10 of the best day trips from Brisbane

For a beach within easy reach, Caloundra is one of our favourite picks from Brisbane. The start of the Sunshine Coast’s 60km of coastline, a day trip to Caloundra promises untold amounts of sun, surf and sand.

It’s the home of watersports, with endless options when it comes to kayaking, paddle boarding, windsurfing, fishing and jet skiing along the Pumicestone Passage, Currimundi Lake and between the seven beaches that make up the precinct: Golden Beach, Bulcock Beach, Shelly Beach, Moffat Beach, Dicky Beach, Currimundi and Kings Beach.

More than just for fun in the sun, Caloundra is transforming into a creative hive – with plenty of new entrepreneurs taking the reins of this coastal community. The best way to see them all at once is at the Caloundra Street Fair every Sunday. If it’s art you seek, follow the Sunshine Coast art trail.

For a beer to wash down your obligatory fish and chips at the coast, visit Moffat Beach Brewing Co., the definition of casual beachside microbrewery. If you have more time, swap your Sunshine Coast day trip for a weekend-long one with this guide to 48 hours in Caloundra.

3. Lamington National Park day trip

Lose yourself in a rainforest 180 million years in the making. It may take two hours to reach Lamington National Park, but the drive is beautiful and the destination rewards travellers with lush rainforests and ancient trees that are worthy of World Heritage-listed status.

In the Binna Burra section of the park, walks range from short 30-minute circuits, right through to eight-hour treks. Of course, if you have more time and a serious love for the great outdoors, challenge yourself on the 54km Great Walk track that links Lamington with Springbrook National Park.

In search of waterfalls? Make the 7.2km return hike to Elabana Falls. Not only are the falls beautiful - surrounded by moss-covered rocks and thick rainforest - but it’s one of the few places where you can swim, too. You will have to climb over boulders just before you reach the falls, but its more remote location means it’s usually uncrowded.

Another magical walk in this neck of the woods is O’Reilly’s Tree Top Walk. The 180-metre-long boardwalk winds high among the treetops, 16 metres above ground, and over nine suspension bridges. It’s free to use and can be accessed opposite the entrance to O’Reilly’s reception. 

4. Boonah day trip

For picture-perfect countryside that feels even better than it looks, make an 86km trip from Brisbane to Boonah, which travels through some serious cattle country in the Scenic Rim. 

Here, you’ll have the opportunity to fuel your soul with warm hospitality, quaint country architecture, boutique shops and local food that fuels your soul. Stop by the third-generation old-school department store, Maynards, for a shopping trip back in time, or fuel up on organic wholefoods for your day ahead at Hummingbirds Natural Pantry & Cafe.

From Boonah, it’s not far to discover the twin peaks of Mount Mitchell. This graded Level 4 track is worth the output to get to the top for the opportunity to stand on the east peak of Mount Mitchell (1175m above sea level). It’ll take you about four hours there and back (with ample time to take in the views from the top) and promises an ever-changing landscape, moving from rainforest to open eucalypt forest, giving hikers a taste of every type of Australian flora in one area.

It also happens to be part of the Scenic Rim Trail, a luxe hike that walks between Spicers Canopy and Peak Lodge. You can do this section of the hike alone and have lunch at Spicers Peak Lodge on the way home. After all, you’ll want to see why this famous Scenic Rim establishment was awarded two hats again in the Australian Good Food Guide Awards. 

If you have more time, why not discover the Scenic Rim’s culinary heart with this itinerary, or turn your road trip into a romantic getaway.

5. Toowoomba day trip

125km west of Brisbane, the Garden City promises to be a picturesque day out. Not only is Toowoomba home to great gardening conditions which make growing roses (a mean feat anywhere else in Australia) perfectly achievable, it’s home to some of the oldest houses in the state.

Architecture buffs should make a beeline for the Caledonian Estate for a self-guided walking tour of the streets behind Queens Park (not to be confused with the Ipswich park by the same name) which were developed in the 1870s and are packed with early 1990s Queenslanders. You’ll find these Caledonian houses have a distinct old-world charm not found so readily in Brisbane, with pressed metal gables, Bluestone kerb and iron lace.

Aside from satisfying your love for stately homes, you’ll find a food and beverage scene that can equally hold its own against capital city charmers. For coffee, wander down the graffitied Searle’s Walk laneway to the local hangout, Ground Up Espresso Bar. If it’s something sweet you desire, head into The Baker’s Duck for their twice-baked croissants and ever-changing seasonal menu of cruffin and pastry flavours (make sure you get in early, they regularly sell out). Grab a box full of goodies and head to the lookout in the Picnic Point Parklands for the best views in town overlooking the Lockyer Valley.

If you have more time, don’t just do Toowoomba in a day, try this weekend guide. Plus, pick and choose from these top things to do in Toowoomba. Our favourite time to visit? During the Carnival of Flowers.

6. Canungra day trip

Wedged in the Scenic Rim's hillside between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, Canungra feels a bit like a suburb caught in a time capsule, with wide open streets and plenty of country charm.

It’s not all family-run bakeries and pubs here (although there’s plenty of that too); you can enjoy a good cup of organic coffee at The Outpost Cafe, buy stylish homewares at My Country Escape and find treasures at KD’s Antiques & Collectables.

To experience a piece of the town’s history, walk down the 90-metre sandstone Lahey Tramway Tunnel, which was used to carry timber from the mountain to the town in the 1900s.

From Canungra, you’ll be in a plum position to explore some of the Scenic Rim’s best wineries – starting with O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyard. Take the vineyard up on their picnic rug and basket option to enjoy lunch by the Canungra Creek. You can choose between the picnic basket, breakfast hamper or BBQ pack – all stocked with local treats. Be sure to visit the alpaca farm while you're here. 

Of course, if you overindulge, you can always find a bed for the night at sister eco-resort, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

7. Shorncliffe day trip

Fish and chips on the pier are what weekends were made for. Or at least they should be, when you live in Brisbane and can get to Shorncliffe in less than 40 minutes.

Get into the bay-side groove with a walk along the pier, which stretches 350m into Bramble Bay. This pier dates back to the 1880s and remains one of the longest recreational piers in Australia and Brisbane’s largest timber pier; making it a great photo opp, especially at sunrise or sunset.

For the freshest prawns you’ve ever tasted, buy straight from the trawlers on Sinbad Street. Bring an esky and get in early to grab just-caught seafood at wholesale prices, then enjoy your haul alfresco on the waterfront.

Head into The Wired Owl for some of the best coffee this side of town. And if you're still hungry, here's a few more places to eat around Moreton Bay.

8. Queen Mary Falls day trip

Ready to hike to one of South East Queensland’s best waterfalls? Visit Queen Mary Falls, just outside the township of Killarney. Prepare for a scenic drive of car commercial worthiness. 

Once you're here, the Queen Mary Falls Circuit takes just 30 minutes to complete, winding to the bottom of the falls which cascade 40 metres from top into the Condamine River. The walk is steep (although suitable for kids), but the spoils are worth it. Afterall, Queen Mary Falls is within the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.

If you can't tackle the hiking trail, there's also a lookout just 100 metres from the carpark which offers views from the top of the falls.

The only thing better than one waterfall is five. Killarney is home to four other water wonderlands, including the Teviot Falls, Daggs Falls, Browns Falls and Upper Browns Falls. Follow the Falls Drive to see most of them before returning back to Brisbane via Boonah to stop at Teviot Falls on The Head Road.

If you’re looking to extend your stay in the region, check out this guide to 48 hours in Killarney.

9. Mount Mee day trip

Take yourself 90 minutes out of Brisbane to a pocket of the beautiful D'Aguilar Range for subtropical rainforest, eucalypt woodlands and spectacular ocean views out to Moreton Bay.

On your way to Mount Mee, be sure to make a pit stop in Dayboro for a quick squiz at the antique stores, which have old-world goodies at a fraction of CBD prices. The Old Storehouse is the perfect place to grab a coffee and stock up on gourmet picnic supplies for the day ahead.

Start your Mount Mee exploring at The Gantry. Brush up on the history of the former sawmill before embarking on the one-kilometre Piccabean Trail circuit. The leisurely stroll winds through piccabeen groves, tall blackbutt forest and rainforest.

If you’re the kind of person who’d do anything for a good feed, then make Ocean View Estates & Vineyard your target for the day. The views here are as good as the food, with shared plates and lavish banquets created by head chef Joel Grudnoff to accompany wines produced by the father-daughter team, Thomas Honnef and Hannah Hathway. Or go casual and join them for a Sunday Sesh - picnic on the grass with live music to boot. 

Forget the need for a designated driver, and book one of the onsite cabins to turn your day trip into a mini-getaway. 

10. Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) day trip

The beauty of Queensland's capital is you don't need to take annual leave for an island escape. There are plenty of options right here that make terrific day trips from Brisbane. 

If it’s snorkelling and adventure that you’re in the mood for, jump on the 90-minute Micat ferry to Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). The island’s traditional name means ‘place of sandhills’, which is your first clue that this is 4WD heaven. But if you’re only here for the day, leave your car on the mainland and stick to exploring Moreton Island via fins and snorkel.

Conveniently, the ferry drops you right at the wrecks. Find yourself a patch of sand and snorkel the sunken relics right off the beach. Over 100 species of reef fish like to hang out here; there’s even a chance you’ll spot dolphins, wobbegongs and dugongs.

When you need to catch your breath and fill your stomach, wander down the beach to Tangalooma Island Resort’s Beach Cafe for fish and chips or a burger overlooking the ocean.

Wind down in the afternoon with a semi-leisurely walk. The 30-minute return hike to Five Hills Lookout hike takes you from North Point Road through low heathland to the top of a large sand dune. From the top, you’ll get a good lay of the land, with views of Heath Island, the Five Hills area and some of the island's coastal swamps. If you have a little more time, there's sandboarding, ATV tours and dolphin-feeding adventures at your fingertips. 

If you're the type of person who prefers a day trip where all the logistics are taken care of, take a day tour to Moreton Island with River To Bay. 

Looking for another island day trip from Brisbane? Check out this guide to North Stradbroke Island or take the short drive north of the city to reach Bribie Island.