Ultimate Australian Road Trip Itinerary – Cairns to Brisbane

Cairns is located in the northern tip of Australia’s east coast and draws visitors looking to explore the Great Barrier Reef. Going south towards Brisbane (and eventually Sydney) you will find beautiful beaches, incredible islands and amazing wildlife. Cairns to Brisbane is over 1,600 kms and spans almost the entire state of Queensland. Here is our ultimate Australian road trip itinerary for a trip from Cairns to Brisbane including where to stop along the way!

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Car Vs. Campervan

You can certainly do this road trip in either a car or a campervan. You will notice people doing it in all different types of vehicles. Choose whichever mode you will be most comfortable in because it is a long distance.

We rented a campervan and really enjoyed having everything we needed with us. We made lunch and dinner whenever we got hungry and slept in our van without having to book anything else. Plus we had the luxury of being able to change our route along the way which we ended up doing a couple of times!

We rented our campervan through Jucy Rentals and had a really good experience! There are so many different companies that rent campervans in Australia so you can definitely find a vehicle that works for you and your budget!

Just keep in mind going from Cairns to Brisbane might require a one way fee because you are picking it up and dropping it off in different locations. Our one way fee cost 150 AUD or $100 USD.

Day 1: Pick Up Your Van

Pick up your van ideally in the morning so you can make the most of your first day! You can either stick around Cairns for the day or immediately head out and start driving!

We chose to stick around Cairns and enjoy some of the beaches up there. About 30 minutes north of Cairns is Palm Cove Beach. You can park right in front of the beach and there are a few restaurants across the street if you’re looking for something to eat.

We spent a few hours enjoying the beach and it was the perfect way to ease into our road trip!

Go ahead and pop into a grocery store to make sure you have everything you will need for the next few days. Woolworths and Coles are two large grocery store chains that you will find all along the way. If you need anything for the van the W and Bunnings are good places to look.

Travel Truth: There are a lot of camping and gear stores in Cairns so we were able to find a bug screen for the van doors before leaving which we were so thankful to have! There are a ton of mosquitos, especially in the summer near Cairns, so a bug screen really comes in handy.

Day 2: Cairns

We know this is a road trip but there are a few places along the route that are worth parking your vehicle for a day or two! Cairns is such a good place to take a day trip out to see the Great Barrier Reef. For us this was a bucket list item that we couldn’t leave without doing and we are so glad we did!

There are so many different tour options that go to different reefs that include snorkeling or even diving. We went to the Upolu Reef and snorkeled at two different locations. Both were amazing and the water was so clear! We were able to see so many different times of fish, coral, turtles and we even saw a shark!

We went with Reef Daytripper and loved that it was a smaller catamaran type boat with only about 20 people total. It didn’t feel touristy at all and we really enjoyed talking with the other people in our group!
Our trip cost 157 AUD or $103 USD per person. It included snorkeling gear, lunch, a glass of wine and snacks on the way back to Cairns.

If snorkeling isn’t your thing (or you have already done it) consider exploring Port Douglas or Daintree which are both north of Cairns.

The one thing we found tricky in Cairns was parking. Unlike so many other places in Australia we couldn’t find many places to park for the entirety of our snorkeling trip so we spent the night at the Cairns Holiday Park so we could park for the day and take advantage of their showers after snorkeling!

Day 3: Mission Beach

This is the day your road trip really begins! Drive south to Mission Beach which is about 2 hours from Cairns. It’s basically a straight drive down A1 until you’re there. Mission Beach is a small beach town with a really beautiful beach. The town area has a few cafes and restaurants where you can sit outside and enjoy a drink or some food near the water. The best part is the walking path that runs parallel to the beach and is lined with huge palm trees.

Take some time to walk along the path because it is so picturesque! We loved how quiet Mission Beach was and we spent a few hours hanging out on the beach with only a few other people.
When we were there the tides were so low that you could only put your feet in the water while remaining inside the swimming area otherwise we would have stayed longer.

After a few hours at the beach we decided to keep driving on. Make your way towards Rollingstone which is about 2 hours south of Mission Beach and stay around there for the night.

We stayed at the Bushy Parker Park Rest Area which is a free campsite just off the highway. It was quiet, had toilets and water and plenty of room to park. Beware we found a lot of frogs on the walk to the toilets but just bring a headlamp and you’ll be good!

If you stay in Rollingstone the total driving is about 4 hours for day three. If that seems too much or it’s getting too late, you can stop earlier around Cardwell which is only an hour south of Mission Beach.

Day 4: Day Trip to Magnetic Island

Drive to Townsville which from Rollingstone is less than an hours drive. Townsville is about a quarter of the way to Brisbane so you’ve already made a lot of progress! It’s a larger city so you can find anything you need or might be missing. One of the most popular things to do from Townsville is take the short ferry ride to Magnetic Island!

You can park at the Magnetic Island Ferries Terminal for 5 AUD for the day. You can either take Magnetic Island Ferries or Sealink although only Magnetic Island Ferries takes vehicles across.

A walk on adult ferry ticket cost 32 AUD roundtrip or $21 USD. It is significantly cheaper to walk on as a passenger which is why we didn’t bring our van across with us. You can but it will cost you a lot more!

Magnetic Island is only a few kilometers off the coast so it’s a short ferry ride before you dock into Nelly Bay. There are so many beautiful bays and walking trails on the island.

Make sure to do the Forts Walk which is a 2.8 km loop that gives you amazing views overlooking Arthur Bay and Florence Bay as well as Horseshoe Bay. This trail is one of the best places to spot koalas which can be found on the island. We weren’t sure if we would actually see one because they are most often spotted early in the morning but luckily we found one in a tree taking a midday nap!

There is a drinking water fountain along the trail which we were so thankful for because it was so hot! If you can start this hike earlier in the day to avoid hiking in the direct sun.

You can take the bus around Magnetic Island as well as rent a scooter or Tropical Topless car which is like an adult barbie car. The bus from Nelly Bay (the ferry terminal) to Horseshoe Bay cost 3.10 AUD and is really easy to use!

After the Forts Walk there is nothing better than jumping into the ocean at Horseshoe Bay. Located on the northern edge of the island, Horseshoe Bay is a large beach area where you can lay out and enjoy the views. The bus stop is right across from the beach where there are a few shops and a couple restaurants.

If you have time there are about 6 or 7 bays west of Horseshoe Bay where you can find sandy beaches and pristine waters!

We would highly recommend taking a day trip to Magnetic Island! We decided to go kind of last minute but it is really beautiful and so worth visiting!

Drive about an hour south of Townsville and spend the night around the town of Brandon. That should be about 2 hours total of driving for day four.

We parked for the night at Hotel Brandon for 15 AUD for a powered site. It’s a small parking area behind the hotel with toilets, showers and water. It was one of the most reasonably priced places we stayed for a powered site!

Day 5: Drive to Airlie Beach

Start the day by driving about 2 hours from Brandon to Airlie Beach. This small beach town is the gateway to the Whitsundays and is located along the Great Barrier Reef so there is so much to see!

Depending on how early you leave you can spend some time at Airlie Beach or Shingley Beach. There are a few restaurants in the town area. If you didn’t do a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns there are several options you can do from Airlie Beach as well!

We stayed at SeaBreeze Tourist Park and took advantage of their really nice swimming pool. If you’re in need of some power or laundry this is a really good option close to town!

If you stay the night in Airlie Beach that should be 2 hours of driving total for day five.

Day 6: Go to the Whitsunday Islands

Get up bright and early because today is going to be an amazing day! The Whitsundays are a group of 74 islands off the coast of Airlie Beach. While there are 74 islands, only seven of them are inhabited.

If you’re looking to go to one of the inhabited islands Hamilton Island is one of the most popular. But Whitehaven Beach, located on Whitsunday Island, is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world so we had to see it for ourselves!

The only way to go to Whitehaven Beach, however, is to take a boat trip that includes stopping at this amazing spot. You can’t just take a ferry the way you can to other islands. This is definitely something to take into account when deciding where you want to go within the Whitsundays.

Our boat trip included about a 2 hour ride out to the Whitsundays, snorkeling a section of the Great Barrier Reef, spending time on Whitehaven Beach, hiking up to the Hill Inlet Lookout and then another boat ride back to Airlie Beach. We went with Ocean Rafters and it cost about $110 USD per person. Visiting Whitehaven Beach is definitely not the cheapest day trip but it was so beautiful!

We spent a few hours swimming in the crystal clear water and stepping in the soft, white sand. The sand on Whitsunday Island is almost entirely pure silica which is why it looks so bright and is so incredibly soft to walk on. It also gets in everything so we made sure to put our phones and valuables in our daypack to protect them.

Before leaving the island you have to walk up to the Hill Inlet Lookout. It takes about 20 minutes of sweating until you’re there but the views at the top are completely worth it! There is no shade at the top so make sure you have water! There are a few viewing platforms that overlook the beach you just swam in as well as toilets. These pictures are some of our favorites from the whole day!

We got back to the port around 4:30 PM and decided to put in a little driving to end the day. We drove just over 2 hours south to Sarina. If you’re exhausted from the day you can of course stay closer to Airlie Beach but we wanted to make the next day a little easier.

Mackay is about an hour and 45 minutes from Airlie Beach and is another option to stay.
If you stay in Sarina that should be about 2 hours of driving total for day six.

Day 7: Drive to Agnes Water

Today is a driving day. It’s not quite as much fun as the most amazing beach you visited yesterday but a long drive today will mean the rest of the days you are free to move with more freedom! Drive about 6 hours south from Sarina to Agnes Water. It’s a lot we know but it isn’t so bad when you break it up.

Start early to give yourself time to get to camp because it’s a good one! If you’re looking for a place to stop Rockhampton is a larger area where you can find some food options or just a place to stretch your legs!

Just because you’re driving for quite a few hours today doesn’t mean you need to do it in one long stretch. Traveling in a campervan means you can literally pull over on the side of the road and lay down for a few minutes or make a really delicious lunch without needing to go to a restaurant.

Go to Horizons Kangaroo Sanctuary and if you leave early enough in the morning you can get there to interact and feed the kangaroos which occurs at 3:30 PM every day. Horizons Kangaroo Sanctuary is an amazing place for orphaned kangaroos to be nurtured back to heath. The couple that runs it have spent years looking after kangaroos letting them roam freely and helping as many as possible!

It’s also a campground so spend the night there and you are sure to see lots of wildlife during your stay! There was a beautiful peacock that was walking around the campground spots all afternoon!

If you have 3 or more nights you can stay at Horizons Kangaroo Sanctuary for free in exchange for volunteer work to help the owners. With more time we would have loved to do this!

To camp there costs 25 AUD for an unpowered site or 30 AUD for a powered site and all the money goes back to helping the kangaroos!
This was definitely one of the most unique campsites we stayed in and it was such an interesting experience to be that close to so many kangaroos!

Sarina to Agnes Water should be about 6 hours of driving total for day seven.

Day 8: Drive to Noosa Heads

Say goodbye to all the kangaroos and continue heading south today! If you’re interested in going over to Fraser Island it’s about 2 and a half hours from Agnes Water. We opted not to because we had just done both Magnetic Island and the Whitsundays.

The ferry leaves from Hervey Bay and costs 60 AUD for a walk on adult roundtrip ticket.
If you’re heading to Fraser Island you can drive the remaining 2 hours to Noosa Heads after your day trip and explore Noosa Heads tomorrow!

From Horizons Kangaroo Sanctuary it’s about 4 and a half hours to Noosa Heads so head out in the morning to make the most of the afternoon. Noosa Heads is your introduction to the Sunshine Coast!

If you arrive early enough in the day head down to Noosa Heads Main Beach and enjoy a few hours of sunshine!

Agnes Water to Noose Heads should be about 4.5 hours of driving total for day eight.

Day 9: Noosa Heads

Today is all about enjoying the Noosa area! If you didn’t already go to Noose Heads Main Beach go today. We did find it a little busier than some of the beaches farther north but there is plenty of sandy area and some shade on the grass higher up. Just like almost all beaches in Australia you can find toilets and showers nearby too.

Once you’ve had enough sun walk around Hastings Street. It runs parallel to the beach and has so many cute shops and food options. We had to seriously restrain ourselves because there are some really cool looking restaurants if your budget allows!

In the afternoon venture about 30 minutes south down the coast to Mooloolaba Beach. This is another really nice beach area that just is slightly south of Noosa. Along the way you can stop at Coolum Beach as well!

We wanted to go to Mooloolaba but we actually couldn’t find a parking spot, it was so crowded so we continued a little farther up to Maroochydore Beach.
If you’re planning on visiting Mooloolaba Beach get there earlier in the day especially if you’re there on a weekend!

While it wasn’t Mooloolaba Beach, we practically had Maroochydore Beach to ourselves. Stay around Mooloolaba or Maroochydore for the night and make sure to walk over to the beach around sunset because the soft light made it look so beautiful!

We got pizza for dinner from Cala Luna in Maroochydore and it was delicious and not too expensive!
Noosa Heads to Maroochydore should be no more than 1 hour of driving total for day nine.

Day 10: Drive to Byron Bay

Byron Bay was not a place that was originally on our plan to visit because it’s actually south of the Gold Coast but everyone we met kept telling us we had to visit. So we moved some things around and made it happen! Thats the best part about a road trip especially in a campervan. You can always change your plans!

If you’re not interested in going down to Byron Bay you can spend these 2 days either spending more time on the Sunshine Coast or spending longer on the Gold Coast.

From Maroochydore to Byron Bay is about a 2 hour drive driving through Brisbane and the Gold Coast. It sits in New South Wales and therefore is 1 hour behind Brisbane so while it’s a 2 hour drive you will get there 3 hours later. Byron Bay has a hippie, surfer vibe which is much different than the beaches of the Sunshine or Gold Coast. It’s very relaxed with lots of cool shops and so many restaurants.

Spend some time walking along the streets of the town area of Byron Bay! There are so many cute clothing stores although they are a bit pricey. If you’re hungry there are tons of food options and places to grab a drink!

Maroochydore to Myron Bay should be about 3 hours of driving total for day ten.

Day 11: Byron Bay

Head to Byron Main Beach where you can see lots of people surfing or Clarkes Beach which is just a bit farther down. You can park right at Apex Park for 4 AUD an hour or you can try to park farther away for free and walk. Although this lot did fill up so don’t get to the beach too late in the day!

Wategos Beach is also popular and a little more secluded because of it’s location. From Wategos Beach it’s about a 5 minute walk to the Most Easterly Point of Australia which from what we’ve heard is not much but if you’re interested it’s close by.

Close to Wategos Beach is also the Byron Bay Lighthouse if you’re looking for something to do other than lay out at the beach! You can get some really beautiful pictures from here!

If you’re interested in learning to surf this is one of the best places to try it! We saw so many people surfing in the waters and there are so many surf shops in town!

After the beach we headed to Betty’s Burgers and treated ourselves to a delicious dinner!

Byron Bay had a really unique feel to it and we can see why so many people like it! It’s so relaxed and there quite a few markets that happen within the town area as well as some nightlife.

It was hard to find cheap camping near Byron Bay though as all the parks wanted a lot of money for a powered site. We liked exploring a new area in NSW but if we were to do it again I think we would have stayed on the Gold Coast and explored more there!

Day 12: Gold Coast

This last full day in the van is all for exploring the Gold Coast. It’s known for it’s beaches with views of nearby Brisbane and countless canals that make up the city. Drive about an hour north from Byron Bay to Burleigh Heads Beach which is a really nice beach and is an easy drive to start your day!

From there it’s about 20 minutes to the well known Surfers Paradise Beach and if you continue up the beach you’ll hit the Main Beach.

We had no idea this area was so built up. It’s such a unique area because there are beautiful beaches along the water but also so many canals and upscale buildings. You could easily spend a few hours walking around and exploring this area!

To get to Brisbane from the Gold Coast is just an hours drive north so you have a few options. You can stay longer, grab some dinner and spend more time on the Gold Coast. Or you can drive north to be closer to Brisbane. It really depends on when you need to drop off your campervan in the morning.

Campsites along the Gold Coast though are going to cost you a lot though so if you drive a little outside you can get more for your money!
Byron Bay to the Gold Coast should be about 1 hour of driving total for day twelve.

Day 13: Return the Van

Regardless of where you stay it should be a quick and easy drive to Brisbane this morning to return your campervan! Hopefully this itinerary was helpful in showing you what you can do with just under 2 weeks to get from Cairns to Brisbane! Of course you could spend much longer or even done it quicker. Feel free to adapt this to your travel style and your time line.

Make sure to download the CamperMate App as well as WikiCamps Australia. CamperMate is free and WikiCamps is a few dollars but those are how we found all of our campsites! They are both so easy to use and can be downloaded offline so you don’t have to worry about having wifi or phone service!