Tropical Queensland Among Condé Nast Traveller's Top 2025 Destinations
This just in: Esteemed travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller has announced the top 25 destinations to visit in 2025, and Queensland’s Tropical Coast officially made the cut.
For those who have already had the privilege of visiting, this won’t come as a surprise. After all, Queensland - aka the Sunshine State - is home to the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands, and Cairns’ magnificent waterfalls and rainforests. Not only that, but the vast collection of walking trails, cultural hotspots, and swanky island resorts has guests spoiled for choice when they’re planning their stay.That being said, it’s very exciting to see Tropical Queensland make the 2025 line-up, and we can’t wait to welcome a whole host of new holidaymakers in the new year.
Why You Should Visit Queensland’s Tropical Coast in 2025
According to the world-renowned travel publication, it’s not just the World Heritage-Listed Great Barrier Reef that earns Queensland’s Tropical Coast a spot on your 2025 travel bucket list - though it’s certainly worth seeing while you’re here! Below is a breakdown of what Condé Nast Traveller thinks is so great about Tropical Queensland.
The Great Barrier Reef
It’d be a shame not to mention one of the world’s natural wonders when praising Queensland! Just a short boat journey from Airlie Beach, Cairns, or Port Douglas, you’ll find the magnificent Great Barrier Reef. Whether you want to get in there and see it for yourself with a scuba dive or a snorkel, or you’d rather admire the Reef from the skies with a scenic flight, there are all sorts of breathtaking ways to experience it.
Check out our favourite tours of the Great Barrier Reef...
Luxury Resorts in the Whitsundays
Right off the coast of popular backpacker town Airlie Beach, you’ll find the Whitsunday Islands - 74 of them, in fact. The most famous of the islands is Whitsunday Island itself, thanks to the pristine Whitehaven Beach, complete with 98.9% silica sand and crystal clear waters, but Condé Nast has shone a spotlight on its neighbour: Hamilton Island.
Hamilton Island is one of the few Whitsunday Islands that visitors can stay on overnight, with a selection of bespoke resorts, hotels, villas, and bungalows. The latest addition will be The Sundays - a family-friendly luxury resort that ensures an exceptional vacation for all ages.
Just 13km away from Hamilton Island, there’s Lindeman Island, which will be reopening its five-star resort in the new year after much anticipation. Lindeman Island has been under the radar since 2011, when it was sadly damaged by Cyclone Yasi. But construction and renovations are currently underway to bring Lindeman back to its former glory, with plans for a late 2025 return.
Wangetti Trail
Coming soon to the Queensland coast the magnificent Wangetti Trail - a 94km walking and mountain-biking track that stretches all the way from Cairns to Port Douglas. For those walking, the trail will take around 6 days and 5 nights to complete. Along the way, there'll be public camping spots and high-end eco-accommodation, making it the perfect spot for hiking and nature enthusiasts. Parts of the trail are already complete, with plans for the full stretch to be complete and operational by 2026. Check out our top recommendations for scenic hikes and walks in the Whitsundays.
New Flights to Cairns
Finally, the iconic magazine mentions that a major upgrade to Cairns Airport is imminent, making the tropical coast more accessible to international visitors than ever! Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays are just a short local flight or a 619km drive from Cairns Airport. Making the journey from Cairns down the east coast and see what makes this journey so popular among travellers of all ages and budgets!
