The bright side of 2021: Queensland’s top 5 moments

From hosting high-profile events to new scientific discoveries, there have been some beautiful moments in Queensland this year.

Before we chime the bells, let’s take a trip down memory lane to revisit our top five Queensland moments of 2021.

1. NRL Grand Final, Brisbane 

Rugby league's pinnacle event, the NRL Grand Final, was held in Brisbane for the first time in history on 3 October 2021. Over three million people in Australia watched the football final on television, with 29,000 in-person attendees at Suncorp Stadium. In the end, Penrith won the match 14-12 to claim their third premiership title.

2. New dinosaur species discovered, Eromanga 

The discovery of new dinosaur bones at  Eromanga Natural History Museum in Outback Queensland captured the world's attention. The annual dinosaur dig, led by Museum Director and paleontologist Robyn Mackenzie, uncovered multiple remains thought to be from sauropods (large plant-eating dinosaurs), estimated to be over 90 million years old. 

3. Australian Survivor makes its debut, Outback Queensland

The sixth season of Australian Survivor took place somewhere different: the remote and rugged Outback Queensland. In 2021, the show was filmed across multiple locations, primarily on two cattle stations in the North West outback's Cloncurry for most of the camps, Tribal Council and challenges. The next season of Australian Survivor will be in Charters Towers and premieres on Channel 10 in February 2022.

4. Winning the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid, Brisbane

On 21 July 2021, the International Olympic Committee voted for Queensland's capital, Brisbane, as the host city for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Hosting the world's greatest event will create a two-decade pipeline of opportunity for Queensland. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk emphasised that Queensland's fundamental approach is to align Games legacy with long-term plans. "We will work with all three levels of government to embed Games legacy opportunities in existing programmes and will create a special Games Legacy Fund. This is to ensure the effective delivery of legacy over the next 10 years – and the 10 years after that."

5. Scenic Rim named Lonely Planet Top Region in 2022

The Scenic Rim was named in the Top 10 Regions of the World to visit next year, in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2022.

“We’re thrilled to see the Scenic Rim included in the world’s best destinations, especially as it’s such an untouched and diverse eco-based Australian destination,” says Lonely Planet’s Chris Zeiher. “From the amazing food and wine to the incredible rainforest and bush walks and memorable places to stay, this is an unexpected pocket of Australia that has it all.”  

Honourable mentions

We couldn't leave this best of 2021 round-up without a few additional highlights:

• New coral species found on the Great Barrier Reef
• State of Origin was hosted in Townsville
• Noosa took out Silver in Australian Traveller's Australia's Top Tourism Town award
• Whitehaven Beach walked away with TripAdvisor's Top Beach in the World award
• Lizard Island was included in Conde Nast Traveller's Top 20 Resorts in Aus Pacific

Want to read more about what Queensland has achieved in 2021? Check out the latest news updates here.

Feature image credit: Brisbane City Council