What to do in Northern Australia

Activities, attractions and tours
Photo provided by Tourism and Events Queensland

Northern Australia Attractions

Let Expedia help you to experience the best that Northern Australia has to offer! If you’re planning a trip to Northern Australia, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling to Northern Australia with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Places of interest in Northern Australia

Northern Australia is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay in Northern Australia, and make it a breeze to explore Northern Australia and the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Northern Australia to make sure that you enjoy your holiday to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit to Northern Australia, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights in Northern Australia.

Northern Australia attractions

Northern Australia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions in Northern Australia to keep you entertained. Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Northern Australia.

Looking for things to do in Northern Australia can be time-consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine of Northern Australia or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Northern Australia attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season. Happy trails!


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Top places to visit

1. Uluru

Rising from the desert in the Northern Territory, the red sandstone monolith of Uluru (Ayers Rock) has been a place of great spiritual importance to the Anangu Aboriginal people for thousands of years. Be awed by the sight of the rock changing colours at sunset, its deep crevices turning from bright orange to an intense purple hue.
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Uluru showing landscape views and desert views

2. Warner Bros. Movie World

Warner Bros. Movie World is a theme park full of thrilling rides, stunts and encounters with movie and comic-book stars. This fantasyland is next door to the Village Roadshow Studios and includes a super-sized water tank for film shoots. Kids will be thrilled to walk among the costumed superheroes and cartoon characters who roam the park and give performances throughout the day.
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Movie World featuring rides

3. Cairns Esplanade

The Cairns Esplanade is the tree-lined boardwalk along the foreshore in the city of Cairns. It overlooks the Trinity Inlet and the Coral Sea on one side, and is lined with restaurants and gardens on the other. It has bike paths and walking trails, playgrounds, barbecues, exercise areas and a salt-water lagoon.
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Cairns Esplanade showing a pool, a luxury hotel or resort and swimming

4. Hastings Street

Day or night, find exciting events, shopping and dining along Noosa’s Hastings Street, a central hub in one of the Sunshine Coast’s most popular destinations. Wander along the pedestrian-friendly street that is lined with an eclectic array of boutique shops, luxury accommodation and diverse restaurants. Hastings Street is very close to the white sand and crystal-clear water of Noosa Beach.
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Hastings Street featuring street scenes as well as a large group of people

5. Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo is a good place to see the iconic wildlife of “Down Under,” such as pouched marsupials and scaly reptiles. What makes the zoo so unique is that the world-famous crocodile wrestler Steve Irwin called it home. Come and see his legacy: a thrilling Australian animal kingdom that also includes species from around the globe.
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Australia Zoo featuring dangerous animals and zoo animals as well as an individual child

6. Cavill Avenue

find fun and entertainment along the way.
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Cavill Avenue featuring shopping, a city and night scenes

7. Roma Street Parkland

Roma Street Parkland occupies a 40-acre (16-hectare) site in Brisbane’s city center. This public park was once the city’s principal train yard. It’s now an oasis-like area with five distinct precincts, an amphitheater, wonderful artworks, lakes and playgrounds. It’s a great place to spot small wildlife. Let the kids go on an artwork hunt, or take them for a ride on the Parkland Explorer “train.”
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Roma Street Parkland showing a fountain, a pond and skyline

Popular places to visit

Explore areas of Northern Australia

Surfers Paradise showing a city, a sunset and a sandy beach

Surfers Paradise

Visit one of Australia’s most popular vacation spots and dive in the waves, spot humpback whales, go shopping or enjoy the fun family attractions and nightlife.

Surfers Paradise
Broadbeach which includes a sandy beach, a high-rise building and skyline

Broadbeach

Visit one of Queensland’s most popular holiday spots with sparkling beaches, scenic canals, high-rise hotels, nightclubs, festivals and modern malls.

Broadbeach
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Brisbane Central Business District

4.5/5(124 area reviews)

Discover the beating heart of the capital of the Sunshine State with its shiny high-rises, subtropical parks, funky rooftop bars and classy riverside restaurants.

Brisbane Central Business District
Mooloolaba showing landscape views, views and a beach

Mooloolaba

Picturesque beaches, stylish shops, elegant dining and a serene beachside atmosphere make this an ideal Sunshine Coast destination.

Mooloolaba
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Brisbane Airport

Travellers come to Brisbane Airport for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like DFO Brisbane and Moreton Bay while you're in town.

Brisbane Airport
Noosa Heads featuring tropical scenes and a beach

Noosa Heads

Some of the east coast's best beaches, beautiful hinterland and stylish restaurants make this upmarket, ocean-front town one of Australia's favourite destinations.

Noosa Heads