Appreciating Queensland has been part of my family’s bonding time for one decade. Road trips and picnics in Queensland through the years are part of my sons’ childhood memories ever since they remember.
From local areas to faraway places to the times when my son asks the dreaded question “Are we there yet?” are all treasured moments in my heart. Road trips and picnics are mini-vacations and cheaper forms of therapy.
Here are some of the great picnic areas my family and I had enjoyed based from experience. I will not include the places in New South Wales. That will be in another blog.
I listed places ( I forgot the rest) in no particular order that will give you an idea on where to go next time when you feel you just want to go for a ride, feel the breeze, be free or just be there somewhere out there. I did not include Cairns yet. It is still in our bucket list.
I am putting a disclaimer here that we are living in a time with Covid-19. I am not sure if the things we did are still available.
- Mt. Tamborine
A year will not go by without going for a road trip to Mt. Tamborine. We usually go for a walk at their famous Gallery Walk. It is a long street where you can see different shops and restaurants. They sell various items from cute handicrafts, house decors, fudge, cuckoo clocks and so on. We ate fudge at Fudge Heaven and burgers at Tamborine Vineyard and Winery. Both tastes great!
Remember to go to this lookout at Robert Sowter Park where you can just sit there and stare at the beauty of the view. You can also enjoy the place by having a picnic with friends and family. I saw couples too which was so romantic. Sometimes, hang-gliders jumped from this lookout.
- Brisbane Botanical Garden
Exploring flora and fauna found around the world and seeing for yourself a Geodetic dome is enough to make you go and have a picnic at Brisbane Botanical Gardens. There is a nearby Planetarium if you want to make your picnic go to the next level.
- Toowoomba
Toowoomba has a special place in my heart because of its flowers and cool season. September is perfect for their showcase of flowers in various parks. Going to Picnic Point for coffee or just seeing a view from there is worth it.
- Stradbroke Island
Just seeing your car go inside a huge boat can start an excitement in you. It means you are going somewhere special. It is. The water is so blue. There is also whale-watching and camping. Walking and seeing the views will make you take a lot of photos. We went there during winter so we didn’t swim but we are planning in the future to go back and do something more.
- Surfers Paradise
Rain or shine, there is something to do at Surfers Paradise. If you don’t want to bring snacks, there are a lot of fast-food chains and restaurants near the esplanade to choose from. You can also bring your own meal and enjoy the sea view while sitting on the beach or sunbathing. If it is raining, you can go shopping, play games in Timezone and other entertainment areas, and of course, marvel at the collections of Ripley’s Believe it or Not.
- Hervey Bay
My memory here is wandering the almost 1 km walk of Urangan Pier. You feel satisfied when you reach the end of it. Most of the people staying were busy fishing. I remembered someone who was fishing. We were all standing in awe but the line broke and the fish got away. I saw his face and he was so disappointed. He had an audience. Well, anyway, if you are a fishing enthusiast, here is a good spot. I don’t know anything about fishing but the place is awesome. Frasier Island is nearby if you want to experience more.
- Southbank Parklands
This is the road trip if you want to feel the city atmosphere and the kids are not bored to death. There is a vibe of enthusiasm in the area. First, you will see the Brisbane Wheel while you are strolling near the Brisbane River. Appreciate the cool breeze, the trees, and the city views. Then, this is the favorite part of the kids – PLAYGROUND. While you sit or stand near the playground, the youngsters can release to their hearts content their energy. Another option is to go for a swim as a family, ride the choo-choo train, or just enjoy the picnic area and go people watch.
- Springbrook National Park
You can go forest bathing and have a picnic near Purlingbrook Falls. Walking under the trees energizes you. There is something about nature that makes you feel good, so rejuvenating.
- Hinze Dam
We were on the dam wall of Hinze Dam and the view from there was serene. So peaceful. I saw some families walking along the dam wall exercising. I just went there to take some pictures proving I was there! There is a coffee shop nearby. After the long walk, the boys ordered Chocolate milkshakes and Pizzas. The meal speedily disappeared just like that!
- Spring Creek Mountain Café
The view going to this place is picturesque. As if you want to sing “ The hills are alive with the Sound of Music…” There will be tricky roads along the way like blind spots and cows roaming around in the middle of the road. The views are so Instagram worthy that you will stop the car and just appreciate the cows on the hills. Just drive during daytime though. It will be quite difficult to drive at night and see the black cows crossing the road.
- Maleny
We went to Maleny Dairy as part of our road trip destination. The Maleny tour is worth it because the kids can feed the young cows with milk, experience a factory tour, and best of all, was the free taste of different flavors of their products. The boys loved it.
- Lake Moogerah
The road trip going to this place will make you feel that you are so far from civilization. You don’t see many houses and just fields as far as the eyes can see. However, when we reached our destination, the picnic place has a scenic view and so charming. There are toilets and barbecue facilities there. You can even have a short walk at Moogerah Dam.
- Marian Valley
If you want to go to a religious spot then Marian Valley is a place for you. Before Covid-19, we always went there every Good Friday for the Station of the Cross and mass. There are life-size statues and the place is good for contemplation.
- Bargara Beach
We went to Bundaberg to support our child who was playing Netball. After the games, we stopped at Bargara beach which we discovered to be a good picnic spot. After lunch, we rested before going home.
- Lake Alford, Gympie
Every time we go north of Queensland, we always have a stopover for lunch at this relaxing place. There are so many ducks, geese, and swans to feed.
- Bullocky Rest
Here is a man-made lake with a good picnic spot. The place for me was too quiet though. I didn’t see many families when we went on a Saturday. The view is lovely.
- Glass house Mountains
You will be enchanted by a 360 view on the Glass House Mountains lookout. This is a wonderful place to have a stop over and take pictures with a gorgeous background view.
- Noosa
Noosa is less crowded compared to the beaches in the Gold Coast. If Mt. Tamborine has Gallery Walk, Noosa has Hastings Street where you can window shop or have a meal along the restaurants that you’re interested to try.
- Burleigh Heads National Park
The vibe Burleigh Heads printed in my memory was the aura of a family beach with less tourists. Everywhere I look was a family having a wonderful time with their picnics, swimming, or just having a chat with friends.
- Wellington Point Recreation Reserve
This beach has a special place in my heart. After work, I usually go to this area and just enjoy the view. It is a wonderful picnic place for birthdays, catch-ups, or having a quick snack with a view. My favorite spot is the bench under a tree overlooking the sea and King Island.
- Redcliffe
This is a good road trip destination when you want a huge pool for kids and a beach as an option. It is also a relaxing place to have a walk and enjoy the breeze.
- Kings Beach in Caloundra
The memory I have of this place is it is a very busy picnic spot. There are so many people. It was summer back then and the family can only remember the ice cream we ate while looking at the sea. Don’t get me wrong, this is also a worthy place to visit.
- Wynnum Esplanade/ Manly Boat Harbour
I combined them because they have similar characteristics. Both have restaurants along the esplanade, the playground is busy, enough picnic tables and benches to choose from, and beautiful views of the sea. Choose either one of them.
- Cleveland Point LightHouse
We go to this place when we want to eat Fish and Chips (fries). We usually order the family basket. The lighthouse will look fascinating as a background if you want to have a scenic photo as a memento. Some weddings are celebrated here as well as photoshoots for weddings.
- Raby Bay
Before reaching this place, you will feel the vibe of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. You will see boats and classy homes and properties. Bring your picnic rug because on a weekend, it is very lively and picnic tables are full.
- Themeparks
When my boys were young, we bought the promo tickets for locals where you can enter the themeparks of MovieWorld, SeaWorld and Wet and Wild from April to June. It was a road trip every weekend and got a bang for our buck. The whole family loved it.
- Eat Street
Are you a food explorer? Then get ready to drive to Eat Street Northshore in Hamilton. As a mum, I made a decision one weekend not to cook and just enjoy the company of the family and go to Eat Street. Prepare your cash or credit card and do try and eat other country’s dishes. The family enjoyed it and wants to go back and eat another meal that looks interesting.
- Calamvale District Park
I just saw this on Google when I wanted to celebrate Mother’s Day in a park where we have never been before. Even teenagers will like the long slide! After devouring a yummy home-cooked picnic food, the kids played at the playground.
- Centenary Lakes Morayfield
While the older boys were having their karate lessons, my youngest son, hubby, and I explored this park. My youngest loved it because he had to feed a lot of ducks! If your youngsters adore ducks, then this park will be perfect for them.
- Evandale Park
If you want to see fancy boats pass by while having a picnic, then this is the park for you. The view from the top is lovely, especially during sunsets.
- Chung Tian Buddhist Temple
We decided to go on a road trip not to a beach or to the hinterland. We visited a Buddhist Temple! We felt we were in China. I told the boys to be respectful and to be quiet while we were inside.
- Roma Street Parklands
You can play ball games in this park when you want to burn the sumptuous picnic food you ate. The gardens are well- taken care of. It is also Instagram-worthy and good for walking with someone special.
My intention in this blog is for you to explore more of your local parks, hinterland, beaches, and nearby suburbs. Family bonding time is precious. I always appreciate this and I do not take it for granted. Do you?
