Five places you must visit in regional Queensland
Queensland is known for its “big” tourist attractions like Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Great Barrier Reef and Cairns. But if you want to avoid the overly populated areas and find a more regional holiday spot, here are some of the best that you can’t miss.
Waterfall Way, Atherton
The Atherton Tablelands region, located about an hour south-west of Cairns, offers plenty to see and do. The region encompasses a wide range of landscapes, from farmland and scrub forest to ancient rainforests. One of the most spectacular things to do is to drive the 15km Waterfall Way Circuit that will guide you past some of the best waterfalls in the region. During Tropical North Queensland’s annual wet season, all that excess water spills spectacularly throughout the landscape, creating highly photogenic waterfalls. At the centrepiece of the Waterfall Circuit is Millaa Millaa Falls, Australia’s most photographed cascade.
You can enjoy a refreshing swim in one of the many waterholes and rockpools, and a picnic lunch. You might be lucky enough to spot a bright blue Ulysses butterfly flitting about while you’re there – or a freshwater turtle or platypus. This natural wonderland filled with waterfalls and rock pools makes for a spectacular trip, and shouldn’t be missed.
Bunya Mountains
The Bunya Mountains is known as one of the most spectacular and peaceful natural beauty areas in Queensland. Featuring breathtaking views over the surrounding lowlands and panoramic mountain scenery, the Bunyas will astound and delight you. Located a three-hour drive from Brisbane, the Bunya Mountains is home to a wide variety of wildlife and plant life. And with temperatures at least 5 – 7 degrees cooler than the surrounding plains, it offers a pleasant retreat from the hot and humid coastal weather.
40km of walking tracks take you through rainforests, eucalypt forests and grasslands and allow you to enjoy the serenity and beauty of this ancient landscape. The Bunya Mountains provides the ideal fusion of tranquillity with activities to do and sights to see. You can hand-feed wild birds, get up close and personal with many types of wildlife and watch fireflies flicker in the gathering darkness.
The Bunyas has a strong accommodation scene, with a wide variety of houses and chalets available for visitors to rent. See https://bunyamountains.com.au for details.
Daintree National Park
The Daintree rainforest is the oldest tropical rainforest in the world, and is a place known by David Attenborough as “the most extraordinary place on Earth”. With lush ferns, vines and rainforest, and plants and animals found nowhere else on the planet, visiting the Daintree is a unique experience. This world-heritage listed area is popular with nature enthusiasts and
is a tourist’s dream. You can experience the spectacular beauty of nature first-hand, cruise the rivers, take four-wheel drive tours or go zip-lining through the rainforest.
Located a two-hour drive north of Cairns, the Daintree National Park is made up of two sections – Cape Tribulation and Mossman Gorge. Cape Tribulation features lush tropical rainforests covering mountain peaks, that sweep down to meet beautiful sandy beaches. Mossman Gorge features waterfalls flowing out of the crystal-clear Mossman River, scenic bushwalks and swimming holes and a suspension bridge. Whether you want to relax or explore, there’s something at the Daintree for everyone.
Mary Valley
The picture-perfect landscapes of the Mary Valley are often referred to as Queensland’s “food bowl”, being home to a wide variety of delicious local produce. Located 35 minutes west of Noosa, the Mary Valley is sprinkled with tiny towns, historic country pubs and idyllic scenery. The water-sport enthusiasts will be in heaven, with dams and rivers abounding and just waiting to be explored. You’ll also want to traverse the Mary Valley Scenic Drive, which takes visitors through a patchwork of rolling hills, rainforests, farms, rivers, scenic lookouts and heritage towns.
One of the can’t-miss attractions of the Mary Valley is the Mary Valley Rattler, a classic steam train dating back to 1880 that offers tours through the scenic valley. You’ll visit time-forgotten towns, produce markets, craft markets, cafes and little railway stations as you explore this beautiful part of the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Lamington National Park
A two-hour drive south of Brisbane, the world-heritage listed Lamington National Park is one of Queensland’s most popular national parks. Located within the remains of an ancient volcano, Lamington’s spectacular scenery is a must-see. Lamington contains more than 500 waterfalls, as well as scenic gorges, mountain peaks, lush tropical and subtropical rainforests and beech forests. You can enjoy the stunning views over the Gold Coast, south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales from one of the park’s many lookouts.
Lamington National Park is a photographer’s delight, as well as a magnet for nature lovers. Here you’ll be able to see red-necked pademelons in the rainforest, and platypus in the river rock pools. The park contains nearly 60 plants and 22 animals that are vulnerable, rare or threatened with extinction. And more than 190 species of bird live in the national park, including colourful parrots and bowerbirds. Hikers and bushwalkers will also be in heaven at Lamington, with more than 150 kilometres of scenic walking trails available. This exceptional natural beauty area is an outstanding place to visit and explore.
