Cruise Melbourne to Cairns along the Leichhardt Way
Road Trip
By Sarah Bristow
We hope you’re not in a rush. For while it’s convenient to jump aboard a flight between Melbourne and Cairns, a scenic drive between the top tip and the southern city is one of the best ways to see some of Queensland’s best assets.
The Leichhardt Way follows in the footsteps of one of Australia’s early explorers, Ludwig Leichhardt, and is one of the fastest, and more aesthetically appealing ways to cruise the 32 hours of Queensland Outback between Melbourne and Cairns. This road winds its way through the Outback’s lesser-known communities, nudging some of Queensland’s most beautiful natural wonders. Stretching from the border town of Goondiwindi, the 700km Leichhardt Highway cuts a path right through the heart of Queensland to the Capricorn Coast and the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
Let us show you how to road trip Melbourne to Cairns (at least some of the way) with this guide.
Day one - Goondiwindi to Miles
On crossing the Queensland border you’ll find Goondiwindi, on the banks of the McIntyre River. Before you embark on the two and a half hour drive on to Miles, you may want to take a look around. While Goondiwindi is largely agricultural, there’s a handful of sites to enjoy in town, including the historic Victoria Hotel, which is well worth dropping into for a beer.
Then hit the highway north past Moonie, pulling in to see the Miles Historical Village before the sun sets. You can choose to take things a little more leisurely of course, spending the night instead at the Caliguel Lagoon, seven kilometres south of Condamine. It’s long been a favourite of fishermen and camping fans eager to utilise the free (and picturesque) campgrounds available to enjoy.
Day two - Miles to Theodore
Get better acquainted with Miles with a wander around town. Explore by foot the Dogwood Creek Walking Track, or take to the car to see the bounty of wildflowers in bloom from August along the Gurulmundi Wildflower Trails. Grab a map at Miles Visitor Information Centre before you embark on the 106km floral loop from Miles, which crosses the Dingo Barrier Fence, the longest continuous fence in the world stretching some 10,000 kilometres.
From Miles, hit the road north to Taroom. It’s here you’ll find a Heritage-listed, 300-year-old Coolabah tree explorer Ludwig Leichhardt carved his initials into during his 1844 expedition. That’s not the only artefact about - take a look at the Steel Wings windmill before you depart, one of only two known windmills of its type still in working order.
Another hour traipsing the highway will see you will spot the picturesque Isla Gorge National Park. A treasure trove of flora and fauna will greet you on arrival, from forests of eucalyptus and wattle to gatherings of gorges and isolated sandstone monoliths. Don’t leave without stopping for a picnic overlooking the gorge.
Day three - Theodore to Rockhampton
You’re now on the edge of the tropics. After spending a quiet night in Theodore on the Dawson River, ready yourself for the nation’s beef capital of Rockhampton. Along the two and a half hour drive you’ll have a chance to stop in at the township of Banana, named after a prize-winning bullock rather than the fruit. And Mount Morgan, the community founded during the 1882 gold rush and mined until as recently as 1981. Spend some time here trawling the remaining gold and silver mines, or stepping even further back in time with a visit to the dinosaur footprints in the nearby Mount Morgan clay caves.
By evening you’ll have reached historic Rockhampton. While activities are in no short supply here, perhaps the best way to immerse yourself in the local regional community is with a meal and a show at the Great Western Hotel’s iconic indoor rodeo and accompanying steak house.
Day four - Rockhampton to Yeppoon
Photo by @yeppoonlagoon
Refreshingly today’s itinerary isn’t heavy on the driving front. Instead your destination of Yeppoon sits just a 30 minute drive away; a cluster of white sand and secluded bays on the much loved Capricorn Coastline. For those not satisfied with sitting idle, there are still plenty of activities to entertain you and your brood. Make way for the saltwater crocodiles at Koorana Crocodile Farm which run guided tours daily. Or utilise Yeppoon’s proximity to the Southern Great Barrier Reef. The Keppel Bay Islands are within arm’s reach - jump aboard a member of Keppel Keppel Konnections’s fleet to spend some time on the gathering of pristine islands, including the largest (and arguably most loved) Great Keppel Island.
It’s from here that you can continue on your journey to Cairns along the Pacific Coast Way, or get to know the rural region (and beef capital) a little better with the Beef to Reef itinerary.
