Save on this year’s summer getaway: Budget-friendly holidays in Queensland

The Pink Hotel

Queensland’s bucket-list experiences and destinations have a whole new appeal this summer season as holidaymakers eye budget-friendly destinations and discounted travel deals that will deliver the best bang for buck. While peak season can mean higher prices, these Queensland destinations provide cost-conscious travellers with stays for every budget, discounted deals, and free activities to deliver a value-packed Sunshine State getaway.

Savour the sun, sand and savings on the Gold Coast

For value-seekers, the Southern Gold Coast offers a treasure trove of deals beyond the much-loved holiday favourite, Surfers Paradise. The Pink Hotel in Coolangatta, known for its retro charm and striking pink paint job, has rates starting at $259 per night in early-to-mid December for a pre-Christmas beach break. For families in search of a camping option close to the action, Paradise Country’s ‘Farmstay and Theme Parks’ package offers a van or camp site, plus unlimited entry to Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Wet’n’Wild and of course Paradise Country, from just $345 per night in the week before Christmas. While sneaking away for a bit of ‘R and R’ before the festive rush pays off with luxury hotel rooms at the Dorsett Gold Coast up for grabs starting from $219 per night.

Explore the Gold Coast affordably by riding the The Hoppo or G:link, and enjoy free entry to Home of the Arts (HOTA) for a serious arts fix or join the daily bird-feeding sessions at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary which are also free. Find affordable keepsakes from local creatives at Burleigh's The Village Markets and indulge in budget-friendly treats at the family-friendly Miami Marketta.

Reap the rewards of a rainforest and reef adventure

Stay in the heart of Cairns CBD with fantastic rates on offer this summer season. Rooms at Mantra Esplanade Cairns start from $209 per night and The Oaks Cairns Hotel from $229 a night. For a peaceful escape in a Queenslander-style abode, head to Mission Beach and unwind at Licuala Lodge from as little as $160 a night across a minimum two-night stay.

Experience the awe-inspiring Great Barrier Reef on a day trip to Fitzroy Island ($95 per adult or $248 for a family of four with Fitzroy Island Adventures) or Dunk Island ($75 from Mission Beach aboard the Dunk Island Ferry) to enjoy a day of snorkelling tropical reef-fringed waters. Thrill-seekers can take a deep dive and save on the cost of their flight to Cairns with a $400 discount applied to multi-day diving expeditions with Spirit of Freedom.

Bathe beneath the sunlit dappled canopy and soak up the magic of the rainforest for free with a swim in one of the many natural waterholes along the Tropical North Queensland’s waterfall circuit. Alternatively, treat the family to a day among the trees and walk among the World Heritage Listed Daintree Rainforest at the Daintree Discovery Centre with family passes for less than $100 ($95 for a family of four).

Drive south along the Pacific Coast Way and hop on over to Magnetic Island, where ultimate beachfront views don’t get any better than the Ocean View Ensuite villas at Nomads Magnetic Island that almost hang over the rocky outcrop overlooking the water – these rooms start from under $200 ($199.50) per night. Don a snorkel mask and flippers and step right off the beach at Nelly Bay or Geoffrey Bay, just down the road from Nomads Magnetic Island, to follow the marked snorkel trails and undercover the wonders of the underwater world.

City lights and urban delights in brilliant Brisbane

Get starry-eyed under Brisbane’s glittering Story Bridge at the river-front Crystalbrook Vincent, where to die for views and festive vibes are sweetened with 10% off stays and 10% off in-house dining for visitors signed up to Crystalbrook Crowd. Wake up in the heart of Brisbane City at Hotel Indigo and make the most of bonus extras with the ‘Neighbourhood Discovery’ package (starting from $339 per night) which includes an $80 credit to be redeemed at in-house speakeasy bar 1603, buffet breakfast for two and in-room cocktail making station featuring local gin and confectionary. Alternatively, wine and dine for less with the ‘Stay and Dine’ offer consisting of $100 credit each night to use Hotel Indigo’s Japanese-style restaurant or bar. Snap up rooms at Mantra on South Bank from $202 a night for dates between Christmas and New Year and grab a bite from countless casual eateries that line Grey Street before exploring the city's cultural heart at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), which are free to enter.

Make the most of the city’s free river travel on the CityHopper, get the low-down on Brisbane highlights on a free on a Brisbane Greeters tour or uncover the city's rich history with a City Hall tour or Clocktower tour at the Museum of Brisbane, both tours are free of charge.

Make the most of wallet-friendly wonders in The Whitsundays and Mackay

With hostels, hotels and everything in between, Airlie Beach is the ideal base for a cost-savvy summer escape. Keep the end of year budget in check with $175 per night stays in refurbed adults-only private cabins at Magnums in the heart of Airlie Beach. Entertain the kids for hours at BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort when booking a ‘Kids Driving You Nuts Package’ for $650 across three nights either side of Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The package includes kids stay and eat free, one free kids craft session, free Mini Golf and Tennis, plus a daily action-packed activity schedule. Travellers can save on Great Barrier Reef experiences from Airlie Beach, with Cruise Whitsundays slashing 20% off a full-day Great Barrier Reef Adventure and the half-day Whitsundays Islands and Whitehaven Beach tour for travel before the end of the year.

Mackay’s magical landmark, Cape Hillsborough, where the rainforest cusps the beach, is just an hour and a half drive south of Airlie Beach. Sleep in a two-person Beach Hut just 20 metres from the shore at Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park from just $133 a night. The next day, wake up to resident wallabies and kangaroos that hop to Cape Hillsborough Beach for their breakfast at sunrise.

Sandy adventures on the shores of Rainbow Beach and K’gari

Rainbow Beach offers the ultimate budget-friendly camping experience by the beach while a must do (and free) activity is the easy 600-metre walk out to the crest of the imposing Carlo Sandblow, rewarding novice hikers with breathtaking views across the bay. Pitch a tent at BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks - Rainbow Beach for just $38 per night, or bunk down with the crew in an 8-person cabin starting at $225 per night – that’s just $28.13 per person per night. When a night away from the campsite barbecues calls, a cheerful pub meal, and a yarn with the locals, is just a five minute drive away at the Rainbow Beach Surf Life Saving Club.

Nature-loving families can escape to K’gari, the world’s largest sand island, by saving on feeding the family thanks to the ‘Kids Travel, Stay and Eat for Free’ deal at Kingfisher Bay Resort, complete with free ferry transfers from Hervey Bay for the little ones.

Unwrap family fun in the sun in Capricorn region

Wake up in the seaside town of Yeppoon at the Sail Inn, right on the doorstep of the town’s main street, starting from $140 per night in the weeks before Christmas, or keep the kids at bay at Capricorn Yeppoon Holiday Park where there are plenty of onsite activities and two-bedroom family cabins start from $138 per night. Explore free attractions between Yeppoon and Rockhampton like the taking a dip in the iconic Yeppoon Lagoon or strolling through the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens and Zoo.

Don’t miss the chance to serenade the days away on the Great Barrier Reef, with Great Keppel Island just a 35-minute ferry ride from Yeppoon. Keppel Konnections offer transfers between the island and mainland from $30 one way or a package day trip that includes lunch and snorkel hire for $90 per adult.

Catch peak turtle season in the Southern Great Barrier Reef

Bundaberg Rum Distillery

Do as the turtles do this summer season and nestle in for a visit to Bundaberg on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. This sensational stretch of coastline is home to Mon Repos Conservation Park – and Australia’s largest sea turtle rookery. From just $70 for a family of four, kids will gasp in awe with front-row seats to witness turtles nesting and hatching under the night sky. After a night out in nature, the big kids of the group and any rum enthusiasts can tour the Bundaberg Rum Distillery from just $30 per person.

Get in quick to lock away a stay in the beachside town of Bargara with properties such as Kellys Beach Resort boasting family-friendly Eco Villas starting at $182 per night, and The Point Resort on Bargara's esplanade offering 3-night stays in one-bedroom units from $205 per night in the lead up to Christmas and $235 per night in the new year.

There’s no need for a boat, a license, or a big budget to explore Agnes Water and 1770, Gladstone’s own aqua playground (an hour and a half north of Bundaberg). Groups of ten can commandeer their own vessel for $175 with Cruising Around 1770 – a mere $17.50 per person for a sun-soaked day cruising the protected waters of the inlet. Stay for less at Travellers Rest 1770 Campground where a new Bushland Boardwalk has just been unveiled and powered campsites start from as little as $40 per night.

Slow down in Southern Queensland Country and Outback Queensland

Breathe in that fresh country air and knock things back a gear on a jaunt through Queensland’s picturesque rolling rural landscapes. Travellers looking to sneak in a holiday before the end of summer can bunk down at the farm, feeding and playing with farm animals, at Bestbrook Farmstay, thanks to the five-person self-contained cabins available from $340 per night in late January. Couples seeking a pocket-friendly retreat should consider bed and breakfasts and quaint country stays like the restored self-contained cottages at Diamondvale Estate, which start at $310 per night for dates between the Christmas-New Year period. For those who fancy themselves an oenophile (wine connoisseur) or just a general fan of a good drop, many of the Granite Belt wineries offer a free tasting when you buy a bottle of wine.

If a wander out west during the region’s quieter months is on the radar, make the most of Queensland Rail’s ‘2 for 1 Summer Rail’ deal and get the Spirit of the Outback sleeper train to Longreach (departing Brisbane) from just $427 for two people. Arriving in Longreach, while away the afternoon watching the sunset over the sprawling Outback plains at Mitchell Grass Retreat thanks to the ‘Summer Season Stay 4 Pay 3 Deal’. Spend four nights in one of 15 luxe glamping tents, complete with ensuite bathroom, air conditioning, daily gourmet breakfast, complimentary port and snacks and transfers from Longreach Railway Station from $289 per night.

From days exploring tropical islands to country sojourns and big-city celebrations, there are plenty of ways to holiday on any budget in Queensland this summer. Christmas is twinkling on the horizon, 2024 is knocking at the door and the weeks are melting away quicker than a mango ice-cream in Bowen, so get in quick to make the most of the deals and savings on offer and start planning a summer escape at queensland.com.