Yeppoon to Airlie Beach road trip: Distance, drive time & attractions
The distance from Yeppoon to Airlie Beach in Queensland is 507km, with a driving time of 5h28m. Attractions on the Yeppoon to Airlie Beach road trip include the Capricorn Caves, Sarina Sugar Shed and Proserpine River.
Yeppoon and Airlie Beach are two of the most appealing coastal towns in tropical Queensland. They have more appeal than the bigger regional hubs, Rockhampton and Mackay.
Yeppoon’s Keppel Bay Marina is the departure point for day trips to Great Keppel Island. Airlie Beach, meanwhile offers Whitehaven Beach day cruises, glass bottom boat tours and Whitsundays sailing adventures.
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.
Therefore, the drive from Yeppoon to Airlie Beach is a logical one to undertake if you’re doing a road trip up Australia’s east coast.
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.
Yeppoon to Airlie Beach distance and driving time
The Yeppoon to Airlie Beach drive is 507km in distance, with a Yeppoon to Airlie Beach driving time of around five hours and 28 minutes.
Where to stay in Yeppoon
The top Yeppoon accommodation options are:
- For a dependable motel with a pool: Coast Motel.
- For high quality apartments near Yeppoon Lagoon: Salt Yeppoon.
- For Mediterranean-style villas: Villa Mar Colina.
- For a centrally-located boutique resort: Coral Inn Boutique Resort.
The first leg of the drive up the Queensland coast, from Yeppoon to Rockhampton, takes about half an hour. The top attraction en route is Baga National Park. The 221-high volcanic plug known as Baga, and formerly called Mount Jim Crow, is the star here. But there’s also some good birdwatching to be done in the waterlily-filled lagoons around Hedlow.
Yeppoon to Airlie Beach drive: Attractions near Rockhampton
The Yeppoon to Airlie Beach drive skirts north of Rockhampton. Yeppoon Road meets the Bruce Highway by the Dreamtime Cultural Centre. This fascinating attraction explores the culture of Central Queensland’s Indigenous people. A little further north are the Capricorn Caves, which are open for tours and do a strong line in cave decorations.
Click through for the next section: Clairview and Sarina.