Rockhampton to Airlie Beach road trip: Distance, drive time & stops
The Rockhampton to Airlie Beach drive is 482km long, with a driving time of 5h12m. Attractions on the way include Cape Palmerston, Grasstree Beach and the Proserpine River.
The drive from Rockhampton to Airlie Beach is one of the key legs on the east coast journey from Brisbane to Cairns. For those about to tackle this drive, there’s some bad news: It’s the least interesting leg. But that’s not to say there aren’t a few attractions worth investigating.
Rockhampton offers fascinating history walks and cave tours. To source the best Rockhampton accommodation deals, go here.
Airlie Beach brings Whitsunday Islands sailing and snorkelling cruises, coral and marine life viewing from a glass-bottom boat and day cruises to the staggering white sands of Whitehaven Beach. To explore the full range of Airlie Beach tours and experiences, investigate here. For Airlie Beach accommodation bargains, look here.
9 memory-making Airlie Beach experiences to add to your visit
- Whitehaven Beach day cruise – with plenty of snorkelling thrown in.
- Glass bottom boat tour – see coral and marine life without getting wet.
- Heart Reef flight – see the islands and Great Barrier Reef from above before flying over Australia’s famous heart-shaped island.
- Proserpine River crocodile safari – see the big crocs from a boat.
- Whitsundays sunset cruise – with free snacks and sparkling wine.
- Sailing on the Camira – glide around the Whitsunday Islands under sail.
- Whizz around the islands on a guided jetski tour.
- Waterfall explorer day tour – with swimming in Hinterland rock pools.
- Enjoy high speed thrills on a jet boat ride.
Rockhampton to Airlie Beach driving time
The Rockhampton to Airlie Beach drive is 482km in distance, with an approximate Rockhampton to Airlie Beach driving time of five hours and 12 minutes.
For an international comparison, that’s the same distance as the St Louis to Chicago drive in the US.
That’s doable in one stint, but you may wish to break the day up or turn it into a road trip over a few days.
Top experiences to book in and around Rockhampton
- (Highly recommended ✅) Great Keppel Island day trip – with lunch.
- Cathedral Cave tour at Capricorn Caves. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 90 minute Deep Vault Cave and Flower Pot tour at Capricorn Caves.
- Time Safaris walking tour.
On the Rockhampton to Mackay leg, the first good stop is the Capricorn Caves complex, just off the Bruce Highway. They’re open for tours, and the caverns are genuinely impressive.
From there, expect a lot of sugar cane on the way to Clairview and Sarina. Adventurous types may wish to wrangle their 4WD up to Cape Palmerston for excellent fishing. The turn-off is at Ibilibie, before you get to Sarina.
Click through for the next section: Sarina and Mackay.