A new way to explore the Gold Coast Hinterland is coming early in 2026.
Putting yourself out there. Taking on new challenges. Exploring more of the country. Trying something new. All typical and worthy New Year’s Resolutions, and all achievable in one trip to the world’s first clifftop adventure park, Happitat, coming to the Gold Coast Hinterland in 2026.
Set to open 10 January inside the stunning Lamington National Park, the park is about soaking in some of the best natural displays of beauty while also getting the blood pumping. But it’s not about fear, it’s about turning the thrill of adventure into personal happiness. Happitat combines zip lines, suspension bridges, via ferrata climbs, rainforest walks and swimming holes, all perched on a 400-metre-high cliff face with unbeatable views. The aim? A heart-pumping experience, sure. But one that also ones that “are designed to add to the all-consuming sensory experience of nature".
The park encourages you to push through fear to experience happiness.
Founded by Austrian-born conservationist, alpine adventurer and ex-professional snowboarder Michael Neururer, he wants guests to find “an entirely new way to connect with nature through sensory encounters that invite focus, presence, and respect for place". He has curated the activities based on his own outdoor adventures around Europe and Canada, including snow sports, canyoning and avalanche control.
The experiences
Expansive views of Lamington National Park.
Get a birds-eye view of the Binna Burra section of Lamington National Park while soaring 400 metres above the trees on a speedy zipline. Follow the steel prongs of Arete Via Ferrata Climb (via Ferrata translates to “iron path", makes sense, right?) along the sheer cliff face. Balance your way along an 80-metre-long wobbly bridge dangling over the valley. Navigate tightropes, timber log crossings and a climbing net.
A calmer adventure can be found while walking out onto the two-metre cantilevered platform to enjoy those same stunning views, and follow it up with bushwalks to the tranquil natural spring.
The details
Pick a path along the Arête Via Ferrata.
Opening: 10 January 2026 Location: Binna Burra Cultural Landscape (around a 90-minute drive from Brisbane, one hour from Surfer’s Paradise or under two hours from Byron Bay) Price: Prices start from $377 for a single ticket. Group bookings available. Bookings:Tickets are on sale now.
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Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
When the winter chill settles in, an escape to Hamilton Island’s year-round tropical shores is the only acceptable coping mechanism.
As a heliophile with the cold tolerance of a Mediterranean house cat, the arrival of winter tends to spark a particular panic. How will I survive? Must I really start layering? What do you mean, Aperol season is over? But there are far better ways to spend the cooler months than sulking in the depths of your doona.
Enter, Hamilton Island. With its year-round sunshine and permanent on-holiday atmosphere, this Whitsundays favourite promises a veritable slice of summer in winter.
Think salt-stiff hair and the smug pleasure of devouring seafood beside the water while friends back home are defogging their windscreens. Here’s why Hamilton Island should figure into your winter plans.
1. Year-round summer weather
Hike under sunny winter skies on Hamilton Island. (Image: Andrew Caitens)
In the crisper months, Hamilton Island offers perfectly mild, sunny weather (17-24°C) that lends itself to morning swims and afternoon spritzes. Better still, you can enjoy the island’s outdoor adventures – from hiking to mountain biking – without the humidity or rain you’ll often find in summertime. With direct flights from most major Australian cities offering ease of access, Hamilton Island is the ideal place to flee the cold.
2. Getting active without the humidity
Zip around Hamilton Island by buggy. (Image: Hamilton Island)
Whether you’re hiking up to Passage Peak or exploring the island by buggy, tropical Queensland humidity is nobody’s friend. The one way to guarantee you will avoid the inevitable stickiness and fluffy hair? Visit during winter. There’s plenty to be enjoyed, from sunrise yoga at The Sundays (exclusive to guests of The Sundays) to playing golf on Dent Island.
3. Hamilton Island Race Week
Feel the thrill of Hamilton Island Race Week. (Image: Salty Dingo)
Taking place in August, Hamilton Island Race Week is a destination in its own right that attracts spectators and racers from around the globe. Boating enthusiasts and thrill-seeking holidaymakers flock to the island, which is palpably energetic as the first yachts set off for Dent Passage from Hamilton Island Yacht Club. The annual action-packed week, taking place from 15 to 22 August in 2026, offers an exciting calendar of on- and off-water events – spanning everything from celebrity chef dinners to golfing comps and wine tastings.
4. Best time for snorkelling
Explore Hamilton Island’s winter waters. (Image: Andrew Caitens)
While the crowds on Hamilton Island may disperse with the cooler weather, the marine life certainly doesn’t. Winter is widely considered one of thebest times to snorkel and dive in the Whitsundays.
It’s down to a number of reasons: excellent water visibility, higher chances of seeing whales as they migrate north and – best of all – no nasty stingers. This means no need to wear those notoriously unflattering full-body wetsuits visitors have to wear in warmer months. On top of all this, you’ll find calm seas ideal for sailing and Great Barrier Reef tours.
5. Fewer crowds
Experience a quieter Hamilton Island on a kayaking adventure. (Image: Hamilton Island)
Winter is often the quietest time to visit Hamilton Island, with the peak season crowds thinned to a relaxed trickle. You can snorkel or dive straight off the reef-laced waters of Catseye Beach, then swap fins for a buggy and zip between One Tree Hill, the marina and sunset cocktails without the usual summer queues. Active days stretch from kayaking, sailing and jet skiing to hopping over to famous Whitehaven Beach to witness those breathtaking white swirls of silica sand. You won’t have to elbow your way to the front of the crowd to get a good snap.
6. Delicious dining
Treat yourself to Bommie Restaurant’s fine dining featuring fresh, seasonal Aussie produce. (Image: Nikki To)
The food on Hamilton Island tastes just as good any time of year, and winter is still perfect weather for sundowners. Start with an iced tea Negroni at harbourside Bommie Deck, before transitioning to Bommie Restaurant for a fine-dining feast centering on seasonal Aussie ingredients. Or perhaps enjoy a more casual poolside evening at Sails Restaurant, where plates of chermoula chicken skewers, baked cauliflower steak and crispy sumac squid come served with ocean views. From family-friendly pub meals to elevated wine tastings, there’s something for everyone.
5. Clear skies for idyllic views
End your day with golden Hamilton Island sunsets over the water. (Image: Hamilton Island)
Never let a cloud rain on the parade of Hamilton Island’s spectacular scenery. Winter brings clearer skies and more stable weather to the Whitsundays, meaning your picture-perfect sunset at One Tree Hill is likely to remain that way. And after putting in the legwork to hike to a scenic lookout, the last thing you want is a vista hidden behind low cloud and haze.
