Hiring a campervan and taking a road trip from Cairns to Brisbane is one of the most exhilarating experiences you can have. As an expansive route that moves through some of Queensland’s best scenery, it delivers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore truly spectacular sites. Before you start creating your itinerary, here are some of the stops we recommend making.
Cairns to Mission Beach
Stop 1
Journey Time: Two hours
Distance covered: 160km
After picking up your campervan in Cairns, make sure your first stop is Mission Beach.
As a beach that’s aptly named for a first stop on any road trip, it’s one of Australia’s most popular filming locations. If you’re a fan of Baz Luhrman’s Australia, it’s a must-visit destination. It features four idyllic beaches that stretch across 14km, making it the perfect place to pitch up for the night while you take in breathtaking scenery.
Mission Beach to Airlie
Stop 2
Journey Time: 6 hours
Distance covered: 510km
If you want your Cairns to Brisbane road trip to feature a little island hopping, don’t drive through Airlie without stopping off to explore.
After parking your campervan for the night, you can join one of the overnight tours to the Whitsunday Islands. Pack your hiking boots, though, as you’ll probably find yourself trawling through dense rainforests in a bid to spot some of nature’s greatest creations.
If you’re happy to stay in the area for a couple of days, grab your snorkel and explore the Great Barrier Reef. The Whitsundays are home to spectacular marine life.
Airlie to Yeppoon
Stop 3
Journey Time: 5.5 hours
Distance covered:500km
After diving into colourful waters and spotting vibrant birds amidst the rainforest, it’s time to climb back into your campervan and head for Yeppoon. Venturing inland a little presents the opportunity to buy fresh figs from the local food market.
Thanks to Yeppoon’s tropical climate, it’s the perfect place to enjoy the fruit in its most decadent state. Take your exploration of Australia’s natural scenery even further and visit Capricorn Coast National Park. Layers of volcanic rock formations create a truly spectacular sight. Oh, and you can picnic there too.
Yeppoon to Hervey Bay
Stop 4
Journey Time: 5.5 hours
Distance covered: 450km
After another mammoth drive, you’ll breathe a sigh of satisfaction upon reaching Hervey Bay. Internationally, Hervey Bay is known as the jewel in Queensland’s crown.
When you’re hiring a campervan in Australia, it’s one of the few destinations that makes all of your efforts feel worthwhile. Once there, you can set sail for the day as part of a guided tour and spot some of the area’s humpback whales. The subtropical climate also means the temperatures rarely dip below 14 degrees Celsius. If you want to explore a World Heritage site, park up and book a tour to Fraser Island. With a serene environment that’s ideal for relaxing while walking barefoot in the sand, Fraser Island can induce a sense of relaxation like nowhere else on Earth.
Hervey Bay to Noosa
Stop 5
Journey Time: 2.5 hours
Distance covered: 190km
Although it will feel painful, you must take your campervan and steer it away from Hervey Bay at some point. While it may seem as though you’re leaving a nirvana-like paradise behind, Noosa has plenty to offer and to look forward to. Welcome to the world of beautiful cycling paths and coastal walks. With trails that reach from the beaches to the bush, this is a spectacular way to take in rainforests, mountains, and cute countryside cafes. There’s a trail to match just about any cyclist’s or hikers capabilities.
If you’re looking for a slightly more sedentary activity after spending hours in your campervan from Cairns, visit the Australia Zoo instead.
Noosa to Glass House Mountains
Stop 6
Journey Time: One hour
Distance covered: 80km
As you near the end of your campervan hire in Australia, the drive becomes less challenging. With just an hour between them, Noosa and the Glass House Mountains vary wildly in terms of scenery.
To get there, you’ll need to dip inland slightly and veer away from the coast. If you’re worrying about sacrificing the beauty of the Sunshine Coast for something less spectacular, don’t.
As one of Queensland’s hidden treasures, it’s excellent for a day trip, brief stay, or even as a means of breaking up a longer journey directly from Noosa to Brisbane. As you escape the busy highways you’ll submerge yourself in a tranquil environment. While we believe a campervan makes for an excellent adventure, we also know you’ll need a little time to unwind.
The final journey: Glass House Mountains to Brisbane
Stop 7
Journey Time: 1.5 hours
Distance travelled: 71km
If you do choose to stop off at the Glass House Mountains, this leg of the journey will be your last. It’s now time to steer away from the mountains and back to the Sunshine Coast’s glorious scenery and travel to Brisbane to explore what the city has to offer.
From China Town to Parliament House, Kangaroo Point to Bartley’s Lookouts, local street markets and river cruises, this is a city for everyone.
Explore other popular road trips around Cairns
Check out some of our other popular road trips from Cairns.
- See Our Cairns to Gold Coast Road Trip Itinerary
- See our Cairns to Airlie Beach Road Trip Itinerary
- See our Cairns to Darwin Road Rrip Itinerary
- See our Cairns to Melbourne Road Trip Itinerary
- See our Cairns to Sydney Road Trip Itineray
Looking for more? Check out other Cairns road trips. Find a huge range of different routes and road trip itineraries across Australia.
Get the cheapest rates on Campervan hire in Cairns for your next road trip
Want to experience Queensland’s coastline without stretching your budget? Locking in cheap campervan rental in Cairns ahead of time is a smart way to secure the best rates before prices climb during high-traffic periods.
FAQs about Cairns to Brisbane road trip
Driving from Cairns to Brisbane is a 1892km trip that would take around 20 hours if you drive straight through. We recommend making a road trip out of it—a seven-day road trip, to be exact. This way, you can enjoy the drive down the coast and stop off at some of Australia’s most beautiful beaches.
There are some fantastic places to stop from Cairns to Brisbane. Stopping off at Mission Beach is essential, because there really aren’t many beaches in the world that are this amazing! You can try a little island hopping and explore the Airlie area. Yeppoon will also offer some epic beaches with a very tropical vibe. You could take a quick sail to check out the whales when you get to Hervey Bay. From there, you can take a trip to the Glass House Mountains, which have some awesome inland views.
Yes! You can pick up your campervan in Cairns and drive it to Brisbane, where you can drop it off at our drop-off area.
Yes. For free camping fans, there are a variety of great free camping areas from Cairns to Brisbane. These are our guides to some of the free camping areas along the route near Cairns, Townsville, Bundaberg, Sunshine Coast, and Brisbane.
Travelling to Brisbane in autumn or spring would be the best time. During these seasons, the weather is milder, with lighter winds and less rain, making the conditions more favourable for many of the activities along the route.
Yes, it’s usually cheaper when you book in advance. You can take advantage of early bird pricing and seasonal promotions and increase your chances of getting the specific campervan model you’re looking for. It’s a simple way to save money and avoid last-minute stress.
Between Cairns and Brisbane, you won’t hit any toll roads at all. The entire route is toll-free once you’re outside the Brisbane metro area. You might hit one or two of the toll roads in Brisbane as you leave.
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