Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli spent little time toasting his success, going straight to work as he looked set to form a majority government and end Labor's nine-year reign.
However, he did salute outgoing premier Mr Miles, who indicated on Sunday he hoped to hold on to Labor's reins as opposition leader.
A long election race is over, but Mr Crisafulli hit the ground running on Sunday after receiving a 7.30am call from Mr Miles, who conceded defeat.
Mr Crisafulli even had time for a gym session before summoning senior LNP colleagues to Queensland parliament and discussing their next steps.
He will become Queensland's second LNP premier this millennium after Campbell Newman's 2012-2015 stint.
Labor has governed Queensland for 30 of the past 35 years.
David Crisafulli says winning the election is a small step in a big job to improve the state. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
"Considering where we started from in historic terms, I said it was like climbing a mountain," Mr Crisafulli said on Sunday.
"Well it was like climbing a mountain ...weighed down with a backpack and in the sleeting snow.
"If you mean the electoral mountain, we've reached the top. If you mean doing what we need to do for Queenslanders, we've taken one very small step forward."
After almost 70 per cent of the vote count, the LNP is on track for 47 seats and Labor 29, with 13 still in doubt.
It needed 47 to form a majority government after holding 35 seats to Labor's 51 before the election.
Mr Crisafulli hit the phones after Mr Miles conceded, chatting with his LNP candidates as he prepared for "four years of hard work" before getting a congratulatory 20-minute call from the prime minister.
He also confirmed David Mackie would be the premier department's new acting director general, replacing a "gracious" Mike Kaiser.
LNP supporters celebrate election results in Brisbane. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)
Mr Crisafulli will visit Governor Jeannette Young on Sunday and inform her the LNP can form a majority government.
The LNP leader and his deputy Jarrod Bleijie on Monday are set to be sworn into interim leadership roles until the final seat count is announced.
Mr Crisafulli promised to legislate by Christmas his controversial "adult time for adult crime" policy in which juveniles face lengthy sentences for serious offences.
He also plans to introduce a 100-day review of 2032 Olympic Games infrastructure, deliver real-time health data and scrap a payroll tax on general practitioners.
Mr Crisafulli - the grandson of Italian immigrants and north Queensland cane farmers - dominated polling early, but appeared to stumble with the finish line in sight.
Steven Miles is seeking a cold beverage after a hard-fought election campaign. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
Mr Miles reeled in the LNP as Mr Crisafulli came under enormous pressure to clarify his stance on abortion after a crossbencher vowed to repeal termination of pregnancy laws if elected.
"I wish him all the best in his future but certainly in the meantime, to spend some quality time with his family," Mr Crisafulli said of Mr Miles.
Mr Miles was proud of his campaign comeback, but conceded work had to be done to win back Queenslanders, after the LNP dominated regional areas.
He had been vying to earn his first full term as premier after taking over from Annastacia Palaszczuk, who tearfully resigned in December.
"Our team will need to do the work of reconnecting with Queenslanders - Queenslanders have spoken and Queenslanders don't get it wrong," Mr Miles said.
Asked about becoming opposition leader, Mr Miles said: "Once we see precisely the makeup of the caucus I will ask them for their support."
Counting indicated an LNP majority with three Katter's Australian Party members and one independent, but the Greens may miss out entirely.
Mr Miles' long-term future as Labor leader is up in the air, but his immediate plans were clear - a trip to the pub.
"I'll have a XXXX bitter off the wood I think."
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