10 Day Brisbane to Airlie Beach Road Trip Itinerary & Map

This 10 day Brisbane to Airlie Beach road trip itinerary is ideal for travellers who want more than just a direct drive and are keen to experience Queensland’s coast at a slower, more rewarding pace. If you’re researching how to break up the journey with fun stops, beaches, and national parks, you’re in the right place.

The tricky part is knowing how much ground to realistically cover and where it’s actually worth stopping. With limited time, it’s easy to either cram in too many destinations or miss standout places altogether.

As a long time Queensland local and driven this road plenty of times, I’ve put together this practical itinerary designed for travellers who want balance. It shares the my favourite locations, and planning tips I wish I’d known earlier, so you can enjoy the journey just as much as the destination.

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10 Day Brisbane to Airlie Beach Road Trip Itinerary?

⏱️ Short on Time?

If you don’t have time to read the entire post, here is a brief overview to get you started. While there are SOO many stops between Brisbane and Airlie Beach, this is my short list of “Must-do” activities, that you just can’t miss!

• Day 1 – Arriving Brisbane, renting a car and finding a place to stay. Head to South Bank for it’s many attractions.
• Day 2 – Stradbroke Island Day Trip Or Moreton Island Day Trip for a beach or snorkelling
• Day 3 – Drive Brisbane to Rainbow Beach (Carlo Sand Blow, Coloured Sand Cliffs, Poona Lake)
• Day 4 – Day trip to Fraser Island, Largest Sand Island in the World
• Day 5 – Drive Rainbow Beach to Agnes Water (LARC Tours)
• Day 6 – Day trip to Lady Musgrave Island & Southern Great Barrier Reef
• Day 7 – Drive Agnes Water to Cape Hillsborough & See the beach kangaroos
• Day 8 – Drive Cape Hillsborough to Airlie Beach
• Day 9 – Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling & Whitehaven Beach tours
• Day 10 – Whitsundays Island Hopping (Hamilton Island or Day Dream)

Please click here for the my specially pinned map to open or apply directions from your location or explore the different stops mentioned in todays post.

If this has you intrigued, then please read on for more detailed information and plenty more attractions to see.

Tip: Please read up on the many tips I’ve come across road tripping around Queensland, that you should knew before leaving.

Day 1 – Arriving in Brisbane

Brisbane is the Queensland capital located in the South eastern corner of the state and our first stop for the trip. Over 2 million people are living here, the largest city in the state and will take you a couple of hours to drive from one side to the other.

You could easily spend a week here exploring the city and many of its sites. However, if you only have one or two days, I would find yourself looking around the Brisbane city and the attractions in South bank to keep yourself entertained. 

The Story Bridge is a famous landmark, although, not as big as the Harbour Bridge in Sydney. You can choose to walk across it for free or take a tour to climb it. If you would like the best view over Brisbane, then Mount Coot-Tha lookout point is 20 mins from the city, and a brilliant site to visit at night. 

It’s easy to get around Brisbane with Public Transport, which also gives you another aspect of touring. Riding the public ferry system is handy to get from A to B, but also brilliant for city views and great looking photos to show family and friends.

Note: Check out my other Brisbane Travel Guides to help plan your trip

Renting a Car in Brisbane

Depending on the company you choose to rent a car from, most can be picked up from the Brisbane Airport, in the city. Other locations can vary on the company and where they are based, although always easier to pick up at the Airport after you fly in.

➡Find your favourite brand & compare prices for your Rental Car HERE

Alternatively, if you’re arriving late, you can always stay overnight at the Airport and pick up the car hire the next day.

Note: there is sometimes a minimal tax charge to pick up in Australian Airports. 

Where to stay?

If you’re extending your stay in Brisbane, then it would help to plan out your activities and base your accommodation location on that. Here is a guide on the best suburbs to stay in Brisbane that might help you choose.

Apart from that, a quick stopover will be best from Brisbane City or Southbank, so entertainment is only walking distance away. 

➡  Find Brisbane Hotel Deals here with Booking.com

Day 2 – Stradbroke Island or Moreton Island Day Trip

Since Brisbane is not really known for beach locations, it’s great having North Stradbroke Island & Moreton Island located a short distance off the coast.

Stradbroke Island is known for its fantastic beaches or freshwater swimming at Brown lake, North Gorge walk viewpoints, local wildlife like Koalas and kangaroos, four-wheel drive beaches.

Moreton Island is know for the Tangalooma Wrecks & Snorkelling as well as the one resort full of activities like Helicopter Flights, the wild Dolphin Feeding and Quad Bike Tours.

For other variances, please check out this article comparing the two islands.

➡  Click to find Island Tours HERE with GYG

Being in the Capital City, you do have so many other options to spend your free day in Brisbane.

• Or Bribie Island is worth checking out which you can drive to.
• Travel an hour south, and you have the famous Gold Coast skyline and over 50 kilometres of beaches.
• Alternatively, day trips into the rainforest for Hiking, amazing waterfalls, and maybe find some glow worms at Natural Bridge.  

Day 3 – Brisbane to Rainbow Beach

Travel Time: (240 Kilometres, about 3 hours travel)

The next stop is about 3 hours of travel along the Bruce Highway this morning from Brisbane to Rainbow Beach, which will leave the rest of the day for exploring the coastal town of Rainbow Beach itself.

There is lots to see and do in Rainbow, but my biggest suggestion today would be to check out and walk around the Carlo Sand Blow. It’s part of the Great Sandy National Park and the biggest Sand Dune you will see along this Queensland Coastline.

Often there will be people sand tobogganing down the dunes and Kite surfing off the cliffs.

➡  Find Rainbow Beach Hotel Deals with Booking.com

Apart from that, you can go fishing on the Beach, take a short hike to Poona Lake for a swim, or walk along the beach to see the Coloured Sands lining the Cliff edges.

Given the choice between Rainbow Beach and Hervey Bay, I would always overnight stay at Rainbow Beach for the atmosphere and natural sites. However, Hervey Bay might be ideal during Whale season (July to October) and your second gateway to Fraser Island.

Day 4 – Day trip to Fraser Island

I recommend seeing Fraser Island or Kgari, but unless you own a Four Wheel Drive and visit for a week, there is no better option to seeing it, than on an organised tour from Rainbow Beach or Hervey Bay.

Fraser Island is over 1600 kilometres long and the largest of the Sand Islands in The world.

➡  Find Fraser Island Tours HERE with GYG, Or HERE with Viator.

Attractions include the Pinnacles Coloured rock formation, The SS Maheno shipwreck on the beach, floating down Eli Creek, discovering the Rainforest, or jumping into the clear turquoise waters of Lake McKenzie. All this can be seen on a day trip, and well worth money and convenience taking a local tour.

You could swap out the extra day and use it in great places like Bundaberg (2.5 hours north of Rainbow Beach). This is home to the famous Bundaberg Rum distillery, Ginger Beer factory, Mon Repos Loggerhead Turtles seasons, and great beaches like Woodgate and Elliott Heads.

Do you need help planning your trip to Queensland? Book a one-on-one consultation call with me, to get your questions answered & personalised help!

Day 5 – Rainbow Beach to Agnes Water

Travel Time: (320 Kilometres, about 4 hours travel)

After 4 hours of travel, you will arrive in the small beachside town of Agnes Water, which is normally explored with 1770 (Town of Seventeen Seventy). It has a population of over 2000 people, and known for its luxury and budget beachside accommodation and first explored by Captain Cook.

There is so much to see in do in Agnes & 1770 and draws a younger crowd for surfing, having a boat ramp and fishing, and exploring the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

For such a small town, there are many different activities to keep you entertained for the rest of the day. This includes the Paperbark forest boardwalk and capturing another famous Insta Pic location.

Not only that, but the LARC amphibious vehicle will take you for a spin on land and water, and you can hike the Red Rock Walking Trail. In the end, you obviously have to chill at the beach, swim, paddle boarding, or surf the waters.

➡  Find Agnes Water Hotel Deals with Booking.com

You might like to consider visiting Yeppoon, which via’s off the Highway at Rockhampton. Is known for being the Gateway to Great Keppel Island.

There are some great swimming locations like Stoney Creek in the Byfield National Park, but you do need a four-wheel drive to get there.

Day 6 – Day Trip to Lady Musgrave

Welcome to the Southern Great Barrier Reef and what’s called the Bunker Group of Islands lying off the coast.

You can get to Lady Musgrave Island by boat, accessed from both Bundaberg and Agnes Water(1770), but closer and a shorter trip from Agnes. 

➡  Find Lady Musgrave Island Tours HERE with GYG

The day starts out with boarding the boat at the 1770 marina and taking the 1-hour 45-minute tour out to the island. The travellers are split into groups, and you all take turns at the day’s activities.

This includes some of the best Snorkelling in Queensland at the reef lagoon, searching for turtles, a Glass Bottom Boat ride, and a small tour of the Island itself. 

Lady Elliot Island  is worth seeing and still part of the Bunker group. However, the only way to get there is by Flying from Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, or Bundaberg.

Note: The trip from Agnes to Lady Musgrave is a shorter boat ride than Bundaberg. 

Day 7 – Agnes Water to Cape Hillsborough

Travel time: (600 Kilometres, about 7 hours travel)

This is a very long drive today of 6 hours, and would recommend starting this early in the morning. If you were going to stop anywhere along this route, it would be Clairview for a quick coffee and rest break. This is not really a town, but instead a popular caravan park on the beach and the beautiful waters so close to the highway.

This is sugar cane country and what you’ll be viewing almost the whole way up alongside the highway. Cape Hillsborough is about 45 minutes north of Mackay, and only included on this list for the Wild Cape Hillsborough Kangaroo viewing.

This happens every morning at sunrise, so you’ll have the afternoon free to explore.

If you wish to check out the area, you can walk out to Wedge Island at low tide. The soldier crabs scampering across the sands are extremely entertaining for kids and many creatures are stuck from the reseeding tides.

Apart from that, there is a lookout and a few vantage areas on the Andrews Point Track. This is also where you’ll start to see Palm Trees lining the shores with a very tropical feel.

Early to bed tonight as you’ll need to get up early for the Kangaroos. This happens rights in front of the Cape Hillsborough Caravan Park, which makes it the perfect place to stay for camping or fixed cabin accommodation.

You can choose to break up this journey at somewhere like Rockhampton, or as mention above in Yeppoon.

Day 8 – Cape Hillsborough to Airlie Beach

Travel time: (130 kilometres, about 1.5 hours travel)

The whole Kangaroo experience is managed by the Mackay Tourist Rangers, and tourist numbers will depend on the season. The kangaroos will come onto the beach to feed off the seaweed and seapods left over from High Tide.

They will venture down the beach before first light and retreat into the surrounding bushland after the sun comes up. This whole process will take about 30 minutes to 1 hour, therefore, plenty of time to the short drive to Airlie Beach after. 

Arriving Airlie Beach

Our final destination is the town of Airlie Beach, which has 1200 permanent residents and visited by over 500 thousand tourists each year. This is mainly for the Whitsunday Island and The highlight of our Road trip along the Queensland coast. 

➡  Find Airlie Beach Hotel Deals HERE with Booking.com

The town itself is full of many different styles of Accommodation from Budget Hostels to five-star luxury.

You can choose to stay close to town, or up on the hills for the views. Know that this area tends to be a little more expensive than other towns we have visited, especially the Islands. 

You can spend the rest of the day checking out the beach, swimming pool Lagoon, shopping in town for local gifts, or maybe visiting the Cedar Creek Falls (Waterfall). Note that swimming on the beach in Airlie is not advisable without a stinger suit (to ward against dangerous Jelly fish), and warning signs are placed around the waters. 

Tip- Please Check out my complete Guides on Airlie Beach to help you plan.

Day 9 – Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling or Whitehaven Beach 

Snorkelling

I suggest the first thing is spending a couple of days exploring the Whitsunday Region, starting out with snorkelling or diving the Great Barrier Reef. These all leave from Shute Harbour, which is about 20 minutes drive from the town of Airlie, or from the other Marinas.

However, while this includes the Inner and Outer Reef, please read up on the cons to the Outer Reef pontoon trips before deciding which one.

Otherwise, the tour company will determine the best snorkelling site based on the weather and tides of the day. All you need to do is jump in the water and have fun. The snorkelling equipment is generally supplied for you, as well as lunch for a full-day option. 

Whitehaven Beach

Different tours will provide different things, and there are many to choose from with spectacular scenery. Hill Inlet and Whitehaven beach are normally explored together on a half-day or full-day tour from Shute Harbour.

➡  Search Airlie Beach Tours HERE with GYG, or HERE with Viator.

There is a short uphill walk to Hill Inlet, and shows you the best lookout point over the Whitsunday Islands. Whitehaven Beach offers lots of swimming and chilling on a beach made entirely from white silica sand.

This is the finest white sandy beaches you’ll ever see and great for exfoliating the skin. 

Day 10 – Whitsunday Island Hopping

Choosing a day trip on your second day could have you, Island Hopping, to some of my favourites like Hamilton Island or Day Dream Island. Ferry services will leave regularly from Shute Harbour and drop you off for the day for your own exploration.

At Hamilton, grab a Golf Buggy and drive around to the Marina, check out the best viewpoint at One tree Hill, snorkel straight off Cats Eye beach, or laze in the provided beach resort chairs. Obviously, these are a great options for a day trip, but an extended stay on the Island will ensure you see more of the area. 

Other options in Airlie Beach could be sunset sailing trips, Helicopter or scenic flights, Heart Island, overnight stays at Pontoons, Jet Skiing, and Segway Tours. This is a huge tourist hub, and there are just so many options for you to choose from for the two days I have allocated here. 

If you’re looking at spending a bit time of time in Airlie beach, then check out this 5 day Airlie Beach Itinerary to help with your research.

My best Tips for the Journey?

• Hundreds of cars, trucks, caravans, and campers travel this route every day. Please drive to the road conditions and amount of traffic around.
• These roads are serviced regularly, and you’re bound to run into two or three Road work construction delays along this route. Please allow extra time to travel and view your map directory app for current conditions.
• All roads are suitable for a standard two-wheel drive vehicle. Tour options and Day trips to Islands are a good idea and will forgo the need for a Four Wheel Drive vehicle.
• Seasons are opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, summer runs from December to March and winter from June to August. You can travel all year round, but there are ideal months mentioned below.
• You will find Fuel and Supplies almost every 100 kilometres along this route and in every town. While they are frequent, it is best to fill up in every town you stop at, and use Fuel pricing apps (Fuelmap) to help pick your best prices.
• Most accommodations or caravan parks will need to be booked in advance, at least by a few days to a week. If you’re strict on your timeline, then book your entire journey before you go, to avoid disappointment.
• Wild Australian Kangaroo’s will be common on the deserted highway at sunrise and sunset. If your driving at this time, please reduce you speed and keep an eye out. Kangaroos will not run away quickly and tend to jump on the road than exiting off. More importantly, always look out for his friend – they are almost always travelling in two’s.

How expensive is this road trip?

Tours

The Whitsunday Islands would have to be one of the most expensive places to visit in Queensland. This is due to location, servicing off the mainland, and supplies needed.

Most Day trip tours to Queensland Islands will cost between $100 and $250AUD per Adult (including Fraser and Lady Musgrave Island).

Helicopter tours and others needing flights can be between $300 and $400 per person.

Accommodation

Accommodation will vary, and you’ll definitely find something within your budget. I tend to book cabins and cheaper motels which cost between $80 and $120 per night for a double room.

Although, Brisbane City rooms can get up to $200 or more per night.

You have hostels or backpacker options which vary from $10 per night for dorm style, or around $50 for your own room and shared Bathroom.

On the other hand, if you rent a camper or caravan for the journey, there are ample options for Caravan Parks.

Food

General Grocery stores like Woolworths and Coles will be in the Major cities, while IGA & Foodworks tend to be available in the smaller towns.

Buying supplies and choosing rooms with basic cooking supplies will help keep your costs down, but make sure to get out and eat some local food at some stage.

Fuel

Fuel is probably another big cost, and I have rough costs here below. This is average price on the Litres per 100 kilometres consumption, but also on fuel costing an average $2 per litre to buy. You can save on fuel with shopping dockets and using the associated fuel station. Double this value if your returning the car to the original destination. 

• Small Car – 8 litres per 100 KLM (total 1040 litres) = $208
• Medium Car – 10 Litres per 100 KLM (total – 1300 litres) = $260
• Large Car – 12 Litres per 100 KLM (total 1560) = $312

Safety, Data Service, Speed Limits!

Is this a safe road trip?

This Road Trip is a safe journey to travel, even for solo travellers. There is plenty of people around, and Brisbane is your only major city. However, you do need to exercise normal precautions like never leaving your bag unattended, or walking around late at night.

I carry a backpack all the time on road trips like this, and even safe to leave your items aboard boats when snorkelling. There are very few pickpockets or general theft, but ensure you lock your car and never leave valuable items in clear sight, in your car.

Yes, 95% of the water from a public or hotel tap can be consumed for drinking in Australia. The only differences to this would be National Parks and off-Grid locations servicing with potable water and there will generally be a warning that it’s “Not suitable for Drinking“.

Is there Internet Coverage?

Since there is a town nearly every 100 kilometres you will find internet coverage very good in this area. Data internet will be your best option and only off grid National Parks and some Islands will you find it intermittent.

Wifi service will be available at 90% of the hotels or hostels you choose to stay at. Alternatively, cafes, restaurants and various public places might have some available.

What are the Speed Limits?

The standard speed limit in Australia is 100 kilometres per hour along a highway, 60 kilometres in city’s or towns, and 50 kilometres per hour in suburban housing areas.

There is one small section of this highway that increases on the highway to 110KPH. This area is between Rockhampton and Mackay with very long straight roads.

Renting a car for this trip?

As mentioned above, car rental can be purchased from the Brisbane Airport as you fly in. You can choose a one-way journey, but expect an extra charge for the Car Hire Company to return it.

Returning to the same place you hire a car is a good option, but you will need to allocate at least 2 to 3 days extra driving back to Brisbane.

➡Find your favourite brand & compare prices for your Rental Car HERE

Renting a Campervan will help reduce the costs of accommodation. But, bigger vehicles will require more fuel to run, and you’ll need to way up the cost differences. Plenty of campervan and Caravan park options are available all along this route, and if you’re lucky “Free Camps”. While some areas don’t need to be booked, it is still advisable for a fixed timeline.

Note: “Free camps” don’t often have showers and some will require your own toilet.

Wrap Up & Read More!

From the beautiful beaches to the incredible coral reefs, Airlie Beach has something for everyone. It has long been a popular tourist destination due to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. But, with the rise of new stories and sights, it’s clear that there are plenty more experiences to be had.

Thanks very much for reading this blog post today on my ultimate 10-day Brisbane to Airlie Beach Road Trip. I hope you found what you were looking for and you won’t regret exploring this area of Queensland.

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