Brisbane to Townsville Road Trip: Bruce Highway Stops and Itinerary

How many days have you got? This drive could take as long as you like given there’s so many cute towns and stunning locations to fall in love with on the way.

If you do have a schedule to keep, the minimum allocation of time for this drive would be about a week, stopping a few times overnight. But ideally, you’d want to elongate your itinerary to at least 14 days to allow for one island escape and exploring the Whitsundays.

If time really is on your side, you could easily spend up to three weeks exploring this coastline, lingering in places such as K’gari, Hervey Bay and getting well-acquainted with the rare beauty of the Whitsundays.

With more than 1,000 kilometres of coastline beauty to dip into on this drive, there are handfuls of pretty seaside towns and dreamy beaches to compete for your attention. Here are the top stops along the route.

The Sunshine Coast marks the first leg of your journey, and it certainly gets things off to a stunning start. From Brisbane, the popular holiday town of Noosa is just over two hours away. On the way there, swing into pretty Mooloolaba for a coffee and a refreshing dip. The first thing to do once you arrive in Noosa is to wander cosmopolitan Hastings Street, where you’ll find stylish boutiques, sun-drenched bars and refined restaurants running parallel to the beach. After a dip in the glassy waves, follow the Coastal Walk in Noosa National Park as it hugs the shoreline for 10.8 kilometres and see if you can spot a koala in the trees.

If your itinerary is more leisurely, head into the hinterland to discover the looming beauty of the Glass House Mountains. If a 2.8 kilometre hike to the summit of Mount Ngungun isn’t on the cards, stop at the lookout to take in the 11 peaks.

From Noosa, Hervey Bay is another two hours north, but the best route stops in at Rainbow Beach to admire the astonishing, mineral-rich coloured sands.

Both Rainbow Beach and Hervey Bay are jump points to incredible K’gari, the world’s largest sand island. Only 4WD vehicles can cross to the island and driving on sand and unsealed roads is not permitted in your campervan, but you can take a day tour to discover the incredible stretches of beach, rainforest and clear freshwater lakes of K’gari.

Picturesque Hervey Bay is also one of the east coast’s top humpback whale-watching spots between July and October. Join a tour for a close encounter with one of these majestic marine mammals.

One-and-a-half hours up the coast from Hervey Bay will land you in the coastal city of Bundaberg. Most Australians know Bundaberg for its locally produced rum, but this town perched at the southern edge of the Great Barrier Reef is also home to the largest marine turtle nesting site in the South Pacific, the Mon Repos Conservation Park. You can visit the turtle rookery on a guided tour to the park with the best time to catch the hatchlings from January to March.

Once you’ve had your fill of rum and turtles, drive another hour-and-a-half up the road to the twin towns of Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy (also known as 1770). These two coastal hamlets are so close you can’t visit one without stepping into the other. While Agnes Water is best known as Australia’s most northern surfing beach, 1770 is an east coast anomaly in that you can watch the sunset over the water here thanks to its orientation. Together the two are a perfect pair with the bustle of cafes and town action on offer in Agnes Water and tranquil marina vibes and foreshore picnics up for grabs at 1770.

The halfway point in your road trip is another two hours and 30 minutes north at riverside Rockhampton. Dissected by the Tropic of Capricorn this cosmopolitan city with a colonial past is at the centre of the Fitzroy basin and stretches over both sides of the Fitzroy River. Built on beef, its agricultural heritage is still very much alive today. While you’re here, stock up on supplies and enjoy the tempo of small city life.

If you’re travelling with kids, you’ll need to make a stop in the Capricorn Coast town of Yeppoon to experience the aquatic thrills of the Yeppoon Lagoon and the Keppel Kraken waterplay area. Yeppoon is a fun town worth spending a night at, especially if you’re keen to head across to Great Keppel Island (Wop-pa), which lies 15 kilometres off the coast. You can do a daytrip to Great Keppel by grabbing a ferry or fast cat or take a guided tour across to the island to snorkel straight from the beach in the Great Barrier Reef.

The sugar capital of Australia can be found in the city of Mackay, a roughly four-hour drive from Yeppoon. It’s worth a stop here to break up the drive to Airlie Beach and to explore this regional hub. Wander the city centre and take in its thriving art culture or head to Bluewater Quay to stretch your legs by the river.

En route to Airlie Beach, make a sunset detour to Cape Hillsborough. Here you’ll find an iconic Australian sight of kangaroos and wallabies enjoying the sandy stretch of beach.  Another two hours further north will have you arriving at the heart of the Whitsundays, Airlie Beach.

The laid-back coastal town of Airlie Beach is not one to get a move on from quickly. Build in a day or two here to rest and revive after the drive, spending the day by the oceanfront lagoon and exploring the magical Whitsundays, which sit right on Airlie’s doorstep.

Jump onto a tour to see the highlights of the 74-island archipelago while you’re here. Top picks include the silica shores of Whitehaven Beach, where you can hike to Hill Inlet to see the swirling ice-blue water and sugar-white sands blend as the tide shifts. While many people know Hamilton Island for its luxury resorts, you can also visit this idyllic wisp of land on a daytrip to discover its swoon-worthy beaches, fantastic restaurants and pretty hikes.

Break up the roughly three-hour drive from Airlie Beach to your destination of Townsville with a stop at Bowen. A little over an hour from Airlie Beach and sitting at the very top of the Whitsundays, Bowen is a good spot for a stretch. You’ll need to get a selfie in front of the beloved Big Mango, but if you have longer, make your way to prettily perfect and protected Horseshoe Bay to snorkel the fringing reef.

Once you arrive at Townsville, get your bearings by strolling The Strand, a lush and shaded stretch of waterfront adjacent to town that meanders through parklands, beachside restaurants and a waterplay area. From here you can see Magnetic Island, and a short 20-minute ferry ride will have you disembarking at this tropical and semi-wild natural paradise. Be sure to allocate at least half a day to discover the island’s quirky personality, rambling national park and breath-taking 23 beaches. Come evening find a vantage point to watch the pink sun dip behind Castle Hill. If you can manage it, watching the sun rise over town from the top of this icon is worth the early start. It’s a lovely way to signal the completion of a truly epic Queensland adventure.

While the Bruce Highway does pass some exceptional locations and rewards drivers with stunning coastal scenery, it has its challenges. There are lots of narrow, single lane stretches through rural landscapes and the road is beset by heavy freight traffic and frequent roadworks. It can also be prone to congestion and crashes are not uncommon. During the wet season, flooding can cause closures. However, if you plan this trip with plenty of time, follow road safety guidelines and stop frequently, it is an easily doable drive. It’s best to check the conditions before you set out by visiting the Queensland Traffic website.

While Brisbane experiences more moderate temperatures compared to tropical Queensland, you’ll find the weather changes vastly the further north you go. The wet season, which typically runs during the warmer months between November to April, is hot, humid and undeniably wet. During this season, heavy tropical rains are the norm, especially during the afternoon. It’s also the peak season for marine stingers, so always be sure to swim at patrolled beaches within the netted enclosures.

The dry/winter season of May to October is the best window for travelling comfortably. It can also be busy, especially during school holidays, so if you are keen to avoid the crowds, look to go in the sweet spot between May and September. For whale-watching in Hervey Bay, aim for July through to October.

This stretch of coast offers plenty of opportunities to escape the mainland. These tropical havens are the reason this itinerary deserves at least a week. Park the campervan for the day at the corresponding gateway town and build these islands into your trip.

K’gari
Accessed from Hervey Bay, this ecotourism hotspot is all about the sand. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed island is 4WD only, so this means you can’t take your campervan across, but you can park in Hervey Bay and join a day tour to experience those crystalline waters and endless beaches.

Great Keppel Island
Leave your campervan in Yeppoon for the day as you skip across the water to Great Keppel Island. You can take a Freedom Fast Cat for a self-guided experience or join a tour, such as Keppel Explorer, that takes you to the best bits.

Hamilton Island and the Whitsundays
From Airlie Beach, paradise awaits in the Whitsundays. There are plenty of ways to admire these shimmering jewels of the Great Barrier Reef, such as Whitehaven to Hamilton Island, from sailing tours to helicopter experiences and even exploring at adrenalin-spiking speeds on an ocean raft. Check out some day tours here.

Magnetic Island
Townsville may be the end point of your road trip, but one island still beckons. Park the campervan in town and spend a day relaxing on chilled out Magnetic Island. It’s the perfect way to complete your collection of tropical Queensland island escapes and it’s just a 20-minute ferry ride away.

This drive suits a round trip from Brisbane, as there’s no Travellers Autobarn drop-off point in Townsville. Building a return itinerary is a great way to ensure you don’t miss any stops along the way, as whatever you don’t do travelling north, you can pick up on your southern-bound return. Of course, you could also just keep going north and continue to our drop-off point in beautiful Cairns. You may decide a little drive further onto Port Douglas is on the cards, and with free unlimited kilometres, it’s an easy addition to your road trip. After all, you’ve come this far!

Our range of campervans suits all kinds of road trips. If it’s just the two of you, opt for the compact Budgie Van, Chubbie or station wagon. If you’re three or more, the Hi5, Kuga or HiTop will give you more space. Included in every hire is a 10 per cent G’Day Parks discount, booklet on free camping in Australia and the free RoadTrip app with partner discounts.

Whether you’re going north or south, there’s plenty to explore when you pick up your campervan hire from Brisbane. Check out these other incredible trips from the Queensland capital.

• Brisbane to Perth road trip
• Brisbane to Coffs Harbour road trip
• Brisbane to Byron Bay road trip

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