Brisbane to Cairns Road Trip

Brisbane to Noosa

Noosa to The town of 1770 to Gladstone

Pack some snacks and plenty of coffee because this morning will be spent mostly in the car. Leaving Noosa, it is a four-and-a-half-hour drive to the next stop, the uniquely named 1770. Named for the year that James Cook and his crew on the Endeavor landed this town is now most known as a seaside haven bordered by crystal clear waters on four sides. Stop at this sweet peninsula town for stand up paddle boarding or to explore the bustling little downtown area.

Get back on the Bruce Hwy/A1 for your one and a half hour trip to Gladstone, just in time for dinner.

Gladeston to Bowen (via Rockhampton and Mackay)

Start your day early as you have a big driving day ahead of you. After a little more than an hour on the road, it’s time to stop for some breakfast in Rockhampton.

Another four hours will bring you into the bustling city of Mackay. Take the opportunity to rest and splash around at the Bluewater Lagoon.

It takes just over two hours to get the final stop of the day, Bowen. One of the many gateways to the Whitsundays, this stop could be for just a night or a whole week depending on how much time you want to devote to the area.

Bowen to Townsville (and Magnetic Island)

The drive from Bowen to Townsville takes about two and a half hours, not long considering this will be a multi-day stop.

Townsville offers so many different landscapes to explore – Coastal, the Outback, rainforests and urban.

Be sure to spend a day and the beautiful Magnetic Island. The island is just a short ferry ride from Townsville and offers palm fringed beaches with coral reefs and pristine sandy beaches.

Townsville to Cairns

The final leg of the journey takes only four hours, so feel free to sleep in a little and get a later start.

While there is plenty of fun to have in Cairns from spending the day on the water or taking advantage of the cosmopolitan offerings of a major city, one of the biggest draws of Cairns is its proximity to so many great day-trips. Visit Cape Tribulation and Daintree or heading inland to the Atherton Tablelands and of course the beautiful Whitsundays and Reef.