Family-Friendly Outdoor Spots to Visit Across Queensland

Welcome to our guide on family-friendly outdoor spots across Queensland.

If you’re looking for one place with beaches, rainforests, and the outback, Queensland has them all. The warm weather lasts year-round, kids can roam freely, and there’s always something new to enjoy.

We’re GLAPacked, and over the years, we’ve helped Brisbane families get out more and explore what’s around them. Our team has pulled together the top outdoor family spots across the state for you here, including quick day trips near Brisbane and cool adventures out west.

In this guide, we’ll discuss:

• Top spots in South East Queensland
• Nature experiences across the Sunshine Coast, Noosa, and the Whitsundays
• Outback adventures kids will talk about for years

Ready? Let’s get started.

What Are the Best Outdoor Family Spots in South East Queensland?

The best places for family fun in South East Queensland are South Bank Parklands and the Gold Coast hinterland. Since these places are close to us, you don’t need to drive for hours. In fact, some of the best spots are right on Brisbane’s doorstep.

It’s time to learn more about these sites.

South Bank Parklands in Brisbane

At South Bank, families enjoy free beaches, playgrounds, and riverside walks in one place. The main attraction here is Streets Beach, which is a man-made lagoon with real sand beside the winding Brisbane River (right in the middle of the city!).

More importantly, lifeguards are usually on duty during the day (check current hours before you go), so it’s easier to relax while the kids swim.

You’ll also find Aquativity right next door to the South Bank. It’s a water play area where kids can run through fountains and cool off on hot days.

And there will be hot days. This is Brisbane, after all.

Anyway, while the kids remain busy, you can grab a coffee from nearby cafes or relax at picnic tables with Story Bridge views. That’s why this location works so well for families, as everyone gets time to unwind and enjoy the day together without spending much.

Pro tip: Don’t forget to bring water shoes for kids. The lagoon floor and surrounding paths can feel rough underfoot.

Gold Coast Hinterland

Believe it or not, you can explore ancient rainforests in under an hour from the Gold Coast beaches.

Around this area, Tamborine Mountain is a favourite with families. The glowworm caves are a hit with kids, and the gallery walk keeps everyone happy with its fudge shops and little cafes tucked between the trees (ideal for a slower afternoon).

And if you travel a little further south, you’ll reach Springbrook National Park. The Natural Bridge walk is short at just one kilometre, so it’s suitable for people of most ages. At the end, there’s a waterfall pouring through a rocky cave, and after dark, glow worms often glow overhead.

What makes the Hinterland special is how quickly the scenery changes. One moment you’re near the coast, and the next you’re surrounded by colourful birds and wallabies hopping across the trail.

All in all, this spot is a strong reminder that the Gold Coast offers far more than theme parks alone.

Where Can Families Explore Nature Across Regional Queensland?

Families can explore nature across regional Queensland at the Sunshine Coast, Noosa, K’gari, and the Whitsundays. If you travel beyond South East Queensland, the scenery feels wider and quieter. So, families who are willing to drive a little further often find more space and serene places to enjoy.

Here are some family-friendly places to visit in regional Queensland:

• Australia Zoo: Steve Irwin’s legacy lives on in this place. It’s about an hour north of Brisbane, and kids absolutely love it here. They can hand-feed kangaroos, cuddle koalas, and watch crocodile shows throughout the day. We recommend keeping a whole day for this location because you won’t see everything otherwise.
• Glass House Mountains: These volcanic peaks rise up from the coastal plain like something out of a storybook. Among them, Mount Ngungun is the best pick for families. It has a summit track that takes about an hour to return from, and the views from the top stretch all the way to the ocean.
• Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve: Up on the Maleny plateau, this patch of ancient rainforest feels really cool on a hot day. The tracks are flat and pram-friendly, so even the littlest legs can manage to go there. There’s a discovery centre too, which comes in handy if the weather changes.
• Noosa National Park: Koalas nap in the trees above the coastal walking tracks here, and spotting one makes everyone excited. And if you take a short 15-minute stroll from the main car park, you’ll reach the Tea Tree Bay. It has calm and clear water that’s ideal for younger swimmers.
• Noosa Everglades: A lot of people don’t know that there are only two everglade systems in the world, and one is right here near Noosa. You can take a guided tour here, which will allow you to kayak through still water lined with paperbark trees. The setting is so peaceful that you’ll find it almost unreal as you glide along.
• K’gari (Fraser Island): You can reach the world’s largest sand island with a short ferry ride from Hervey Bay. Lake McKenzie alone makes the trip worthwhile with its incredibly clear water. Eli Creek is another highlight, where families float downstream on a gentle current like a natural lazy river.
• Whitehaven Beach: This Whitsundays beach appears on so many best-of lists because the sand is brilliantly white, and the water feels warm and shallow. A walk up to Hill Inlet then rewards you with that iconic swirling sand view everyone loves.
• Great Barrier Reef: If you want to see the Great Barrier Reef up close, you and your family can take snorkelling trips from Airlie Beach. Kids aged five and up get flotation vests and stinger suits, so everyone feels safe. Out on the outer reef, you’ll often see turtles, but clownfish usually steal the attention of all.

The spots let you slow down, look around, and enjoy being together with your family.

What Outback Queensland Adventures Work for Families?

Family trips in outback Queensland can include dinosaur fossil digs and station camping with artesian baths. Most people stay near the coast here, which means you’ll have the red dirt and big skies largely to yourself.

Let’s get into more details about these options.

Dinosaur Trail and Fossil Hunting

Is your kid obsessed with dinosaurs? This is their dream destination, then. The towns of Winton and Richmond are at the heart of Australia’s dinosaur country, where you can find real fossils in the dirt and life-sized replicas on street corners.

Particularly, you’ll locate the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum on a mesa outside Winton, surrounded by ancient outback floodplains. They have dig programmes for kids, which involve uncovering bones from the ground. Some of them even let kids take part in real excavations (be sure to check current tours and age requirements).

Not only that, but Richmond also has its own marine fossil museum called Kronosaurus Korner. You can observe the skeletons of ancient sea creatures in the display halls here.

Between these two towns, you can spend several days exploring at an easy pace. Honestly, the drive itself is a part of the adventure because the roads are wide open, and there’s very little traffic to slow you down.

Artesian Baths and Station Camping

One of the good things about camping at stations is slowing down and switching off completely. Families can soak in natural hot springs fed by the Great Artesian Basin, then relax as the sun sets over wide, open plains (the world feels far away here).

Charlotte Plains is another well-known stop here. It’s about 40 minutes from Cunnamulla on a working sheep station. You can camp near the artesian baths with your family and enjoy a level of peacefulness that you will rarely find in the city.

At the same time, your kids can see daily life on the land during the day, including sheep work and fence repairs.

It’s a slower kind of holiday, and that’s exactly the point. There’s no Wi-Fi and no set schedule… Just red dirt under your feet and a sky full of stars once the sun goes down.

Your Queensland Family Adventure Starts Here

We’ve reached the end of this guide to outdoor family experiences across Queensland. You now have a clear shortlist of places that keep kids engaged and help parents enjoy a more relaxed day out.

If your family loves the water, start with South Bank or Noosa. But if you’re looking for something different, the Outback has wide open skies and experiences you won’t find anywhere else in Australia.

We at GLAPacked update our Queensland travel guides regularly, so bookmark our website and check back before your next trip. And if you’ve visited any of these spots, we’d love to hear how it went in the comments.

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