The great northern state of Queensland is a popular tourist attraction, and for good reason! The number plates on cars up there say ‘the Sunshine State’, and it really does live up to its reputation. Along with beautiful beaches, rustic country towns, friendly locals and lush rainforests, Queensland’s beauty also lies in its remoteness. Queensland is a big, sparsely populated state for the most part, which means that while it has its cities and towns, a lot of its beauty is to be experiences with the windows down, driving on a deserted highway and staring out at the endless blue sky.
If you’re considering a holiday to Queensland, we thoroughly recommend doing it by car, and whether you’re looking to see the country towns and dusty roads of central Queensland, the lush beaches and rainforests of the tropical north or the cities and towns of the Southern Queensland coast, we’ve got a few tips that will set you on your way. Book that travel insurance, buy those flights and get ready for the road trip of a lifetime—Queensland awaits!
SOUTHERN COASTAL ROAD TRIP
- If you’re planning to explore Southern Queensland, driving up the coast is your best option.
- Once you cross over into the state of Queensland from NSW you’ll come almost immediately to the Gold Coast, a region famous for its beaches, nightlife and beautiful people.
- A trip to the Gold Coast is incomplete without a stopover in Surfer’s Paradise, so make sure you spend at least a night partying the night away in Queensland’s answer to Vegas.
- The next day should be spent touring the theme parks of the region on your way north.
- Once you get to Brisbane, you’ll discover a global, modern city with a country town feel. Stay close into the city (that won’t be a problem as most Brisbane apartments and hotels are located centrally) and immerse yourself in the friendly, vibrant scene for a few days.
- Further north, you’ll come to the Sunshine Coast. Dotted with idyllic surf communities and pristine beaches, we won’t blame you if you don’t want to leave.
CENTRAL COUNTRY QUEENSLAND
- If you’ve seen the coast but want to explore the interior of the state a little more, we recommend making your way up through the middle of the state.
- From Brisbane, make your way west to Toowoomba, a charming country town that was devastated by the 2011 floods but retains its country optimism and grace.
- From Toowoomba, head north on the A3 highway, stopping at whichever towns take your fancy.
- The best part about road tripping through Central Queensland is that you’ll pass through so many towns, and this means you can stop for a while if you like the look of them, and keep on driving if you don’t!
TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND
- Once you pass the tropic of Capricorn in Rockhampton, it gets steamy and sweaty outside. Welcome to the Tropical North.
- As you make your way up the Pacific Highway, you’ll pass idyllic coastal towns and plantation after plantation of sugar cane.
- Make sure you stop at a service station for a crab sandwich, a specialty in the area.
- This is prime fruit-growing area, and there are few simpler pleasures than tucking into a box of mangoes with the windows down and the music blaring.
