What to do in Northern Australia

Activities, attractions and tours

The ever popular lonely tree overlooking the Glasshouse Mountains. This tree is located on private property and you can get permission to access the paddock from the owner as per the sign on the gate. You can easily photograph the landscape from the roadside as well. #roadtrip #queensland #australia #mountains #weekendgetaway
The ever popular lonely tree overlooking the Glasshouse Mountains. This tree is located on private property and you can get permission to access the paddock from the owner as per the sign on the gate. You can easily photograph the landscape from the roadside as well. #roadtrip #queensland #australia #mountains #weekendgetaway
Sunrise reflections - pretty spectacular for a spot not far from the city and bustling river mouth. Just be prepared with insect repellent 💛 #queensland #australia #beachbound #reflections #hometown
Now Broome and the Kimberley is an amazing spot to do a road trip! I would recommend flying in from Perth, starting in Broome with a few days and then heading into the Kimberley. A must do in Broome is the cable beach sunset camel ride, there are two operators that do a very similar walk. Try to time it around the low tide so you have beautiful reflections whilst walking on wet sand. #RoadTrip
One of the best ways to experience a place is from the skies. If you feel like splurging, a helicopter flight over Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef is a must-do when visiting Tropical North Queensland in Australia.

Northern Australia Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Northern Australia has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, 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 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.

Activities and Tours

Northern Australia is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore 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 experience 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, 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.

Northern Australia Attractions

Expedia 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 to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Northern Australia.

Looking for things to do 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 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.

  • find price illustration

    Explore activities

    Explore thousands of experiences from activities and attractions to day tours and transfer.
  • calendar shield illustration

    Book with ease

    Skip the line- book tickets online in minutes to top attractions with free cancellation on many activities.
  • trophy illustration

    Treat yourself

    Members save % or more when you book activities.

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.
Learn more
Uluru which includes desert views and landscape 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.
Learn more
Movie World showing 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.
Learn more
Cairns Esplanade featuring a pool, a luxury hotel or resort and swimming

4. 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.
Learn more
Australia Zoo featuring a statue or sculpture

5. Dreamworld

Dreamworld features a wide selection of fantastical and diverse Australian attractions all in one place. Exploring this huge theme park takes a whole day and incorporates wildlife observation, movie-themed attractions, and thrilling rides.
Learn more
Dreamworld which includes rides

The Annual Vacation Sale

Members save up to 40% on hotels and homes. Plan this year’s big trip and save.
Book now

What to do in Northern Australia

Discover the most popular places to visit in Northern Australia

Uluru which includes desert views and landscape views

Uluru

5/5(1 review)

With its vast scale and incredible colours, it is easy to see why this famous rock, known as the Red Heart of Australia, holds a sacred place in indigenous culture.

Uluru
Movie World showing rides

Warner Bros. Movie World

5/5(4 reviews)

Watch stunt shows, get on superhero rides, enter the Ice Age 4D Experience and take a splash in the Wild West at Australia’s theme park version of Hollywood.

Warner Bros. Movie World
Cairns Esplanade featuring a pool, a luxury hotel or resort and swimming

Cairns Esplanade

4.5/5(62 reviews)

Stroll along the boardwalk surrounded by palms tree and landscaped gardens and watch the sun set over the Coral Sea.

Cairns Esplanade
Australia Zoo featuring hiking or walking and zoo animals as well as children

Australia Zoo

5/5(11 reviews)

Cuddle a koala, feed kangaroos or watch a crocodile show at this famous wildlife park, the former playground of the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin.

Australia Zoo
Dreamworld which includes rides

Dreamworld

5/5(5 reviews)

Australia’s biggest amusement park features exciting themed areas with everything from tigers and thrilling rides to vintage V8 super cars and TV characters.

Dreamworld
Stars at Surfer Paradise Gold Coast Australia

The Star Gold Coast

4.5/5(15 reviews)

Why not try your luck with a visit to The Star Gold Coast where you can enjoy the games and entertainment of this top casino in Gold Coast? Stroll along the beautiful beaches or visit the shops in this family-friendly area.

The Star Gold Coast
Cavill Avenue featuring shopping, night scenes and a city

Cavill Avenue

4.5/5(33 reviews)

Bustling nightlife, great shopping and a legendary surfing beach make this avenue the exciting centre of Surfer’s Paradise on the Gold Coast.

Cavill Avenue
Hastings Street featuring street scenes as well as a large group of people

Hastings Street

4.5/5(15 reviews)

Located in the heart of Noosa Heads, this beachside street is a chic enclave of cosmopolitan cafés, resort-style accommodation and designer shopping.

Hastings Street
Surfers Paradise Beach which includes a sandy beach, skyline and central business district

Surfers Paradise Beach

4.5/5(58 reviews)

This stretch of beach is known for its regular sets of rolling waves, with high-rise hotels and bustling nightlife along the sandy shore.

Surfers Paradise Beach

Explore areas of Northern Australia

Surfers Paradise which includes a sandy beach, a city and a sunset

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 featuring a high-rise building, a beach 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
Brisbane Central Business District which includes a river or creek, a sunset and a city

Brisbane Central Business District

4.5/5(120 area reviews)

Densely concentrated skyscrapers and parks define this central business hub, with attractions like City Hall, Story Bridge, and City Botanic Gardens. Enjoy seamless connectivity via road bridges, public transport, and the scenic Brisbane Riverwalk.

Brisbane Central Business District
Noosa Heads which includes a beach and tropical scenes

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
Mooloolaba featuring views, landscape views and a beach

Mooloolaba

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

Mooloolaba
Kawana Beach featuring a beach and landscape views

Caloundra

Choose from six different beaches and a range of watersports including surfing, Jet Skiing and kayaking at this friendly coastal city.

Caloundra

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.