15 must-do Queensland experiences that are accessible to all
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By Celeste Mitchell
We believe there should be no limits when it comes to accessible travel. And with enough life-affirming experiences in Queensland to fill a bucket list 10 times over, time is the biggest barrier between you and every jaw-dropping wonder you can imagine.
From accessible tours to wildlife encounters, and accessible national parks to gourmet cooking classes, keep scrolling for the ultimate list of all-ability experiences across Queensland.
1. Enjoy the best beaches on the Gold Coast
Surfers Paradise beach, Gold Coast. Photo by @destinationgoldcoast
Bobbing in the waves at one of the Gold Coast’s most popular beaches is a privilege no-one should have to miss out on. Wheelchair access and beach wheelchair availability differs slightly between beaches so check out the City of Gold Coast website before you set out with your beach umbrella in tow.
Beach wheelchairs and beach matting are available free of charge at Broadbeach, Burleigh, Labrador, Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach, Southport, Surfers Paradise and Tallebudgera Creek.
Accessible beaches can be found all along Queensland's coastline. Discover them here.
2. Learn to surf
Coolum Surf School, Sunshine Coast. Photo by @coolumsurfschool
There’s no bigger leveller – for all levels of ability – than when you’re facing the swell of the ocean on a surfboard. Thinking outside the box, Coolum Surf School has adapted surfing programs to give a surf experience to those battling MS or spina bifida, with access to beach wheelchairs as needed.
On the Gold Coast, the Gold Coast Disabled Surfers Association holds “Lets Go Surfing” days at Flat Rock beach in Currumbin from October to March each year.
3. Marvel at the world's oldest rainforest
Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation
Visiting the Daintree Rainforest is a lesson in humility for many reasons, not least because it’s the place where two World Heritage listed areas meet, but also for its intrinsic part in our natural world and that of its Kuku Yalanji custodians.
You’ll find three wheelchair accessible trails within the Cape Tribulation section of Daintree National Park – Marrdja, Dubuji and Kulki – and a fourth boardwalk that is partially accessible.
Further south, connect with the rainforest through First Nations stories at Mossman Gorge, which is both wheelchair and pram-friendly. Or, discover natural beauty at Din Din (Barron Falls) - arriving by great heights on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway or enjoying a slice of history on board Kuranda Scenic Railway, both with wheelchair and mobility-friendly access, and the Railway allowing certified assistance and guide dogs too.
The Skyrail also supports those with sensory needs or hidden disabilities, and is equipped with an audio guide and Interpretive App that provides commentary including subtitles which can help those with visual and audio disabilities.
4. Meet iconic Aussie wildlife
Australia Zoo, Sunshine Coast
Spending a day at Australia Zoo provides a seamless, accessible path to you cuddling a cute and fluffy koala. With accessible parking, ramps and pathways, a Changing Places facility (MLAK key accessible) and both wheelchairs and motorised scooters available for hire, you’ll be able to meet and mingle with critters of all shapes and sizes, and even visit the Animal Hospital.
Companion Card holders receive free entry to the zoo. If you would like to bring a Guide or Assistance Dog, you’ll need to get in touch at least 72 hours prior to your planned visit.
Want to be a zoo keeper for the day? Australia Zoo's dedicated Khaki Sensory Program opens up this experience to those aged 7 years and older.
5. Feel the rush at theme parks
Sea World Marine Park, Gold Coast
It might surprise you that many rides and attractions at the Gold Coast theme parks are accessible for wheelchair users. Of course, safety systems may restrict some ride suitability but there are staff on hand to help you map out your day, and Dreamworld also lists all physical guidelines along with height, weight and age limits for rides on their website.
Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs are welcome at Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, and Dreamworld. Movie World also offers a detailed guide to every park attraction, including a sensory rating for each so you can plan your day with confidence.
6. Get up close with humpbacks
Whalesong Cruises, Hervey Bay
There’s no need to stay on the shore when visiting Hervey Bay during whale season. Wheelchair users will find Whalesong Cruises’ vessel is designed specifically for wheelchair access while Hervey Bay Whale Watch Quick Cat II has ramps running around the main deck and foredeck to ensure you get a front row seat to the action.
For those with low vision, Freedom Whale Watch and Dive Charters vessel is equipped with a high-tech hydrophone so you can hear the beauty of the whales singing beneath the deep blue.
7. Follow Australia's dinosaur trail
Australian Age of Dinosaurs, Outback Queensland
If you really dig dinosaurs, Outback Queensland is the palaeontology capital of Australia and at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs you won’t only get up close to the world’s largest collection of dinosaur fossils, but you can actually help prepare specimens in the museum’s laboratory.
All areas of the museum and laboratory are accessible by wheelchair and table heights can be changed for the Prep A Dino program if required. This is the most productive Fossil Preparation Laboratory in the Southern Hemisphere and the place where you can get hands on with real dinosaur bones. The experience ranges from one to 11-day packages with accessible onsite accommodation also available.
For autistic and neurodiverse people visiting the museum, a visual story is available to download before your visit to help you prepare for spaces that might have bright lights, smells, sounds or things to touch. The museum also offers large print and tactile guides and a free audio guide.
8. Cruise the turquoise waters of The Whitsundays
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays
The jewel in Whitsundays’ sparkling crown - a visit to the silica white sands of Whitehaven Beach is a must do on any holiday itinerary. Departing from the Port of Airlie, the wheelchair accessible Cruise Whitsundays half day Whitehaven tour is a great way to explore this tropical paradise in a short amount of time, without feeling rushed. Offering morning and afternoon tours, you’ll journey across the Whitsunday Passage amongst hidden bays, before arriving on the postcard perfect shores of Whitehaven.
Departing the boat, the crew will assist wheelchair users onto a rail, which leads to the beach and an awaiting beach wheelchair. From there, the island is yours to explore with two hours of free time to float in the pristine water.
9. Hand-feed wild dolphins on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island)
Tangalooma Island Resort, Mulgumpin (Moreton Island)
One of the most accessible Queensland island experiences lies just offshore from the capital. Strike out from Brisbane on the MICAT ferry to visit Tangalooma Island Resort in Moreton Bay for their signature wild dolphin feeding experience.
Each evening at sunset, the dolphins arrive for their feed and if you’re one of the guests staying on the island, you have the chance to take part. The island has a beach wheelchair for beach activities and the dolphin feeds but just keep in mind they can’t be booked in advance and are hired pending availability.
The entire resort is wheelchair friendly while you’ll find accessible hotel rooms with lift access available in Kookaburra Lodge.
Wild dolphin feeding is operated by eco rangers and resort staff, and follows strict guidelines to ensure the protection of the dolphins.
10. Make a pontoon your base for the day (or night) in the Southern Great Barrier Reef
Lady Musgrave HQ, Lady Musgrave Island
Travellers to the Southern Great Barrier Reef can experience a unique side of this natural world wonder with Lady Musgrave Experience and their Lady Musgrave HQ – the solar and wind-powered multi-level pontoon on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
Those with mobility needs will have a comfortable and exciting day out, with a wheelchair accessible vessel to transport you to the pontoon, trained staff to assist you between levels on the pontoon, and an accessible glass-bottom boat for exploring, there’s nothing between you and the magic of the reef.
Guided tours on Lady Musgrave Island are also possible for those with an all-terrain wheelchair and it is hoped there will be portable beach matting available in the future.
The experienced and friendly staff at Lady Musgrave Experience are able to personalise the Reef experience for guests with hearing and sight disabilities. These guests have the opportunity to stick around for the night shift on the world’s largest living structure, glamping under the stars from the top deck (this accommodation is not wheelchair friendly due to stair access).
11. Drink the world's best rum
Bundaberg Rum Distillery, Bundaberg
The Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience is mecca for rum lovers in sunny Bundaberg. When you join the wheelchair and pram-friendly Bundaberg Rum Distillery Experience you’ll take a journey through the production process from canefield to glass and sample top shelf drops in the Tasting Bar. Back in 2017, one of the variants even scored an accolade of ‘World’s Best Rum’.
You can also opt to blend your own rum – learning the tricks of the trade from a Master Distiller – and leave with two personalised 700mL bottles, poured straight from the barrel. Due to the risk of ignition, batteries aren’t allowed on the tours but if you happen to have a medically necessary device such as a hearing aid, insulin pump, or motorised mobility device, special arrangements can be made so you can safely enjoy the tour.
Guide and assistance dogs are welcome, along with complementary admission for carers with government-issued companion cards who will be perfoming this role during their visit.
12. Follow the path of a volcano
Undara Experience Road Cave tour, Undara Volcanic National Park
Hidden amongst the rich basalt soils of Undara Volcanic National Park, a series of hollow tubes formed by flowing molten lava around 190,000 years ago is the setting for an unmissable Outback experience. In the years since, the roof of the tubes has sunken in places, allowing rainforest and wildlife to flourish, including colonies of microbats.
Wheelchair users can head out on a guided tour of Road Cave with Undara Experience, which has ramps and lift access to assist in safely getting around. You can bed down in a restored railway carriage or the new homestead, both of which have full wheelchair accessibility.
13. Soak in ancient hot springs
Talaroo Hot Springs, Gulf Savannah
Set your GPS for the lands of the Ewamian people, in the heart of the Gulf Savannah, where you’ll find the healing waters of Talaroo Hot Springs. Talaroo is one of only two mound springs in Australia, fed by water which has travelled kilometres underground, over 20,000 years, heated by hot granite rocks.
Access to the geothermal soaking pool is via their Hot Springs Discovery Tour, which is pram and wheelchair friendly, with transport provided from reception to the boardwalk for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility. You can also book a soak in one of their private pools, designed for up to four people.
14. Join a cooking demonstration with a celebrity chef in Noosa
After running kitchens around the world and leading food tours through his homeland of Sri Lanka, Peter Kuruvita settled in Noosa and his latest venture, Alba Noosa, is set up so you can share in his skills.
Join one of the accessible demonstration classes in the onsite cooking school and you could be learning how to expertly prepare fresh seafood or perhaps pick up some Mexican basics gleaned from his time filming his TV program, Mexican Fiesta – followed up with a tasting and glass of wine.
The cooking school team at Alba Noosa is also working on creating a wheelchair accessible environment for hands-on classes.
15. Snorkel or learn to dive the Great Barrier Reef
Quicksilver Cruises, Great Barrier Reef
If you've ever wanted to become a certified scuba diver, Quicksilver Dive is a purpose-built diver training centre in Port Douglas, has opened up a range of PADI accredited courses for those with varying levels of mobility, needs and abilities, including as a tool for mental health support. You’ll also find the venue to have made significant investment into infrastructure such as lifts, ramps, disabled facilities and wheelchair access to classrooms and the training pool. To experience the Great Barrier Reef, you can do so via Quicksilver Cruises' pontoon on Agincourt Reef off Port Douglas, which features a chairlift to allows people with a mobility disability to submerge in the water for snorkelling, diving or a cooling dip. Are you ready to take the plunge?
16. Explore your creative side at one of Queensland's award-winning galleries
HOTA (Home of the Arts), Gold Coast
Brisbane's world-class Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) is dedicated to making art for all, with facilities that support not only those with mobility devices and wheelchairs, but offers adaptive technology, Auslan, low-sensory and low-vision tours, alongside an award-winning Art and Dementia Program that incorporates slow art viewing and therapeutic creative activities.
On the Gold Coast, HOTA (Home of the Arts) is committed to removing barriers with accessible pathways for wheelchair users, large print artwork labels and audio-described tours for visitors with visual needs. Auslan assistive listening carrier devices and Auslan-interpreted programs are also available along with downloadable social stories for neurodiverse guests, hands-on ArtLabs for kids, and designated monthly ‘Quiet Hours’ where the gallery experience is modified to ensure a more relaxed environment for those with sensory needs.
More accessible Queensland experiences can be found:
