Top 5 National Parks to Visit in Queensland

Queensland takes the crown as the second-largest state in Australia. It’s 5 times the size of Japan! It’s nicknamed the Sunshine State thanks to its 261 days of sunshine every year.

Like most of Australia, the coast is far more densely populated, but its rural areas have scarcer population sizes and are connected by long, winding bushroads. But within these more remote regions, you’ll discover some of the best natural beauty that Queensland has to offer.

There are so many different sides of Queensland to explore! From charming rural towns to a surfy Sunshine Coast. From sand-coloured chalky outback, to lush tropical rainforests, and the world-famous Great Barrier Reef…Exploring any part of Queensland is an adventure! With over 237 different national parks to choose from, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to places to adventure.

We’ve handpicked 5 varying National Parks, each unique in its layout, and natural properties.

1. Daintree National Park

The Daintree Rainforest is one of the most iconic national parks, not just in Queensland, but the whole of Australia. Not only is it the oldest rainforest in the world (100 million years old!), but it is also one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. It’s the only place on the planet where the ocean meets the rainforest! If you visit the Daintree National Park, you’ll feel its ancient energy rooted in buttress trees, lush ferns and hanging vines. It has developed its unique biosystem that is quite unlike any other place on Earth, so visiting the Daintree is a special experience.

Home to over 50% of Australia’s bird species, the Daintree is teeming with wildlife. And of course, the Daintree is home to the iconic Southern Cassowary! If you’re lucky, you might catch the cassowary wandering around the rainforest at dawn.

2. Noosa National Park

Credit: Tourism Australia

Noosa is a pristinely touristy town, set with pretty beaches and boutique cafes. Noosa is ingrained with the classic Aussie surf culture, mixed with a touch of high-end. It is a popular tourist destination for many Aussies from every state, and tourists from all around the world. But the gem of Noosa? The Noosa National Park. There are beautiful hiking trails that offer gorgeous ocean views, and you’ll discover pockets of quiet beaches, where you might spot a surfer or two.

3. Lamington National Park

Situated among the hinterlands of the Gold Coast, the Lamington National Park offers you plenty of iconic Aussie flora and fauna. Lamington National Park has some of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Queensland! Immerse yourself in this subtropical rainforest, nestled in the Hinterlands near the Gold Coast.

With over 20,000 hectares of lush green rainforest, there are plenty of walking and hiking trails that are stitched through this pretty national park. It’s only an hour away from Surfers Paradise, too – so you’ll be able to get there easily from the Gold Coast CBD.

4. Carnarvon National Park

Credit: Tourism Australia

For canyons that go on forever, and vast views of the flat landscape, check out Carnarvon National Park. Cut through the middle with a dramatic cliff gorge, the Carnarvon National Park has one of Queensland’s finest views. There is a thick gorge that cuts through the national park, which forms a natural corridor made of rock!

5. Undara Volcanic National Park

The Kalkhani Crater erupted almost 200,000 years ago, with its lava creating deep trenches in the land. When the volcano drained, trails of lava burned thick tunnels through the rocks. This is now known as the Lava Tubes. The lava has carved a network of tunnels that link together underground, and thanks to this 23 cubic kilometres of molten lava, the tunnels have created a fascinating maze of rocky tunnels.

Banner image credit: Tourism Australia

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward began with a passion for travel and turned it into a thriving tourism business. He co-founded Sightseeing Tours Australia after starting out as a tour guide in Melbourne. Cameron delights in helping visitors get the most from their trip to Australia. Whether he's leading tours or writing about his favourite places, Cameron loves sharing his local insight with fellow travellers.