21 Famous Landmarks in Queensland, Australia (100% worth a visit)
Australia‘s second biggest state, Queensland, hosts millions of visitors every year. Indeed, the region has various landscapes, climates, paradise-like beaches and islands that make it a popular tourist destination.
Do you know what are the most famous landmarks in Queensland Australia?
Here is a list of the 21 best natural and man made landmarks in Queensland!
The Full List of the 21 Most Famous Landmarks of Queensland Australia
The landmarks of Queensland are divided into 2 categories : Queensland man made landmarks and natural ones.
Queensland Natural Landmarks:
- Great Barrier Reef
- Whitsunday Islands
- Daintree Rainforest National Park
- Fraser Island
- Lake Mckenzie (Boorangoora)
- Barron Falls
- Lamington National Park
- Noosa National Park
- Paronella Park
- Glass House Mountains National Park
- Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park
- Big Red Sand Dune
Queensland Man made landmark:
- SkyPoint Observation Deck
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
- Kuranda Scenic Railway
- Story Bridge
- The Star Gold Coast
- The Wheel of Brisbane
- S.S. Maheno
- Brisbane City Hall
- Tangalooma Wrecks
Natural Landmarks in Queensland
With 5 World Heritage-listed sites and thousands ecosystem types, the state of Queensland itself is a natural wonder that stands out from all the others.
Below, find out 12 exceptional natural landmarks in Queensland everyone should visit.
1. Great Barrier Reef
With more than 400 coral species and incredible marine animals including sharks, dolphin and green turtles, The Great Barrier Reef is the biggest coral reef system in the world.
The Great Barrier Reef has a colorful marine life and its waters of a thousand shades of blue stretching as far as the eye can see; it’s an experience not to be missed, at least once in your life.
Also know as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, the reef is located in the Coral sea, from the north of Queensland to Bundaberg, and extends over 2,300 kilometers! That makes the reef easily accessible from many cities in this area including Cairns, Townsville and Port Douglas, which is quite practical if you want to visit.
Fun fact: the Great Barrier Reef is the only living structure on earth visible from space!
Book your visit: Great Barrier Reef: Premium Catamaran Cruise
2. Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands is a group of 74 islands and one of the most dreamy places in Australia.
Indeed, this gem offers large white sandy beaches with transparent waters, multicolored corals and fishes, everything needed to make this place a true paradise on earth.
Located off the coast of Queensland 900 kilometers North from Brisbane, the Whitsundays are home to some famous places, such as: the Hamilton island where you can meet with dingoes and kangaroos, and do some watersport activities; or Whiteheaven beach, the most famous beach of the Whitesundays and the world because of its sand made of quartz and its turquoise waters.
Fun fact: the name of these islands comes from the date Captain Cook discovered them in 1770, which was on the Pentcost day. But this story had been denied later because it was actually Monday and not Sunday as they didn’t know about the International Date Line yet.
Book your visit: Whitsundays Full-Day Catamaran Sailing Adventure
3. Daintree Rainforest National Park
Among its 516 national parks, Daintree is one of the most reknown and visited one in Australia.
This huge natural reserve offers a very unique fauna and flora as it’s located in the Wet Tropics, where the weather is hot all year long, and very humid during winter. The Daintree Rainforest is home to some incredible animals, most of them endangered species, such as marsupial cats, butterflies and snakes.
Located 2 hours drive North from Cairns, this natural setting is crossed by the Daintree River on which you can take a cruise to look out for crocodiles, and stretches from Mossman Gorge to the Cape Tribulation.
Daintree is the perfect place for nature lovers, experienced hikers and budding botanists!
Fun fact: the Daintree Rainforest National Park is certainly the oldest forest in the world, as it has existed for nearly 150 million years.
Book your visit: Daintree, Mossman Gorge & Cape Trib Tour
4. Fraser Island
Fraser Island is one of the most unique island in the world for at least 2 reasons: it’s the largest sand island as it’s 123km long and it’s the only place where rainforest grows on 200 meters sand dunes.
But Fraser Island is more than that: it’s also the home of the last remaining Australian dingoes and the best place to watch humpback whales.
Located 360km North from Brisbane, you can reach the island in 40min by ferry from Hervey Bay.
There, you’ll discover breathtaking beaches such as Lake Wabby where people can swim, enjoy one these famous 4WD trip through the island, hike the 90km long Fraser Island Great Walk etc.
Fun fact: Fraser Islands has more than 100 freshwater dune lakes that are among the cleanest in the world.
Book your visit: Fraser Island Tour from Hervey Bay
5. Lake Mckenzie (Boorangoora)
Lake Mckenzie is the most famous perched dune lake in Fraser Island, especially because of its 50 shades of blue and white sand that make anyone feels in paradise.
The lake’s waters are pretty clean as it only contains rainwater, and the sand is the same you can find in the Whitsunday Islands.
The lake is easily accessible by 4WD or by foot as you can find some of the best hikes of Queensland nearby.
Fun fact: people can have the most relaxing swimming in Lake Mackenzie because there’s actually nothing but water in it. The lake’s natural acidity level makes it so pure it’s impossible for most plant or fish to live.
Book your visit: Fraser Island Full-Day Coach Tour
6. Barron Falls
These falls located in the Barron Gorge National Park are a major attraction in Australia, especially during the wet season as the falls become really huge with a spectacular lush setting. They’re definitely one of the best waterfalls near Cairns!
Although these falls are in the Barron river in the middle of a national park, you can easily admire them from a cable car, a rail journey or viewpoints you can access by car.
Fun fact: Barron Falls are 125m tall and one of the most popular Queensland tourist attractions since the 1890s.
Book your visit: Kuranda: 1-Hour Rainforest ATV Tour
7. Lamington National Park
This ancient forest is one of the most famous and impressive Queensland attraction.
Lamington National Park covers most of the McPhersons Range and protects over 20,000 ha of rainforest, waterfalls, and an exceptional variety of fauna and flora.
Located at 45km North from the Gold Coast and 2hr drive South of Brisbane, Lamington is the perfect place for camping and hiking lovers as there are more than 140km trails.
Fun fact: Lamington National Park’s peaks and waterfalls we see today are around 300 million years old!
Book your visit: Gold Coast: World Heritage Rain Forest and Wilderness Tour
8. Noosa National Park
Noosa National Park is another beautifully landscaped park with scenic beaches. This park offers plenty of things to do such as hiking or sunbathing depending on your tastes.
Much loved by both locals and tourists, people can admire koalas near Tea Tree Bay and even dolphins at Dolphin Point.
Noosa National Park is located 121km North of Brisbane near Noosa Heads and covers 4,000 hectares. It’s people’s favorite especially because it’s easily accessible by wheelchair and there are some easy walking trails for kids.
Fun fact: Noosa National Park is the most visited national park in Australia with over 1 million visits every year.
9. Paronella Park
If there’s one unique place to see when in Queensland, it’s definitely Paronella Park, this Spanish castle set in the middle of an enchanted forest.
This hidden gem located a hundred miles south of Cairns between Mission Beach and Innisfail, is surprisingly little known to travelers while it’s well worth the detour!
José Paronella, a Catalan immigrant, buy the 13-hectare estate in 1929 to build a Spanish-architecture inspired castle with beautiful gardens. The Park opens to the public in 1935 and draw crowds , but several wet seasons devastate the site and cause irreversible damages.
Hopefully, the park has been renovated so visitors can admire the ruins and other preserved parts, the exotic gardens and the huge Teresa Falls.
Fun fact: Teresa Falls are named after José Paronella’s daughter.
Book your visit: Paronella Park Ticket
10. Glass House Mountains National Park
The Glass House Mountains are a collection of 13 hills on the Sunshine Coast, located 1-hour drive North of Brisbane and about 1-hour drive South of Noosa.
The abrupt peaks on the coastal plain are famous because of their shape that are easily recognizable from far and because of the amazing landscape they create.
Wether you go hiking, abseiling or rock climbing, the Glass House Mountains National Park offers picturesque views on the most iconic peaks, Mount Beerwah and Mount Tibrogargan.
Fun fact: the national park name was given by the explorer James Cook in 1770 as it reminded him of the English glass furnaces.
Book your visit: Sunshine Coast Hinterland and Noosa Small Group Tour
11. Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park
Located in the heart of Brisbane across the Brisbane River, Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park is a famous and convenient recreation place for running, climbing but also for barbecues and picnics.
Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park offers stunning views over Brisbane especially over the financial district. It’s the perfect place to take a breath of fresh air and watch the sunset over the city.
Book your visit: Abseiling at Kangaroo Point Cliffs
12. Big Red Sand Dune
Visiting the Big Red is definitely a must-do when in Australia. Located in the Simpson Desert 35km from Birdsville, Big Red is one of the 1,140 parallel sand dunes and stands at 40m.
By the way, Simpson Desert is the world’s biggest sand dune desert and has the world’s longest parallel dunes.
On the top of Big Red, you can admire incredible sunsets and have a lot of fun trying to climb it by 4WD. Definitely one of the most famous places in Queensland.
Fun fact: the dune red color is the result of rusting iron particules in the sand.
Book your visit: Chambers Pillar 4WD Day Trip from Alice Springs
Now that we have seen the 12 best natural landmarks Queensland has to offer, let’s see the best man made ones.
Man Made Landmarks in Queensland
Of course, the Sunshine State also offers world-class man made landmarks that set it apart from others.
Here are 9 of them you must have already heard about.
13. SkyPoint Observation Deck
SkyPoint is one of the most iconic Queensland attractions and definitely a must-do because of the incredible view it offers over Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast.
The Observation Deck is located on the 77th level of the Q1 building, in the very heart of Surfers Paradise.
Q1 building was built in 2005 and has a museum, a weather station, a lounge bar, and was the tallest residential building until 2011.
Since 2011, people can also enjoy an 90min open air adventure in the external building climb, SkyPoint Climb.
Fun fact: the Observation Deck is 230m off the ground, offering an exceptional 360 degree view.
Book your visit: Gold Coast SkyPoint Observation Deck Ticket
14. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway spans 7.5km over the Wet Tropics, above the Barron George National Park, and offers an incredible journey with incredible views.
The 6-people gondola cabins starts at Smithfield in Cairns’ suburb, to the village of Kuranda for a 1.5 hour unforgettable tour.
The cableway trip is unique because of the mysterious and misty atmosphere of the rainforest, as you were in Jurassic Park. Definitely Instagrammable!
Fun fact: Skyrail Rainforest Cableway has won around 25 awards especially because of the wonderful eco and sustainable experience it offers.
Book your visit: Self-Guided Kuranda Day Trip, Scenic Rail & Skyrail
15. Kuranda Scenic Railway
The historic Kuranda Scenic Railway is another way to go from Cairns to Kuranda, the rainforest village.
This 2-hour trip offers spectacular views over the rainforest major attractions, including Barron Falls and Barron Gorge.
The railway is famous not only because it crosses the most ancient rainforest in the world, but also because the train is 100 years old and offers a wonderful journey into the past.
Fun facts: Kuranda first became famous because of the good quality of its timber. The railway was built as a supply route to facilitate timber transportation.
Book your visit: Kuranda Scenic Railway and Palm Cove Tour
16. Story Bridge
Story bridge is Brisbane’s most iconic landmark. The bridge crosses Brisbane River and connects Kangaroo Point to Fortitude Valley.
The steel bridge opened in 1940 and is the largest designed, fabricated and built in Australia.
Today, people can climb it to get even more beautiful views over the city.
Fun fact: the bridge gets repainted every 7 years, using 17,500L of paint.
Book your visit: Brisbane: Story Bridge Adventure Climb
17. The Star Gold Coast
The Star Gold Coast is known for its shape and its unique architecture that mark Gold Coast’s cityscape.
The building houses a hotel and Queensland’s first ever casino.
Built in 1985, people can enjoy 5-star accommodation, luxurious dining, lounge bars… Everything needed to spend the best holidays on the Gold Coast.
Fun fact: The Star Gold Coast made the headlines in 1995 when Julian O’Neill, an Australian rugby player, urinated on the carpet while playing back jack in the casino.
Book your visit: The Star Grand at The Star Gold Coast
18. The Wheel of Brisbane
The Wheel of Brisbane is not an old landmark as it was installed in 2008, but it transformed Brisbane’s cityscape forever.
The wheel has been erected to celebrate Queensland’s 150th anniversary. It has 42 cabins that can seat up to 2 6 people and 2 kids, and the ride lasts about 12min.
Fun fact: the Wheel had been damaged by the floods that occurred in Brisbane in 2011.
Book your visit: River cruise & ride on the Wheel of Brisbane.
19. S.S. Maheno
Located in Fraser Island’s 75 mile Beach, S.S Maheno is definitely the island’s flagship tourist attraction.
This World War I ship was swept away by a cyclone in 1935 and ran aground on the Australian coast. To this day, people can admire the shipwreck, slowly corroding away.
Fun fact: the ship, originally built as an ocean liner, was used as a hospital ship between Sydney and Melbourne during WWI.
Book your visit: Fraser Island Full-Day Coach Tour
20. Brisbane City Hall
Brisbane City Hall is one of the most iconic landmark in Brisbane because of its cultural legacy and its Italian Renaissance style.
Located in the middle of King George Square, Brisbane City Hall has been the heart of the cultural and social life of the city; visiting it is one of the best cultural attractions in Queensland.
Brisbane City Hall was inaugurated in 1930 and houses the Museum of Brisbane in the 3rd floor since 2003.
The building is highly recognizable because of its clock tower that is 91m high.
Fun fact: Brisbane City Hall hosted very famous people such as Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, the Dalai Lama, or the Beatles.
Book your visit: Essential Brisbane: City Walking Tour
21. Tangalooma Wrecks
Tangalooma Wrecks are a cluster of 15 ships that were sunk by Queensland Government between 1964 and 1984 to create an anchorage breakwall for small boats and at the same time, an amazing snorkel and wreck dive spot.
Located on Moreton Island, Tangalooma Wrecks are now the home of hundreds of coral species, fishes and dolphins, which make the spot a must-do for snorkeling and scuba diving lovers.
Fun fact: Tangalooma waters are so clear snorkelers can enjoy an exceptional visibility up to 8 meters in depths.
Book your visit: Moreton Island: Dolphin and Snorkel Cruise Adventure
So there you have them all, the 21 best Queensland landmarks and attractions.
Queensland Tourist Attractions Map
To get my Queensland tourist attractions map, simply click on the image below to open it in Google Maps. Then click on the “star” icon to save it to your own maps.
More Landmarks in Australia
Want to discover more famous Australia landmarks? Well, I have other posts that you might like!
Here is the main guide of all famous Australia landmarks 👉 The Very Best Landmarks in Australia.
Find the best landmarks in Australia by state:
- Famous landmarks in New South Wales
- Famous landmarks in South Australia
- Famous landmarks in Northern Territory
- Famous landmarks in Victoria
- Famous landmarks in Tasmania
Find the best landmarks in Australia by city:
- Famous landmarks in Sydney
- Famous landmarks in Brisbane
- Famous landmarks in Darwin
- Famous landmarks in Cairns
- Famous landmarks in Adelaide
- Famous landmarks in Wollongong
- Famous landmarks in Hobart
I hope you could’ve made your list of the must-see places in Australia thanks to these guides. Don’t hesitate to comment below if this is the case, I would be very pleased to read your feedback!
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