Queensland Quests started with an idea Jack and I had while walking along the Redcliffe foreshore. We both love getting out and exploring different parts of Brisbane. Sometimes you just want to leave the house and do something, without committing to a specific activity or spending a lot of money. To help us find new places, we would use a big fold-out map of Brisbane on our wall. One of us would close our eyes and point to a spot, then we’d Google what there was to do in that suburb. It was a fun way to discover parks, shops, and hidden corners we’d never explored before.
If you’ve done the Suttons Beach and Settlement Cove quest, you’ll have seen how well Redcliffe displays its history and heritage on the plaques. They’re actually really interesting, and we wondered how many people stop to read them. There are lots of these heritage trail markers honouring some pretty awesome Queenslanders. We like to incorporate these everyday people who have left their mark of our local areas.
All these elements got us thinking about creating a way for friends and families to explore, have fun, and learn a little along the way… without screens or spending a lot of money.
Making the Quests
The biggest challenge at the start was figuring out how to write the clues. I’ve always loved puzzles, and Jack is a fantastic wordsmith, but creating a framework that makes sense, is fun, and keeps people thinking took a lot of trial and error. We’re still learning, so if you come across a clue that doesn’t quite work, please let us know.
I personally love mapping the routes we walk. I loved orienteering as a kid, and now with a baby in a pram, I notice how a single step or staircase can make a route inaccessible. Accessibility is really important to us, and we try to make every quest something most people can enjoy.
Some of our most memorable moments happened while walking routes, looking for what we would use for clues. We walked the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens in 33-degree heat and had to keep taking refuge in the air conditioning at QUT. That’s when we realised our routes needed to be shorter. Initially, they were going to be 3 to 5 kilometres with more clues, but in Queensland heat, that’s just not fun.
Where we’re going
We’re just getting started, and we want Queensland Quests to grow quickly, adding new locations every month. Our goal is to help people see their surroundings in a new way, spend time together, and enjoy little adventures without needing a big plan or a lot of money.
-Georgie