8 road trips in Queensland
And when you’re in Queensland, the best way to travel is to get off the highway and off-the-beaten track. It’s where you’ll find Australia’s tallest waterfall, rugged landscapes, tiny outback pubs with big reputations, and secret beaches that only the locals know about.
There’s good reason that 5.4 million people take a drive-holiday here in the Sunshine State each year.
The freedom of the open road in front of you, and the ‘every day’ in your rear-view mirror. Whether you’ve got a day or a week up your sleeve, these are the scenic drives in Queensland that you need to experience.
1. Drive from the sea to the sky Wallaman Falls | 8 scenic drives Queensland
A scenic drive packed with verdant sugar cane country, hairpin bends, waterfalls and elevation giving way to 360-degree farming vistas. The 165km drive between coastal city Townsville and the iconic Wallaman Falls is one of North Queensland’s best day trips. Feel your ears pop on the way to this landmark: Wallaman Falls wears the title of Australia’s tallest single drop waterfall, at an impressive 268 metres. Being tall isn’t Wallaman’s only claim to fame, though. It’s nestled into Girringun National Park, which is also the gateway to the Wet Tropics, one of the oldest forests in the planet. Don’t just see the rainforest, drive right through it with this scenic drive that comes with its own World Heritage-listed backdrop.
2. Travel into the clouds Eungella National Park | A local's guide to Mackay
Put your head in the clouds with a scenic drive from Mackay to Eungella National Park, a place that directly translates to “land of the clouds”. The 85km drive to Eungella couldn’t be more different from the sugarcane capital. The landscape transforms before your eyes, as you wind your way into Mackay’s fairytale-like mountains. Sections of the road are covered by streams. In the wet season, you’ll have waterfalls cascading to the left and gorges to your right. So lush is this drive, at times you’ll need to keep the windows up to keep the moisture out. If you’re lucky enough to time your drive with a clear day (a tough feat, given the destination’s reputation), you’ll be rewarded with views over Mackay’s farming plains.
3. Clock up the odometer from Cairns to Cooktown Captain Cook Highway | scenic drives Queensland
Ancient rainforest on one side, and the world’s most famous reef on the other. The drive between Cairns and Cooktown is a dynamic duo. And the Great Barrier Reef Drive and Bloomfield Track are household names in Australia for a reason. This journey is a true kaleidoscope of colour. From the bright blue reef, to the deep green rainforest and bright red dirt as you head further north. There are viewing platforms and rest bays along the way to ensure you can get out of the car to actually soak it all in. Be sure to stop at Rex Smeal Park in Port Douglas, and Cow Bay to see where the rainforest meets the reef. 4. Explore the sandy highway of Fraser Island Seventy Five Mile Beach, Fraser Island Great Sandy National Park
Make tracks on the biggest sand island in the world for a scenic drive with a sandy difference. You’ll soon see why it’s one of the most special places on earth. From the mainland, take your 4WD on the Kingfisher Bay Resort vehicle ferry before taking off to the east coast of the island, where the off-road adventure really begins. Crossing from west coast to east coast, you’ll be in the driver’s seat to discover Central Station. Make sure to stop at inland lakes like McKenzie and Wabby for a quick dip: these waters are as inviting as they come. This scenic drive is the most fun you’ll ever have driving at 30km/hr on the inland tracks and absolute exhilaration as you hit up to 80km/hr along the beach highway.
5. Get off (or on) the beaten track Birdsville Track | 8 scenic drives you need to do at least once in your life
To get completely off-the-beaten-track, get on the Birdsville Track. It runs over 500kms from Marree to the western corner of Queensland and is a highly coveted journey in 4WD communities. What makes this drive so special is this is not bitumen or dirt. You’ll be driving across broken sandstone called gibber, as you traverse the Sturt Stony Desert. Desert flags are a must, as is an appetite for adventure (and dust). 6. Taste your way through the three M’s
Had your fill of the beach? It’s time to fill your stomach. Introducing the 55km Blackall Range Tourist Drive, which incorporates Maleny, Montville and Mapleton and all their walks, waterfalls and windy roads. The Tourist Drive is quite literally the high road, 370m above sea level connecting these villages in the mountains. Wind your way between the townships and rolling hills, with glimpses back to the coastline on those hairpin bends.
7. Discover the green behind the Gold Coast Natural Bridge Springbrook National Park
The sun’s afternoon golden glow bounces off rocks onto the lush green rainforest around you. This is one scenic drive where you should turn your radio down. Today’s soundtrack? Native birds and rushing waterfalls of the Gold Coast Hinterland. The pièce de résistance en route is Natural Arch, one of the Gold Coast’s most photographed falls.
8. Make tracks to the world’s longest lava tubes Undara | Tropical North Queensland
Packing more landscapes into 300kms than most people would only see if they travelled to three countries, the drive between Cairns and Undara packs a potent punch of rainforest, reef and outback. Arguably Queensland’s most accessible outback, this scenic drive will give you a taste of central Australia without the long commute. This road trip travels south-west of Cairns, and takes four hours if you travel via Kuranda – the village in the rainforest. Make a quick pit stop at the Kuranda markets, before continuing onto the Atherton Tablelands where the rainforest is swapped for farmland. The lava tubes developed underneath a once-active volcano more than 190,000 years ago.
Looking for something a little longer? I know just the answer. For nothing but sunshine and sand, the Great Beach Drive is unmissable. Get in touch to plan your perfect route!