Even the most level-headed among us can’t deny occasionally using our socials to drum up a little FOMO over our fab lives. You can try, but I won’t believe you. I’m here to help you just own it on your next Queensland holiday, a place where natural beauty is unique and abundant and ALWAYS Inst-ready. Seriously, it woke up like this.
In no particular order, these are the snaps you need to nab to earn some serious social media points.
1. Zoe Falls, Hinchinbrook Island
You’ll have to hike to get the above shot, but just have a look, it’s worth the effort. Otherwise, stay down the bottom of the falls and take a dip in the natural swimming pool it forms in the middle of the rainforest.
2. Windin Falls, Wooroonooran National Park
In case you’re not getting it: natural infinity pool plus world-heritage listed tropical rainforest equals stunning views. It is not fair that Queensland gets to keep all these to themselves.
3. Morans Falls, Lamington National Park
4. Wallaman Falls, Girringun National Park
The highest single drop waterfall in the world, aka. Wallaman Falls makes for some pretty dramatic photography. Will you take yours from the lookout or hike down for a shot (and swim) below?
5. Mount Barney, Mount Barney National Park
You can’t really go wrong anywhere along the Scenic Rim, but Mount Barney timed with the vibrant colours of sunset (or sunrise if you’re an early bird), will really deliver.
6. The Pyramid, Girraween National Park
Giant boulders above rolling rainforest makes Girraween National Park a popular hiking ground, and also a killer photo spot. Hike to the top of The Pyramid and catch the light for something truly impressive.
7. Hervey Bay
Everybody loves a whale. Everyone except my editor but that’s a whole other story I still don’t understand. Everybody else loves the beauty and majesty of whales, and Hervey Bay is one of the best places to spot them.
8. Hill Inlet, Whitsundays
The bright blue waters contrasting with pure white sand all over the Whitsundays make it an Instagrammable beachy paradise, but Hill Inlet is a particularly popular natural formation.
9. Babinda Boulders, Babinda
Queensland is so full of amazing natural swimming holes it’s hard to stop at just one, but the unique boulder formations at Babinda Boulders make it a particularly good one to photograph.
10. Great Barrier Reef
JUST CASUALLY, you can catch a helicopter out to a completely secluded sand cay in the middle of The Great Barrier Reef for your own private picnic. It’s called Vlascoff Cay and you can get there with Nautilus Aviation.
11. Sunflower Route, Allora
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Not that you can ever get too many water shots on the ‘Gram, but break it up with a cheery pic of the rolling fields choc-a-block with sunflowers along the Sunflower Route just outside Brisbane.
12. Cape Hillsborough
I’m of the personal belief that the photos of wallabies on the beach here at sunset are the reason 90% of tourists come to Australia. There is nothing more iconically Aussie.
13. Matilda Way, Outback Queensland
Ok yeah, you’ll need more than your basic photog skills to capture the night sky, but if you have those then nothing is more ripe for the night sky picking then out along Matilda Way, where it’s so flat in places the stars spread from horizon to horizon.
14. Big Red Sand Dune, Simpson Desert
The bright red earth of the Australian desert is truly unique. Make it particularly spectacular with a shot of the first and largest sand dune of the Simpson Desert, Big Red.
15. Burketown
Head over closer to Mount Isa and find the small, isolated Burketown which proudly proclaims its status as Barramundi Capital of Australia. The true magic here happens above though, from a plane ride overhead.
16. Nudey Beach, Fitzroy Island
Nude by name, not by nature. But there’s plenty of natural beauty here on Fitzroy Island. The crystal clear ocean water is a truly unique Queensland trait.
17. Spa Pools, Cardwell
I don’t mean to get hipster on you (yes I do) but this was a fave place of mine before a particularly stunning shot went viral. The bright blue water is a geological wonder that the experts are unsure about, but think it has to do with the chemistry of the rocks and water. For me, the combination of the white, twisted tree trunks around it really brings the drama though.
18. Lady Elliot Island
I have one word for your social media and/or nature fans: turtles! Get up close and personal with them on the ‘Green Zone’ that is Lady Elliot Island, in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef.
