Top Queensland Outdoor Activities

Discover the diverse wildlife of South East Queensland when you travel to the Springbrook plateau, Numinbah Valley and Mt Tamborine on a full-day tour from Brisbane. Your guide leads a leisurely walk in Springbrook National Park to see two stunning waterfalls, Natural Bridge and a glow worm cave. Have time to relax and enjoy the waterfalls and rainforest on this small-group tour with numbers limited to 21 participants, ensuring a more personalized experience.

Head out on a rainforest adventure on the original Daintree Rainforest Tour. Take a guided walk through the ancient Daintree Rainforest and along the flawless white beaches of Cape Tribulation with your guide. Then, hop aboard a river cruise and listen to commentary about the local wildlife as you try to spot crocodiles. Then, take a freshwater swim in the heart of the rainforest and enjoy a homegrown tropical fruit ice cream.

If you want to enjoy a tropical island beach paradise from Cairns but don’t have a lot of time, this half or full-day trip to Green Island is ideal. Be transported by fast catamaran from Cairns to save time. Choose between a glass-bottomed boat tour or the use of snorkeling equipment. Get access to the island’s pool or take a self-guided walk of the island if you want to be more active.

The rainforest-clad islands, white-sand beaches, and vast coral reefs of the Whitsundays are even more impressive when viewed from above. With this tour, take off on a scenic flight over the Whitsunday Islands and admire the views from the panoramic windows. Fly over Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, and the Heart Reef, and enjoy a magnificent bird’s eye view of the Great Barrier Reef. Live commentary is available in English, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Exploring K’gari’s vast landscapes in a single day can be challenging without the right transport and local knowledge, but this full-day guided tour makes it easy to see the island’s highlights. Depart early in a custom 4WD and spend the day visiting key sites such as Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek, Central Station, Wanggoolba Creek, Seventy-Five Mile Beach, and the Maheno shipwreck. With a local leading the way, learn about the island’s unique plant and animal life while enjoying time at its freshwater lakes, rainforest, and coastline.

Experience the beautiful Daintree River on a guided cruise. Choose from a variety of tour options, including morning trips with complimentary coffee and slushies for children, a lunch excursion with a meat pie and a cold drink, and afternoon adventure with a glass of wine, beer, and snacks. See crocodiles and an array of beautiful birds.

Spend a blissful day on Moreton Island exploring the beaches, reef, and dunes on this tour from Brisbane or Surfers Paradise. Travel with an experienced guide in a rugged 4WD. You’ll snorkel or bodyboard, paddle transparent kayaks, and try sandboarding on the dunes: If sea conditions are unfavorable, take a 4WD island tour. Your day includes a picnic lunch on the beach but excludes national park fees and ferry tickets.

Discover the Kuranda Rainforest from a unique perspective on a Skyrail and train tour that saves you the hassle of booking separate activities. Marvel at panoramic views of the rainforest, and let expert guides introduce you to the culture of Kuranda village. Plus, you can tailor your tour according to your interests, and add on activities such as horseback riding and ATV experiences.

See Australian wildlife up close and in its natural setting during this short river cruise along the Daintree River. Float 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) down river in a comfortable boat with sun cover to see lush rainforest and tropical birds darting between mangrove trees and watch for animals swimming in the water below and foraging for food on the banks.

Immerse yourself in the natural wonders and Aboriginal heritage of Australia's Tropical North Queensland on this full-day tour from Cairns. First, head to the Mossman Gorge to take part in a traditional smoke ceremony with the indigenous Kuku Yalanji people. Then, enjoy lunch in the Daintree Village. After lunch, join a wildlife cruise on the Daintree River where you might see a crocodile, and learn about the fragile ecosystem of this impressive, serpent-like river system. Finally, head to Thornton’s Beach, where the rainforest meets the reef.

If visiting the ancient coral cay of Green Island for the day wasn’t great enough, add a seawalker helmet dive to your package. Take a super-fast catamaran from Cairns to the island and choose between the use of snorkeling gear or a glass-bottom boat ride (included). Add more fun to the day by donning a glass helmet and taking a guided walk on the seabed, surrounded by coral and tropical fish while keeping your head dry.

Enjoy a full-day tour of the stunning Whitsunday Islands, traveling on a sturdy motorized raft to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Beach. Choose from two tours that offer either more snorkeling or more beach time. Gain exclusive access to secluded spots where you can snorkel around pristine coral reefs, and take a walk with your guide in the national park to a lookout point with spectacular views.

Make exploring the Great Barrier Reef simple on this full-day tour from Cairns, which offers snorkeling or diving experiences from two different reef locations. You can choose between different options for this experience based on your snorkeling or diving levels. While out on the water, keep an eye out for marine life, including fish, rays, and turtles, and immerse yourself in the UNESCO–listed scenery.

Wildlife enthusiasts will love this one-hour crocodile-spotting cruise on the Daintree River. Unlike many other tour boats, this one is solar powered so it's very quiet, doesn't disturb the wildlife (or you), and is free of fumes. Look out for crocs as well as other wildlife like snakes, frogs, and many kinds of birds.

Spotting whales in their natural habitat can be tricky if you don't know where to look. Skip the guesswork on this whale-watching cruise, which guarantees you will see humpback whales as they migrate past the Gold Coast from June to November or you receive a complimentary second cruise. The tour is led by a marine biologist guide who is passionate about conservation and offers insights into whale behavior that enrich the experience. Includes morning tea and a photo booklet souvenir.

Experience the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns without giving up your entire day. This streamlined snorkeling tour uses a fast vessel to reach a nearby reef site quickly, so you spend more time in the water and less time traveling. Once there, a dedicated snorkel guide helps you get set up and leads you around the reef—making it an easy, time-efficient way to see vibrant coral and marine life.

Reaching the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns can really eat into your time on the reef. Spend more time snorkeling and less time sailing with this tour that takes you out on the water aboard the fastest boat in Cairns. Escape the crowds as you explore the underwater world at several of the boat's exclusive outer reef moorings.

Wildlife enthusiasts will love the chance to spot whales in the wild so close to the Gold Coast. Just a twenty-minute cruise offshore, the Australian Whale Sanctuary is prime humpback whale habitat. Get great views of the creatures (when conditions are right) from onboard your comfortable boat, and watch live underwater footage streamed directly to your mobile device. This easy 2.5-hour trip can fit into busy itineraries.

Experience the thrill of an up-close encounter with migrating whales on this half-day cruise from Brisbane, available only between June and November. Set sail around Moreton Bay on a luxurious high-speed catamaran and tuck into a delicious buffet lunch on-board as you soak up the scenery. Finally, keep your camera to hand as you spot humpback whales swimming and breaching beside the ship – a rare opportunity to spot the gentle giants in their natural environment.

On this fun filled day tour you can take in the magnificent views aboard the Kuranda Scenic Rail, spend some free time in the mountaintop village of Kuranda, then soar above the rainforest canopy on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Our coach will then transfer you to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures – the best place to see crocodiles in Tropical North Queensland! At Hartley’s you’ll explore the Melaleuca Wetlands on a boat cruise, marvel at the death roll of a Saltwater Crocodile and explore the wildlife park - home to Koala’s, Wallabies and Queensland’s Southern Cassowaries.

Swap the crowds of the busy city center for a peaceful day sightseeing from a river cruise. You’ll sail along Brisbane River with live commentary to entertain you and make sure you don’t miss any highlights. Save time and get access to multiple incredible photo opportunities on one tour. You’ll see Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Story Bridge, and Brisbane City Center. Conveniently, the boat also has a coffee shop/bar if you’d like to purchase a drink.

See snapping crocs in action on this half-day tour to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. Departing from Cairns or Palm Cove, explore the five different zones of this eco-park and working crocodile farm, including a narrated boat tour through a coastal lagoon. Stroll along elevated boardwalks to observe cassowaries, turtles, lizards, and koalas, and admire the mighty stars of the attraction at the thrilling Crocodile Attack Show.

Learn about geological history, local wildlife, and early explorers during a 45-minute Cathedral Cave tour at the Capricorn Caves. Take in the underground splendor of the cave system while learning more about its history, geology, and even its wildlife. The ramps and smooth pathways make this tour accessible to a wide range of travelers.