These 12 Queensland tours, experiences and events welcome those with mobility restrictions or higher access needs, connecting travellers with some of the state’s most awe-inspiring experiences.
Explore the Wet Tropics on board Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
Soar above the canopy on Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for a unique perspective of Queensland’s UNESCO World Heritage Listed Wet Tropics. Equipped with manual wheelchair and mobility-friendly access, visitors board in Smithfield, 15 minutes out of Cairns city centre, to be transported through the trees on an aerial adventure to Kuranda. Touch down to find wide, wheelchair-friendly boardwalks for a ranger-guided tour, before taking in the breathtaking views of Barron Gorge and Barron Falls from The Edge Lookout. Journey back to Cairns along the heritage-listed railway line that passes spectacular waterfalls and lush rainforest on board Kuranda Scenic Railway, which has an accessible carriage and motorised lift for wheelchair users.Spend a day on the Reef with Quicksilver Cruises, Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
Cruise from Port Douglas and make Quicksilver Cruises' Agincourt Reef pontoon your base for Great Barrier Reef adventures. Among the many activities available on board, including an underwater observatory and glass bottom boat rides, the pontoon features a specially designed water powered lift which allows those with mobility needs to access the water for snorkelling and a supported swim.Want to learn to scuba dive? Quicksilver Dive is the first PADI Adaptive Service Facility in Queensland, recognised as fully accessible to all who wish to take part in recreational scuba diving and associated training courses. It offers the chance for those with different abilities, special needs and varying levels of mobility to experience the magic of scuba and the Great Barrier Reef.
Discover Australia’s prehistoric past along the Dinosaur Trail, Outback Queensland
Outback Queensland is one of Australia’s most prolific palaeontology sites and visitors can unearth the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils at Australian Age of Dinosaurs. Budding palaeontologists can even help prepare specimens in the museum’s laboratory as part of the Prep A Dino program. All areas of the museum and laboratory are wheelchair accessible and table heights can be changed for the Prep A Dino program when required, so all guests can get hands on with real dinosaur bones. The experience ranges from one to 11-day packages with accessible onsite accommodation also available.Be tricked by immersive art at ArtVo, Gold Coast
Enter a fascinating world of optical illusions at ArtVo, where larger-than-life murals invite visitors to become a part of the artworks themselves. Explore six vast rooms of immersive art where visitors come face-to-face with King Kong, surf a pipeline, fight a dragon, and much more. Strike a pose and snap a photo to capture memories from the day. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and staff are on hand to assist with photography and help visitors get into position to bring the trick art to life.Connect with culture and wildlife at Rainforestation Nature Park, Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
Set among Wet Tropics Rainforest near Kuranda, Rainforestation offers an immersive cultural experience for all, including wheelchair users and those with mobility restrictions. Share in the stories and traditions of the oldest surviving culture in the world at the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience, then hop on board the Amphibious Army Duck – a historic World War vehicle that uses six-wheel drive, a propeller and rudder to tour the rainforest by land and water. Visitors with mobility challenges can make us of the transfer from a level loading platform on to the Army Duck which is equipped with removable armrests to facilitate easy transfers.Explore Magnetic Island with a Master Reef Guide, Townsville
Jump on board a small boat eco-tour with Aquascene Magnetic Island where the secluded bays, beaches and fringing reef of Magnetic Island become an aquatic-lovers playground for the day. With long-time locals and Master Reef Guides at the helm, guests learn the history and stories of “Maggie”, with the opportunity to swim and snorkel beautiful fringing reef. The vessel is manual wheelchair accessible, a floating pontoon enables a closer look at the reef for those who might not feel comfortable swimming, and floatation aids are available for those who want to enter the water with additional support.Journey back in time on the Mary Valley Rattler, Sunshine Coast
All board the Mary Valley Rattler, a heritage steam train that glides through the Sunshine Coast's dazzling countryside. Gympie Historic Station, Amamoor Station, and Mary Valley Rattler rail experiences, such as the Rattler Tasting Train food experience, are wheelchair accessible thanks to wide, level platforms at both train stations, ramp access onto the train’s carriage which can accommodate prams and wheelchairs, and priority seating to ensure a comfortable journey with great views as the steam whisps past the windows. Accessible rail experiences are limited in number, so it is recommended to call ahead and ensure availability.Venture underground with Undara Experience, Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
Hidden amongst the rich basalt soils of Undara Volcanic National Park, a series of hollow tubes formed by flowing molten lava around 190,000 years ago is the setting for an unmissable Outback experience. In the years since, the roof of these tubes have sunken in places, allowing rainforest and wildlife to flourish, including colonies of microbats. Wheelchair users can head out on a guided tour of Road Cave with Undara Experience, with ramps and lift access to assist in safe exploration.Go whale watching on Quick Cat II in Hervey Bay, Fraser Coast
Wave goodbye to dry land and get out amongst the action when visiting Hervey Bay during whale season. Hervey Bay Whale Watching’s Quick Cat II vessel is designed specifically for wheelchair, pram and mobility aid access, creating a welcoming space for all – with great viewpoints to watch humpback whales rest and play in the calm waters of the bay, which was declared the world’s first Whale Heritage Site in 2019.Play and discover at Sea World Marine Park, Gold Coast
Splash and play at Sea World on the Gold Coast to discover the wonders of the deep blue. All animal exhibits are accessible, including the Polar Bear Shores, Penguin Encounter, Shark Bay and Sea Jellies Illuminated. Join an educational adventure during the Affinity Dolphin Presentation, interact with a resident seal up close, and stop by to meet Chase and Marshall from PAW Patrol. Sea World is equipped with a pool hoist that allows guests with mobility restrictions to access the dolphin pool and join a guide in meeting these playful marine animals up close. Visitors can also cool off at the fully accessible interactive splash area which features an array of water cannons, spouts and life-sized animal sculptures, providing hours of entertainment for the little ones. Sea World offers wheelchair and stroller hire, while parent swap and queue proxy programs help those who cannot stand or queue for long periods. The Sea World website also has a detailed accessibility guide to assess the suitability of each attraction, along with a sensory guide.Join the Jetty 2 Jetty Fun Run, Brisbane
Sprawling Moreton Bay views set the scene for Brisbane’s Jetty 2 Jetty Fun Run, which tracks the coastline between Woody Point and Redcliffe Jetty. This fun run has grown into a major annual event with over 4,000 competitors – and it’s open to all. There’s a 10-kilometre elite wheelchair race, while entrants with manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs and power assisted devices can also enter the 3km, 5km and 10km races.Explore seaside art at SWELL Sculpture Festival, Gold Coast
Each September, the sands of Currumbin Beach transform into stunning beachfront art gallery for SWELL Sculpture Festival, Queensland’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition. Welcoming wheelchair users, people with mobility needs and families with prams, the majority of the exhibition can be viewed from the wide, accessible path along the foreshore, or via the dedicated beach matting in select sections of the display. Meanwhile live music, comedy and artist-led masterclasses spark creativity off the beach. Plan a visit using the detailed accessibility map online that highlights accessible areas and facilities. After a successful 2023 showcase, the SWELL Sculpture Festival 2024 is set to build on the existing accessible experiences available at the event.[1] Tourism Australia, 2022, Future Demand Project: Accessible Tourism
[2] Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2016, 4430.0. Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers 2015
[3] Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2016, 4430.0. Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers 2015
* To keep up with the latest tourism news from Queensland visit queensland.com. For more information contact consumerpr@queensland.com.
* Tourism and Events Queensland
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