Queensland's best: 61K votes reveal top beach to pub to Big Thing

Queensland’s best of the best, as voted by its people.

To honour the Sunshine State’s 166th birthday this year, thousands of Queenslanders have participated in an online survey to determine the state’s best of the best. The poll received more than 61,000 votes across 15 separate categories and on Queensland Day (6 June), state premier David Crisafulli announced the winners. From coffee and burgers to pubs and beaches – this is officially Queensland at its absolute best.

Queensland’s best Big Thing

Don’t skip the Big Mango in Bowen. (Image: Getty Images/Kokkai Ng)

Every Aussie shares a unique love for the country’s iconic Big Things – our eclectic yet incredible collection of giant sculptures dotted across Australia. Quite a few of them call the Sunshine State home, including the Big Mango, which has taken out the title of Queensland’s best Big Thing. Located in the Whitsundays’ town of Bowen, this 10-metre structure symbolises the region’s prolific cultivation of the summer fruit. Pop in for a photo opp and some delicious sorbet made from locally sourced mangoes.

Queensland’s best pub

Slipstream Brewery Co in Brisbane — Slipstream Brewing in Brisbane took out the best pub in the state.

From iconic outback pubs to boutique breweries on the rise, Australia has a watering hole for all kinds of occasions. And for Queenslanders, their thirst for good beer has been well and truly quenched by Slipstream Brewing Co in the Brisbane suburb of Yeerongpilly. Beating an exquisite line-up of Brissy pubs, the local landmark is known for its delicious range of craft beers that are brewed onsite. It also does a mean pub feed, hosts trivia nights and offers takeaway, too – so you never have to go without.

Queensland’s best beach

Coolum Beach in Queensland — Coolum Beach is a Queensland hotspot. (Image: Getty Images/Harmonise Creatives)

If Queensland is famous for one thing, it’s definitely its beaches. With over 6000 kilometres of coastline, there’s no shortage of places for seaside fun. But according to Queenslanders, nowhere does it better than Coolum Beach. While it has long been recognised as one of the best beaches on the Sunshine Coast, it’s now officially the best in the state. And it’s not hard to see why – fringed by greenery, this pretty patch of sand offers crystal-clear waters, rock pools and sunshine all year-round.

Queensland’s best fish and chips

Nothing beats fresh fish and chips. (Image: Unsplash/Meelan Bawjee)

It’s a meal no Australian can say no to – a fresh, newspaper-wrapped batch of fish and chips. But with a seafood shop on the corner of almost every beachside town, how do you find the best? Well, ask the Queensland public and they’ll direct you to Bird’s Fish Bar in Bowen – a town proving to be a real hotspot! The quintessential co-op took out the title thanks to its boat-to-plate philosophy, locally caught seafood and fresh hot chips seasoned to perfection. And from a quick glance at the menu, it could be in the running for the best fish and chips in Australia.

Queensland’s best meat pie

Stock images of meat pies — The best meat pie can be found in Blackbutt. (Image: Unsplash/FitNish Media)

Nothing beats a good meat pie – chunky bits of beef and flaky pastry fresh out of the oven. And while we’ve got some incredible meat pies around the country, there’s only one in Queensland that does it best. The town of Blackbutt’s eponymous bakery has come out on top in 2025 for its classic meat pie, which is served alongside a range of other sweet and savoury treats. Don’t wait until you’re simply passing through this scenic town; this is a pastry worthy of a trip in itself.

Queensland’s best coffee

The Coffee Commune in Brisbane — Queenslanders claim The Coffee Commune is home to the best brews statewide.

While the best coffee in the country can be found in NSW, Queensland’s best brew is located in Bowen Hills. Not to be confused with the other Bowen (the town that took out ‘best Big Thing’ and ‘best fish and chips’), it’s another suburb of Brissy. Make a beeline for The Coffee Commune to sample the best coffee in Queensland for yourself. Where else would you want to buy a brew?

The rest of the best

Keen to find Queensland’s coolest cafe? Or the best burger in the state? From food to festivities, these are the nine remaining category winners from Queensland’s best of the best 2025 .

Queensland’s best parmi: Botany Restaurant & Bar in Newstead
Queensland’s best bahn mi: My Street Food in Woolloongabba
Queensland’s best ice-cream: Rad Rolled Ice Cream in Hervey Bay
Queensland’s best burger: Mr Jeebus in Tingalpa
Queensland’s best beer: Qld Pale Ale by Archer Brewing Company in Wilston
Queensland’s best cafe: Dorney’s Cake Shop in Chinchilla
Queensland’s best event: India Fest in Townsville
Queensland’s best landmark: the Story Bridge in Brisbane
Queensland’s best natural attraction: the Great Barrier Reef

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.

61K votes reveal Queensland’s best – from beach to pub to Big Thing