Day trips you can take on the Queen’s public holiday
With tomorrow’s public holiday coming as a surprise to many, we’ve come up with 11 places in South East Queensland you can visit in a day.
Travel
Don't miss out on the headlines from Travel. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Want to take advantage of the surprise public holiday and have a fun day out? Well you don’t have to travel far to get away from the city.
Here’s a list of places you can discover on a last-minute day trip. Just pack up your car or jump on a ferry to enjoy the gorgeous sites Queensland has to offer.
The Big Pineapple
Yes, it’s clearly a tourist attraction but even native Queenslanders should visit the Big Pineapple at least once. Located near the town of Nambour, about 100km north of Brisbane, the pineapple is a sight to behold — and you can tour the old gold mining town while you’re there.
It’s known for its pineapples, macadamias and beef cattle as a link to the local agricultural district.
Burleigh Heads
The Gold Coast suburb, located about an hour from the CBD, is now known as a foodie destination as well as for its beautiful beach.
It’s located between Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta and offers a relaxing beachside atmosphere as well as great restaurants and walks through the picturesque Burleigh Heads National Park.
Visitors are encouraged to pack a picnic, head out early and take the Oceanview Walk where you can relax at Echo Beach — and even do some whale watching during spring.
Moreton Island
Easily accessible by ferry, Moreton Island is a must-see location where travellers can check out the Tangalooma Wrecks — sunken ships partially-submerged in the ocean which attract a variety of sea life.
This is great for snorkellers or divers but Tangalooma Island Resort also organises for its guests to feed wild dolphins or go on whale watching cruises. The island itself mostly made up of the Moreton National Park, which offers scenic walks with waterfall views as well as mountain biking.
Scenic Rim
The Scenic Rim region is a prime location — only about an hour’s drive from Brisbane and an hour from the Gold Coast.
The popular tourist destination is known for its amazing scenic views but also offers bushwalking tracks, wineries, art galleries — and national parks:
Lamington National Park
It encompasses six national parks including Lamington National Park.
The heritage-listed national park offers amazing bushwalks with more than 130km of walking tracks showcasing the rainforest.
Make sure you check out the amazing waterfalls.
Tamborine Mountain
Also located within the Scenic Rim region, Tamborine Mountain is a volcanic peak about 550m above sea level — with amazing 360 degree views.
The quaint town has wineries and historic pubs but its known for the scenic bushwalks in Tamborine Mountain National Park including the elevated Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk.
Mooloolaba
A less than two-hour drive from Brisbane, Mooloolaba is a prime location to enjoy the beach as well as the great restaurants and shops along the main esplanade and the wharf precinct. SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast aquarium is also located there.
Glass House Mountains
There are 11 peaks of the Glass House Mountains on the Sunshine Coast — and many of them are not easy treks.
So if you’re up for a hiking challenge — with gorgeous views as your reward — or just want to go for a casual wander around, check out their walking tracks and hikes.
Australia Zoo
Located in Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast, Steve Irwin’s legacy, Australia Zoo, is a great spot for a day out.
Head out early to see the animals and watch the shows the zoo puts on daily for its visitors. Steve’s widow Terri and their children Bindi and Robert operate the zoo and can often be spotted out and about as they work at the wildlife conservation facility which offers animal encounters, exhibits and conservation shows.
North Stradbroke Island
Accessible by ferry from Brisbane’s CBD, North Stradbroke Island is a great family fun day out. You can meander along North Gorge Walk and grab some food while taking in the sights — which could include spotting some whales if you’re lucky.
Also check out Adam’s Beach and Blue Lake for the gorgeous water alone.
Ipswich
Less than 40 minutes from Brisbane’s CBD, Ipswich is an eclectic mix of the old and new. There are boutique shops and nature walks like climbing Flinders Peak, which is recommended for experienced hikers as its 679m high.
There is also the Llama Farm which has the largest herd of llamas in Queensland and also has donkeys, camels and goats.
Ipswich is also the location of the Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway and the Workshops Rail Museum.
Buderim
Forget Byron Bay — Buderim is the next hipster location on the state’s Sunshine Coast with a quaint village-style main town centre and beautiful surroundings. There are rainforest walking trails, with the Buderim Forest Waterfall Walk Falls a must-do. The Foote Sanctuary of Buderim is also a great spot for a walk and picnic or barbecue.
Originally published as Day trips you can take on the Queen’s public holiday
Major overhaul to Bali bombing site for Aussies
The site of the 2002 Bali bombing site, which claimed 88 Australian lives, is set to become a place to promote “tolerance”.
MAFS star’s free upgrade, cake after viral smash-up of luxe resort
A MAFS star has received a free upgrade and full refund after her scathing critique of a luxury, five-star Gold Coast resort racked up more than six million views.