South East Queensland, Australia
Most international travellers know the Gold Coast for its beaches and theme parks. That’s fair enough. But the wider South East Queensland region has a depth that catches people off guard – World Heritage rainforests barely an hour from the coast, a volcanic hinterland that Lonely Planet named one of the world’s Top 10 Regions in 2022, a sand island with wild dolphin feeding and shipwreck snorkelling, and a Brisbane dining scene that has genuinely come into its own.
This 6-day short break itinerary covers the Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim, Brisbane, and Moreton Island. It’s a self-drive programme that works beautifully as a standalone break or as an add-on to longer east coast itineraries. The diversity here is the selling point – your clients can go from a theme park to a mountain-top lodge to an island resort in the space of a few days. Designed for travel agents building tailor-made FIT itineraries, incentive groups, and series departures that need South East Queensland to feel like more than just Surfers Paradise.
COMPLETE ITINERARY
Your South East Queensland Break – Day by Day
Arrive on the Gold Coast
Clients fly into Gold Coast Airport (or Brisbane with a transfer south), collect their hire car and take the short drive to their hotel. We have a range of properties to suit different budgets and client types – the Langham for luxury, Dorsett for style, and the family-friendly Voco among the standout options on the coast.
This afternoon, a SeaWorld Cruises lunch cruise departing from Surfers Paradise Wharf is a relaxed way to settle in. The vessel cruises through the Broadwater while guests eat and take in the coastal scenery. Back on shore, there’s time for a jet boat ride with Paradise Jet Boating or an Aquaduck tour that goes from land to sea – both good fun and surprisingly popular with international visitors.
Trade tip: The Gold Coast has more accommodation stock than most agents realise. We can match properties to the client profile, whether that’s a beachfront apartment for a family or a luxury suite for a couple. Arrival day should feel easy – the lunch cruise is a gentle start that doesn’t demand much energy after a flight.
Gold Coast Theme Parks or Hinterland Touring
Day two offers a genuine choice, and the right option depends entirely on the client. Families and thrill-seekers will gravitate toward the theme parks – Movie World, Dreamworld, Wet’n’Wild, or SeaWorld. But for clients after something more distinctive, the Gold Coast Hinterland is the surprise in this itinerary.
A guided hinterland day tour with Southern Cross Tours heads west into the Scenic Rim, through rolling hills to the town of Canungra. The expert local guide shares history, culture, and stories of the townships along the way. At the top of the mountain, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat delivers a guided walk along the rainforest floor and high into the canopy on the treetop walkway. Guests spot unique wildlife and amazing birdlife, with the chance to feed wild crimson rosellas by hand.
Before heading back down, there’s a stop for the panoramic 360-degree view across the Scenic Rim and Gold Coast – genuinely breathtaking on a clear day. The tour finishes with a glass of local Picnic Bubbles at Canungra Valley Vineyard, where guests can see the peacocks and meet the alpacas.
Trade tip: The hinterland day tour is the one to recommend for clients who’ve already done a Gold Coast trip before, or who simply aren’t theme park people. The rainforest, the views, and the vineyard stop give the day a texture that feels very different from the coast. It also photographs beautifully, which matters for incentive groups.
The Scenic Rim – Rainforest, Wineries & Mountain Lodges
Today the itinerary leaves the coast behind entirely and heads into the Scenic Rim. This is where South East Queensland genuinely surprises people. Framed by volcanic mountains dating back millions of years, the region covers epic peaks and valleys, verdant rainforests, and fertile farmland. It was named one of Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Regions in Best in Travel 2022, and for good reason.
The Scenic Rim is just 80 kilometres – roughly an hour’s drive – from both Brisbane and the Gold Coast. But it feels like another world. Six national parks, Australia’s most accessible World Heritage-listed rainforests, wineries, breweries, lavender farms, and nature walks in every direction. The produce here is outstanding, and the food and wine scene has real depth.
For accommodation, two very different options stand out. Spicers Peak Lodge sits at 1,100 metres above sea level on the Great Dividing Range – Australia’s highest non-alpine mountain lodge. Ten suites and two private lodges, an infinity pool with mountain views, Spa Anise day spa, and dining that showcases local produce. The Highland cattle greeting guests at the top of the winding road sets the tone immediately. This is genuine luxury in a setting that feels completely removed from anything else.
For families or groups wanting something more relaxed, Kooralbyn Valley Resort offers championship golf, lawn bowls, putt-putt, tennis, horse riding, and an authentic outback farm experience with hundreds of wild kangaroos. It sits on 800 acres and is the largest rammed earth eco-construction in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s also a satellite village for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games – a useful talking point for clients visiting in coming years.
Trade tip: Spicers Peak Lodge is the hero property for luxury FIT and high-end incentives. It books out, so plan ahead. Kooralbyn is the better fit for families, golf groups, and incentive programmes that want activities and value. Both give clients a genuine Scenic Rim experience, just at very different price points. The Spicers Scenic Rim Trail (2, 4, or 6-day guided walks) is also worth flagging for active clients.
Brisbane – River City Food, Culture & Moreton Bay
The drive from the Scenic Rim to Brisbane takes about an hour. Drop the car in the city centre and switch to Brisbane mode. The city has transformed in recent years, and the dining and entertainment precinct at Howard Smith Wharves – tucked beneath the Story Bridge on the waterfront – is the centrepiece. Thirteen restaurants, cafes, bars, and event spaces, anchored by the multi-award-winning Felons Brewery. It’s worth a long lunch.
If clients arrive on a Sunday, the Brisbane Markets at South Bank are on, and a cocktail at the Emporium Hotel rooftop bar afterwards is a solid recommendation. On Friday or Saturday evenings, Eat Street is open (Fridays and Saturdays 4-10pm, Sundays 4-9pm) – a waterfront dining and entertainment precinct with live music across multiple stages and dozens of food vendors.
For clients who want to get out on the water, River to Bay operates high-speed vessel tours from Brisbane. Options include the Moreton Bay Island Tour (Tangalooma Wrecks snorkelling, lunch at Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island, nature walk at St Helena Island National Park), the Stradbroke Island Day Tour, brewery cruises, and the Tangalooma Wrecks Snorkel Tour.
This evening, clients board the catamaran to Moreton Island for a two-night stay at Tangalooma Island Resort.
Trade tip: Brisbane is the part of this itinerary that often gets underestimated. Howard Smith Wharves alone is worth half a day. The River to Bay tours are excellent for clients who want an active day before the island, but don’t overpack the Brisbane segment – the transfer to Tangalooma needs to happen this evening. Check catamaran departure times when building the itinerary.
Tangalooma Island Resort – Moreton Island
A full day on Moreton Island, and it can be as busy or as quiet as the client wants. Tangalooma Island Resort sits on the golden shores of Moreton Island – the world’s third-largest sand island – and the range of activities is genuinely extensive.
On land: ATV quad bikes, beach Segway tours, desert safari tours, helicopter scenic flights, massage and beauty treatments, northern and southern safari bus tours, and whale watching bus safaris (seasonal). On the water: snorkelling the Tangalooma Wrecks, clear-bottom dusk kayak tours, illuminated wrecks tours, marine discovery cruises, underwater sea scooter safaris, stand-up paddleboarding, wrecks fish feeding cruises, and parasailing.
The resort also offers complimentary activities including swimming pools, tennis, squash, kookaburra feeding, pelican feeding and sea bird talks, the Eco Centre, and a kids’ playground. Beyond the resort, Moreton Island itself has Blue Lagoon, Cape Moreton Lighthouse, Champagne Pools, Honeymoon Bay, Mount Tempest (the world’s highest coastal sand dune), and the Tangalooma Desert.
The evening wild dolphin feeding – where guests wade into the shallows to hand-feed bottlenose dolphins – is the signature experience and something most travellers remember long after they’ve left.
Trade tip: The activity list is almost overwhelming, so help clients plan their day before they arrive. For incentive groups, Tangalooma works exceptionally well – the resort can coordinate group activities, exclusive beach dinners, and team-building programmes. The wrecks snorkelling is the standout water activity. The wild dolphin feeding in the evening is unmissable and should be highlighted in every client brief.
Moreton Island to Brisbane & Departure
A morning walk and breakfast on the island, then the 9:30am ferry departure back to Brisbane. The crossing takes roughly 75 minutes, and on arrival it’s a short taxi ride to Howard Smith Wharves for a farewell lunch before heading to the airport or onward travel.
Howard Smith Wharves is a fitting place to end the trip. Located beneath the Story Bridge, the precinct ties together Brisbane’s working wharfage heritage with the thriving modern city. Felons Brewery, waterfront dining, and views across the river make it easy to linger.
Trade tip: We strongly recommend building in enough time between the ferry arrival and onward flights. The 9:30am departure gets clients back to Brisbane by late morning, leaving plenty of time for lunch and a transfer to Brisbane Airport. For clients heading to other Australian destinations, this itinerary connects naturally to the Sunshine Coast, the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, or the Red Centre. We build complete Australian itineraries for the travel trade – flights, accommodation, touring, and transfers throughout.
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