Queensland Family Bucket List: Best Things to Do with Kids
Whether you’re soaring on heart-pounding rollercoasters, encountering amazing wildlife or relaxing on sun-drenched beaches, a family holiday in Queensland is packed with unforgettable adventures. Here are 10 must-do experiences to add to your Queensland family bucket list.
Great Barrier Reef Cruise
Set sail on a cruise through the shimmering Great Barrier Reef and witness nature’s masterpiece beneath the surface. Your young explorers will love learning about reef systems as they discover the secrets of the world’s largest living structure – the famous Great Barrier Reef. Let Australia’s most awarded reef cruise operator, Quicksilver Cruises, take you on an adventure to the Agincourt Reef pontoon, which offers a variety of family-friendly activities including an underwater observatory, semi-submersibles, snorkelling platforms and introductory dive areas. The whole family is sure to love exploring the underwater world, making a reef cruise the highlight of any Tropical North Queensland holiday.
Gold Coast Theme Parks
If you’re planning to take the family to the Gold Coast, visiting the iconic theme parks is a must-do activity. Venture to all five family-favourite parks to ride Australia’s fastest rollercoasters and tallest waterslides, and experience the best animal encounters. The hardest part is choosing which park to visit first! Head to Dreamworld for adrenaline-pumping rides, Warner Bros. Movie World for character encounters, Sea World for unique marine life interactions and Wet’n’Wild or WhiteWater World for thrilling water-based fun. Each park caters to kids both big and small, making this one of our top things to do in Queensland.
Australia Zoo
Get up close and personal with the animals at Australia Zoo. One of our top family-friendly activities in Queensland, this immersive experience is perfect for little explorers. Spot over 1,200 animals, from koalas and kangaroos to tigers, giraffes and the iconic crocodiles. Learn about wildlife conservation and experience what it’s like to care for animals through the Zookeeper for a Day programme. Let your little ones run free through plenty of fun play areas like the Laughing Frog Water Park and Crikey Kids Corner, which features a splash zone, zoo-themed teacup ride and a giant jumping pillow. Don’t miss the world-famous crocodile feeding show at the Crocoseum, plus a calendar full of events like International Tiger Day, Australia Zoo Markets, Halloween, Steve Irwin Day and much more.
Kuranda Village
Kuranda Village is a tranquil rainforest retreat just 25 kilometres outside of Cairns. Known for its lush surroundings and rich Aboriginal culture, Kuranda is ideal for the whole family, offering a mix of experiences like unique heritage markets, awe-inspiring wildlife parks, stunning walking trails, craft galleries, local food, a koala garden, riverboat rides and even a butterfly sanctuary. Getting there is easy and beautiful – hop aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway, the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, a shuttle bus or simply drive through the beautiful Kuranda Range Road at your own pace. Be sure to hop off along the way for a breath of fresh forest air and panoramic views. Kuranda makes the perfect day trip for those eager to learn about Indigenous culture and soak in natural beauty.
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Enjoy endless family fun in the Sunshine State!
Wildlife Habitat
If you’re holidaying in Port Douglas, make sure Breakfast with the Birds at Wildlife Habitat is on your Queensland family bucket list. Observe stunning wildlife at this eco-certified sanctuary while enjoying a delicious breakfast. Sip your coffee as vibrant lorikeets, parrots and cockatoos flit around you while you dine. Spot koalas and chat with the keepers about their passion for wildlife and conservation. After breakfast, spend the day exploring the rest of the Wildlife Habitat grounds, home to all your favourite Aussie animals.
Ginger Factory
One of the Sunshine Coast’s most popular tourist attractions, the Ginger Factory is a must on any Queensland family bucket list. This unique destination gives the whole family a chance to experience an authentic taste of Queensland. Join the Factory Tour for insight into how ginger is grown, harvested and processed or learn how bees make honey during the Live Bee Show and Tasting. And that’s not all. The Ginger Factory also features a train ride, a boat ride, two playgrounds, including one for under-fives and a jumping castle – a true kid’s paradise! Be sure to round out your day with a scoop from the onsite gelateria, which offers 18 handmade gelato flavours to choose from.
Whale Watching
Make lifelong memories spotting majestic humpback whales in the wild. The Fraser Coast is the whale-watching capital of the world and offers a glimpse of these gentle giants playfully breaching to say hello. Visit between July and October for your best chance to see them, as they suspend their migration to relax, play and socialise on Australia’s east coast. The Pacific Whale Foundation’s Ultimate Whale Watching tour is a great choice for families, with an onboard Junior Naturalist Programme and the chance to listen to live whale songs via underwater hydrophones. Complimentary snacks and soft drinks are also available for the whole family.
Daydream Island
Spend quality time with the family in the Whitsundays, where the water is turquoise and the sand is powdery white. Add Daydream Island to your itinerary and take a short ferry ride from both Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island. Discover the Living Reef in the heart of Daydream Island, a free-form coral lagoon, home to over 100 species of native marine life and 80 species of coral. Get amongst their natural habitat with a guided fish and stingray feeding experience and gain behind-the-scenes access through the Reef Rangers programme. The kids will love splashing in the giant lagoon pool with its special wading area, plus you can kayak, stand-up paddleboard and snorkel straight from the beach.
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
A Gold Coast family holiday offers more than just beaches and theme parks. Get a taste of the Gold Coast Hinterland with a visit to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Nestled in the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, you’ll find plenty of free family-friendly activities including bird feeding, walking tracks and the Treetop Walk, a series of suspension bridges that give you a bird’s-eye view of the lush rainforest canopy. You can also opt for additional experiences such as a 180-metre zipline for little thrill seekers and after-dark tours of the mystical glow worm grotto, sure to delight the whole crew.
Enjoy more family fun with My Queensland
It’s easy to make memories in Queensland’s favourite family holiday spots thanks to our inclusive holiday packages. Enjoy unforgettable resort stays, return flights and thrilling experiences, plus a bunch of extras the kids will love!
Tags: Family, Kids, Queensland, Things to do
Categories : Travel
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