A road trip from Brisbane to Cairns is one of the finest things you can do in Australia. Between the two cities, there is a lot to see, and it’s a popular route for road trip enthusiasts in Australia.
Fraser Island, Hervey Bay, and the Whitsundays are just a few of the fascinating places to visit in this region of Australia. The road is lined with breathtaking landscape, gorgeous beaches, and blue seas, making it one of the most picturesque in the nation.
So, pack your belongings, fill up your campervans tank, and hit the road since this region offers a diverse range of activities. Here is an 8-day itinerary that will take you from Brisbane to Cairns and provide you with lifelong memories and unforgettable experiences.
Need a car or van for your road trip? Check prices here
What You’ll Need For Brisbane to Cairns Road Trip
First and foremost, you’ll need a comfortable vehicle, and a campervan is an excellent choice for addressing your lodging, eating, and transportation needs.
In Brisbane, there are many locations where you may hire a campervan. Those who are traveling on a budget might check out Jucy Car Rentals or Hippie Campervans and rent one of their customized vans, which are surprisingly roomy and come equipped with all the necessities.
You may spend and get a bigger car with cooking amenities and even a bathroom and shower if you want to travel in luxury. Apollo Motorhomes has a wide range of vehicles to fit any budget and provide a comfortable and elegant journey. The advantage is that you’ll have a restroom and shower everywhere you go, rather than having to depend on caravan sites and roadside rest stations.
When you buy your campervan instead of renting it, you have the additional advantage of being able to sell it later. If you take good care of your camper during your trip, you may be able to resell it for close to what you spent on it.
You should buy a used campervan if you plan on backpacking Australia over a span of a few months, especially if you’re someone on a working holiday visa.
Day 1: Brisbane to Sunshine Coast
Drive Time: 1.5 hours
It’s time to start your road trip with a drive to the Sunshine Coast in the north. Your first destination is less than two hours from Brisbane, and there are so many things to do on the Sunshine Coast that you could easily spend an entire week here.
But it’s not all about the beaches in this town. The Sunshine Coast Hinterland has lush rainforests and charming mountain towns like Montville and Maleny, all with magnificent vistas of the Glass House Mountains.
You’ll be rewarded with even more stunning beaches and landscapes once you arrive at Noosa. Relaxing in Noosa Heads and taking in the scenery is a great way to spend the evening.
Noosa is known for its cuisine, and Hastings Street is the place to be seen. The area is ideally situated meters from Main Beach and the Noosa National Park, which is ideal for a swim in the water or a leisurely stroll in the forest, especially if you’ve come to Queensland to escape the harsh winter down south.
Noosa is a family-friendly destination with famous Sunshine Coast activities such as Australia Zoo, SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast, and Aussie World, or relaxing on a leisurely Mooloolaba Seafood Lunch Cruise.
A boat or kayak in the Noosa Everglades, one of only two everglades in the world, is highly recommended for nature enthusiasts. The unspoiled nature provides a unique viewpoint on Noosa’s busy streets, as well as an unforgettable experience.
Day 2: Sunshine Coast to Hervey Bay
Drive Time: 2 hours and 20 minutes
There aren’t a lot of places to see on the way, but there are a few interesting ones nonetheless.
Rainbow Beach, one of Australia’s finest beaches, is a wonderful location to stop if you want to take a break from driving. It may lengthen your drive since you will be traveling backwards, but it is well worth it! Then you can drive straight to Hervey Bay.
Hervey Bay is the entrance to Fraser Island and the winter home of magnificent Humpback Whales. A vacation to Queensland wouldn’t be complete without a visit to this little town.
Hervey Bay is the location to go whale watching because the protected bay provides a perfect habitat for the whales to give birth and raise their young before returning to Antarctica.
There are full-day and half-day Hervey Bay Whale Watching Tours to choose from as well.
Day 3: Hervey Bay to Fraser Island
Drive Time: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Your campervan just won’t cut it on the world’s biggest sand island since there are no concrete roads.
A Fraser Island guided tour is the finest way to see all of the island’s attractions, including Lake McKenzie, Central Station rainforest, multicolored sands, Maheno Shipwrecks, Indian Head, and many more amazing sites.
This jam-packed trip crammed a lot into one day; but, if you come outside of whale-watching season, a two-day Fraser Island tour will give you more time. You won’t be disappointed since you’ll get to see a lot more of the island at a slower pace.
Day 4: Fraser Island to 1770 via Bundaberg
Drive Time: 3 hours
Bundaberg, home to the world-famous rum distillery and the beautiful beaches of Bargara and turtles that visit Mon Repos Beach every year, is only a short drive up the highway.
Join a Bundaberg Rum Distillery Tour to learn more about how these delicious drinks are produced. You may even get a taste of a few later.
Your 90-minute drive will take you to Town of 1770, a charming seaside town where you will spend the evening.
The beautiful town, which is situated by the Coral Sea, is named after James Cook’s arrival in Queensland. Unspoiled national parks, uncrowded beaches, and a short trip to Lady Musgrave Island, a pristine site in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, are all available in the town.
Day 5: Agnes Water to Airlie Beach
Drive Time: 7 hours and 50 minutes
The longest drive on the Brisbane to Cairns road trip is this one. It would take 7 hours and 50 minutes to travel this distance without stopping. It’s hazardous to drive for so long without stopping!
Between Agnes Water and Airlie Beach, there are a plethora of locations to stop. Rockhampton would be a logical place to stop.
It may be worth driving out to Emu Park on the coast for a little pit break so you can enjoy the views and rest before continuing your long journey!
After there, the route heads inland, and there’s a lot to see until you get to Clearview, a lovely seaside town and another excellent stop.
If you want to take a last break before going to Airlie Beach, you might stop at Mackay. It’s a little city with few attractions, but it’s a great location to get a bite to eat!
The rest of the journey isn’t too lengthy, and you should be at Airlie Beach in about an hour or two. Depending on when you arrive at Airlie Beach, you should spend some time visiting the town.
The Lagoon is a wonderful location to check in and relax if you come throughout the day. It’s a modest area with pools where you may swim while admiring the seaside views. A short stroll around is an excellent option if you arrive late!
Day 6: Airlie Beach to Townsville
Drive Time: 3 hours
This trip takes little over 3 hours, and there are several fascinating sites to see along the route if you have some spare time.
Hideaway Bay and Dingo Beach are two of them. Beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean can be seen here, and it’s a wonderful spot to stop for lunch. Despite the fact that they are off the beaten path, they are definitely worth seeing! Even though you’re unlikely to encounter any dingoes!
Bowen is the next destination. The village is known for producing mangoes, and there is even a big mango in the town as an homage.
Apart from Bowen, there aren’t many locations to stop before arriving in Townsville. There are a few activities you can do while you’re in town, so it may be worth heading right there!
The Strand is well worth a visit. It’s a seaside promenade featuring walking and biking trails and swimming areas. On a hot day, this is an absolute necessity.
The Billabong Sanctuary is a little outside of town, but it’s a wonderful location to visit and view local wildlife in a secure environment!
Day 7: Townsville to Mission Beach
Drive Time: 3 hours
It takes around 3 hours to drive from Townsville to Mission Beach. It may be worthwhile to visit Magnetic Island before leaving Townsville. The ferry ride from Townsville to the island takes just 20 minutes.
Beautiful landscapes and native animals abound on Magnetic Island. This is the place to go if you haven’t seen a koala yet, since there are many. Exploring Magnetic Island for a few hours is a great way to break up the day, and the view alone is worth it!
The trip to Mission Beach isn’t lengthy, but there aren’t many places to stop along the route.
You may make a pit stop between Ingham and Macknade and then go straight to Mission Beach.
When you arrive at Mission Beach, the first thing you should do is go to the beach!
It’s one of Australia’s finest, and it’s the perfect spot to unwind for the evening before heading to Cairns the next day. If you’re fortunate, you may even get to see a magnificent sunset.
Day 8: Mission Beach to Cairns
Drive Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes
The last part of the journey from Brisbane to Cairns isn’t too lengthy and should take no more than 2 hours.
There aren’t many places to stop along the route, but if you want to take a detour, you may visit some of the inland National Parks.
Along the route, you may stop at Gadgarra National Park and Little Mulgrave National Park.
Going to any of these places will add some time and length to your drive, but it’s well worth it if you want to spend some time in nature.
If you don’t want to take the trip, move directly to Cairns. Far North Queensland is a tropical paradise with a plethora of hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. There are numerous things to do in Cairns, which is home to the world-famous Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.
Green Island and Fitzroy Island are both near Cairns, with Green Island excursions and Fitzroy Island boat transfers accessible on a regular basis. Back on the mainland, a Kuranda Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Railway trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly above the rainforest, pass through waterfalls, and take in panoramic vistas of the Coral Sea. Check out day trips from Cairns to discover more about other surrounding adventures for more Cairns travel ideas.
It’d be a fantastic way to round off your self-drive from Brisbane to Cairns!
Author Bio: This article was written by GAFFL. GAFFL connects solo travellers around the world with similar itineraries to explore destinations together. Whether you are backpacking in Asia, road tripping in Australia, or exploring national parks in the US, simply type the destination you are traveling to, find travellers who are going there at the same time as you, connect with them, plan trips, meet, and travel together.
