Your ‘Ticket to Paradise’ in Queensland, Australia

LGBTQ+ folx love a fun movie, especially if Academy Award® winners George Clooney and Julia Roberts George Clooney and Julia Roberts star in it, right? And what travelers love even more is to be able to live the real life experiences portrayed in blockbuster movies like Ticket to Paradise. But here’s the catch with this movie specifically, even though the fictional tale takes place in Bali, the movie was actually filmed in Australia. And now, you can plan your trip to paradise and bring the movie scenes to life with these IRL travel experiences in Queensland!

Ok, so the movie is about exes, David (George Clooney) and Georgia (Julia Roberts), who find themselves on a shared mission to stop their lovestruck daughter from making the same mistake they once made. Cue epic backdrops filled with Balinese beach bars, romantic waterfalls, and forest bathing in Ubud, downtown street bazaars, and endless blue ocean vistas peppered with luxe resorts.

That’s the hype reel. The real hype, and the biggest surprise for movie fans, is that Ticket to Paradise was filmed on location in Queensland, Australia. The movie is peppered with panoramic views of Whitsunday Island, a lush rainforest near the Gold Coast, and secret beaches off Brisbane. Here are a few scenes straight from the movie reel, with the real locations to help you design your own Ticket to Paradise.

REEL LIFE: Pre-wedding icebreaker in Bali
REAL LIFE: Destination wedding at Hamilton Island

In the midst of planning a wedding (or elopement) of your own? Say hello to one of the most popular residents of the Whitsundays region, Hamilton Island Resort. The island played backdrop to a number of scenes in the movie, including the famous pre-wedding party around the Bougainvillea Pool and an impromptu soccer match on Catseye Beach. With natural wonder as abundant as its accommodation offerings, plus its own picture-perfect chapel, this tropical haven continues to tempt leisure and wedding travelers in their droves. But there is more than one island in the Whitsundays. There are 74 of them, and a variety of accommodations to suit budgets great and small.

REEL LIFE: Arriving at Bali by boat
REAL LIFE: Escaping to Katie’s Cove, Haslewood Island in the Whitsundays

Katie’s Cove may be a secret spot on the northern tip of Haslewood Island in Queensland’s Whitsundays, but this arc of brilliant white sand is no stranger to Hollywood with the likes of Pirates of the Caribbean 5 also using it as a quintessential beach backdrop. Located opposite its more famous big sister, Whitehaven Beach, (incidentally named TripAdvisor’s Travelers Choice Best Beach in the World 2021), Katie’s Cove was the backdrop for a classic scene in Ticket To Paradise where David and Georgia reunite with their daughter Lily in Bali. Create your own Hollywood-style experience in the Whitsunday Islands – and charter a yacht or take an Ocean Rafting day drip from nearby Airlie Beach to experience this little piece of paradise.

REEL LIFE: Jungle trekking in Ubud
REAL LIFE: Hiking to Curtis Falls, Mount Tamborine National Park

Sure, Ubud has its mysterious green panoramas that are hard to beat, but in Queensland, there are plenty of equal alternatives. Take a scenic drive along the heavily forested winding roads from the sky-high towers of the Gold Coast to the crest of Tamborine Mountain. Here you can find vineyards, walk along cooling trails, hang glide off the side of the hill, or mosey through the pretty art and curio shops on Gallery Walk. In Ticket to Paradise, Georgia and David are whisked off to the edge of the Indonesian jungle for their daughter’s impending wedding celebrations. The scene was filmed on a private property just off the Gallery Walk Tourist precinct not far from the stunning Curtis Falls. Keen to know more? Pack an overnight bag and make a weekend of it; hit up our 48-hour guide to Tamborine Mountain.

REEL LIFE: Swimming with wild dolphins
REAL LIFE: Hand-feeding dolphins at Tangalooma Island Resort, Moreton Island

It’s one of the most memorable scenes from the movie, but if you really want a one-of-a-kind experience with dolphins in the wild, then Tangalooma Island Resort off the coast of Brisbane is the place to head. Since 1992, Tangalooma has notched up global acclaim for its nightly dolphin feeding when some 10 wild bottlenose dolphins pop up near the jetty in front of the resort at sunset. Guests who sign up for the experience can wade into the water to hand-feed the dolphins, while a dedicated team of Eco Rangers educates guests and ensure the best-practice management for the feeding. (Incidentally, Tangalooma Island Resort played backdrop to some of the most glorious wedding sunsets featured in the movie while ALL the in-water scenes were filmed just south of the Resort at Lucinda Bay on the stunning western beaches of Moreton Island). 

REEL LIFE: Graduating from an unknown USA university.
REAL LIFE: Brushing up on history at Brisbane City Hall.

Once the highest landmark in the city when it was built in the 1920s, Brisbane City Hall continues to be the hub of Queensland’s capital, despite being dwarfed by the modern skyscrapers around it. Spend some time at the Museum of Brisbane or take a daily guided tour through the Main Auditorium (where Lily’s graduation scene was filmed) and the iconic Clock Tower to fully appreciate the history of this icon. As you tour the building, note the sweeping marble staircases and vaulted ceilings. The Museum of Brisbane is a treasure of history and currently features an exhibition of luxury jewelry designer, Margo McKinney – World of Wonder.

REEL LIFE: Staying with your ex at a Bali resort surrounded by breathtaking island vistas.
REAL LIFE: Chilling at Aquila, possibly the most luxurious resort in the whole of Australia.

Offering 60 individual pavilions, Aquila’s secluded yet central location on Hamilton Island means guests can relax in the privacy of their own villa on a breathtaking promontory overlooking the Whitsunday Passage. Since its inception in 2007, qualia won dozens of accolades for consistently setting the benchmark in understated elegance and exceeding guest expectations.

A handful of scenes in Ticket to Paradise were filmed at qualia including the Long Pavilion which is featured in a scene where David is lamenting life, Spa Aquila, and the resort’s own Beach House. This exclusive hideaway offers jaw-dropping views of the Whitsundays Passage and features an oversized bedroom that leads into a 10-person dining room and a 12-meter private plunge pool (pictured). Coincidentally, the two main stars of the movie stayed in private holiday homes just footsteps from qualia during the filming process. One of these was the grand waterfront Aquila.

REEL LIFE: Standing on the cliffs of “Bali” watching a boat float away.
REAL LIFE: Playing a round of golf on Dent Island near Hamilton Island.

According to at least one avid golfer on Dent Island, the floating boat scene is thought to have been filmed near the 16th hole of the Hamilton Island Golf Club at Dent Island. Designed by five times British Open Champion, Peter Thomson, this 18-hole championship golf course is touted as Australia’s answer to Pebble Beach. It offers 360-degree views of the Whitsunday Passage and ruggedly beautiful fairways. The spectacular escarpments and endless views create a captivating backdrop to the scene. Meanwhile, the Club House was reputedly a popular lunch venue for the lead star.

REEL LIFE: David and Georgia sitting on a log looking out over the ocean
REAL LIFE: Romance at Hamilton Island’s One Tree Hill

One Tree Hill is a known hot spot for travelers hoping to ‘gram’ the perfect holiday backdrop. Located on a summit with sweeping views over the island resort and the neighboring islands, One Tree Hill can be easily assessed by zippy little rental buggies plus regular bus departures. Sunset is the best time to go when the sky is saturated in hues of pink and orange. The backdrop may have sparked a little on-screen romance in Ticket to Paradise.

REEL LIFE: Haggling in the markets of Bali
REAL LIFE: Weekend shopping at Pall Mall Carrara Market on the Gold Coast

The allure of a street market, colorful locals, and a bargain are all hard to resist. We all love a good haggle in Bali, as Georgia learned to do during her visit, but the Gold Coast also has a vibrant bodega culture, not least of all the Carrara Markets where some of the scenes from Ticket to Paradise were shot. Open every Saturday and Sunday, Carrara offers more than 400 outlets ranging from fashion to jewelry, and toys to souvenirs, homewares, artworks, and phone accessories. Stalled for more market fun on the Gold Coast? Check out the very cruisy The Village Markets at Burleigh for designer threads, the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets for food and fun every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday night, and Miami Marketta for live music and global food flavors every weekend.

REEL: Riding a moped through lush cane fields
REAL: Driving around Norwell on the northern end of the Gold Coast.

Most Aussie travelers will know that Bali is synonymous with rice fields rather than cane fields. But the lush cane fields around Norwell just north of the Gold Coast is where this pretty backdrop was filmed. Interestingly if you are curious about Tuk Tuk rides in Queensland, then make sure you experience Just Tuk’n Around at Airlie Beach. The two-wheel business has been making its way around the resort town for some years now with 90-minute informative sightseeing tours and progressive dinners.

Don’t miss George Clooney and Julia Roberts star in the ultimate feel-good movie of the year. Ticket to Paradise, showing now and only in cinemas. For more inspiration to book an air ticket and plan a getaway to Queensland, check out the trailer below and discover Queensland’s laidback, natural beauty for yourself.