If there’s one thing that Australia can proudly boast of – it is itsscenic road trips! Of course, the country gives you countable reasons to visit and explore, but road trips truly portray Australia’s charm. Whether through the coastal sunnyside or dense wildlands, rugged landscapes, or the classic outback – every journey in Australia is worth-taking and experiencing what it has to offer!
The peculiarity of each state offering state-of-the-art and authentic experiences makes Australia stand out amongst others. Every state or city you visit in this country is different – in terms of culture, traditions, lifestyle, laidback vibes, and fun scenes! While the memories last in living those moments, your eyes can capture the spread of beautiful beaches, native rainforests, rugged landscapes, deep red outback, and acclaimed vineyards.
Airlie Beach Road Trip: (+Map) - Explore The Scenic Route Yeppoon To Airlie Beach By Boat />
While my blog gives you a good range of reading other Australian road trips, we will focus on a much more popular route in this article, i.e., Brisbane to Airlie Beach. It isn’t an underrated journey anymore, as more and more vacationers are hopping onto their campervans to take this scenic coastal route. In this guide, we will detail some astonishing places to stop between Brisbane and Airlie Beach, along with a map, itinerary plan, and some personal recommendations.
Whitsundays Family Road Trip: Brisbane To Airlie Beach Itinerary
BrisbaneandAirlie Beachhave been popular backpacking stops for travelers visiting places like the Gold Coast, Cairns, the Whitsundays, and the Great Barrier Reef. While there’s a lot to do in Brisbane and Airlie, visitors prefer staying here for a couple of nights before heading towards their leading destination. Both these stops have been pretty famous in lucrative travelers and enticing them with better travel opportunities.
My favorite thing about Brisbane and Airlie Beach is the places that fall between these two Australian beauties. The number of things you could do, places you could visit, and experiences you can participate in are just tremendous. And we suggest you be flexible with your travel stops. Of course, you may want to take advantage of the places listed below, but do customize your Brisbane to Airlie Beach road trip itinerary as per your preference.
We will take the Pacific Highway (coastal route) for this road plan. The entire stretch is home to some of Australia’s finest gems, such as theGlass House Mountains, Cape Hillsborough National Parks, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, Agnes Waters, and theWhitsundays. While there’s an alternative route of taking up the inland highway, that’s less scenic and won’t cover exciting places.
The Southern Scenic Route
Let’s dig a little deeper into knowing the finer sections of your amazing Brisbane to Airlie Beach trip. In this section, you’ll find all the details about driving times, suggested routes, and a road map for your travels.
The drive from Brisbane to Airlie Beach is a total of 1123kms. If you were to drive non-stop, it would take 12hr 50mins to reach via the Pacific Highway (coastal route).But, for any long road trips, we won’t recommend a direct journey. It’s always essential to include breaks and overhaul stops between your travel. Plan your Brisbane to Airlie Beach road trip for a minimum of 5 days to span out your journey. This is the best duration considering the stops we will be visiting. Furthermore, if you’re planning to stay overnight at a particular destination, you can include more nights on your road trip.
As mentioned previously, the Pacific Highway is the best driving route for our Brisbane to Airlie Beach journey. You can have a glance at the suggested & alternative ways for this trip –
Things To See And Do
Choosing the right vehicle for your road trip is as important as planning your entire journey.You could either book a campervan for your entire trip or just rent a car for a budgeted journey. The latter option is often preferred by travellers taking a road trip along with their families or friends. I highly recommend checking out Rentalcars.com for this trip. They offer an affordable service with a good range of vehicles of your choice. Moreover, I’ve used them as my preferred partner for my rental services too.
Rising amidst the eucalypt forests and pine plantations, Glass House Mountainsis a natural playground for those looking to dwell on the adventure side of it. Filled with fantastic walking trails and beautiful viewpoints, the 11 peaks of the Glass House Mountains make it iconic for every traveler to explore the beauty of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Glass House Mountains is an amalgamation of coastal adventures, bush-walking trails, wildlife spotting, and unique discoveries. A visit to this place requires time, and it’s best appreciated when you spend an entire day or so in this region. Every exploration here at this beautiful natural reserve means a different experience altogether. For some people, it might be just a day trip. However, for others, meaningful insight into the cultural significance of this place. Glass House Mountains is still home to their Traditional Owners, the Jinibara people, andKabi Kabi people. Please consider their local traditions as you discover the natural sites within the mountains.
Drive Queensland's Pacific Coast Way
A complete drive-through experience via the coastal route is hitting some of the Sunshine Coast’s idyllic beaches. Known as the ‘Great Beach Drive, ’ this scenic path is one of Australia’s most epic adventurous routes. Winding through deserted beaches, rainforests, and quaint coastal towns – you’ll witness some of the country’s most precious gems harboring Queensland’s Coast.
One sandy shoreline that attracts visitors bypassing is the coastal town of Rainbow Beach. Located nearGreat Sandy National Park, Rainbow Beach is one of the most visited spots between Brisbane and Airlie Beach. It also acts as a gateway to Fraser Island up north. Most visitors plan their stay at Rainbow Beach to head north for other exploration sites. Thus, you’ll find this coastal town a bit crowded compared to others.
Nonetheless, despite the crowds, it’s still best appreciated at any given time. Those who love surfing can hit the beach, while those looking to breathe fresh air can hit some of the natural walking trails carved across the Great Sandy National Park pathways. Fishing, bush-walking, and 4WD drives are popular too.
Brisbane To Cairns Drive
Hervey Bay is one of the famous road trips stops along Australia’s east coast. Often booked as a day trip from Brisbane, this place has been a go-to spot for families traveling with kids. And that’s not the only thing that makes Hervey Bay a special place to visit.It’s also regarded as the whale-watching capital of Australia.
Whale Watching: Probably the most popular activity in this region – whale watching in Hervey Bay is a unique experience altogether. The whales migrate near the bay to breed and use it as their stopover point before traveling further south. During their stopover, these giant whales put on quite a display to entertain visitors on their boat trip. There are special instructions, too, on how the boat trips need to be operated. But for sure, it’s a thrilling experience to attend.
Urangan Pier: Just as whale watching is popular in Hervey Bay, Urangan Pier is the most visited site (pier). The construction of this bridge began in 1913 to transport cargo, but now it’s become a famous landmark. Visitors mostly find Urangan Pier as an excellent photogenic site during sunsets. You need to be there to witness the adorable skies changing their shades while soaking in the panoramic views of the sea.
Pacific Coast Way
Admire the sunrise: Well, if you want to relax and adore the charming atmosphere of Hervey Bay, then it’s best to witness magical sunrise at early dawn. Head to Dundowran Beach, famously known as a ‘blessed site, ’ to watch the sunrise. Sometimes, your camera will need to do justice to the snapshots you click. But it’s enough for your eyes to treat the orange-ish skies visually.
Fraser Island (K’gari)is an unmissable stop on our Brisbane to Airlie Beach road trip. Honestly, there’s something unique about this place that drives a crazy amount of tourists. Yes, it’s often crowded. But don’t let that take away the charm of Fraser Island. This World Heritage-listed island is full of sand, wild beaches, and playful marine. The 120km of far-stretched coastline feels utterly otherworldly and cannot be described in words!
Fraser Island offers one of the country’s wildest experiences. The sandy island is abundantly filled with untamed beaches, blue turquoise waters, small freshwater lakes, and a blend of beach resorts and campsites. This is where you need to go all-out on experiencing every activity you might’ve missed on this road trip. If relaxation is your key, you could drive on the open beach and feel the warmth of fresh air.
Airlie Beach Scenic Flight Review: Whitsundays & Great Barrier Reef
Swim in a freshwater lake: Well, this may seem a little odd to you, but the favorite activity of visitors traveling to Fraser Island is to dip into the oil-infused lakes. Amidst the background of a sandy beach and dense forests, it’s a scenic experience to relax and nourish your body.
Drive 4WD: Looking for some thrill in Fraser Island? There’s nothing more exhilarating than hitting the 4WD tracks. Feel the gushing wind and the blowing sand as you wind past the coastline, marveling at the wild blue waves.
Hike the Fraser Island Great Walk: Swimming and driving aren’t