Explore Queensland with YHA

Calling all frugal fun-seekers! The Gold Coast is your hot spot for sun-soaked beaches, happening nightlife and heart-pumping adventures — and you definitely don't need to blow your budget to have an amazing time. Read on for our best budget-saving tips.

Home to deserted beaches, sleepy beachside towns, lush tropical rainforests and the largest reef system on the planet, this almost-1700km stretch of Queensland’s coast has memorable road trip written all over it.

Queensland is Australia's very own tropical paradise. Home to stunning beaches, dense rainforests, and a staggering quotient of biodiversity, QLD is an impressive testament to our country's natural beauty. Here's our picks for the stunning pieces of nature across the Sunshine State.

A trip to Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast doesn’t have to break the bank. We’ve got the best budget-saving tips for all your Sunny Coast adventures!

Love doing your exploring with a paddle in hand? Us too. From sleepy canoe trips down wide, still rivers, to epic multi-day kayak trips to the country's wildest waterways, adventure's never far away when there's paddling involved. And the free upper body work out doesn't hurt either! Read on for a selection of the finest canoeing and kayaking adventures in Australia.

Exploring one of Queensland’s top holiday hot spots doesn’t have to be expensive. From rainforests and waterfalls to pyramids and caves, here’s our comprehensive guide for the top free things to do in Cairns. 

Located just off Brisbane and a mere 50-minutes by ferry from the mainland, Queensland’s North Stradbroke Island ticks all the boxes for a rejuvenating island break.

Though still an emerging destination for mountain biking, this massive state harbours plenty of great tracks and trails both up the coast and in various pockets inland. We just hope you don't mind a bit of sweat trickling out from under your helmet, because biking in Queensland can get HOT.

Queensland is a hotspot of unique and fascinating bush foods that its Traditional Custodians have known about for tens of thousands of years. Here are our picks for the most unforgettable bush tucker experiences in the Sunshine State!

In Australia, you can have your big-city fix and a dose of nature, too. Beyond the city buzz, you’ll find a peaceful pocket of wilderness and wildlife just a short hop away at nearby national parks, from rainforests and waterfalls to wild beaches and coral reefs. You might even see a kangaroo or two! So pack some snacks and sunscreen and hit the trails at these must-see national parks near major Aussie cities.

LGBTQIA+ festivals and events are back, and there's something for everyone! From quiet reflections at multi-artform exhibitions to dancing and partying in step with a parade, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate queer identities and experiences with these festivities around the country!

If you’re a lover of long walks over dunes, along windswept cliffs or with the tide lapping at your ankles, you may have come to the right place. In this article, we've dug up some of the best coastal and beach walks across Australia.

Winter in Australia means whale watching season. As these majestic mammals set off on their epic mid-year migration up and down Australia's coastlines, Tom Smith discovered the best places to spot them around the country.

From wildlife to wilderness, Australia has no shortage of magnificent sights and epic experiences to discover. To help you make the most of your time Down Under we’ve rounded up 20 iconic things you have to tick off your Aussie bucket list.

From a sailing regatta held on dry land to a sporting celebration in honour of the humble watermelon, these offbeat events prove that Australians will turn almost anything into a sport.

Australia might not be home to the world’s highest peaks, but we sure have an incredible variety of mountains worth hiking. Here are just six spectacular summits to bag across the country and make it back to ground level in time for dinner.

Home of yoga, movie nights, and accidental-on-purpose naps in the sunshine, YHA rooftops are the place to be. Here are 5 of the very best to tick off...

Meteorite craters, coral spawnings and eye-popping pink lakes — Australia hosts some of the planet’s most mind-blowing natural phenomena. Whether you’re a science enthusiast, a thrill seeker or you just love nature, add these awe-inspiring spectacles to your Aussie itinerary.

Love the adrenaline rush that comes with staring down some roaring rapids? From fun day trips to epic, off-grid river odysseys, Australia has plenty of spots to get stuck into a froth-filled white water rafting adventure.

Choose the pace of your day; chill or adventure. Snorkel around the Tangalooma Wrecks, spot incredible marine life, spend time exploring pristine beaches or kick back on the boat tapping into the licensed bar.

This fun and easy 2 hour surf lesson is the perfect way to learn to surf. With qualified coaches and small group numbers, we guarantee that you will stand up on your first lesson.

Don’t miss out on the Dreamtime Gorge Walk when you visit the Mossman Gorge! This must do activity takes visitors on a journey through the rainforest to gain access to sacred Indigenous land.

The ULTIMATE reef experience! Experience the magic of the Great Barrier Reef from above, and then get up close and personal with this truly epic reef onboard a luxury boat.

Push your limits and jump off Australia's only Bungy Tower, or swoop through the world heritage rainforest at 120km/h on a giant jungle swing.

Epic 60 minute scenic flight over the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef, including Heart Reef, Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet! BUCKET LIST ITEM!

Get the ultimate rush of adrenaline as you skydive 14,000ft above the lush tropical rainforests and stunning coastline of Cairns. 60 Second Freefall!

Experience World Heritage Rainforest whilst paddling the rapids with a highly trained guide who will teach you techniques & share the wonders of this magnificent untouched landscape.

Enjoy the impressive show of balloons being inflated at dawn before taking flight to epic views of rolling hills, open fields and the mind blowing rising sun. Finish your morning with a delicious champagne breakfast.

Travel on a high speed catamaran to experience 3 epic reef sites full of spectacular coral formations and vibrant marine life.

A must- do tour through the stunning Whitsundays. Visit Whitehaven Beach, snorkel pristine reef sites, and enjoy a gorgeous bushwalk to insta- famous Hill Inlet lookout.

Discover Tropical North Queensland's world heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest on this full day tour to Cape Tribulation departing from Cairns.

Experience the best of the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef in one day with this epic value scenic flight and Ocean Rafting adventure.

Travel on a local eco- certified tour to experience a unique reef adventure with friendly crew exploring two pristine Great Barrier Reef locations.

Spend the day relaxing on the beach, snorkelling in crystal clear waters or exploring rainforest on a 6000 year old coral cay located on Great Barrier Reef!

Connect with the Mandingalbay Yidinji people, the traditional owners of the land for an unforgettable Indigenous cultural experience right at the door stop of Cairns. .

Experience 5 hours on the Outer Great Barrier Reef visiting 2 coral reef locations on the only Cairns' reef tour that includes a cultural experience, hosted by local indigenous sea rangers.