1. Australian Dinosaur Trail

Jurassic Park fans and budding paleontologists can head to outback Queensland to unearth Australia’s prehistoric past on the Australian Dinosaur Trail.

Start the expedition in Eromanga and say g’day to Australia’s largest dinosaur, a 90-something-million-year-old titanosaur called ‘Cooper’ at the Eromanga Natural History Museum.

In Winton, get digging at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs which houses the largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils in one enormous museum located on the summit of a stunning jump-up (butte).

While there, volunteer to help prep a dino or take part in a paid dinosaur dig held on select dates throughout the year.

Just over an hour’s drive south west of Winton is Lark Quarry Conservation Park and Dinosaur Stampede National Monument – the site of the only recorded dinosaur stampede on Earth.

Pass back through Winton and onto Hughenden to meet ‘Hughie’, a 7m replica of a 110-million-year-old Muttaburrasaurus found in 1963.

Finish the trail in Richmond, the ‘fossil capital of Australia’ and wind back the clock 120 million years at Kronosaurus Corner. The museum holds 1,150 local fossils from the Cretaceous inland sea that covered a large section of Queensland millions of years ago.

2. Savour Southern Queensland Country Tasting Trails

The Savour Southern Queensland Country Tasting Trails are a must-do for foodies with each trail calling for empty baskets and bellies.

Six delectable self-drive itineraries wind through the rolling hills, towering mountain ranges and sprawling countryside west of Brisbane.

RACQ Roadside Assistance: Wherever you are, we're on our way

Choose from cellar doors and vineyards, food-focused events and workshops, local producers, breweries and distilleries, picnics and country pubs.

Whether it’s a day trip or a multi-night culinary journey, travellers have the flexibility to follow just one trail or combine different experiences from a few, tailoring the trip to individual taste buds.

3. Atherton Tablelands Waterfall Circuit

The Atherton Tablelands lie in the hinterland south west of Cairns, boasting freshwater creeks and lofty mountain plateaus that produce gorgeous waterfalls.

The Waterfall Circuit starts and ends in Cairns with stops at some of the most photogenic cascades in the country such as Josephine Falls, Tchupala Falls, Nandroya Falls, Millaa Millaa Falls and Zillie Falls.

Break up the trip with a walk through the canopy at Mamu Tropical Skywalk, cool off at Lake Eacham, or refuel at the many local producers dotted throughout the highlands.

Continue the rainforest theme staying in treehouse accommodation at Canopy Rainforest Tree Houses and Wildlife Sanctuary and Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat.

4. Great Beach Drive

Adventure and nature collide on this five-day, 380km 4WD journey along the golden sands of the Sunshine and Fraser coasts.

Starting in Noosa, take the vehicle ferry across the river to Noosa Northshore – the gateway to The Great Sandy Biosphere Reserve.

Drive to Double Island Point, home to the world’s longest right-hand surf break and onto Rainbow Beach.

Then take a short jaunt up the beach to Inskip Point, followed by a barge across the Great Sandy Strait, takes travellers to the southern tip of World Heritage-listed K’gari (Fraser Island).

The beach driving doesn’t stop there. Cruise the eastern fringe of the island along 75 Mile Beach and take in K’gari (Fraser Island) beauty spots like Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek, Indian Head, Champagne Pools and Pile Valley.

Want to tackle the Great Beach Drive without getting behind the wheel? Join the experts at Great Beach Drive 4WD Tours or Discovery Fraser Island on a guided 4WD tour.

5. The ‘Big Things’ Road Trip

There’s no denying Queensland is big, so it’s only fitting Australia’s second largest state is home to a monumental assortment of ‘big things’.

Road trippers can tick many of these off the ‘big’ bucket list with a blockbuster voyage spanning the length of Queensland’s coastline.

Starting in border town Stanthorpe, see Australia’s answer to the ‘big apple’, before turning to the coast to drool over the big pie at Yatala’s famed pie shop on the Gold Coast.

Head north on the Bruce Highway to the Sunshine Coast – home to the big pineapple and Matilda the big kangaroo from the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games (located at Kybong, just south of Gympie).

Sticking with the theme of iconic Aussie characters, a towering statue of Ned Kelly can be found in Maryborough on the Fraser Coast.

Bundaberg doesn’t do beverages by halves with the big Bundaberg barrel serving up refreshing Bundaberg Brewed Drinks.

Still thirsty? Near Childers, check out the big beer bottle.

It will come as no surprise that Australia’s beef capital, Rockhampton, boasts six big bulls while in Sarina, south of Mackay, Buffy the big cane toad stands guard on the main street.

For something sweeter, the 10m big mango welcomes visitors Bowen, the town made famous by the tropical fruit.

In Tully, stand next to the Golden Gumboot to gain a sense of how much rain fell in the Wet Tropics town in 1950 – the highest annual rainfall ever recorded in Australia.

On the Cassowary Coast, seek out the big cassowary at Mission Beach and in the tropical north, climb inside the big croc head in the Daintree or travel to gulf country to meet Krys, the big crocodile in Normanton.

For more big things away from the coastal drive, take the inland route with plenty more ideas here.  

Photos: Tourism and Events Queensland

Find out why RACQ Car Insurance is made for Queenslanders