Uncovering the very best of North Queensland

Starting at Mackay Blacks Beach

Our North Queensland journey began at BIG4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park, where the people quickly became one of the biggest highlights.

We met plenty of travellers escaping the southern winter, and before long they were taking us fishing, sharing caravanning tips and even making us homemade crumpets. When we had trouble with our jockey wheel, fellow guests were also quick to lend a hand. It was a pretty great start to North Queensland, and the people made it even better.

What’s nearby: One of our favourite experiences near Mackay was visiting the Sarina Sugar Shed. Surrounded by sugar cane fields, it was fascinating to learn how cane is transformed into the final product and better understand an industry that’s such a huge part of the region.

Best part of the park: The community and fishing culture. The people we met were incredibly welcoming and more than happy to share their knowledge, lend a hand or take us out fishing.

Adventures in the Whitsundays

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort felt like a destination in its own right. Between train rides, paint and sip sessions, animal encounters and aqua aerobics, there was always something happening. One of us even ended up helping lead an aqua aerobics class, but more on that later!

Must-do experience: Our Ocean Rafting package, which we booked through the park, packed several Whitsundays highlights into one huge day. After a scenic flight over the Great Barrier and Heart Reefs, we visited Whitehaven Beach for a swim and lunch before snorkelling at three different reef sites. Having family join us made it even better.

Park highlight: The huge range of activities. Whether you wanted to relax or join in, there was always plenty going on, and the park team do an incredible job bringing it all together.

A night at the rugby in Townsville

One of the best things about our Townsville stay was an experience we hadn’t planned for.

The Wallabies were playing Japan while we were there, so we picked up tickets and joined other guests heading to the game. It turned an ordinary night on the road into one of the most memorable evenings of our Townsville stay.

As much as we plan things ahead, I’d recommend to anyone to stay open to things that pop up. Being spontaneous can be some of the best things.

What was on: BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Townsville organised a shuttle to and from the Wallabies game, which meant everyone could head there together without worrying about transport.

Know the park: The permanent food truck was another handy addition. It gave guests an easy place to grab something to eat without having to leave the park. Also, mini-golf anyone?

Wine, cheese and beachside living in Lucinda

BIG4 Lucinda Wanderers Holiday Park was just a stone’s throw from the beach, but it was the welcoming community that really stood out.

The staff and guests made us feel at home almost immediately, giving the park a relaxed, social atmosphere that matched its coastal location.

Location highlight: Being so close to the beach made it easy to enjoy Lucinda’s laid-back coastal setting without travelling far from the park.

Our park favourite: An afternoon of wine, cheese and live music with fellow guests and park staff. It was relaxed, social and exactly the kind of experience that makes you want to stay a little longer.

Cassowary encounters at South Mission Beach

Few experiences felt more North Queensland than seeing cassowaries passing through BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks - South Mission Beach.

During our stay, the park sent guests an SMS alert when cassowaries were nearby, giving us the chance to see these incredible birds while maintaining a safe distance.

Local tip: It’s important to be croc-wise in North Queensland and follow local signs and warnings. At the same time, we were surprised by how many designated and patrolled swimming areas there were to enjoy safely.

What made the park special: Its beachfront location was impressive enough, but having cassowaries pass through made the stay completely unlike anything else we’d ever experienced.

History and laughs at Kurrimine Beach

BIG4 Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park was another welcoming coastal park and a handy base for discovering some of the region’s more unusual attractions.

We also headed out with Grace’s cousin, a long-time local, in search of crocodiles. His knowledge inspired slightly more confidence than the little leaky dinghy we took on the water, but it certainly made for a memorable afternoon.

What’s local: A visit to Paronella Park was an absolute must-do. Learning about its early 1900s architecture and the story of José Paronella and his family made it completely different from anything else we’d experienced on the trip.

Park fun: The pool, café-bar and deck made it very easy to settle in for the afternoon. We also spent more time than we’d like to admit trying to conquer the inflatable obstacle course. It was great fun, although our legs definitely felt it the next day.

Big thrills and resort facilities in Cairns

By the time we reached BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut Resort, we’d settled into a pretty good routine on the road.

That routine was seriously tested when we took on one of the biggest challenges, we’d set ourselves so far: bungee jumping.

Nearby adventure: We spent weeks watching videos of the bungee jump at Skypark Cairns and building ourselves up for it, but nothing prepared us for standing on the platform. Taking the leap was terrifying, but the thrill afterwards made it well worth doing.

Park standout: The on-site gym made keeping active on the road much easier. We could wake up and work out without leaving the resort, while the playground just outside also made the setup convenient for families.

Finishing in Port Douglas

Our North Queensland journey wrapped up at BIG4 Port Douglas Glengarry Holiday Park, which felt every bit as tropical as we’d hoped.

It was the ideal place to unwind after weeks on the road, while still providing an easy base for one final reef adventure. 

Must-do day trip: Snorkelling the outer Great Barrier Reef with Silversonic Outer Reef Cruises completely lived up to the hype. We spent around six hours out on the reef, visiting several sites and spotting some incredible marine life along the way. With lunch included and everything running smoothly, it was a sensational day out.

What we loved at the park: Palm trees, green space, large grassy sites and one of the nicest resort-style pools we’d encountered on the trip. Even the temperature of the water was spot on.