuvenating your mind, body and soul like no other. And with over 900 islands along our coastline, it’s easy to find your own piece of paradise.

Soak up more than sun on a day exploring the wild side of the Whitsundays with Ocean Rafting. An exhilarating trip that combines adventure and education, sink your toes into the sand of the world’s most beautiful beach, Whitehaven, hike to lookout points over Hill Inlet, wander along spectacular coastal trails and snorkel the reef – this feels like three days in one.

Whether you’re looking for an off-the-grid Great Barrier Reef getaway, or an adventure among towering sand dunes, you’ve come to the right place. Which Queensland island suits you best? Find out here.

2. The nature day

Lace up your hiking boots for museums with a difference: our story is told in national parks and World-Heritage listed landscapes that date back millions of years, some even to a time before the dinosaurs.

Up north, the Wet Tropics is one of the world’s oldest living tropical rainforests – twice as old as the Amazon. One of the best days to have here? Get a little wet. Head into the Atherton Tablelands and spend the day hopping between the waterfalls, swimming holes and natural waterslides: Millaa Millaa Falls is one of the most spectacular spots.

From hiking trails in the treetops of our Gondwana Rainforests near Brisbane, watching majestic humpback whales play in the waters off Hervey Bay, watch the sunrise with wallabies at Cape Hillsborough, or witnessing new life during turtle hatching season at Mon Repos, there’s always a wild adventure to be found, and views that aren’t hard to look at. 

3. A day learning Indigenous stories

Our cultural roots run deep, so if you really want to uncover Queensland’s story, talk to those who’ve lived here the longest. The only place in Australia where both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders cultures thrive, come here to learn and you won’t be just a spectator, but part of the community.  

Spend a day with the Kuku Yalanji as Jarramali Rock Art Tours (not currently operating) guides you through one of the best Aboriginal rock art sites on earth via a rugged 4WD adventure before sleeping under the stars. Or create your own art at Janbal Gallery near Mossman Gorge, where artist Brian “Binna” Swindley runs a workshop that’s as much about learning Aboriginal culture as it is putting paint to canvas.

There’s opportunity to discover our most sacred customs and traditions all across Queensland. 

4. A luxurious day out

The moment you first lock eyes with Heart Reef is mesmerising, and a reminder that nature really is the best artist. But sign up for the Journey to the Heart experience and it won’t be the only time you’re left speechless today – between the helicopter flight, reef snorkelling, champagne on a floating pontoon and a boat ride around the Heart itself, it’s a multi-sensory overload in a way only Queensland can pull off.

Luxury looks different in Queensland. It’s centred in nature, and served not with a silver spoon, but with a warm welcome and hearty experience that'll reset your soul. Like swapping heels for bare feet at the Great Barrier Reef’s first 100% solar powered resort,  glamping on a coral cay off the coast of Gladstone, or heading into the bush, where outback lodges and glamping retreats can be found in the most spectacular places. 

5. A day full of flavour and culture

You’ll like what you see on Queensland’s menu, so spend a day devouring our flavours, from Indigenous dining in the middle of the Daintree to some of the country’s best restaurants in our cities and beach towns – like MasterChef favourite Matt Sinclair’s Sum Yung Guys in Noosaville.

The capital offers a big culture kick: wander between modern art galleries and performance spaces, discover laneway cafes, get an authentic view of Brisbane with Indigenous guides on Black Card Cultural Tours – then dine the night away. Or venture to the Gold Coast, home to the southern coast’s most spectacular stretch of beaches and Home of the Arts, where art meets life, indoors and out.  

6. A day learning and conserving on the reef

A visit to the Great Barrier Reef will leave you in wonder of nature’s immense beauty, no matter how you get there – but there are some big ways to make a positive impact when visiting if you sign up for a citizen science experience.

Help be a part of long term conservation efforts on a one or two day Reef Naturalist program with Reef Teach, or set sail with Passions of Paradise and Wavelength Reef Cruises to take part in reef restoration and coral replanting while snorkelling thriving coral reefs. 

In Townsville, the Museum of Underwater Art is the perfect blend of science and underwater discovery, check out this article for everything you need to know about MOUA. 

Islands across the Great Barrier Reef including Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island off Bundaberg, and Heron Island slightly further north have a range of citizen science programs. 

7. A day out at an event

From creating a community of art and music in the forests of Woodlandia, to Australia’s premier Indigenous art fair, competing in a triathlon between world heritage wonders, or admiring European Masterpieces at the Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art: there’s plenty to get excited about.

Make an event part of your Queensland holiday and you can be in the thick of the action as our cities and regional towns show off in spirit.

The possibilities are endless, but one thing’s for sure – you’ve never had a Day Like This.