Hervey Bay to Bundaberg road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The Hervey Bay to Bundaberg drive is 110km in distance, with a driving time of 1h17m. If you’ve not got your own wheels for a road trip, the Premier Bus from Hervey Bay to Bundaberg takes around 2h15m.
Hervey Bay and Bundaberg are generally seen as logical stops on the road trip north through Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns. Hervey Bay is the main gateway to Fraser Island, and has whale-watching cruises from Urangan harbour.
Hervey Bay aldo offers sunset cruises and wildlife cruises in the Great Sandy Strait. To pick out Hervey Bay experiences that pique your interest, look here. For Hervey Bay accommodation, nosy around here.
Bundaberg has the Bundaberg Rum Distillery, Bargara Beach and the turtle tours at Mon Repos.
6 Bundaberg experiences to make the most of your free time
- (Highly recommended ✅) Tour – with tastings – at the Bundaberg rum distillery.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Day trip to Lady Musgrave Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
- Fly out to Lady Elliot Island for a day on the reef.
- See migrating humpbacks – on a four hour whale watching cruise with lunch.
- Brewery tasting tour – including the famous Bundaberg ginger beer.
- Farm life experience at Splitters Farm.
The two cities are actually quite close to each other, however. And surprisingly little of the drive from Hervey Bay to Bundaberg is along the Bruce Highway, which ordinarily dominates drives up the Queensland coast from Hervey Bay to Rockhampton and beyond.
Hervey Bay to Bundaberg road trip: Along the coast?
This is largely because both Hervey Bay and Bundaberg are significant detours off the Bruce Highway. You might think that you can take a coastal route via Burrum Heads, Woodgate Beach and Elliot Heads, but there isn’t one.
The Isis River and Elliot River get in the way, without crossings, so you have to go inland onto the Bruce Highway for a bit, then come off pretty soon afterwards.
Hervey Bay to Bundaberg distance and driving time
The Hervey Bay to Bundaberg drive along the quickest route is about 110km in distance. This makes for a Hervey Bay to Bundaberg driving time of around one hour and 17 minutes.
The quickest route goes west through Craignish, and skirts the edge of Toogoom before joining the Bruce Highway at Torbanlea. You come off the highway just before Childers, then snake through the countryside towards Bundaberg. The drive passes through largely unremarkable Redridge, Goodwood and Alloway.
Hervey Bay to Bundaberg bus
If you’re not driving yourself, the other option is to take the bus. The Hervey Bay to Bundaberg bus service with Premier Bus takes a lot longer, though. It departs at 20.50, and arrives at 23.05. Two hours and 15 minutes on a bus to Bundaberg that arrives late at night might not be massively appealing. The one-way Premier Bus tickets only cost $20, though.
Book these 8 Hervey Bay experiences now
- 1. Great Sandy Strait wildlife cruise – with a great chance of spotting dingos or dugongs.
- 2. All-inclusive Fraser Island day tour – with pick-up at your accommodation.
- 3. Fraser Island two day tour – see much more.
- 4. Fun cruise – get close to dolphins and turtles while lounging in the boom netting.
- 5. Sunset cruise.
- 6. Dolphin sailing adventure.
- 7. Whale-watching – this is arguably the best place in Australia to spot humpback whales.
- 8. Fraser Island west coast cruise – with lunch & kayaking.
More Queensland travel
Stop at Lake Eacham on the drive from Atherton to Cairns.
How long is the drive from Maroochydore to Noosa?
Take a three cave tour of the Chillagoe Caves.
Indulge in seafood at the North Burleigh Surf Club on the Gold Coast.
Detour to Agnes Water on the drive from Bundaberg to Rockhampton.