Brisbane to Maleny drive: Distance, time & best road trip stops

The best road trip stops on the Brisbane to Maleny drive are the Glass House Mountains and Australia Zoo. By car, the distance from Brisbane to Maleny is 105km, with a driving time of around 1h30m.

Planning a Brisbane to Maleny road trip

The drive from Brisbane to Maleny takes you from the Queensland capital to one of the most attractive Sunshine Coast hinterland towns.

Top options in Brisbane include a Moreton Island day trip, climbing the Story Bridge and visiting native wildlife at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. To browse the collection of Brisbane tours and experiences, step this way. For the best value Brisbane hotels, pick here.

6 supreme Brisbane day trips that will improve your holiday

Moreton Island day trip – with kayaking, sandboarding and snorkelling or with dolphin-feeding and desert dunes adventure.
Springbrook National Park glowworms and rainforest tour – including Tamborine Skywalk.
Eumundi Markets day trip – Australia’s best markets, plus the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and Noosa.
North Stradbroke Island day tour – with cruise, wildlife spotting and guided walk.
Tamborine Mountain winery tour – with gourmet lunch.
Maialia rainforest walking and wildlife tour – visit lesser-known D’Aguilar National Park.

Maleny’s top attractions include the Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World, the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve and tours of the Maleny Dairies.

This guide should help you plan your perfect Brisbane to Maleny road trip itinerary.

Click through on the links for more detailed links about individual towns and attractions – and remember to stock up on your road trip essentials before setting off.

Brisbane to Maleny distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Brisbane to Maleny is 105km. You should expect a Brisbane to Maleny driving time of around one hour and 30 minutes.

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.

The quickest route from Brisbane to Maleny leaves Brisbane along the Bruce Highway to the north, passing through highly forgettable Burpengary and then Caboolture.

Brisbane to Maleny drive: Caboolture to the Glass House Mountains National Park

Top things to do in Caboolture include visiting the Caboolture Historical Village and the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology.

You can also gaze in wonder upon the Big Strawberry at Ellinbah.

The turn-off from the Bruce Highway comes very quickly afterwards. Steve Irwin Way will take you through the Glass House Mountains towards Maleny.

The Glass House Mountains National Park generally lies west of the road, with several of the strangely prominent volcanic plugs easily visible as you’re driving.

You can, of course, stop to tackle the walking trails, too. Mount Beerburrum is up first, next to the town of Beerburrum.

Mount Tibrogargan, Mount Cooee and Mount Ngungun arrive shortly afterwards, before you arrive in hub town Beerwah. If you’re after supermarkets or a coffee stop, Beerwah is a good bet.

Brisbane to Maleny road trip: Beerwah to Landsborough

It’s also the last place to stock up on picnic food before you reach Australia Zoo, the most famous attraction in the Glass House Mountains. This massive, innovative zoo was run by TV wildlife presenter Steve Irwin before his untimely death. It is still run by the Irwin family.

Tickets for Australia Zoo should be bought online, in advance.

Next town along is Landsborough, where Skippy Park has barbecues and a fantastic array of playground equipment. If you’ve got bored kids in the back, this is the place to stop.

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.

Brisbane to Maleny drive: Landsborough to Maleny

Dularcha National Park just to the north of Landsborough has several good walking trails, but you need to branch off north-west along the Landsborough-Maleny Road.

This will bring you to Maleny.

Things to do in Maleny include seeing hundreds of colourful birds at the Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World (get tickets here). You can go milk, yoghurt and custard-tasting at the end of a Maleny Diaries tour, spot native wildlife in the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve and splash around in the pools at the bottom of Gardners Falls.

Top Maleny accommodation choices

The best places to stay in Maleny are:

For luxurious pampering surrounded by rainforest: Spicers Tamarind Retreat and Spa.
For rooms at a classic Aussie pub: Maleny Hotel.
For charm and mountain views: Maleny Terrace Cottages.