Hit the road on this four day Southern Great Barrier Reef road trip
Road Trip
By Danielle Reckless
There’s something about Queensland that’s hard to shake. It might the endless sunshine, colourful reefs teeming with marine life, beaches that stretch on forever, or the restaurants dishing up local produce grown just steps from the kitchen. Actually, it’s probably all of the above.
And you can experience it all for yourself on a short road trip through the Southern Great Barrier Reef region that winds its way up from Bundaberg to the Capricorn Coast. Take an extra-long weekend and follow this four day itinerary to sample the Sunshine State at its finest.
Day 1: Taste your way through Bundaberg
Photo by @tinaberries.strawberries
Whether you’ve just arrived from the airport or made the nearly five hour drive from Brisbane; you’re sure to arrive a little hungry. Luckily, it’s more than sugarcane country up here.
So jump in the car and discover the farm stores, producers and makers that call Queensland’s salad bowl home. Follow this foodie itinerary to plan your day, or skip to the sweetest stop of them all, Tinaberries, to pick berries and snack on freshly churned fruit ice cream.
Stretch your legs on the scenic, short stroll up to the Hummock Lookout, then get into the spirited side of the city with a tour of Bundaberg Rum or Kalki Moon Distilling and Brewing.
If you’re in town on a Friday, grab dinner at market-style Riverfeast and sample your way through a gathering of food stalls and local breweries. Otherwise, hightail it to Water St Kitchen to feast on the likes of Szechuan honey prawns, angus strip loin and ginger panna cotta alongside a wine list very worthy of working your way through.
Bundaberg is also one of the best spots in the country to see turtles. If you’ve timed your trip right (November-March), stay up late and head to Mon Repos Turtle Centre. There’s no age limit on the thrill of watching newly hatched turtles make their first scurry across the sand and into the ocean. Mon Repos can book out well in advance though, so if that's the case but you're still keen to get up close to these shelled locals, check out all these places to see turtles in the region and beyond.
Drive time: Local driving only
Overnight: Bundaberg, at Manta Bagara Resort or Grand Mercure Apartments Bagara.
Day 2: Head north to a coastal hidden gem
Fill your breakfast plate with local flavours at Bagara’s Windmill Café, where you’ll have a hard time choosing between the acai bowls or smashed pumpkin.
Head north towards Gladstone to uncover under-the-radar twin towns of Agnes Water and 1770. These quiet coastal sanctuaries have been firmly on the backpacker radar for many years, but are burgeoning into a must-stop on the East Coast, thanks to its shoes-optional attitude and unbeatable sunsets.
Home to Queensland’s northernmost surf beaches, grab your board and join locals on the rollers, take a surf lesson, or kick back for a few hours on secluded beaches (Chinaman’s Beach is beloved for good reason). Come sunset, the best place to be is on a kayak. Head out with 1770 Liquid Adventures for a front row seat to burning skies and a little history lesson too.
Drive time: 1.5 hours
Overnight: Agnes Water Beach Club, go glamping at Agnes Water Beach Holidays or meet fellow travellers at Backpackers at 1770
Day 3: Journey to Yeppoon via seafood and summits
Rise early for a little forest bathing on the enchanting Paperbark Trail, then keep the nature immersion going with breakfast at tropical Getaway Garden Café. Our advice? Grab a table overlooking the tranquil lily pond, and grab some of the famous vanilla slice to take with you.
Pit-stop in Gladstone for a visit to this Fish Market (one of the region’s best eats), grab a cooked seafood platter and find a spot to soak up the views of the marina. Then swap sea for 632m above sea level: you’re headed on a hike to the summit of nearby Mount Larcom. The sweat is worth the reward: on a clear day, you’ll get panoramic views of reef islands, surrounding national parks and Rockhampton to the north.
Late this afternoon you’ll arrive in spectacular Capricorn seaside town Yeppoon. Here it’s not just the waterfront views that’ll captivate, but the winding gallery of urban art waiting to be explored. Take a swim at Yeppoon Lagoon and admire the views Keppel Islands while you float (you’ll get a closer look at these tomorrow).
Tonight, dine at Waterline Restaurant, raise your glass at Vue Wine Bar & Restaurant and check out live local music at Pie Alley Blues.
Drive time: 3.5 hours
Overnight: Yeppoon, at Rosslyn Bay Resort or Salt Apartments.
Day 4: Dive into the Southern Great Barrier Reef
Jump off the coast and into the ocean for the final day of your Southern Great Barrier Reef road trip. Fuel up at local café Whisk, then make your way to the marina.
Spend the day amongst the Keppel Islands on board Freedom Fast Cats or Keppel Explorer. Stand-up paddleboard, snorkel the reef, and explore the bays and beaches of its crown jewel: Great Keppel Island. There’s plenty of reasons why you could spend days exploring the corners of this island, but on this day trip you’ll experience the most colourful and lively reefs in the region.
Once you’re back on dry land, walk off your sea legs on the coastal tracks of Capricorn Coast National Park.
Drive time: Local driving only.
Overnight: Yeppoon, at Rosslyn Bay Resort or Salt Apartments; or head to the airport for your flight home.
With the taste of the Southern Great Barrier Reef still lingering, why not plan your next escape? Stay on Lady Elliot Island, glamp on remote Wilson Island, or bank your annual leave and set off on the Queensland coast road trip of your dreams.
