Brisbane to Mackay road trip: Distance, driving time & stops
Driving to Mackay from Brisbane: Gladstone and Rockhampton
Drive on north along the highway and you’ll reach industrial city Gladstone. Beach suburb Tannum Sands is the better overnight base, but things to do in Gladstone include the Maritime Museum.
You can also take the ferry out to Curtis Island. But the real attraction is taking the Heron Island ferry to Heron Island and Wilson Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
Gladstone accommodation favourites include the budget-saving Aaron Motel, the well-rated Harbour Sails Motor Inn and the spacious Oaks Gladstone Grand Hotel.
The drive from Gladstone to Rockhampton is not a thriller, although you can stop at the Calliope Conservation Park in Calliope.
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.
Things to do in Rockhampton include the Dreamtime Cultural Centre and the Rockhampton Heritage Village.
Meanwhile, Rockhampton accommodation contenders include the roadtripper-friendly Discovery Parks Rockhampton, the value-focused Rockhampton Court Motor Inn and the Quest Rockhampton apartments.
Click through for the next section: Yeppoon and Sarina.