If you’re one of the millions of travellers worldwide who face accessible travel challenges when planning a holiday, here’s some excellent news – check out these top barrier free destinatons! With its breathtaking landscapes and awe-inspiring attractions, Queensland is paving the way for inclusive travel experiences with mobility-friendly attractions and barrier-free destinations. From exploring the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef to unearthing prehistoric treasures, embark on a journey of a lifetime with these 12 game-changing accessible travel in Queensland experiences.
Almost one quarter (23%) of travellers worldwide have accessibility needs.
12 Accessible Travel Experiences in Queensland
Explore the Cairns Wet Tropics with Mobility-friendly Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Experience Queensland’s Wet Tropics like never before on Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, offering inclusive travel and disability experiences. Just 15 minutes from Cairns’ city centre, visitors, including those with disabilities, can board with a manual wheelchair and access the specially designed accessibility features for an aerial journey to Kuranda. Ranger-guided tours and wheelchair-friendly boardwalks await at the destination, providing a welcoming experience for all. Don’t miss the magnificent views from The Edge Lookout. For the return journey, the heritage-listed Kuranda Scenic Railway is available, passing by breathtaking waterfalls and rainforest. This railway provides an accessible carriage and motorised lift specifically designed for wheelchair users, ensuring everyone can enjoy the journey.
Spend a barrier-free day on the Great Barrier Reef with Quicksilver Cruises
Cruise to Agincourt Reef with Quicksilver Cruises and enjoy exciting activities, including an underwater observatory, glass bottom boat rides, and special water-powered lift access for those with mobility needs to snorkel and swim. Quicksilver Dive is the first PADI Adaptive Service Facility in Queensland, offering recreational scuba diving and courses for those with different abilities, special needs and mobility levels. Embrace the magic of the Great Barrier Reef and turn your dreams into reality.
Go whale watching on mobility-friendly Quick Cat II in Hervey Bay
Soak up the experience of Hervey Bay Whale Watching from the comfort of the Quick Cat II vessel during whale season. Suitable for guests with wheelchair, pram, and mobility aid access, you’ll have a fantastic view of the humpback whales resting and playing in the bay – the world’s first Whale Heritage Site. Enjoy accessible travel and the serenity of Hervey Bay!
Discover Australia’s prehistoric fossils on the mobility-friendly Outback Queensland Dinosaur Trail
Australian Age of Dinosaurs in Outback Queensland has the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils. It offers visitors the chance to get hands-on with real dinosaur bones. The Prep A Dino program allows budding palaeontologists to help prepare specimens in the museum’s lab. Wheelchair accessibility and adjustable table heights make this program an inclusive travel experience. Accommodation packages range from one to 11 days.
Venture Barrier-free underground from Cairns with Undara Experience
Undara Volcanic National Park is home to a remarkable Outback experience: a series of hollow tubes formed by flowing lava 190,000 years ago. Where the tubes’ roofs collapse, rainforest and wildlife take hold, including colonies of microbats. Undara Experience is a mobility-friendly attraction offering wheelchair users guided tours of Road Cave, with special ramps and lifts for accessible travel.
Be tricked by immersive art on the Gold Coast at ArtVo’s inclusive travel experience
Experience optical illusions at ArtVo—a world of larger-than-life murals. Explore six immersive rooms with King Kong, a dragon, and more. Pose for pictures and capture memories. This barrier-free destination is wheelchair accessible, with staff assistance for photography and positioning.
Journey back in time on the Sunshine Coast with accessible travel on the Mary Valley Rattler
Board the heritage Mary Valley Rattler steam train for a spectacular ride through the Sunshine Coast’s countryside. Gympie Historic Station, Amamoor Station, and Mary Valley Rattler offer wheelchair-accessible experiences, including the Rattler Tasting Train food experience. Wide and level platforms at both stations provide ramp access to the train’s carriages, accommodating prams and wheelchairs and offering priority seating for comfort and great views. The availability of this accessible travel experience is limited, so be sure to call ahead. Here’s more about the Mary Valley Rattler.
Connect with culture and wildlife with inclusive travel in Cairns at Rainforestation Nature Park
Rainforestation in Kuranda’s Wet Tropics Rainforest offers an inclusive cultural experience for everyone, including those with mobility restrictions. Get up close to the oldest surviving culture in the world at the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience, then explore the rainforest by land and water on the historic Amphibious Army Duck, a World War vehicle with six-wheel drive, a propeller, and a rudder. Mobility-challenged guests can use the level loading platform to board the Army Duck, which has removable armrests for easy transfer and accessible travel.
Join the Mobility-friendly Jetty 2 Jetty Fun Run in Brisbane
The Jetty 2 Jetty Fun Run in Brisbane offers stunning views of Moreton Bay. 4,000 participants participate in the event every year, from the 10km elite wheelchair race to the 3km, 5km, and 10km races open to manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, and power-assisted devices.
Explore Gold Coast seaside art at barrier-free SWELL Sculpture Festival
Every September, Currumbin Beach is transformed into a beautiful outdoor art gallery for the SWELL Sculpture Festival. It’s Queensland’s largest sculptures exhibition and is wheelchair accessible and a barrier-free destination for families with prams. You can explore the many sculptures along the wide, accessible path along the foreshore or via the dedicated beach matting. Plus, there’s live music, comedy and masterclasses to enjoy. Use the detailed access map online to find accessible areas and facilities. With a successful 2023 show, SWELL Sculpture Festival 2024 will continue as a mobility-friendly attraction, providing accessible experiences.
Explore Magnetic Island with a Master Reef Guide
Hop aboard Aquascene Magnetic Island’s small boat eco-tour and explore the secluded bays, beaches, and fringing reef of Magnetic Island. Enjoy these aquatic delights with the help of long-time locals and Master Reef Guides, who will share the history and stories of the area. Manual wheelchairs and floatation aids are available for additional support for those who wish to swim and snorkel. Those who prefer to observe the reef can do so from the floating pontoon.
Play and discover at Sea World Marine Park, Gold Coast
Discover the wonders of the deep blue at Sea World on the Gold Coast. All animal exhibits, including Polar Bear Shores, Penguin Encounter, Shark Bay, and Sea Jellies Illuminated, are accessible. Join an educational adventure during the Affinity Dolphin Presentation or interact with a seal up close. Meet Chase and Marshall from PAW Patrol, too! Sea World has a pool hoist so guests with mobility restrictions can access the dolphin pool. Cool off at the fully accessible interactive splash area with water cannons, spouts, and life-sized animal sculptures. Wheelchair and stroller hire is available, as well as parent swap and queue proxy programs for those who cannot stand or queue long. Check the Sea World website for an accessibility and sensory guide to help assess the suitability of each attraction.
Queensland is at the forefront of accessible travel, offering a multitude of mobility-friendly attractions and inclusive experiences. From exploring the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef with Quicksilver Cruises to delving into the prehistoric treasures of Outback Queensland’s Dinosaur Trail, there is an adventure for everyone. With barrier-free destinations like ArtVo on the Gold Coast and Rainforestation Nature Park in Cairns, all travellers can connect with culture, wildlife, and the breathtaking landscapes of this diverse region.
Discover the joy of inclusive travel and unlock unforgettable experiences with accessible travel in Queensland.
Written by Kerry Heaney
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