Armidale to Brisbane road trip: Distance, drive time & stops

Attractions between Armidale and Brisbane: Stanthorpe to Warwick

On the way north from Stanthorpe to Warwick, you’ll pass the Conrad Distillery and Truffle Discovery Centre Stanthorpe. There are free truffle tastings available at the latter.

There are also several wineries. Summit Estate is on the New England Highway, while Heritage Estate in Cottonvale is just off it.

Road trip essentials that many travellers forget

Search on the web, and you’ll find ludicrously long lists of equipment to take on a road trip. Australia Travel Questions isn’t going to do that to you. But it is worth buying the following road trip items before setting off. Click through for a good range of options.

Charging cables – yes, you’ll probably need a spare at some point.
Car charger adaptor – in case your rental car has the old-fashioned cigarette lighter rather than a USB.
Multi USB charger – for those hotel rooms that don’t have enough power sockets.
Fold-up chairs – to make anywhere a picnic spot.
A really good water bottle – go for a bigger one than usual to last the longer drives.
Packing cubes – save space but, more importantly, avoid unpacking everything every night.

The highway continues to the frankly underwhelming Warwick in the Southern Downs. Australiana Park is the heart of the town, while you can learn about local history in the Warwick Museum at Pringle Cottage.

From Warwick to Brisbane, you can add in a few road trip stops near the Cunningham Highway.

The first worthwhile stop is Main Range National Park. The 6.8km return walk to the lookout near the summit of Mt Cordeaux is the star attraction here, although the 10.2km walk to the summit of Mount Mitchell arguably offers a greater sense of satisfaction.

Armidale to Brisbane road trip: Moogerah Peaks National Park

On the other side of the national park, there are a few scenic sights around Moogerah. You can go camping at Lake Moogerah and hike in Moogerah Peaks National Park. Waterfall Gorge is a highlight here.

You’ll then pass through Fassifern and the western end of the Scenic Rim region on the way towards Ipswich. Potential stops on the route include the Cunningham Lookout near Warrill View and Summer Land Camels in Harrisville. The latter offers farm tours and camel rides.

Around Ipswich, the main attractions are the RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre and the Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway.

Armidale to Brisbane drive: Ipswich Motorway and Brisbane

Just outside Ipswich, the Cunningham Highway merges into the Ipswich Motorway, skims a bend in the Brisbane River near the Moggill Ferry, then passes several golf courses as it grinds towards suburban Brisbane.

The Rocklea Markets and Queensland Tennis Centre come a little later on, before the route into central Brisbane passes the Gabba Stadium and finally crosses the Brisbane River.

Things to do in Brisbane include exploring the City Botanic Gardens, visiting the Museum of Brisbane and rock-climbing on the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

9 brilliant Brisbane experiences to book in advance

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary tickets (or entry plus river cruise combo) – hold a koala and see lots of adorable native wildlife.
Brisbane River cruise – see the key sights and learn about the city on the way.
Story Bridge Adventure Climb – walk along the top of Brisbane’s famous bridge, with 360 degree views.
Combine the Southbank Parklands, City Botanic Gardens and Kangaroo Point Cliffs on a fun Segway tour.
Helicopter flight – see the city from a bird’s eye view.
Kayaking tour – choose the night tour to see the city light up, the day tour to enjoy the sunshine.
XXXX brewery tour – see how Australia’s most famous beer is made.
Guided wine flight tasting – get an Aussie wine introductory course.
See Brisbane’s spooky side on a city centre ghost tour.