Queensland has one of the most varied and vibrant events calendars in the country. From outback rodeos and regional food festivals to waterfront music events, Queensland offers something worth travelling for every month of the year, to every corner of the map.
The beauty of Queensland’s events season is how well it lines up with the touring calendar. As the heat eases and the dry season settles in across the north and outback, the events calendar comes alive. From the cooler months of autumn right through to the warm build of the wet season, there is a steady rhythm of festivals, shows and celebrations to enjoy. And for caravan travellers, Queensland’s parks put you right at the heart of it all, within easy reach of events, with the freedom to arrive early, stay late and make the most of the region along the way.
Here are five events across 2026 that are worth building a road trip around, along with the best caravan parks to stay at along the way.
Queensland’s own music and camping festival, held at the Kerribee Park Rodeo Grounds in Mareeba, just under an hour’s drive west of Cairns on the Atherton Tablelands. The 2026 lineup is headlined by Australian rock icons ICEHOUSE and legendary singer-songwriter Don McLean, with more than 40 artists performing across four days and nights on multiple stages.
Beyond the music, the festival features visual art displays, cultural exhibits, local produce markets, food vendors and family-friendly activities. Camping is available directly on site adjacent to the festival grounds, with 24-hour security, medical support and toilet and shower facilities included. A free shuttle service runs between the festival site and Mareeba town centre. Staying in Mareeba also puts you within easy reach of Davies Creek National Park, Granite Gorge, Emerald Creek Falls and Australia’s coffee capital.
The festival generated more than $12 million for the Queensland economy in 2025 and is expected to go even further in 2026. Book camping and tickets early.
Lakeside Motor Inn and Caravan Park, Yungaburra
For those who want a more relaxed base away from the festival grounds, the Lakeside Motor Inn and Caravan Park at Yungaburra on Lake Tinaroo is one of the most beautiful spots on the Atherton Tablelands. A favourite with anglers chasing barramundi and redclaw, and a great base for exploring the Tablelands between festival days.
NRMA Atherton Tablelands Holiday Park
One of the most consistently praised caravan parks in Tropical North Queensland, this park sits on six acres of award-winning gardens just 1.5km from Atherton town centre. Guests regularly describe it as among the best parks they have stayed in anywhere in Australia, highlighting the immaculately maintained grounds, spotless amenities, welcoming staff, heated swimming pool, toddler pool, camp kitchen, playground and world-class mountain biking from the back of the park. Powered and unpowered sites, drive-through sites, villas and ensuite cabins welcome all guests, including pets.
One hour from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim is one of Queensland’s most productive food regions, and every June it opens its farm gates wide for Eat Local Month. With more than 150 events across the month, this is the ultimate foodie road trip for anyone who loves paddock-to-plate dining, farm tours, long lunches and meeting the people who grow Queensland’s food.
Highlights for 2026 include hands-on workshops, masterclasses, winery and distillery experiences, cooking demonstrations by leading Queensland chefs and the signature Winter Harvest Festival in Kalbar on 27 June. The festival also overlaps with the Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular from 11 to 14 June, making a multi-event trip very easy to plan. Whether you are after a formal long lunch or a free family farm tour, the Scenic Rim has something in June for every type of traveller.
Beaudesert Caravan and Tourist Park
The natural base for Eat Local Month, this park sits in the heart of Beaudesert and is walking distance to shops, cafes and local services. Guests enjoy country views over the showgrounds, and the park is just a short drive from Boonah, O’Reilly’s, Lamington National Park and the surrounding wineries and farms. Cabins, powered sites and unpowered sites are all available.
Boonah Caravan Park
Located at the Boonah Showgrounds right in the heart of town, this relaxed country park is just a five-minute walk to local shops and cafes and an easy base for exploring everything Eat Local Month has to offer across the Scenic Rim. Wide open space, peaceful surroundings and straightforward access to the surrounding farms, wineries, Lamington National Park and the markets of Canungra and Mount Tamborine. Pet-friendly, with powered and unpowered sites available.
The Southern Hemisphere’s largest rodeo, and one of Australia’s most iconic outback events. Since 1959, the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo has been drawing competitors and spectators from across Australia and around the world to the red dirt arena at Buchanan Park in the heart of outback Queensland.
Three days of bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback bronc, steer wrestling, barrel racing and rope and tie events feature alongside live entertainment, the Cowgirls’ Brunch, outback market traders, food stalls and the Indigenous Rodeo Championships. With record prize money on offer in 2026 and 18,000 people through the gates in 2025, this event continues to go from strength to strength. Three-day passes remain at $120 for adults, with a family pass also available.
Mount Isa is a natural stop on any outback Queensland road trip, and the rodeo gives travellers the ultimate reason to time their visit just right.
Sunset Tourist Park, Mount Isa
Mount Isa’s only locally owned and operated caravan park, set alongside a spring-fed creek just 1.5km from the town centre. Powered and unpowered sites, self-contained villas, cabins, bungalows and budget rooms are all available, many pet-friendly. The park features a magnesium pool, two camp kitchens with free gas barbecues, free Wi-Fi, a playground and a free courtesy bus to two clubs in town. Staff can arrange tours to the surrounding region.
Discovery Parks, Mount Isa
Set on the banks of the Leichhardt River, Discovery Parks Mount Isa is listed offers a range of accommodation from shaded powered and unpowered caravan sites through to ensuite cabins and self-contained villas. Facilities include a swimming pool, camp kitchen, barbecues, laundry, free Wi-Fi and an onsite kiosk. It is a well-equipped base very close to the Outback at Isa experience, the Riversleigh Fossil Centre and most importantly, the rodeo grounds at Buchanan Park.
Presented by Cruise Whitsundays, the Great Barrier Reef Festival celebrates the reef and the vibrant coastal culture of the Whitsundays across three days in the heart of Airlie Beach. The festival connects the reef to the shore with fireworks on Friday night, a foreshore cocktail party, live music, a free family fun day, the Revvin’ the Reef car show on Saturday, reef art installations crafted from recycled materials and Master Reef Guide educational experiences offering guided tours to the outer Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands.
The Whitsundays at the end of July is ideal road trip timing. Dry season conditions make this one of the best months of the year to be on the water, and the festival gives travellers a perfect anchor for a longer stay in the region.
Tasman Holiday Parks, Airlie Beach
Tasman is just minutes from Airlie Beach’s cafes, bars and the Coral Sea Marina, and is the closest holiday park to the town centre. Glamping tents, villas, cabins, motel units and pet-friendly powered and unpowered sites are all available, along with a resort pool, half tennis court, birdlife daily feeding and free Wi-Fi. The team can book reef tours and island experiences directly from reception.
NRMA Airlie Beach Holiday Park
Set directly opposite Cannonvale Beach, just 2km from Airlie Beach town centre, this well-equipped park offers Bali villas, boutique bungalows, powered and unpowered sites across 13 acres of shaded grounds, plus a resort pool, splash park, camp kitchen, BBQs and an onsite cafe. Pet-friendly camping is available. A comfortable, well-located base for reef and island adventures.
This is one of Queensland’s most joyful and genuinely unique free events, held annually in the beautiful heritage river city of Maryborough, birthplace of Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers.
On 5 July, Maryborough’s Queens Park, riverside parklands and heritage streetscapes are transformed into a world of play and imagination. The 2026 festival features the beloved Grand Parade, nanny races, chimney sweeping competitions, a costume competition, pavement art, live entertainment, market stalls, a miniature steam train through Queens Park and an attempt at the Australian record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Mary Poppins characters. It is completely free and utterly charming for all ages.
Maryborough is also a great jumping-off point for Fraser Island and the wider Fraser Coast region, making it a natural leg on any Queensland coastal road trip.
Maryborough Caravan and Tourist Park
Located within 2km of the Maryborough CBD in quiet garden surroundings, this park offers grassy sites, drive-through sites for larger rigs, fully self-contained air-conditioned cabins with linen included, and good clean amenities. A games room with pool table and table tennis rounds out a solid set of facilities.
Maaroom Caravan Park
For something a little different, Maaroom is a tranquil fishing village on the Great Sandy Strait, just 20km south of Maryborough along the Cooloola Coast Highway. The park sits 400 metres from the waterfront with stunning views across to Fraser Island, and offers powered sites with concrete annex slabs, a saltwater swimming pool, a fully stocked shop and excellent fishing and crabbing from the nearby boat ramp and pontoon. A peaceful, scenic stay after the colour of the festival.
Queensland’s 2026 event calendar spans from the Gold Coast to Tropical North Queensland and deep into the outback. These six events offer an option to suit every type of traveller, and each one is worth building a proper road trip around.
Explore caravan parks across Queensland here.
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