Brisbane to Mackay road trip: Distance, driving time & stops
Brisbane to Mackay road trip: Sunshine Coast attractions
The Brisbane to Mackay road trip then continues through the Sunshine Coast region. Those with time should divert to the beach towns, such as Caloundra, Mooloolaba and Noosa. Click through for the separate guides, although Noosa is the resort town with true star quality.
Things to do in Noosa include shopping on Hastings Street, surfing at Little Cove or spotting koalas in Noosa National Park.
Get the best out of Noosa – 6 sensational experiences to look into
- Cruise the mirror-like waterways of the Noosa Everglades – a glorious glide through stunning natural landscapes.
- 4WD along the beaches – AND kayak with dolphins on a day tour full of easy adventure.
- Take a dolphin-watching safari down the Noosa River.
- Have a go at kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding or waterbiking.
- Take a tasting tour of the local craft breweries and distilleries – find out how the locals have devoted themselves to quality.
- Get standing on your board by the end of a beginners’ surfing lesson.
For other experiences, try taking a cruise through the Noosa Everglades, a whale-watching tour, a complete beginners’ surfing lesson or aquatic life-viewing from a speedboat.
Top Noosa accommodation options include Seahaven Noosa, Habitat Noosa and Sofitel Noosa.
Stay close to the highway, however, there’s still a fair amount to see. For example, there’s the Aussie World theme park near Caloundra and Buderim Falls in Buderim.
A little further north Yandina serves up Asian cooking classes at Spirit House, walks on Mount Ninderry, a produce-tasting session at the Ginger Factory and a scenic swim at Wappa Falls.
The Yandina Markets are also here, although the Eumundi Markets are more of a spectacle.
12 fantastic Sunshine Coast experiences to book now
- Taste coffee and ginger, do rainforest walks, and visit the best lookouts on a highlight-packed hinterland tour.
- Take a serene Noosa Everglades cruise along the mirror-like waterways – or canoe through the Everglades.
- Learn to surf at a Sunshine Coast surf school – or try paddleboarding instead.
- Combine sight-seeing and thrills on a fast boat tour.
- Go e-mountain biking on the downhill trails of Tewantin National Park.
- Kayak with dolphins as part of a beach 4WD tour.
- Explore the Sunshine Coast from above on a seaplane flight.
- Take an indigenous cultural tour – with bush tucker tasting.
- Visit the region’s best craft breweries and distilleries on a drinks tasting tour.
- Go jetskiing through the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage.
- Taste wines, cheeses and chocolates on a hinterland food tour.
- Watch migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.
Click for the next section: Gympie and Rainbow Beach.