How to have an epic adventure in Queensland

If you’re planning a memorable trip Down Under, don’t skip Australia’s Sunshine State. Aside from ancient tropical rainforest, the world-famous Great Barrier Reef and rugged outback landscapes, the state is also chock full of heart-pumping activities for those who crave a little adventure. Here’s our ultimate guide to activities in Queensland for those who want to leave no stone unturned while keeping the adrenaline flowing.

Hot Air Balloon GC

A scenic hot air balloon ride over the Gold Coast is one of the best ways to see a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the region’s diverse landscape from above. Wake up early and watch the sun come up as you float through the clouds and soak up the 360-degree panoramic views from 2,000ft, snapping photos of the sprawling coastline, iconic skyscrapers, and golden beaches below. Your journey can begin from a variety of different launching points, from which you’ll soar high above vineyards, spot stingrays gliding around in the shallow waters or follow meandering waterways through the Gold Coast hinterland. You can even round off your morning experience with breakfast post-flight.

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

Nature lovers are in their element in Queensland, but places like O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat make it that bit more special. Located in the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, just a 90-minute drive from the Gold Coast, the retreat offers a place to stay among breathtaking nature and native wildlife. Enjoy tree-top canopy walks on suspension bridges installed high up throughout the rainforest, or head on a glow-worm tour, where a four-wheel-drive bus will take you to a secluded gully lit up by the bioluminescent glow of these abundant little beetles. There’s also a flowing creek that makes for the perfect picnic spot and naturalist-guided walks where you might catch sight of wallabies, pademelons (small, wallaby-like hopping marsupials) and platypus. For those who are all about wining and dining, the retreat has its own vineyard with wine-tasting sessions and three restaurants with epic landscape views.

Visit the ancient Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest is a magnificent, ancient ecosystem and one of the oldest rainforests in the world, estimated to be around 135 million years old. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site thanks to its incredible ecological significance and biodiversity, and home to all kinds of unique flora and fauna. Want to catch a glimpse of the large flightless Cassowary bird? This is one of the few places in the world where it can be found in its natural habitat. Deep between the forest, you’ll also find Mossman Gorge, renowned for its crystal-clear water and ancient rocks, perfect for cooling off after taking a tour to learn about the Aboriginal Kuku people who have called the region home for centuries.

Skypark Cairns by AJ Hackett

For those who prefer something a little more adrenaline-fuelled, Skypark Cairns by AJ Hackett is the place to be, and it’s only a 20-minute drive from Cairns City. Plunge through the rainforest on a bungee jump or see if you can handle the Minjin Jungle Swing, the world’s fastest jungle swing, which will catapult you a speedy 120 kmph through the trees. If you’d rather keep two feet sort of firmly on the ground, the Edge Lookout boasts epic views of Cairns and the surrounding mountains; it’s Cairns’s highest viewing platform.

Dreamworld

It may be chock full of nature, but the Gold Coast is also where you’ll find the best theme parks in Australia, including Dreamworld. It’s the ultimate Aussie playground, with slides, rides and wildlife all in one place. Make your way around the heart-racing roller coasters, including Steel Taipan, Australia’s only triple launch coaster hurling you up to 105 kmph and around 1.2km of twists and turns. The park is also a wildlife conservation park, so if roller coasters aren’t really your thing, you can meet all kinds of native Australian wildlife, and tigers on their famous Tiger Island.

Noosa Everglades

Noosa is a chic seaside town bordered by lush rainforest, drop-dead gorgeous beaches and glistening lakes. It’s a great place to spend a few days beach-hopping, swimming at secluded beaches and hiking through Noosa National Park. It’s also where you’ll find the Noosa Everglades, one of only two Everglade systems in the world, and one of the best ways to experience it is by taking a canoe tour. Coast through the mirror-clear calm waters surrounded by purple waterlilies and flitting blue dragonflies. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell where the water starts and ends, leading to its nickname: the River of Mirrors.