Must do events along the Pacific Coast Way

Do Aussie road trips get any more idyllic than a 1,784km sweep through Queensland’s glittering cities, coastal villages and hinterland hideaways? The Pacific Coast Way, linking South East Queensland’s Gold Coast to the Tropical North’s Cairns, is renowned for spotlighting the staggering diversity of this sun-soaked corner of the country.

To enliven the party further, your journey is dotted with a year-round itinerary of rocking events, expertly crafted to showcase the charms of every worthy pit stop. From a boot-scooting rodeo and a revhead wonderland, to ocean-fronting foodie festivals dripping with delights, the best events along the Pacific Coast Way offer bumper-to-bumper great vibes.

Rockynats 05 | Southern Great Barrier Reef

When: 4 — 6 April 2025

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. What better way to launch into the best Pacific Coast Way events of 2025 with Queensland’s biggest and brashest car and bike festival? Rockynats 05 will be awash with mullet-slinging burnouts and adrenaline-pumping drag races as show cars, big trucks, street parades and a musical set from Pete Murray transform Rockhampton into something out of a film set.

Don’t miss one of the highlights, Skid Row, where car enthusiasts are invited to tear up their tyres, full-bore, right in the middle of town.

Nebo Rodeo | Mackay

When: 17 May 2025

Switch out four wheels for four legs when Nebo Rodeo returns to Mackay’s Isaac Area. While the dusty main event is staged on the Saturday (17 May), here’s the hot tip: the festivities start one night prior at the Nebo Hotel’s annual street party where food trucks and live music always set the tone.

When Saturday hits, it’s time to saddle up. Livestock and horses will be ridden and subdued by the savviest of cowboys and cowgirls (and even amateurs, as there’s an Open Bull Ride with everybody’s name on it) while ice-cold beer, even more live music and wide-spread family-friendly entertainment will keep smiles on dials.

Crankworx Cairns | Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

When: 21 — 25 May 2025

Propelling the thrills (and unfortunate spills) of mountain biking into one of Australia’s most iconic coastal destinations, Crankworx Cairns is an exhilarating festival of athleticism. Set in Smithfield Mountain Bike Park, one of the region’s best mountain biking destinations just 20 minutes’ drive from Cairns Airport, the event offers beautifully sculpted dirt trails and lush rainforest to the world’s mightiest bikers and beginners.

Sounding up your alley? Check out our comprehensive guide to Crankworx Cairns to start planning your Pacific Coast Way must-experience.

1770 Festival | Southern Great Barrier Reef

When: 23 — 25 May 2025

A theatrical tribute to the great Captain James Cook, the 1770 Festival is staged in Gladstone’s picture-perfect seaside haven of Seventeen Seventy. The town itself is worthy of significant stickybeaking as it was the British explorer’s second Endeavour landing site in May 1770 (hence the name), but if you can tee up your visit to this annual event, you will be rewarded.

Expect educational enlightenment via the land’s traditional custodians, the Gooreng Gooreng people, as well as a colourful street parade, amusement rides, food stalls, art exhibitions, live reenactments from Cook’s landing and more.  

Noosa Eat and Drink Festival | Sunshine Coast

When: 29 May — 1 June 2025

The Noosa Eat and Drink Festival gets bigger every year and 2025 is shaping up to be one of the country’s preeminent foodie events. The regular highlights, including long lunches and a Festival Village filled with cooking demonstrations, will bring even thicker crowds to tourist-beloved Noosa, while signature events led by Australia’s leading chefs and restauranteurs will likely demand overnight attention.

Make the most of your Pacific Coast Way drop-in and stay the night — take a look at our guide to the best accommodation in Noosa for top-notch suggestions.

The Curated Plate | Sunshine Coast

When: 25 July — 3 August 2025

The Sunshine Coast, also known as Queensland’s Sunshine Pantry, is a foodie’s paradise and the culinary experiences just keep coming. Enter The Curated Plate in Maroochydore, spearheaded by the region’s famed local chef Peter Kuruvita. 

Celebrating the unique and bountiful produce the Sunshine Coast reliably provides, the festival is filled with exclusive dining, farm tours, markets, Indigenous food journeys, cooking classes and even more still-to-be-confirmed experiences.  

Port Douglas Carnivale | Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

When: 23 — 25 May 2025

Part foodie, part sporty and a whole lot action-packed, Port Douglas Carnivale is dedicated to flaunting the spectacular beauty of this tropical destination.

Whether you’re indulging in a long lunch staged by Port Douglas’ biggest culinary names, sprinting to glory in the Douglas Dash running event, getting creative at the sand sculpting competition or tapping your toes to the vibrant street parade, there’s a smorgasbord of fun-filled activities destined to impress. 

For more fun in the sun, here are more Queensland events you can’t miss.