Queensland Family Bucket List: Best Things to Do with Kids

From riding thrilling rollercoasters to getting up close to incredible wildlife to playing on sun-soaked beaches, a Queensland family holiday offers no shortage of epic adventures. Here are 10 things to add to your Queensland family bucket list.

Great Barrier Reef Cruise

A trip to the Great Barrier Reef should be at the top of every Queensland family bucket list. After all, a reef cruise offers a chance for your little ones to learn all about the world’s largest coral reef system, plus there’s plenty of fun to be had as well. Put your family in the best hands by booking your reef experience with Quicksilver Cruises, Australia’s most awarded reef cruise operator. Tours take you to the Agincourt Reef pontoon, which has a range of family-friendly activities, including an underwater observatory, semi-submersibles, snorkelling platforms and introductory dive areas. Kids will love getting up close to underwater favourites like Nemo and Dory, making a reef cruise a highlight of any Tropical North Queensland holiday.

Gold Coast Theme Parks

The Gold Coast is one of Queensland’s most popular family holiday destinations, largely in part for its iconic theme parks. At the Gold Coast’s five theme parks, you’ll find Australia’s fastest rollercoasters, tallest waterslides and best animal encounters, plus no shortage of action-packaged entertainment. In fact, the hardest part is simply choosing which park to visit! Head to Dreamworld for adrenaline-pumping thrill rides, Warner Bros. Movie World for character encounters, Sea World for unique marine life interactions, and Wet’n’Wild or Whitewater World for exciting water-based rides. Each theme park on the Gold Coast caters to kids both big and small, making them a must on any Queensland family holiday itinerary.

Australia Zoo

Getting up close to the animals at Australia Zoo is one of the best things to do with kids in Queensland. Located on the Sunshine Coast, this interactive conservation destination is packed with over 1200 animals, including koalas, kangaroos, tigers, giraffes and, of course, crocodiles. There are plenty of chances for the family to learn about animal conservation at Australia Zoo, and kids can even step into the shoes of a zoo keeper thanks to the Zoo Keeper for a Day program. Plus, Australia Zoo has plenty of areas for the little ones to run wild, including the Laughing Frog Water Park and Crikey Kids Corner, which has a splash play area, a zoo-themed teacup ride and a giant jumping pillow.

Kuranda Village

Kuranda, located in the mountains just outside of Cairns, offers the ultimate family day out. This rainforest village is brimming with attractions the whole family will enjoy, including heritage markets, arts and crafts galleries, a koala garden, riverboat rides and a butterfly sanctuary. To get to Kuranda Village, ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway, a train ride that the kids will talk about for years. On your return journey, opt for the Kuranda Rainforest Cableway to soar above the thick forest canopy. Make sure to hop off at the various viewing points along the way for a breath of fresh mountain air and astounding views of the thunderous Barron Falls.

Tallebudgera Creek

A beach day is a must on any Queensland family holiday. And while the Gold Coast has no shortage of beautiful stretches of sand, Tallebudgera Creek is the perfect choice for families. This patrolled beach is a popular spot for swimming, fishing and stand-up paddleboarding, thanks to its clear, gentle waters (where even the smallest of children can splash around safely). You’ll want to spend a full day here, so pack a picnic lunch or opt to enjoy a pub-style feed at Tallebudgera Surf Lifesaving Club. After lunch, stroll across the bridge to Burleigh Heads National Park, where you can wander scenic walking trails or learn about local indigenous history at the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

Wildlife Habitat

If you’re holidaying in Port Douglas, don’t miss the chance to take the family out for Breakfast With The Birds at Wildlife Habitat. For more than two decades, this eco-certified wildlife sanctuary has been serving up a delicious breakfast of seasonal delights, while lorikeets, parrots and cockatoos flit around and above you. As you dine, enjoy the opportunity to get up close and personal with these cheeky birds (and koalas, too!) while chatting with the keepers about their love for wildlife and conservation. After breakfast, spend a day exploring the rest of the Wildlife Habitat grounds, which are home to all of your favourite Aussie creatures.

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 an 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 has a train ride, a boat ride, two playgrounds (including one for under 5s) and a jumping castle – talk about a kid’s paradise! Be sure to round out your day with a scoop from the onsite gelateria, which has 18 handmade gelato flavours to choose from.

Whale Watching

Spotting giant humpback whales in the wild is something the entire family will remember for a lifetime, and what better place to experience this than the whale watching capital of the world? Holiday along the Fraser Coast between July and October for your best chance at seeing these gentle giants – this is the only place on Australia’s east coast where the whales suspend their migration to relax, play and socialise. The Pacific Whale Foundation’s Ultimate Whalewatch tour is a great choice for families, thanks to the onboard Junior Naturalist Programme, along with the chance to listen to live whale songs via underwater hydrophones. Plus, there are free snacks and soft drinks for the entire family to enjoy!

Daydream Island

If you’re holidaying in the Whitsundays with the family, be sure to add Daydream Island to your itinerary. Just a short ferry ride from both Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island, this award-winning resort island is a treasure trove of family fun. At the heart of Daydream Island is the Living Reef, a free-form coral lagoon home to 100 species of local marine life and 80 species of coral. Get up close with some of these residents during guided fish and stingray feeding experiences and gain behind-the-scenes access to the Living Reef with the Reef Rangers program. Daydream Island also boasts a giant lagoon pool with a kids 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. For a taste of the Gold Coast Hinterland, spend a day at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, nestled in the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park. Here, 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 birds-eye view of the rainforest canopy. You can also opt for additional experiences, including a 180-metre zipline (perfect for little thrillseekers) and after-dark tours of a mystical glow worm grotto that’s 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 done-for-you holiday packages. Enjoy unforgettable resort stays, exclusive airfares and thrilling experiences, plus unlock a heap of extras for the kids!

Find your Queensland family adventure today.

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