South East Queensland

South East Queensland is Queensland's most populated area with 3.4 of the 4.8 million Queensland residents. With its picturesque beaches, scenic country, tasty delights and expertise in hospitality and tourism, you can see why it's a popular destination for tourists. 

It's so big we've broken it up from the popular locations of Brisbane, Gold and Sunshine coast's, which are all part of SEQ. 

Places in Queensland

Fraser Island

The world's largest sand island, defying all odds to have a rainforest grow from the sand, world heritage-listed Fraser Island is not to be missed on your trip to Queensland. 

Cool towering rainforests to walk through; over 100 freshwater lakes to swim including the iconic Lake McKenzie and Lake Wabby, huge sand blows to climb, and an amazing 120km beach highway, complete with the Maheno shipwreck and cliffs of stunning coloured sands, there is something for every beach lover. Home to the most pure strain of dingoes remaining in eastern Australia, and one of the best places to see baby humpback whales and their mothers, Fraser Island also has superb scenery, with massive shifting sand blows, sensational swimming spots and thrilling 4WD tracks. 

Lying off the coast of Hervey Bay and just south of the last of the Great Barrier Reef’s coral cays, Fraser is the world’s largest sand island and stretches for 123km and spans 166,000ha. 

Don't miss ...

  • Explore the rainforest and swim in a rainwater lake
  • Wave to a whale on a whale watching cruise
  • Drive the length of famous 75 Mile Beach
Fraser Island
Shutterstock

Moreton & Stradbroke Islands

Located off the coast of Brisbane and an easy ferry ride, Moreton & Stradbroke islands are an easy getaway for those who need a long weekend or just some time away from the city. Stradbroke Island is broken up into 2 islands - North & South. North is the largest of the two, and second largest sand island after Fraser. 

Both are sand islands and provide lots of options for swimming, 4WD, sand tobogganing, exploring and relaxing. 

Must do on Moreton ...

  • Hand-feed the wild bottlenose dolphins that visit the beach and watch the sun set over the water
  • Burn down the sand dunes on a toboggan
  • Snorkel the wrecks of Tangalooma

Must do on North Stradbroke ...

  • Keep an eye out for resident kangaroos, kookaburras and koalas
  • Visit two stunning coloured lakes sacred to indigenous Australians
  • Bring binoculars to whale-watch from solid ground

 

Moreton Island
Australian Traveller

Stanthorpe

At the heart of the Granite Belt, Stanthorpe gives easy access to big sky panoramas, spectacular countryside dotted with balancing prehistoric granite boulders, and a generally cooler, temperate climate ... you may even see snow in winter. 

Thanks to its unique microclimate and granitic soil, the region is nationally recognised for its winemaking and diversity of produce. Look out for apples, pears, berries, stone fruit, figs, olives and a huge range of vegetables in season. Those with a more adventurous palate should follow the Strange Bird alternative wine trail, which covers some of the more unusual varieties including viognier, mourvedre and tempranillo. If grape doesn't whet your whistle there are microbreweries in Stanthorpe, where you can sample locally brewed beers on tap including Kolsch, Pilsner, Wheat Beer, India Pale Ale, Irish Red Ale, a Porter and a specialty beer each season.

Vineyards in Stanthorpe
Southern Downs Regional Council

The Infinity Experience

What's that Strange Bird ...
The Granite Belt region has a growing reputation as one of Australia's top producers of alternative variety wines, known in the region as Strange Birds. To be called a Strange Bird, the variety can't represent more than 1% of the total bearing vines in Australia.

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