Road Trip
By Danielle Reckless
As Australia’s second-largest state, there’s a whole lot of Queensland to discover – 1.85 million square kilometres, to be exact. But don’t be put off by its impressive size: all you need to start exploring is a driving licence, a reliable set of wheels, and our guide to the best Queensland road trips.
With thousands of kilometres of highway traversing sand, countryside and outback, steer your own adventure toward our most awe-inspiring experiences. Here are seven of the best Queensland road trips - with something to suit every travellers (even those braving it with the teens in tow).
Retrace the tracks of the intrepid Cobb & Co stagecoaches which once linked the east coast of Queensland with the outback along the Adventure Way. Leave Brisbane behind and head way out west, through the Bunya Mountains and into big sky country and sweeping desert plains.
Check out the full itinerary and maps here.
Choose your own tropical adventure on this web of 26 interconnected drives. The Great Tropical Drive stretches north from Townsville, past the palm-tree beaches of Cairns and the Daintree Rainforest all the way up to Cooktown, taking in the lush greens of the Atherton Tablelands and golden outback of Savannah country to the west.
Cover as little or as much ground as you wish as you follow your choice of Queensland road trips around this diverse region of natural wonders.
Check out the full itinerary and maps here.
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Experience old-fashioned country hospitality and enjoy an Australian history lesson or two on one of the most epic Queensland road trips from the Capricorn Coast to the Outback Queensland – and back again.
Check out the full itinerary and map – or get more Queensland outback road trip inspiration here.
Kingfisher Bay Resort
Seeking a brush with nature in its purest form? Let us introduce you to Australia’s Nature Coast Drive: an epic twelve day road trip that’ll take you to the world’s largest sand island, pristine national parks and the Great Barrier Reef. Stretching from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast and Fraser Coast, the bitumen highway turns to sand on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) – but all the while, you’ll be greeted by awe-inspiring views and unforgettable wildlife encounters.
As far as Queensland road trips go, there’s perhaps none more iconic than Matilda Way – named after the iconic Aussie ballad, Waltzing Matilda. This is Australia’s heartland – where you’ll find the true spirit of the outback via wide open roads, sprawling red dirt landscapes, and a piece of history you can only truly understand once you stand here yourself.
Over eight days (or longer, if you prefer an easy pace), trace a line through Queensland’s centre and get to know our biggest little towns: Charleville, Winton, Longreach and Cloncurry, before hitting the sea at Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Grab your mates, a vehicle up for outback conditions, your trusty Akubra, and get out there.
Running some 1800-km alongside our golden coastline and tracing the lengths of our natural world wonder, the Great Barrier Reef., this Queensland road trip is a well-travelled path for all kinds of adventurers. Backpackers, families, grey-nomads and even those tackling the mighty ‘Big Lap’ of Australia will find themselves finding serenity along the Pacific Coast Way - despite its popularity, there’s hidden treasures to seek out and enjoy at every turn.
Check out the full itinerary, do it in reverse and start in Cairns, or use this guide to find cheap campsites along the way.
Three people on a stand up paddle boarding tour through Cobbold Gorge
Want to be among the few intrepid travellers to explore Queensland’s remote north-west corner? Plan an adventure along Savannah Way, where you’ll come face to face with our wildest outback landscapes and quiet red dirt highways that lead to hot springs, ancient gorges, and more than a few natural wonders.
Savannah Way technically runs a massive 3700km from Cairns to Broome, but the Queensland section can be tackled in 1 – 2 weeks, depending on how many miles you like to put on your tyres each day.
Check out this seven-day itinerary, this guide to a 14 day trip, and advice if you’re bringing the kids, too.
Looking for more unforgettable Queensland road trips? You'll find them here.