Queensland Family Holidays: Where to Go With Kids
Last updated: 16 October 2026.
Queensland family holidays can look completely different depending on which direction you head. You could spend a week hopping between beaches and theme parks, take the kids snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, or pack the car for an outback adventure filled with dinosaur discoveries and country towns.
Queensland is also home for us, and exploring it with our kids has given us plenty of reasons to keep heading out again. We love the islands and coastal towns, but some of our favourite family adventures have involved a camper trailer and a road inland.
Whether you’re planning a short break or a longer road trip, use this guide to find a destination that suits your family. Follow the links below for things to do, accommodation reviews and practical advice for each place.
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Where should you go in Queensland with kids?
Start with what your family enjoys doing. Are you after beach days, big attractions, wildlife encounters or somewhere to roll out the swags?
| Destination | A good choice for |
|---|---|
| Brisbane | City breaks, riverside exploring, museums and cultural attractions |
| Gold Coast | Theme parks, beaches and family resort stays |
| Sunshine Coast | Beach holidays, wildlife experiences and hinterland exploring |
| Ipswich | Heritage, parks and a family break within reach of Brisbane |
| Hervey Bay | Whale watching, waterfront cycling and relaxed coastal holidays |
| K’gari | Lakes, sand tracks, 4WD, camping and island adventures |
| Bundaberg & the Southern Great Barrier Reef | Beach stays at Bargara, seasonal turtle encounters and Southern Great Barrier Reef adventures |
| South Burnett | Country escapes, camping and slower-paced road trips |
| Central Queensland | Coastal towns, island trips, caves and inland adventures |
| Airlie Beach & the Whitsundays | Island stays, boat trips and Whitehaven Beach |
| Townsville & Magnetic Island | Island exploring, wildlife and a mix of city and outdoor activities |
| Cairns | Great Barrier Reef trips and rainforest adventures |
| Outback Queensland | Dinosaurs, big landscapes, country towns and road trips |
Explore Queensland’s family holiday destinations
Brisbane
Brisbane is a good place to start if your family likes a city break with plenty of time outdoors. You can mix museums and cultural attractions with riverside walks, ferry rides and time at South Bank.
Stay for a weekend or make it part of a longer South East Queensland holiday, combining the city with the coast or nearby country regions.
Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is an obvious contender when the kids’ holiday wish list includes theme parks. But there’s plenty beyond the rides, including long stretches of beach, waterways and a hinterland worth leaving the coast to explore.
It also offers plenty of choice for accommodation, whether you’re after a resort with a pool the kids won’t want to leave or a holiday park where they can make new friends.
Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast suits families who want beach days with a few adventures mixed in. Base yourselves near the water or head into the hinterland for country towns, rainforest walks and a change of scenery.
From Noosa and the coastal communities further south to the villages around Maleny and Montville, there’s enough variety to build a busy itinerary or keep things wonderfully simple.
Ipswich
If you’re looking for a family getaway beyond the usual beach destinations, put Ipswich on your list. Heritage, parks and hands-on experiences give families plenty to explore, with Brisbane close enough to combine the two.
It’s worth allowing time for Ipswich itself, whether you’re visiting for the day or settling in for a short break.
Hervey Bay
Hervey Bay is close to home for us, and it’s somewhere we recommend for families who enjoy a slower coastal holiday. Think waterfront bike rides, playground stops, beach time, ice-cream and fish and chips by the water.
Whale watching is a major seasonal drawcard, while nearby K’gari makes it possible to add an island adventure to your stay.
K’gari
K’gari is a different kind of island holiday, with freshwater lakes, forest walks and sandy tracks taking the place of a typical resort itinerary.
Families can explore on a guided tour or plan their own trip with a suitable 4WD. Whether you’re camping or staying in accommodation, the transport and access arrangements deserve a little planning before you go.
Bundaberg & the Southern Great Barrier Reef
Bundaberg and the Southern Great Barrier Reef bring together coastal holidays, wildlife encounters and island adventures. Explore Bundaberg’s attractions, spend a few days by the beach at Bargara or head offshore to discover the reef around Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave islands.
Seasonal turtle encounters at Mon Repos are another reason to visit, while beach days and coastal walks leave plenty of room for a slower family holiday between adventures.
South Burnett
The South Burnett is worth considering when you’re craving a country escape. Around towns such as Kingaroy, Nanango and Murgon, you’ll find a different pace from Queensland’s busy coastal holiday spots.
It’s a region to explore by road, leaving room for small-town stops, local produce and time outdoors. Bring the camping gear or find a comfortable base for a few days of exploring.
Capricorn Coast & Central Queensland
Central Queensland and the Capricorn Coast offers plenty of scope for families who like a holiday with variety. Around Rockhampton, Yeppoon and the coast, you can combine coastal exploring with caves, island excursions and time in regional towns.
Head inland and the scenery changes again. This is a region where it pays to choose a few places you really want to experience and give yourselves time to enjoy them.
Airlie Beach & the Whitsundays
Airlie Beach is a popular starting point for exploring the Whitsundays, with boat trips, island stays and the chance to visit Whitehaven Beach.
Families can stay on the mainland and take day trips or make an island their holiday base. Your budget, the kids’ enthusiasm for boats and how much exploring you want to do will help shape the right trip.
Townsville & Magnetic Island
Townsville and Magnetic Island make a great combination for families who want a city base and an island escape in the same holiday.
Spend time exploring Townsville’s waterfront before heading across to Magnetic Island for bays, walking tracks and wildlife spotting. Allowing a few nights on the island gives you time to slow down between adventures.
Cairns & Tropical North Queensland
Cairns is a popular base for families wanting to experience the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest. Reef excursions, waterfalls and rainforest outings can fill an active itinerary, while the waterfront offers somewhere to unwind between bigger days out.
You can stay in Cairns or use it as the starting point for a wider Tropical North Queensland trip. Give yourselves some breathing room between tours, particularly when travelling with younger children.
Outback Queensland
Outback Queensland is where we’d send families who love a road trip with a few surprises along the way. Dinosaurs, fossicking, country towns and big landscapes give kids plenty to talk about beyond the car window.
Choose a manageable route rather than trying to cover everything in one holiday. The distances are part of the experience, but so are the unexpected stops and the people you meet along the way.
Start planning your Queensland family holiday
Once you’ve chosen where to go, our destination guides will help you narrow down things to do and places to stay.
For a camping or caravanning holiday, start with our family-friendly caravan parks in Queensland. If your dates depend on the school calendar, check our Queensland school holiday guide.
Planning a road trip? Our Brisbane to Airlie Beach itinerary offers coastal inspiration, while the Adventure Way Loop is an option for families keen to head inland.
More Queensland family holiday inspiration
Browse our latest Queensland destination guides, family experiences and accommodation reviews below.
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