How to do a Whitsundays family road trip

Brisbane | Tin Can Bay | Bundaberg | Yeppoon | Mackay | The Whistsundays

When it comes to family holidays, The Whitsundays is in a league of its own. Think sparkling blue waters, 74 tropical islands, and the world-famous Whitehaven Beach waiting to be explored. But let’s be real—the journey is just as fun as the destination.

So, pack up the car, round up the kids (and maybe the caravan), and hit the road for a trip they’ll be talking about for years. We’ve mapped out the best family-friendly stops along the way to make this road trip one for the memory books.

Brisbane to Tin Can Bay (220km)

From Brisbane make your first pit stop at Nambour on the Sunshine Coast for a play date with a pineapple. An icon in terms of Queensland history. The Big Pineapple sits 16m high and pays tribute to the pineapple farming in the region.  Grab a roadie coffee and ice cream treat for the kids and don’t forget that retro souvenir t-shirt - because were you even in Queensland if you haven’t got matching Big Pineapple t-shirts?

Onward via the Bruce Highway, you’ll pass historic towns fringing the hills of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland before resisting the turn-off to Noosa and opting instead to make your first stop at Tin Can Bay. It may seem like you haven’t travelled far enough yet but stay with us on this one, the kids are going to love it.

Check in to the Tin Can Bay Tourist Park who have campsites and cabins nestled amongst native bushland. Arrive early and you’ll have time to feast on a late lunch or early dinner of fresh fish and chips by the beach, plus check out the rainbow-coloured sands at Rainbow Beach or roll down the sand hills at Carlo Sand Blow. You’ll enjoy cooking up a storm in the new camp kitchen if you opt for late lunch and a twilight swim in the pool for the kids after; it’s your first night on holidays, after all.

Day 2: Tin Can Bay to Bundaberg (182 km)

Depart by 9am, as even though you don’t have far to travel to Bundaberg, the farm gates await. Take the turn off opposite Childers and stop at Alloway Farm Market for a coffee, homemade cake, delicious freshly picked fruit and veggies and be sure to load up on the famous figs year-round figs. Your second stop is Tinaberries where (in season) you can pick your own strawberries and fuel up on dreamy creamy ice-cream delights. On a drive through town after make sure you grab a pic of the kids outside the pretty pink Bundaberg School of Arts building before continuing on to Bargara Beach Caravan Park (if you need a cabin) or Splitters Farm at Sharon if you have your own tiny home in tow.  The farm has a creek the kids will love mucking about in and rescued farm animals to cuddle plus an epic treehouse to climb. Bundaberg is also the headquarters for all things turtle so if you are not too tired, join an evening turtle watching tour at Mon Repos to show the kids how real heroes in a half shell roll.

For more ideas, here are the best things to do in and around Bundaberg. 

Day 3: Bundaberg to Yeppoon (327km)

Hit the road early to Yeppoon via Rockhampton. Rocky is known as Queensland’s capital of beef so make a meat stop at one of the butchers for some local steaks to sizzle on the BBQ later. And get the quintessential family road trip photo at the Tropic Of Capricorn before taking the scenic coastal route to Yeppoon via Emu Park.

The Bell Park Bakery is famous for its pies so grab your favourites and head over to Kele Park for a pie picnic overlooking the beguiling Keppel Islands. A visit the stirring Anzac Memorial is always a good idea and the kids will love a few spins on the zip-line. There’s a picturesque little overnight spot at Fisherman’s Beach Holiday Park right across the road if you feel like staying longer, or push on further to Yeppoon where the kids can have an afternoon swim in the free Yeppoon Lagoon before settling in for the night at NRMA Capricorn Yeppoon Holiday Park.

For more ideas, here are the best things to do in Yeppoon. 

Day 4:  Yeppoon to Mackay (353 km)

North Queensland’s sweetest town, the sugar capital of Mackay is your go to town today and you’ll know you’re getting close when the road cuts a swathe through seemingly endless fields of sugar cane. Make a stop at the Sarina Sugar Shed to quench the kids “are we there yet” cries and fill them full of information about Mackay’s saccharine infused past. Take a tour of the only miniature mill and distillery where they’ll learn how Mackay supplies a third of Australia’s sugar needs, plus mum or dad (whoever is not driving) might enjoy the taste of the rum and liquors the sweet stuff also has a hand in producing. The kids won’t miss out either with freshly spun fairy floss to gobble.

There’s plenty of option for family-friendly accommodation in Mackay with hotels, motels and apartments so opt to stay central in the Sugar City, or make the most of the kids sugar high by pressing on for another hour north to Cape Hillsborough for a prime position ready to share sunrise with a friendly family of wallabies. 

Day 5: Cape Hillsborough to Airlie Beach (126km)

It’s an early start, but well worth the wake up call to let the kids scamper beside wallabies while you fill up your camera roll with sunrise, kids and roos. Take your time admiring the incredible coastline of Cape Hillsborough and when you’re ready, head a little further north to Proserpine for morning tea.

Nestled half-way between Proserpine and Airlie Beach in Conway National Park you’ll find Cedar Creek Falls where in season (or after rain) a gushing waterfall spills into a swimming pool of crystal clear waters. Adventurous types will love the challenging walk to the top of the falls, or if you prefer serenity, find yourself a spot on the rocks to just sit and soak in the view of a natural amphitheatre buzzing with birds, butterflies and the cries of delighted children taking a refreshing dip.

Arrive into Airlie Beach right on check-in time and quickly settle into your cabin or site at Big 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, but don’t be surprised if the kids have already left you behind on route to spying 13 waterslides, lagoon pools, mini-golf, jumping mats, farm animals and so much more. This is kids paradise but you can enjoy some downtime too - relaxing in the loungers by the pool, grabbing a coffee from the onsite cart or loading up on fresh local seafood when the local fisho comes a calling with the catch of the day. See reception for a timetable of all the activities the resort offers families.

Things to do with kids in The Whitsundays

If you can drag the kids away from the waterslides, there’s plenty of things to do in the family-friendly Whitsunday’s. Choose from day trips to emerald islands, a visit to Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach or make a full day of it with a trip out to the vivid coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef.  Boat rides, beach visits, snorkelling, diving, swimming and sailing - it’s all possible in this aquatically blessed paradise but land lovers won’t miss out either. 

If your family is gearing up for a Whitsundays family holiday, check out this itinerary before you go.