{"id":415,"date":"2022-02-04T03:54:47","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T03:54:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/everywhereaustralia.com.au\/?p=415"},"modified":"2023-02-13T01:30:26","modified_gmt":"2023-02-13T01:30:26","slug":"things-to-do-in-gladstone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/everywhereaustralia.com.au\/things-to-do-in-gladstone\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Fun Things To Do In Gladstone, Queensland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Going on a Gladstone trip and want to know all the fun things to do in Gladstone, Queensland? We have you covered! Below you will find our guide to all the best Gladstone tourist attractions to plan your ultimate trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anywhere that\u2019s just off from the Great Barrier Reef will surely pique your interest, and with nearby islands such as Heron, Curtis and Lady Musgrave bringing you to epic dive and snorkelling sites, offering birds galore, and random wildlife such as even the odd croc at Curtis\u2026 It doesn\u2019t take much convincing to make Gladstone your next holiday destination!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swim with turtles, ride a submarine to view the corals of the famous reef up close, dive or snorkel, and explore rugged beaches that you share only with nesting or hatching turtles\u2026 This is home to crazy canoe fishermen that daily catch trevellies and kingfish. This is 4WD country, along marked tracks that lead you into bushlands and wetlands. This is epic Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet back on the mainland, there\u2019s also lots of Gladstone activities to enjoy for all age groups. Scenic views – such as from Round Hill Lookout – and gorgeous days out immersed in the local community at Spinnaker Park or the coastal towns of Boyne Island And Tannum Sands await you.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Nature is on full display at the Tondoon Botanic Gardens and at Lake Awoonga, where watersports and sailing are also on offer. Or dive into the region\u2019s heritage at the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you need further convincing, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecrafts are currently hurtling through our solar system with photos from Heron Island – selected as a prime example of Earth\u2019s dramatic ecosystem. So don\u2019t miss out on seeing this for yourself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gladstone is maybe not the most exciting city in the region for tourists and the signs of industrialism are very evident on the way into town. However, it is a pretty and pleasant place with parks seemingly everywhere, a great climate and some fun things to see in Gladstone and its surrounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, you will find everything you need to know about the best things to do Gladstone region offers, all the best activities in Gladstone, the top Gladstone attractions you shouldn\u2019t miss as well as the best places to visit in Gladstone for your ultimate holiday!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Top 15 Fun Things To Do In Gladstone, Queensland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are the best things to do in Gladstone Qld. Read through and select the ones that fit your interests and timeframe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get A 360\u00b0 View Of The City From Round Hill Lookout<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Amazing views from the Round Hill Lookout<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The first one of the places to visit in Gladstone that I recommend you head to is the Round Hill Lookout. This is the perfect place to get your bearings and to get an introduction to Gladstone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Gladstone attraction is exactly what it sounds like it is – a round hill lookout! It\u2019s a lookout on a hill which takes up the whole circumference of the hill. So you can walk around the top and see most of the city and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes this one of the things to do in Gladstone today extra good is information boards as you walk around that don\u2019t just describe some of what you are seeing but also give background information of the history of the city in relation to what you are seeing. It\u2019s great!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recommend you spend at least 15 minutes walking around the top and reading these boards. There\u2019s parking all around the lookout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take In The Views At Auckland Hill Lookout<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Auckland Hill Lookout<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Once you have checked out the whole city from the Round Hill Lookout, head to the Auckland Hill Lookout (also called William Golding Memorial Lookout) for a closer lookout!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located close to the centre of town, this lookout gives a closer view of the area around the harbour area. It\u2019s a pretty view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Wet At East Shores Water Park<\/h3>\n\n\n
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East Shores Water Park<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

East Shores Water Park is the place to head if you are travelling with kids. Located by the harbour in the East Shores Precinct, it\u2019s the perfect place to cool down with tons of water jets that could have entertained my 4 year old all day. It has great opening hours too, unlike some we experienced along the east coast, opening until 9pm in summer.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Picnic tables and water jets!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

There\u2019s also a big playground, BBQs and plenty of space for a picnic. It\u2019s a quick walk here from the Auckland Hill Lookout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore Gladstone Maritime Museum & HMAS Gladstone!<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Gladstone Maritime Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

In 2021, the Gladstone Maritime Museum moved to its new home by East Shores. Housed in a larger building, there\u2019s even more space to display the fabulous items and is our top pick of things to do in Gladstone this weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mainly focused on the maritime history of the Curtis Coast and the Capricorn-Bunker Coral Islands, the museum\u2019s best features are perhaps its \u201cWreck Wall\u201d that pinpoints shipwreck locations, plus the \u201cJenny Lind\u201d figurehead from a shipwreck at the nearby Kenn Reef.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can easily spend an hour looking at the various vessels, model ships, navigational aids and other shipwreck relics on display. Plus, there\u2019s a library with hundreds of papers and journals, all related to seafaring vessels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our favourite part was HMAS Gladstone, a 42-metre ex-Australian Navy Fremantle Class Patrol Boat, permanently moored next to the museum. Now a museum ship, it\u2019s been preserved as if the last crew member only recently disembarked. Filled with numerous personal items donated from the crew, this makes for an unusual exhibition that places you right in the middle of what it was like to have lived and worked on the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similar to the museum, there are knowledgeable and helpful guides on hand to explain the machines and ship\u2019s details. And it\u2019s a particular favourite for children, as the storytelling is very involved, bringing to life the emotion and adventures that the ship played in Australian Naval history. Altogether, a visit here is a firm favourite of things to do in Gladstone, school holidays or with family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newly located to Flinders Parade, in the beautiful East Shores 1B Parklands, HMAS Gladstone is currently only open for weekend tours and the museum opens Friday-Sunday. We suggest checking their website<\/a> prior to visiting to ensure no disappointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch A Show At Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Looking for things to do in Gladstone with kids or things to do in Gladstone at night? Look no further than central Queensland\u2019s top entertainment venue the GECC. Nestled in the heart of Gladstone, the Centre plays host to theatre productions, children\u2019s shows, gala events, cooking competitions, comedians, dance troupes, singers and much, much more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dynamic, vibrant and entertaining, don\u2019t forget to check What\u2019s On at GECC<\/a> before heading there. Reserve your tickets online and enjoy a great night out with all the family!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have A Family Picnic In Tondoon Botanic Gardens<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"Tondoon<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

This gorgeous leafy oasis in the industrial port of Gladstone is a welcome respite. Spanning over 83 hectares, it\u2019s a remarkable size and incredibly lush, making it one of Australia\u2019s top ten noted regional gardens (Australian Geographic, Jan 2018), and a standout of things to do around Gladstone, Qld.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only a short drive from Gladstone\u2019s CBD, you\u2019ll find yourself suddenly surrounded by tropical, sub-tropical and dry rainforest plants. But don\u2019t expect manicured gardens as these veer more towards natural gardens with mother nature taking the design lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opened in 1988, the tranquil gardens overlook Lake Tondoon at the base of picturesque Mount Biondello. At the entrance, you\u2019ll find a collection of trees looking as though they were placed by hand. This natural arboretum is, however, due to blue gum seeds, having been washed down from the lake when the dam wall was breached in the 60\u2019s!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep an eye out for the garden\u2019s floral emblem, the Crown of Gold – a tree with heart-shaped leaves and bright yellow fingers of flowers – as we found these truly gorgeous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are various art and sculptures scattered amongst the gardens, such as Aboriginal Sea Life and Gladstone Centenarians. Also, don\u2019t miss the incredible Aboriginal painting on the ceiling of the orientation shelter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within the Gardens, there are a few buildings to check-out, such as an Orchid House which showcases some of Port Curtis region\u2019s native flowers. Plus, there\u2019s a Japanese Tea House, surrounded by The Garden of Stillness and Movement – an ornamental, landscaped garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the main reason most visitors come here is to discover the plants, and there\u2019s over 3000 of them on display from both dry and wet rainforest settings. Making it easy to appreciate why a visit here is one of the most interesting things to do in Gladstone Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet it\u2019s not just plantlife, there\u2019s prolific wildlife too!  Bring along a pair of binoculars as some of the birds are simply stunning (especially around the Lake area), and there\u2019s an abundance of insects to discover too. And if you\u2019re with children, keep an eye out at Lake Tondoon for Krefft\u2019s Freshwater Turtles, so cute! You can grab a coffee at the lakeside Cafe while relaxing and enjoying the peaceful views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the best part, it\u2019s all free!  So it is high on our list of Gladstone attractions, things to do with kids or equally ideal for couples! Open daily, drop by in June when the Tondoon Gardens host \u201cEcofest\u201d – one of the nation\u2019s biggest environmental awareness events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located at Glenlyon Road, self-discover or join a guided tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stroll Along Spinnaker Park<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Spinnaker Park<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Join the throngs of locals that adore Spinnaker Park – for morning runs, bike rides, rollerblading or family bbqs and picnics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy two and a half kilometres of walking tracks that take you along the ocean wall. Discover native wetlands and ponds, and there\u2019s a wonderful cove with a small beach that we found ideal for a refreshing swim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wide grassy areas make the park a favourite location for weekend barbies, or you can grab a bite to eat at onsite Cafe Spinnaker Park. Either way, plan into your schedule an afternoon to hang out here, the premier recreation area of Gladstone City and a wonderful way to spend some hours whilst you contemplate things to do at Gladstone tomorrow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n