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

Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

Exploring K’gari

ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island — Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

Unwind at sunset

two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort — Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

Indulge and disconnect

woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa — Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

Getting there

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.

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