Queensland - Others
Gladstone and Tannum Sands
Gladstone is probably not going to be the first place that springs to mind when you think about visiting Australia.
And that's probably fair enough.
It is an industrial city and an important port, with large amounts of industry surrounding it. It isn't particularly beautiful and it certainly doesn't have the tourist attractions of Brisbane or the Gold Coast.
But that doesn't mean it isn't worth stopping at.
Sometimes a place doesn't have to be spectacular to be interesting.
Gladstone
Gladstone is one of Queensland's major industrial centres, with a huge port and a long association with coal, aluminium and other heavy industries. The harbour is enormous, and watching the ships coming and going gives you a good idea of just how important Gladstone is to the Australian economy.There are also some pleasant parks and waterfront areas, and the city makes a useful base for exploring the surrounding region.
But let's be honest, you aren't going to Gladstone for its magnificent architecture.
You're going because you're passing through, or because you want to explore this part of Queensland.
And that's perfectly fine.
Gladstone doesn't seem particularly interested in pretending to be something it isn't.
There is something quite refreshing about that.
Tannum Sands
A short drive south of Gladstone brings you to Tannum Sands, and this is where things become considerably more attractive.Tannum Sands is a small seaside town with a long sandy beach, pleasant parkland and a much more relaxed atmosphere than Gladstone.
It is the sort of place where you can wander along the beach, sit under a tree and watch the Pacific without feeling that you are missing out because there isn't a ten-storey shopping centre nearby.
The beach is the main attraction.
And why wouldn't it be?
It is clean, broad and pleasantly uncrowded compared with Queensland's more famous coastal resorts.
There is also the Tannum Sands Esplanade, which provides a pleasant place to walk, with parks, picnic areas and views towards the ocean.
For somewhere relatively small, it is a very pleasant spot.
Canoe Point
Just south of Tannum Sands is Canoe Point, a particularly nice area of coastal bushland and beach. There are walking tracks, picnic areas and opportunities to see native wildlife.
It is another example of what I have found repeatedly in Queensland, you don't necessarily have to go to the famous places. Sometimes the little coastal towns and quiet stretches of beach are every bit as enjoyable.
The Turtle Season
There is also a rather special reason to visit this part of the Queensland coast - Turtles.
The beaches around Tannum Sands are important nesting areas for marine turtles, particularly during the warmer months. If you are lucky enough to visit during nesting season, you may see turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs.
Obviously, this is wildlife rather than entertainment, so you need to behave accordingly and give them plenty of space.
But seeing a turtle nesting on a quiet Queensland beach is a rather wonderful experience.
Gin Gin
Gin Gin. Surely one of the best place names in Queensland, if not the whole of Australia. You almost expect to find a Wild West saloon rather than a perfectly respectable Queensland town.In reality, Gin Gin is a pleasant little country town and a useful stop on the Bruce Highway. There isn't a huge amount to see, but that's rather the point. It's somewhere to stretch your legs, grab a coffee and enjoy a taste of rural Queensland without pretending it's something it isn't.
And let's be honest, sometimes the name alone is enough reason to stop.
Sadly we didn't find a hoped for gin distillery.
Gympie
We stopped in Gympie for one very important reason — an iconic Aussie pie.Australia takes its pies seriously, and quite rightly so.
Forget the delicate little pastries you might find elsewhere; an Australian meat pie is a substantial bit of kit, preferably packed with steaming gravy and eaten while wondering whether you've left it in the oven for too long.
Gympie itself is an interesting old Queensland town with plenty of history, but on this particular visit it was the pie that made the lasting impression.
Sometimes the simplest travel experiences are the ones you remember.
And a proper Aussie pie certainly beats another overpriced tourist attraction.
Elliott Heads & Coral Cove
Elliott Heads is one of those Queensland coastal spots that doesn't seem to have received the memo about becoming a major tourist attraction — and long may that continue.
There are beaches, sea views, rock pools and plenty of space, but without the crowds and commercialisation found at some of Queensland's better-known resorts.
It's relaxed, attractive and wonderfully unpretentious.
Nearby Coral Cove is much the same sort of place. Don't come here expecting a packed itinerary of things to do. Come for the coast, the scenery and the opportunity to slow down for a while.
Sometimes, that's more than enough.
Canungra
Canungra was a pleasant surprise. Tucked into the Gold Coast hinterland, it had a distinctly Wild West feel about it, with its old-fashioned buildings and country-town atmosphere.It felt a world away from the high-rise towers and theme parks of the Gold Coast. This was rural Queensland rather than tourist Queensland, and that made it all the more enjoyable.
Canungra isn't somewhere you need a packed schedule for.
Wander around, take in the scenery, enjoy the atmosphere and imagine Clint Eastwood wandering down the main street.
It might not quite be Dodge City, but it certainly felt like Queensland's answer to it.
Prices correct as at August 2026
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